Announcing the results of the Fall 2023 Migratory Bird Count
We are excited to share the official tally of bird species encountered during our annual bird count, along with the “running count” that includes birds observed over the past two days. This fall’s birding event was remarkable, with a grand total of 50 species recorded during the count. Adding the additional 7 species spotted in the running count, we reached an impressive total of 57 species! (See list of bird species below.)
This year brought us some extraordinary birding moments, which we attribute to the recent major storms that grounded much of the bird activity in the days leading up to the count.
With a decade now behind us, we’ve successfully completed our 10th year of the migratory bird count. The data collected during these ten years will serve as a valuable resource for analyzing trends in bird activity on our island.
Here’s the list of species we encountered in our Fall 2023 Migratory Bird Count.
Thank you to all who participated.
| Fall 2023 Bird Count |
|---|
| American crow |
| American goldfinch |
| American kestrel |
| American redstart |
| American robin |
| Belted kingfisher (running) |
| Black-capped chickadee |
| Blue jay |
| Brown thrasher |
| Black & white warbler |
| Bobolink (running and confirmed; congrats Tom!) |
| Carolina wren |
| Cedar waxwing |
| Chimney swift |
| Chipping sparrow (running) |
| Common eider |
| Common grackle |
| Common loon (running) |
| Common yellowthroat |
| Cooper's hawk |
| Double crested cormorant |
| Downy woodpecker |
| Eastern phoebe |
| Eastern towhee |
| European starling |
| Greater black-backed gull |
| Great blue heron |
| Golden-crowned kinglet |
| Gray catbird |
| Great egret |
| Herring gull |
| House finch |
| House sparrow |
| Laughing gull (running) |
| Mallard |
| Merlin |
| Mourning dove |
| Mute swan |
| Northern cardinal |
| Northern flicker |
| Northern harrier |
| Northern mockingbird |
| Red-bellied woodpecker |
| Red-tailed hawk |
| Northern rough-winged swallow |
| Osprey (running) |
| Savannah sparrow |
| Salt marsh sparrow |
| Swamp sparrow (running) |
| Song sparrow |
| Tufted titmouse |
| White-breasted nuthatch |
| White-throated sparrow |
| Yellow-billed cuckoo |
| Yellow warbler |
| Yellow-rumped warbler |
Bird watchers scan the skies looking for birds to include in the biannual migratory bird count on Fishers Island.
Join us for our 2023 Fall Migratory Bird Count alongside our University of Delaware experts, Emily Baisden and Will Almeida.
Event Details:
What: FIConservancy 2023 Fall Migratory Bird Count
When: Sunday, October 1, 2023 @ 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Where: Meet at Fishers Island Community Center
Make sure to bring your binoculars!
Following Audubon bird count rules, birders will make 15 five-minute stops from West End to East End. At each timed stop, birders count birds and call out what they see.
The outcomes from these bird counts play a crucial role in assisting scientists and conservation groups in mapping bird populations. Furthermore, they provide valuable insights into the distribution and frequency of various bird species within our local environment.
Plastic in the water, on the land and IN you! Fighting pollution on Fishers Island and Beyond
Event Details:
Date: October 8th
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Place: In-person at the Museum, 2nd Floor and virtual via Zoom
Category: Illustrated Talk
Plastic pollution is a bad neighbor. As plastic breaks up into microplastics it disperses into the environment. Researchers are finding plastic particles almost everywhere they look, including inside the human body.
What are the impacts of these plastics, and what can we do to stop them?
Join Dr. Megan J. Wolff, MPH, policy director at Beyond Plastics, as she talks about what individuals can do to reduce their consumption and exposure to plastics as well as discuss the exciting legislative initiatives underway in the state of New York aimed at significantly reducing plastic pollution.
Michele Klimczak, our Coastal Debris Coordinator at the Fishers Island Conservancy, will also be presenting an overview of the extensive repercussions of plastic pollution on the island, offering a localized perspective to complement the presentation by Dr. Megan J. Wolff.
*To secure your spot, please reach out to us at 631-788-7239 or send an email to [email protected]. Virtual attendance does not require prior registration.
Join Us for Bug Night with Entomologist Dr. Adam Mitchell!
Event Details:
Date: Saturday
Time: 8:30 PM to 9:00 PM-?
Location: John Thatcher Native Garden
Join Us:
Calling all nature enthusiasts and bug lovers! Get ready for another Bug Night adventure with entomologist Dr. Adam Mitchell. Embrace the opportunity to see insects in a whole new light! Bring your friends and family for an exciting evening of discovery and learning.
