Rare Species And Natural Communities Of Fishers Island with Matthew Schlesinger

Hosted by HLFM director Pierce Rafferty

In this recorded illustrated talk, Matthew Schlesinger, Chief Zoologist, NYNHP details some of the survey techniques and interesting discoveries from the first half of the 2021 field season that was part of a two-year biodiversity survey of the Museum’s Land Trust properties. It is a fascinating exposé of who and what is living in our backyards, and of interest to anyone who would like to know more about the unique and diverse flora and fauna all around us.

Building on the island’s legacy of natural history work and more recent biodiversity observations, scientists from the New York Natural Heritage Program (NYNHP) are working with the Museum to conduct this two-year biodiversity survey to identify and document the rare plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, bats, and other species. They are also mapping the Land Trust’s ecosystems.