Pitch In for the Planet- Earth Day 04/19

In honor of Earth Day, the Fishers Island Conservancy and the H.L. Ferguson Museum and Land Trust invite all visitors to join an afternoonof conservation work and community connection.

Participants will meet at the Museum at 2:00 PM to receive assignments before heading out to South Beach, the Parade Grounds, and nearby trails for beach cleanup and invasive plant removal.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring any tools they are comfortable using, such as clippers or loppers. No chainsaws, please. Extra tools will be available. Long pants, long sleeves, socks, and gloves are strongly recommended for protection against thorns and poison ivy.

Following the cleanup, light refreshments will be served at the Museum. A simple craft activity will also be available for those who would like to participate. Race Rock Garden Co. is providing seed pots and soil, and the Conservancy will contribute native seeds along with small seed packets remaining from past Nature Days.

We hope you’ll join us in caring for the land and celebrating Earth Day as a community.

Shorebird Pre-Fencing Day – 04/09

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Sign being installed on symbolic fencing by Anna White

As our tiniest visitor, the endangered Piping Plover, returns to Fishers Island’s shores this spring, the Fishers Island Conservancy is preparing to install symbolic fencing at known nesting sites. These small shorebirds lay their eggs directly on open sand, making them extremely vulnerable to disturbance. To protect them and give them the best chance at a successful breeding season, FIC will kick off the season with Pre-Fencing Day on Wednesday, April 9.

Symbolic fencing is a simple yet critical step that helps reduce disturbance from people and pets by clearly marking sensitive nesting areas. This protection is not just for Piping Plovers but also serves as nesting habitat for Least Terns, which are listed as threatened in New York State. These birds depend on undisturbed beach habitat to successfully nest and raise their young.

This work is part of the Long Island Colonial Waterbird Survey (LICWS), a statewide monitoring and protection program coordinated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. We are excited to partner with Sophia Brown from NYSDEC as we relaunch LICWS efforts on the island. Fishers Island falls within Region 1 of the NYSDEC, which includes Suffolk County and nearby coastal islands.

We invite anyone interested in helping to join us on Wednesday, April 9th at 10:30 AM outside the FI Community Center. We encourage volunteers to bring work gloves and dress for the weather.

Come lend a hand and help us protect our islands shoreline and the shorebirds that call it home!

Must-Read Article: Alarming Trends in Bird Populations

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Check this out—the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has released a powerful new report showing that bird populations across the U.S. are continuing to decline. One-third of species are now considered high or moderate concern, and the losses are especially steep for grassland and forest birds.

Here on island, we are working hard to monitor and protect local bird populations through seasonal surveys, habitat restoration, and long-term conservation planning. Our island plays a key role in the Atlantic Flyway, providing critical stopover and nesting habitat for both migratory and resident birds.

Protecting birds means protecting the health of our entire ecosystem. We encourage everyone in the community to take a moment to read this important article and stay connected to the bigger picture.

Read the full article from the Cornell Chronicle here -> State of America’s birds: Population declines continue