moth

Insect Species Declining Could Be Catastrophic

According to Brett Molina in a USA Today article published February 12, 2019:
“More than 40 percent of the world’s insect species could go extinct over the next several decades leading to “catastrophic” results for the planet’s various ecosystems, a new study says.”

Read Article

The study referred to was published in the peer-reviewed journal Biological Conservation. Highlights from the study abstract are:

  • Over 40% of insect species are threatened with extinction.
  • Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and dung beetles (Coleoptera) are the taxa most affected.
  • Four aquatic taxa are imperiled and have already lost a large proportion of species.
  • Habitat loss by conversion to intensive agriculture is the main driver of the declines.
  • Agro-chemical pollutants, invasive species and climate change are additional causes.
Read the Study Abstract

 

The loss of the native insects will have dire consequences for the rest of the life chain. For those who may have missed this article. We are not alone. And we are fighting the right conservation battle. According to Matt McGrath, Environment correspondent at BBC news “Global insect decline may see ‘plague of pests'”. . .

Read BBC Article

New Maintenance Shed

FIConservancy has installed a new maintenance shed behind the Movie Theater.

Read more

Thanksgiving Owl

Barred Owl.  Bill Colman Photo

Bill Colman and his family of six were driving west on Crescent Avenue heading to Thanksgiving (2018) dinner at the home of his in-laws, the Meyers. They had just passed the electric station, when his wife, Jenny, insisted that they stop and back up the car.

“It was very cold and windy, with 20-30-mph winds, but Jenny noticed the owl on the north side of the road and demanded that we back up. And there it was. A barred owl! It appeared that he was in the tree taking shelter from the wind or just didn’t want to fly under those conditions,” Dr. Colman said.

“In any case, he was more than willing to have his photo taken and didn’t seem scared at all. I couldn’t get to my Nikon fast enough, so used the iPhone to take the shots.”

Dr. Colman and his son Tommy took the dramatic “Red-tailed Hawk vs. Mink” photos that appeared on this website in August, 2018.

 

 

Arctic cold

AquaWeather Forecast

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Right now in Silver Eel Cove, Fishers Island
3 degrees, NW26 G38, windchill -20 degrees

*brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

From the Field, Video Snippet, Justine Kibbe, Jan. 21, 2019

moon lunar eclipse

Lunar Eclipse

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moon lunar eclipse

West End, Fishers Island

*see you again in 2021

From the Field, Field Note, Justine Kibbe, Jan. 20, 2019

blue moon

Once in a Blue Moon*

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blue moonSuper Blood Wolf Moon

Total lunar eclipse starring: SUPER BLOOD WOLF MOON

Winter skies are the “happening place” this Saturday (1/19/19) 10:10 p.m. thru Sunday (1/20/19) 2:15 a.m. EST.

You’ll recognize the Super Moon by its size (truly closest to earth!) and by its reddish hues produced by shadow. By all means—something to howl about!

*blue moon over Parade Grounds, Fishers Island 7/31/15

From the Field, Field Note, Justine Kibbe, Jan. 18, 2019

Carolina chickadees by Desiree Narango

Ecologists Have this Simple Request to Homeowners — Plant Native

Carolina chickadees by Desiree Narango

Carolina chickadees photo courtesy of Desirée Narango

A Must Read!

This wonderfully “timely” article mentions Dr. Doug Tallamy, founder of “Neighborhood Nestwatch” and whose collaborative research with Fishers Island Conservancy has been monumental for land preservation here these past years. . .

Ecologists Have this Simple Request to Homeowners — Plant Native

A new study shows how quickly songbird populations fall off when gardens are planted with exotic trees and shrubs

By Adam Cohen
smithsonian.com
October 31, 2018

They say the early bird catches the worm. For native songbirds in suburban backyards, however, finding enough food to feed a family is often impossible. READ MORE . . .

Healthy Seagrass Meadows by Justine Kibbe

Hail to Healthy Seagrass Meadows!

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Healthy Seagrass Meadows by Justine Kibbe

These years I have been grateful for the opportunity to document and help bring attention to Seagrass Meadows surrounding our precious Fishers Island. Growing up here, I never imagined decades later there would be a dire need for Community to actively help restore, preserve and sustain this unique critical habitat.

*low tide, Hungry Point

From the Field, Field Note by Justine Kibbe, Oct. 18, 2018

 

There will be a Fishers Island Seagrass Management Meeting Tues Oct. 23rd in the Museum 1:30-4:00. All are welcome.

Guest speakers, Matias Tong, Data Technician, and Stephen Lloyd, Sr. Spatial Analyst/GIS Manager – both with the TNC – will present their analyses and results of the boating and eelgrass surveys conducted around Fishers Island last year. NYSDEC representative, Vicky O’Neill, will also attend.

adult spotted lanternfly

Invasive Insect Alert: Spotted Lanternfly

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This is a new invasive insect that should be collected, killed, and reported if seen.

Read more
Swallows

Fall 2018 Bird Migration Survey Results

The Fishers Island Conservancy Fall 2018 Bird Migration Survey was held on September 23. Following Audubon bird count rules, the group made 15 five-minute stops. At each timed stop, the birders would count birds and call out what they saw.

We observed a total of 41 species, less than last year but still higher than average for past Fall counts. Starting later in the month than usual, we missed out on the large migration of swallows that occurred the week before, and certain species of warblers, but made up for it in the number of raptors (hawks and falcons) that were making their way south during the count.

Here’s the list of species reported from the count:
American crow
American goldfinch
American kestrel
American robin
Black-capped chickadee
Black-crowned night heron
Belted kingfisher
Bluejay
Blue-winged warbler
Canada goose
Carolina wren
Cedar waxwing
Chipping sparrow
Common eider
Cooper’s hawk
Common raven
Double-crested cormorant
Eastern Phoebe
European starling
Great blue heron
Gray catbird
Great egret
Green heron
Herring gull
House finch
House wren
Killdeer
Mallard
Mourning dove
Mute swan
Northern harrier
Northern flicker
Northern mockingbird
Osprey
Ruby-throated hummingbird
Song sparrow
Tree swallow
Tufted titmouse
White-breasted nuthatch
Yellow-rumped warblers
Yellow warbler

 

by Adam Mitchell, Associate Wildlife Biologist ® PhD Student, Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology University of Delaware