This past winter has been one of sharing my childhood memories growing up here on Fishers Island. Lots of recollecting between Jen Burns’ 3rd and 4th graders, fellow passengers on the Ferry, fellow shoppers at The Village Market-even shared remembrances at a recently open Gatehouse. The importance of creating Local Traditional Knowledge through telling of our stories is to me the most “Natural” part of an island’s history. It’s very simple-especially the sharing part. For Instance I remember during summers when I was in 4th grade riding my bike to the Fishers Island Library. My favorite book to check out was Jean Craighead George’s My Side of the Mountain. What kid didn’t want to be Sam who befriended and trained a Peregrine Falcon named “Frightful”?
So while I am happy to circle up round a bench on The Parade Grounds with students and share the scientific name Falco Peregrinus (foreigner) for this migratory bird travelling great distances to our island; gifting actual stories of local sightings helps to promote and strengthen Stewardship of its actual habitat.
Island Sentinels Gardner Thors and Conner Wakeman have each seen and documented a Peregrine Falcon both on the Recreational Path near Chocomount Beach and flying over Race Rock Lighthouse.
Not that I ever doubted their own keen observations and innate naturalist qualities- I just wanted to finally meet my own “Frightful”-share with enthusiastic students My Side of the Island.
Then this quiet March morning,rounding the bend by Z&S and Community Center, there perched on a pole alert and keeping watch-a simple symbol of this guardianship.