STATION VI Betty Matthiessen Wildlife Sanctuary As the trail turns inland, away from the pond and up the hill, you may see and hear migrant and resident songbirds that nest in the sanctuary during the breeding season between late April and July, including Gray Catbird, Eastern Towhee, and Black-capped Chickadee.
STATION V Betty Matthiessen Wildlife Sanctuary The path leaving the freshwater pond intersects the outer trail loop along the northern edge of Island Pond. This site provides an opportunity to see shorebirds and raptors that frequent the pond and feed on marine fauna. Depending on the time of year, possible
STATION IV Betty Matthiessen Wildlife Sanctuary This little pond (0.4 acres) contains fresh water rather than the brackish water that surrounds the sanctuary peninsula and therefore attracts a distinctly different biota. Green frogs, pickerel frogs, spring peepers, snapping turtles, and painted turtles, common residents of inland ponds, are found here,
STATION III Betty Matthiessen Wildlife Sanctuary At the trail junction, notice a grove of tall pepperidge (also known as black gum, sour gum, or tupelo), a member of the dogwood family that often forms pure stands in coastal forests. Pepperidge has a distinctive branching pattern, with horizontal or declining lower
STATION II Betty Matthiessen Wildlife Sanctuary Away from the pond edge, dense shrubby thickets border the trail. The shrubs include an interesting mix of species, with those more tolerant of wet conditions occurring at lower elevations. Here, we find sweet pepperbush, a deciduous shrub recognized throughout the year by persistent
STATION I Betty Matthiessen Wildlife Sanctuary Springtime visitors to Fishers Island will notice shadbush, also called shadblow, juneberry, or serviceberry, blooming in late April and early May. Clusters of pinkish buds open to white flowers before the leaves emerge, enriching the landscape and reminding us that things will soon be
Henry L. Ferguson Museum Restructures Leadership Team; Welcomes Kate Stevens as Executive Director By Faith Coolidge, Henry L. Ferguson Museum Board of Trustees Member Looking ahead to its future, the Henry L. Ferguson Museum and Land Trust has revamped its leadership to add the position of executive director. The Museum
A grackle chick visits the osprey nest at Middle Farms The osprey mom watches the grackle chick as it leaves the nest on June 4, 2025. In the early evening on June 3, 2025 the ospreycam at Middle Farms nest captured the osprey mom watching a grackle chick break free
The osprey dad delivers fish and receives viewing of third chick on June 4, 2025. On June 4, 2025 the ospreycam at Middle Farms nest captured the third chick hatching from its egg – 2 days after the second chick hatched. The video clips below capture some of the nest activities
The osprey couple with their two chicks June 3, 2025. On June 2, 2025 the ospreycam at Middle Farms nest captured the second chick hatching from its egg – 2 days after the first chick hatched. Neighboring grackle continued to harass the parents as they provided fish for the chicks and
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F.I. Sketchbook 2005
