As the summer progresses, the shorebird nesting season on island is winding down. This year’s monitoring included a mix of hopeful success and continued challenges. Here’s an overview of what we’ve seen so far, what remains, and how we can all play a role in protecting these sensitive species!
South Beach – Fencing Removal Coming Soon
Piping Plover pair with fledged chick Photo captured by Emma C.
This site hosted two Piping Plover pairs this year. One pair fledged a single chick, while the other successfully fledged two. These are encouraging signs, especially considering the vulnerability of these birds during the early chick-rearing phase. With fledging confirmed, we’ll be removing the symbolic fencing that has been protecting these nests.
Important note: Even after the fencing is taken down, please be mindful in this area. Fledged chicks often remain nearby for foraging and safety, and plovers are known to return to the same beaches year after year. Continued low-impact presence by beachgoers and staying on wet sand, avoiding flagged areas, and leashing dogs makes a real difference!
Big Club Beach – No Nesting Observed
This season, we saw no nesting activity here. A single plover was observed foraging, but it never established a territory or attempted to nest. The most likely cause? Repeated human disturbance. This beach, though really suitable in habitat, remains a high-traffic area. Without safe nesting space, plovers simply move on.
The fencing at this site will also be removed. While there were no active nests, continued public education and future monitoring remain critical. Restoring this beach as a viable nesting site will depend on all of us recognizing the signs and minimizing our impact!
Beach Pond (Behind the Oyster Farm) – Still Active & Vital
Least Tern nesting captured by Anna W.
Known formally by NYSDEC as “Beach Pond,” this remote site has become a key refuge for both terns and plovers. So far this year:
- Three Least Tern nests have been confirmed, with two eggs in each (so far)
-
A Piping Plover pair has started their first nesting attempt, with a clutch of four eggs.
This site is unfenced due to its natural isolation and lack of public access, which reduces the risk of human-related disturbances. However, it is not free from threats… like gull predation. We have documented gulls interfering at the nest site, a common and difficult challenge for open-ground nesters like plovers and terns.
Eighth Hole Beach – Nesting Outside the Fence
4 Piping plover eggs (and a sneaky rock) captured by Anna W.
Here, a plover pair is attempting a second nest after an initial failure earlier this season. The symbolic fencing remains in place and will stay up until any chicks have safely fledged.
The new nest is located just outside the protected area, highlighting how nesting birds don’t always follow our boundaries. To adapt, we’ve marked the area with pink flags to signal nesting activity to beachgoers.
Please use caution when near this area. These nests are fragile and well-camouflaged. Even a single unintentional disturbance can cause adults to abandon their nest or lead predators directly to the eggs or chicks.
Mud Pond Beach (East Beach) – No Further Activity
After a failed nesting attempt in mid-June, no plovers have been seen at this site. It remains unfenced and inactive. While disappointing, this outcome isn’t unusual. Nesting success is heavily influenced by habitat conditions, predators, weather, and disturbances—all factors that fluctuate year to year.
This site will continue to be monitored in the seasons ahead. Even a site with no activity this year could become an important location in the future if conditions improve.
Stony Beach – Inactive Site
No Piping Plovers, no nests, and no activity observed during the entire season. This beach has remained quiet for plovers despite being historically suitable. We’ll continue to monitor it as part of our full island coverage.
This concludes our formal surveys for Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers, Terns, Skimmers, Gulls, and Wading Birds, carried out in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). Only a few active nests remain, and fencing at those sites will stay in place until the chicks have fully fledged!
We’ll continue to track those nests, and you may see team members conducting follow-up visits in the coming weeks.
What You Can Do
2 Least Tern eggs captured by Anna W.
Fishers Island is one of the few places where endangered and threatened coastal birds still have a chance to thrive. Every resident, visitor, and beachgoer plays a role in that success.
Here’s how you can help:
-
Respect fencing and signage. These protect active nests and give chicks the space they need.
-
Keep dogs leashed and avoid flagged or marked areas.
-
Stay on wet sand when walking along the beach.
-
Report unusual activity including predator sightings, off-leash dogs near nests, or unmarked nest scrapes.
Let’s continue working together to ensure these birds return next year and have the space and safety they need to raise their young.
receiving the first Conservancy medal, honoring his contributions to our understanding of biodiversity, conservation, and sustainable gardening practices. While on the island, Professor Tallamy will be giving an illustrated talk on native planting best practices, offering tours of the Parade Grounds, and will be available for some very limited home site visits. Dr. Tallamy has been a key advisor to the Fishers Island Conservancy in the transformation of the Parade Grounds, lending his ecological expertise and guiding the use of native plants to maximize insect and bird biodiversity. His contributions have helped shape the site into a living example of habitat restoration, and his involvement has inspired continued efforts to expand native planting across the island. The Parade Grounds and Demonstration Garden now serve not only as habitat but also as educational resources for visitors and residents alike.
Dr. Tallamy’s simple message that native plants support diverse insect populations, which help sustain birds and other wildlife, has resonated with home gardeners across the country. His seminal book, “Bringing Nature Home,” has garnered widespread acclaim and serves as a guide for homeowners, landscapers, and conservationists, encouraging the use of native plants in gardens and urban environments. His second book, Nature’s Best Hope, became a New York Times bestseller and further established his role as a national leader in ecological gardening and grassroots conservation.
promoting conservation and sustainability. He has collaborated with organizations like the National Wildlife Federation to develop programs that encourage home gardeners to create habitats for wildlife. He is also the co-founder of the Homegrown National Park initiative, a grassroots movement that encourages people to partially convert lawns into native plant gardens, reflecting his commitment to changing how we view and interact with our landscapes. His educational and environmental stewardship has inspired countless individuals to rethink their gardening practices and the ways they contribute to local ecosystems.
works to trap the cats for spay and neutering in order to control the population and improve the overall health of the feral cats going forward. Feral cats can destroy songbird populations. The FIWMD is committed to supporting the amazing work done by the Conservancy with the Parade Grounds bird sanctuary.
