Last evening’s annual “healthy burn” invites lush native grasses to return and flourish within 175 acres of maintained and preserved meadowland. Very soon, Parade Grounds will be welcoming insects and Monarch butterflies, migrating songbirds, as well as this foraging Killdeer.
*stewardship is as stewardship does
From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe, Mar. 28, 2019
Don’t “dabble” and evidently never dawdle. Buffleheads, tiny and compact, dive and glide speedily while feeding off South beach.
Adult males in view are sporting breeding plumage (white back of head). Very agile offshore, these smallest of ducks will nest in tree cavities.
From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe, Mar. 26, 2019
…no more!
For several years, I’ve had a sneaking suspicion that our Raven pair feel at home in and around the old naval station, south and cliffside on Fishers Island.
Mostly I’ve heard their distinct varied calls echo roadside thru the tall pines, but today while walking Hay Harbor Golf course, I was happy to catch a glimpse of this rascal pair.
*Male perched above
From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe, Mar. 26, 2019
Exquisitely so!
Overlooking Fishers Island Sound from Hay Harbor & Big Stony. Wanted to remind everyone just how grateful we Islanders are for the very few acres (fewer than 400) of healthy Eelgrass meadows that surround us, helping to create precious underwater habitat.
Thinking USCG will return with updated plan to remove vessel.
PS. Next FI Seagrass Management Meeting, April 10.
From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe, Mar. 20, 2019
I spent a couple hours sitting on a grassy edge off Big Stony, thinking I might catch and share a snippet of sunken fishing vessel salvage. But I was happier, I think, when this Killdeer landed close by, trusting enough to share its lunch with me…
* Nice to see 3 Killdeer over Big Stony this afternoon.
From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe, Mar. 19, 2019
Spring Peepers are announcing their return, sounding across rustling grasses this evening, while Red-winged Blackbird sways in gentle breeze alongside “Ibis pond”.
Spring’s wonder—all within 175 acres of preserved habitat maintained by the Fishers Island Conservancy.
Kindly leash all dogs please…
From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe, Mar. 20, 2019
This low tide, for feasting juvenile and adult Herring and Great Black-backed gulls, south side Fishers Island.
Blue sky day with Gardiners Island seeming a stone’s throw away…
Sandworm spawn.
*Sanctuary of Sands
From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe, Mar. 18, 2019
It was business as usual for gulls within Hay Harbor today.
Both Herring and Great Black-backed gulls swoop and dive after sandworms that spawn each Spring within harbors around Fishers Island.
From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe, Mar. 15, 2019
Pheasant stops in for breakfast, while crow and ferry announce what looks like a beautiful day in March.
Fort Wright, Fishers Island.
From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe Mar. 11, 2019
That’s what I was thinking this late morning walking past South Dumpling & Flat Hammock north side.
According to our Seagrass mapping, there is an Eelgrass “pasture” that wraps around Flat Hammock with growth towards the Dumplings.
I like to envision surrounding underwater habitat as “mini” marine sanctuaries that can and should be monitored, protected and preserved for our Island’s future.
The chilly temps continue here today, but so do bald eagle sightings, making early March a bit more “sunny” and bearable….
From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe Mar. 7, 2019