The Fishers Island Fire Department (FIFD) conducted a successful controlled burn on selected sections of the Parade Grounds and Elizabeth Airport March 26. FIConservancy relies on FIFD volunteers to coordinate their ongoing training with annual prescribed burns necessary to maintain a healthy natural habitat.
The drill began on a clear evening with moderate wind speed…
Jane T. Ahrens reporting and photo.
The Fishers Island Conservancy in February awarded Fishers Island School senior Nicolas Hall, The Edwin Horning Research Grant for Environmental Conservation to study the effect of acidifying sea water on the soft shells of oysters.
The grant enabled Nicolas to purchase equipment to acidify seawater and subject developing oysters to the acidic solution. His goal is to determine the potential future of shelled organisms living in acidifying sea water.
Nicolas is fortunate to live on Fishers Island where he sought the counsel of Steve Malinowski, owner of the nationally-recognized Fishers Island Oyster Farm. “Steve is supplying my oysters,” Nicolas said. “He walked me through feeding and caring for oysters, as well as how I can quantify my results.”
Nicolas, 17, the son of Stephanie and James Hall, grew up on Fishers Island attending Fishers Island School. His love of the ocean developed through the years, but it was a 10th grade oceanography class with science teacher Carol Giles that sparked his intense interest.
“I had a lot of fun in that class. Being around water all my life, it was natural that I would go into a field based on it,” Nicolas said. He will attend Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia this fall, where he will study oceanography.
Silk nests of the eastern tent caterpillar (Malacosoma americana) began showing up on South Beach Road in late April. Not to worry! Contrary to popular belief, these nests will not kill trees, plus they provide food for bluejays, orioles, chickadees and nuthatches.
FIConservancy Naturalist Justine Kibbe walks and bikes Fishers Island from end to end. Her pictures, captured with patience and thoughtful attention, reveal the beauty of this Island.
2019 Fishers Island Ferry District Burn Map
2018 Fishers Island Ferry District Burn Map
2017 Fishers Island Ferry District Burn Map
2016 Fishers Island Ferry District Burn Map
Early FI Ferry District plan for controlled burning in 175 acres of grassland restoration.
In the 1960s and early 1970s, before DDT nearly erased ospreys from the eastern seaboard, the only Osprey nest we kids could spy was at the corner of Airport Road nearest the Bike Shop.
Today, I marvel at the Island’s Osprey population “comeback”…strong. Here West, there are for the first time three nests atop telephone poles: Transfer Station (recyclables) AND Transfer Station (mulch & stuff), as well as Silver Eel Cove (bluff).
This unique “triangle” presents us with wonderful sightings and a real glimpse into the Osprey’s daily life.
*On standby, Ferry Dock, Fishers Island
From the Field, Field Note, Justine Kibbe, May 1, 2019
This Greater Yellow Legs has been returning to the sandy coves alongside Dock beach for several years now.
Its slender and elegant silhouette can be seen wading and actively foraging here.
From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe, April 30, 2019