Henry L. Ferguson Museum

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Returns to Fishers Island!
2025-08-07 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Fishers Island Theater
The Henry L. Ferguson Museum and Elizabeth and Richard Miller invite you for an update on local and global ocean climate issues by WHOI President and Director, Peter de Menocal and a presentation by Robert L. James Scientist Chair, Camrin Braun on Apex Ocean Predators.
WHEN: Thursday, August 7, 2025
TIME: Reception 5-6 p.m., Presentations 6-7 p.m.
PLACE: In-person at the F.I. Theater
Please note, this is an update to the presentation given in August of 2024 on “Waves of Change: Understanding both local and global ocean climate issues and unexpected solutions”.
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Dedication of the Janet Harvey Sanctuary & Opening of the Silver Eel-Race Point Coastal Trail
2025-08-10 09:00 - 10:00 | Ordnance
On August 2nd, we marked the 60th anniversary of the Henry L. Ferguson Museum Land Trust. Sixty years ago, H. “Lee” Ferguson proposed committing the Museum to a visionary path: to obtain vacant land as a nature sanctuary under the auspices of the Museum. This set the Museum on a path that we continue along to this day.
We invite you to join us for a milestone event in this journey: the dedication of the Museum’s newest coastal sanctuary. We are also celebrating an important community collaboration, the opening of a new public trail linking Silver Eel Cove to Race Point.
WHEN: Sunday, August 10th at 9 AM
WHERE: The Ordnance (road between Paddle Courts + FICC)
WHAT: Enjoy light breakfast fare, coffee, and juice, followed by brief remarks and a trail walk.
The Janet Harvey Sanctuary
Established thanks to a license from the Fishers Island Waste Management District, the Janet Harvey Sanctuary comprises five acres of coastal habitat and historic Fort Wright structures. It features sweeping views across Long Island Sound and inland toward two of Fort Wright’s historic batteries via a single trail accessible from either the Ordnance or runway side.
This sanctuary honors Janet Hardie Harvey, whose passion for nature and advocacy for public access resonate deeply with our mission.
The Silver Eel – Race Point Coastal Trail
This newly completed trail fulfills a long-held community goal: making the stunning West End coastline publicly accessible. Developed through collaboration with numerous partners—the Museum, the FI Waste Management District, the Ferry District, the FI Conservancy, and Brad and Mary Burnham, owners of the Ordnance property—it begins at the Lighthouse Works Public Art installation and travels along Ferry Park, through the Ordnance, and into the Janet Harvey Sanctuary. From there, the trail leads to meadows, rocky shoreline, and historic emplacements, ending at Race Point.
After the Opening
At 4 PM, Museum Director Pierce Rafferty will present an illustrated lecture: “A Brief History of Land Use and Conservation on Fishers Island.” This informative talk surveys the island’s evolving relationship with its landscape, from early settlement to today’s active conservation initiatives—a fitting close to a landmark day.
As we reflect on six decades of conservation, we celebrate what this community has achieved: from one protected parcel to 400 acres of preserved habitat. From lone trail-cutters to a dedicated staff and coalition of partners, the Henry L. Ferguson Museum Land Trust is stronger than ever.
We hope to see you on Sunday.
Green Trail with a Blue View. Photo credit: Mike McNamara

A Brief History of Land Use and Conservation on Fishers Island
2025-08-10 16:00 - 17:00 | NY
Join us for an illustrated talk by Museum director Pierce Rafferty, who will survey the history of land use on Fishers Island since first European settlement before turning his focus to land conservation efforts on our island from the mid-1960s to date.
This talk will encompass both the origins and evolution of the Museum’s Land Trust and its trail network, and the FI Conservancy’s project to convert the former Fort Wright Parade Ground into a meadow – a model for restoration and successful invasive species management in an eastern grassland.
WHEN: Sunday, August 10, 2025
TIME: 4 p.m.
PLACE: In person at the Museum, 2nd floor, and virtual via zoom
Reception to follow.
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Large color aerial photograph on display in the Museum lobby on which properties now preserved via the Land Trust are marked. Total acreage protected from development under Land Trust auspices, either directly or through conservation easements, now exceeds 377 acres, more than 13% of the Island’s land mass when you exclude the water surface area.

WOODLAND TRAILS, Fishers Island – New York. Circa 1966. This early East End trail network was created by Matty Matthiessen and friends.