What to Expect:
Explore the world of insects under the guidance of an expert entomologist and expand your knowledge of local insect species.
Witness a variety of critters drawn to large white sheets illuminated by vapor lamps.
Learn about the fascinating lives, behaviors, and habits of insects that call
the John Thatcher Native Garden home.
Let’s marvel at the magic of insects together. See you at Bug Night!
Note: Event details are subject to change. Please check our website or contact us for any updates.
Join us for an exciting Orienteering Competition hosted by FI School’s Class of 2026 and the FI Conservancy
Event Details
Date: Thursday, August 17
Location: FI School Playground
Time: 1-4PM
What is Orienteering?
Orienteering is a sport in which participants use a map to find various locations, or “controls.” Take an hour to find as many controls as you can. You can compete as an individual, or as a team (up to 3 people). You can run the course, or walk. All ages and ability levels are welcome.
How to Register
To join the fun, contact Mike George at [email protected] or 585-406-1746. Register before Thursday, August 17, to pay $15 per person. Same-day registrations will be $20 per person.
The proceeds will support the Class of 2026’s senior class trip.
Win Ice Cream Gift Certificates and More!
The top individual finisher and the top team will receive ice cream gift certificates, generously donated by Toppers. Additionally, the FI Conservancy is giving a gift bag.
Be Prepared
We encourage you to bring comfortable shoes and water. Compasses are not required, but you may bring one; we have a small number that we can loan participants. The event will be held rain or shine.
For more information about orienteering, check out this article and video:
https://orienteeringusa.org/explore/what-is-orienteering/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26Zc5AVkFis
Join us for a Day of Nature at the Parade Grounds Saturday, August 12th, from 3-6 p.m.
Enter near the theater to explore fun activities and expert-led stations for all ages.
- Enjoy fun Marine Debris activities with Michele Klimczak
- See live animals with Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
- Learn about insect and plants with Professor Adam Mitchell
- Free Ice Cream Truck
- Snacks, Drinks & Games
Connect with nature and have fun with family and friends! See you there!
Fishers Island Conservancy Presents
The Ghost Net: An Environmental Musical of the Sea
Show & Performance by
Grumbling Gryphons
Traveling Children’s Theater
Saturday, August 12, 2023
at the Fishers Island Movie Theater
Pre-performance Workshop – 3 PM Sharp!
Performance – 4 PM
Ages 6 & up
Sing Dance, Act & Be in the Show!
To pre-register your children for the workshop, call Michele Klimczak at (631) 800-9394.
On the afternoon of the show from 3:00-3:50pm, Grumbling Gryphons will conduct a pre-performance drama workshop for children ages 6 & up who will train with the actors to become part of the show. Become a “Trash Creature” and join in the “Slimy-Sludge Rap” or dance as a colorful tropical fish in “The Coral Reef Calypso”!
The whole family can get in on the act!
The Ghost Net: An Environmental Musical of the Sea premiered in 1990 as part of an environmental expo – “The Visit of the Mimi” held at Captain’s Cove Seaport in Bridgeport, CT, which thousands of school children attended. With the invaluable input by marine biologist Barbara Whitman and other environmental educators, Leslie Elias created a play that has served as a powerful vehicle for promoting awareness of our planet’s rapidly depleting oceans and endangered marine life. Since 1990 the show has toured the United States, receiving rave reviews for its beautiful artistry and timely message.
Learn more grumblinggryphons.org
Coastal debris coordinator, Michele Klimczak has been collecting garbage on Fishers Island for about two decades – and full time for the FI Conservancy since 2018. In these past three years she has helped to remove more than 32,000 pounds of garbage from our shores, with no end in sight. Much of the trash Michele finds is tiny plastics that may be easy to overlook, but can be detrimental to our natural environment.
To learn more about how Michele’s efforts are so vital for the wildlife that inhabit our beach community and why more may need to done beyond our shores to help combat the growing problem, please see the article posted on Inside Climate News:
The ‘Sisyphus of Trash’ Struggles to Clean Relentless Waves of Plastic From a New York Island’s Beaches
Michele Klimczak’s passion for cleaning the beaches of Fishers Island led to a full-time, year-round job, but she still can’t keep up with the flood of plastic waste.
By Devin Speak
Inside Climate News
June 20, 2023
Photo Credit: Devin Speak
Individual Tickets and Sponsorship Opportunities Available! Please join us July 15th to celebrate the work we are doing together to conserve and preserve Fishers Island.