Natural History

Healthy Landscape Ecosystems

2026-03-19T06:49:34-04:00August 6th, 2025|Guest Speaker, Natural History|

Healthy Landscape Ecosystems Illustrated talk presented at the Museum July 27, 2025 by Jim Sirch, naturalist and President of the Connecticut Horticultural Society. Hosted by HLFM director Pierce Rafferty. Nature, like life, is about relationships. When you observe a tree in your landscape, what do you see? Do you

My Lifelong Osprey Studies: Scientific Adventures on Our Coast

2025-06-25T12:48:02-04:00June 25th, 2025|Natural History, Newsletter 2025|

My Lifelong Osprey Studies: Scientific Adventures on Our Coast by Paul R. Spitzer In the spring of 1968, I began a lifelong journey of scientific understanding based on Osprey field study. My Osprey mentors, ornithologist Roger Tory Peterson and his wife Barbara, had moved to Old Lyme, CT, in 1954,

Right Place, Right Plant – Native Plants and Practical Uses

2026-03-19T06:48:24-04:00June 19th, 2025|FISM, Guest Speaker, Natural History|

Right Place, Right Plant – Native Plants and Practical Uses Illustrated talk presented at the Museum May 24, 2025, by by FISM Coordinator, Hannah Vagts and guest speakers: Dr. Adam Mitchell, Terry McNamara, Dianne Crary, Diana Fiske, and Melie Spofford Co-hosted by HLFM director Pierce Rafferty and Tom Sargent, President, Fishers

Invasive Plant Guided Trail Walk: Clay Point Road Trail

2025-07-04T21:58:59-04:00October 22nd, 2024|Guided Walk, Land Trust, Museum News, Natural History, News, Volunteer|

Invasive Plant Guided Trail Walk: Clay Point Road Trail On Saturday, October 12, 2024, trail guides Terry McNamara and Diana Fiske led thirty community members on a guided trail walk through Clay Point Road Trail. The newer Land Trust trail had not yet undergone the extensive invasive plant management that other island trails

In Gardens We Trust: A Fishers Island Native Plant Chat

2025-01-14T09:30:37-05:00June 25th, 2024|FISM, Natural History|

In Gardens We Trust: A Fishers Island Native Plant Chat Presented at the Museum, May 25, 2024 by FISM Coordinator, Hannah Vagts and guest speakers: Terry McNamara, Dr. Adam Mitchell, Diana Fiske, and Dianne Crary By understanding the impact of our actions on land, we can make a significant difference. Non-native

Museum Adds Handicap-Accessiblity to Land Trust Nature Trails

2023-09-26T12:05:44-04:00September 23rd, 2023|Land Trust, Natural History, News|

A Handicap-Accessible path leads to a platform with a bench that overlooks Middle Farms Pond By Faith Coolidge Can you imagine wanting to enjoy the beauty of Middle Farms Pond but being unable to do so because of a mobility issue? A wonderful addition to the H.L Ferguson Museum’s

The Ken Edwards Wildlife Conservation Fund

2023-09-26T11:29:01-04:00September 6th, 2023|Natural History, News|

Fund created to recognize the work of former H.L. Ferguson Museum Board member and island conservationist Ken Edwards By Faith Coolidge Nearly every day, all year round, islander Ken Edwards can be found driving around the island in his pickup truck checking out different vantage points to observe bird life. For Ken, a day is

Fishers Island Biodiversity 2023 Report

2024-05-22T08:33:04-04:00August 4th, 2023|Featured, Land Trust, Natural History, News|

Fishers Island Biodiversity: Rare Species and Natural Communities of the Henry L. Ferguson Museum Land Trust New York Natural Heritage Program July 2023 The Henry L. Ferguson Museum contracted with the New York Natural Heritage Program (NYNHP) in early 2020 to conduct a two-year inventory of rare plants and animals

Chocomount Cove Property Restoration Station 1

2025-07-04T22:03:37-04:00May 2nd, 2023|Natural History, Volunteer|

Chocomount Cove Property Restoration Station 1: Area around the large rock at the Entrance to Chocomount Trail Reclaiming a Desert: The conservation value in this area has been compromised by English ivy vines, glossy buckthorn trees and the honeysuckle vines and bushes. The conservation goals are to replace non-native honeysuckles

ANNUAL EXHIBITION 2023

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F.I. Sketchbook 2005

THE SKETCHBOOKS OF CHARLIE FERGUSON

In the full sweep of Fishers Island’s history, there is no artist more synonymous, more closely associated with Fishers Island than Charles B. “Charlie” Ferguson. The main show features images from two of Charlie's sketchbooks which functioned as illustrated diaries that were filled with daily activities, nature observations, personal notes, and lots of art—drawings, sketches, and watercolors—in various states of completion.

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