Queen Anne’s Lace on the Parade Grounds, August 2, 2018. Photograph by Jane T. Ahrens

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FIND 2025 (MORNING PROGRAM)
2025-08-11 09:00 - 2025-08-15 12:00 | NY
FISHERS ISLAND NATURE DISCOVERY
2025 – The 6th Year of FIND
A Week (5 DAYS from 9 AM to NOON) of Learning Programs for Young Island Naturalists Ages 5 to 10.
FIND offers a week of learning programs for young Island naturalists on a variety of environmental topics relating to the natural history and stewardship of our Island.
Using the Ferguson Museum as a base, the programs provide an indoor/outdoor learning experience that introduces our children to the Island’s natural resources and some of the challenges faced in maintaining its fragile ecology. Led by educators, the children discover the Island’s natural history through a combination of hands-on exploration, observation, and interpretation.
WHEN: The 2025 FIND program will run for one week from August 11 to August 15; Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon.
WHO: 20 children max, all between the ages of 5 to 10. Depending on numbers, attendees will either be in one group, or split into two groups by age.
Each group will be led by educator/s from the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center (DPNC), assisted at times by Museum staff and guest naturalists.
WHERE: Outdoor locations will vary based on the daily plan, but will include Fishers Island’s beaches, woods, and ponds. Indoor learning will take place at the Museum and will include art and science projects related to the daily subject matter.
COST: The cost per participant is $400 for the week. To promote group cohesion and learning, we encourage all participants to attend all five sessions.
REGISTRATION: Please call the Museum (631-788-7239) or e-mail info@fergusonmuseum.org to reserve a spot for your child/children (and note the FIND program and the name and age of the attendee/s). The registration and payment form will then be sent to you.
This is a wonderful opportunity for young children to develop a love of nature and ecology through participatory learning both at the Museum and in the field.

Rewild Your Yard
2025-08-12 17:30 | Fishers Island Library
Join us for an illustrated talk by naturalist Murray Fisher to learn about his effort to “rewild” half of his yard in Westchester County and the transformation experience it has been for him and his family.
WHEN: Tuesday, August 12, 2025
TIME: 5:30 pm
PLACE: In person at the FI Library
At 60 million acres, the American lawn is the largest and most intensely managed “crop”. Murray’s goal is to help others see the immense opportunity these lawns provide for not only creating habitat for wildlife and sequestering carbon but for fostering deep connections to the natural world.
Murray is the co-founder of the New York Harbor School and the Billion Oyster Project, a Trustee of the H.L. Ferguson Museum, and a partner in Plan it Wild.
The program is co-hosted by the Fishers Island Library.

Summer at the Pond
2025-08-13 14:00 - 15:00 | NY
Explore a pond habitat and understand the metamorphosis of pond animals.
Meet the Nature Center’s frog, turtle and insect residents and learn how these animals are enjoying the muddy water. Use nets to explore the pond behind the museum! Please dress to get muddy!
WHEN: Wednesday, August 13, 2025
TIME: 2 to 3 p.m.
LOCATION: In person at the Museum
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center (DPNC) family program for ages five and up.
Suggested donation $10.

All Wednesday children’s programs are in person at the Museum.
Attendance is limited to 15 children so advance registration is recommended.
Please phone: 631-788-7239 or email info@fergusonmuseum.org
(note the name and date of the specific program and the name and age of the attendee/s).
PHOTO CREDIT: Painted turtle, David Small, USFWS

Guided Nature Walk
2025-08-14 10:30 | NY
August naturalist-led nature walks will be held on Thursday mornings (unless posted).
Meet at the Museum @ 10:30 a.m.

Museum Land Trust Nature Trails

Amphibians of Fishers Island and the Surrounding Region
2025-08-17 16:00 - 17:00 | NY
Join us for an illustrated talk by Kim Hargrave, Executive Director, Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center as we explore the diverse salamander and frog species of our area.
Delve into the amazing life cycles of these creatures, from their aquatic beginnings to their terrestrial or semi-aquatic adult forms. Learn how to identify common species and have a chance to see live amphibians up close. We will also discuss the challenges amphibians face, including habitat loss, climate change and pollution. You will gain a deeper appreciation for these often-overlooked creatures and their crucial role as an indicator species in the ecosystem.
WHEN: Sunday, August 17, 2025
TIME: 4 p.m.
PLACE: In person at the Museum, second floor and virtual, via zoom

Join Zoom WebinarKim Hargrave, a native of Ledyard, CT, and a graduate of UMass Amherst in Natural Resources joined the Nature Center in 1998 as an educator and has since excelled as Education Director. Kim has played a key role in designing and implementing educational programs that inspire environmental stewardship and engagement. Earlier this year, she assumed the role of interim Executive Director.
Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) Photo by bedfordnaturalist (Murray Fisher)
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Owl Prowl
2025-08-20 14:00 - 15:00 | NY
Meet a live owl in an up-close encounter! Learn about owls native to the area and explore the unique adaptations that make them the perfect predators of the night. Touch owl artifacts and create an owl craft to take home.
WHEN: Wednesday, August 20, 2025
TIME: 2 to 3 p.m.
LOCATION: In person at the Museum
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center (DPNC) family program for ages five and up.
Suggested donation $10.

All Wednesday children’s programs are in person at the Museum.
Attendance is limited to 15 children so advance registration is recommended.
Please phone: 631-788-7239 or email info@fergusonmuseum.org
(note the name and date of the specific program and the name and age of the attendee/s).
PHOTO CREDIT: Eastern Screech-Owl, USFWS

Guided Nature Walk
2025-08-21 10:30 | NY
August naturalist-led nature walks will be held on Thursday mornings unless posted.
Meet at the Museum @ 10:30 a.m.
We apologize that the Nature Walk for August 21st has been cancelled.
Museum Land Trust Nature Trails

Dialogues: Harriet Brickman & Jenny Dixon
2025-08-22 17:30 - 19:00 | NY
Artist Harriet Brickman sits down with Jenny Dixon, former Director of the Noguchi Museum, to revisit Passages: Beach Forms, a site-specific public artwork Brickman created on South Beach, Fishers Island, in 1980. Their conversation will explore the work’s origins, its connection to place, and its resonance more than four decades later.
WHEN: Friday, August 22, 2025
TIME: 5:30 p.m. Reception | 6:00 p.m. Conversation
PLACE: In-person at the Museum, 2nd floor
Please note, the Special Exhibition “Passages: A Public Sculpture Over Time, 1980–2025” currently on display at the 2nd Floor Side Gallery, chronicles the changes over time to this 1980 South Beach environmental art sculpture by artist Harriet Brickman.
This event is co-sponsored with Lighthouse Works

Birds at Rest
2025-08-24 16:00 - 17:00 | NY
Everybody enjoys watching birds during the daytime, but what do they do at night, when they seem to disappear? Join us for an illustrated talk by noted ornithologist and author, Roger Pasquier, to learn about how birds have evolved unique sleep habits to match their intensely energetic lifestyle.
WHEN: Sunday, August 24, 2025
TIME: 4 p.m.
PLACE: In person at the Museum and virtual via zoom
Reception and book signing to follow. Signed copies of Roger’s book, “Birds at Rest: The Behavior and Ecology of Avian Sleep”, will be available for purchase.
Join Zoom WebinarBirds need sleep as much as we do, but instead of long stretches of obliviousness, they sleep in short bouts of several seconds or a few minutes, waking up to look around for danger, and then going back to sleep. To increase their vigilance, birds can sleep shutting off only half their brain and one eye at a time, leaving them able to respond instantly to any alarm. The social habits of sleeping birds are also distinctive. Most are solitary, some sleep in pairs or families, while others gain advantages of warmth, safety, and even social needs like finding a mate, by joining in flocks, not to mention guidance on where to get breakfast the next day.
Roger will discuss the evolution and benefits of sleep, focusing on how birds find shelter, keep warm, and stay alert, and recent discoveries that some birds can spend weeks and months in the air, sleeping while in flight. Human impacts like artificial light and noise as well as climate change, however, are changing how and where birds can get a good night’s rest.
Roger Pasquier, a lifelong birder, is an associate in the Department of Ornithology at the American Museum of Natural History. He is a regular visitor to Fishers Island, where he has added a few species to the list of birds found here. He has spoken at the Museum on two of his previous books, Painting Central Park and Birds in Winter: Surviving the Most Challenging Season. Roger’s career has been in ornithology and in conservation, at BirdLife International, World Wildlife Fund-US, Environmental Defense Fund, and National Audubon Society. He is the author of several other books on art history and on birds. Roger is a native New Yorker. His favorite birding places include Central Park and the Peruvian rainforest.
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Inspect an Insect
2025-08-27 14:00 - 15:00 | NY
Gain an appreciation for the diversity of insects as we examine insect specimens, meet a live insect and use nets to see what insects are living outside of the museum!
WHEN: Wednesday, August 27, 2025
TIME: 2 to 3 p.m.
LOCATION: In person at the Museum
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center (DPNC) family program for ages five and up.
Suggested donation $10.

All Wednesday children’s programs are in person at the Museum.
Attendance is limited to 15 children so advance registration is recommended.
Please phone: 631-788-7239 or email info@fergusonmuseum.org
(note the name and date of the specific program and the name and age of the attendee/s).
PHOTO CREDIT: Hissing cockroach, tychay, creative commons

Guided Nature Walk
2025-08-28 10:30 | NY
August naturalist-led nature walks will be held on Thursday mornings unless posted.
Meet at the Museum @ 10:30 a.m.
We apologize that the Nature Walk for August 28th has been cancelled.
MUSEUM LAND TRUST NATURE TRAILS

Fort H.G. Wright and the Defense of the Race
2025-08-31 16:00 - 17:00 | NY
Join us for an illustrated talk on the history of Fort H.G. Wright by Terrance McGovern, author of eight books on fortifications and long-time officer of the Coast Defense Study Group.
WHEN: Sunday, August 31, 2025.
TIME: 4 p.m.
PLACE: Virtual Live Stream at the Museum, 2nd Floor and via zoom.
Reception to follow.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the upcoming illustrated talk on the history of Fort H.G. Wright by Terrance McGovern will now be VIRTUAL-ONLY. For those who still wish to connect with the community, we’re hosting a watch party at the Museum! We encourage you to join us for the live stream playing on the big screen, followed by a live, virtual Q&A session with the speaker, and a reception to follow.
For those who wish to watch from home, please join the live stream:
Join Zoom WebinarTerry will trace the role of the fort in the defense of the eastern entrance of Long Island Sound from its founding in 1900 to its deactivation in 1949, followed by the sale and transfer of properties in 1958. The presentation will explore how the fort was first developed as part of a chain of forts defending the Race and remained a very active post through two world wars. Components of the fort to be examined include its 12 gun emplacements, controlled mine defenses, small arms ranges, various buildings, and its small airfield.
Terrance McGovern has authored eight books and numerous articles on fortifications, four of those books being for Ospreys Fortress Series (American Defenses of Corregidor and Manila Bay 1898 1945; Defenses of Pearl Harbor and Oahu 1907 50; American Coastal Defenses 1885 1950; Defenses of Bermuda 1612-1995). He has also published 12 books on coast defense and fortifications through Redoubt Press or CDSG Press. Terry was Chairman of the US-based Coast Defense Study Group and continues to be a long-time officer. He has also been the editor of the Fortress Study Group annual journal, FORT. He is a director of the International Fortress Council, the Council on America s Military Past, Fort Miles Historical Association, and International Naval Research Organization. He is also an appointed Trustee for the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Fort Monroe Authority Board.

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An Evening for the Garden
2025-09-06 18:30 - 20:30 | NY
Join us at the Museum as we celebrate the cultivation of community on the island through the continued support of the Fishers Island Community Garden.
WHAT: Wine, hors d’oeuvres, and raffle.
WHEN: Saturday, September 6, 2025.
TIME: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
PLACE: In person at the Museum, 2nd Floor
The Garden is a beneficial place for us all; pollinators, plants, and people alike as it continues to provide the community with organically grown produce, educational opportunities, and fun events that provide the platform for connection.
Tickets are $40/person. 100% of all proceeds are sown right back into the garden!
Purchase TicketsThis event is co-hosted with the Fishers Island Community Garden

Insights into the Hidden Lives of Terns and Gulls
2025-09-14 16:00 - 17:00 | NY
Join us for an illustrated talk by Dr. Peter Paton, Professor, Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, who will present on current research activities on neighboring Great Gull Island, the breeding and nesting home to 11,000 pairs of Common Terns and 2,200 pairs of endangered Roseate Terns.
WHEN: Sunday, September 14, 2025
TIME: 4 p.m.
PLACE: In person at the Museum and virtual via zoom
Join Zoom WebinarUsing recent advances in tracking technology, scientists and volunteers are monitoring not only annual migration from Great Gull to wintering haunts in Argentina and Brazil, but also daily foraging trips to Montauk and Napatree, a journey of 16+ miles, to capture fish for their nesting chicks. Recent discoveries of migratory patterns of Great Black-backed Gulls nesting on South Dumpling and Block Island will also be revealed. This talk will remind us all what amazing feathered neighbors we have!
Photos courtesy of Peter Paton

Roseate Tern with antenna at base of tail

Roseate tern with sandlance

Roseate Tern feeding chick

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Taking Manhattan
2025-09-28 16:00 - 17:00 | NY
Join us for an illustrated talk with renowned historian and author of The Island at the Center of the World, Russell Shorto, who will introduce us to “Taking Manhattan” his new riveting narrative that chronicles the birth of New York City in 1664 after England decided to invade the Dutch-controlled city of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island.
Bristling with vibrant characters, Taking Manhattan reveals the founding of New York to be an invention, the result of creative negotiations between Richard Nicholls, the military officer who led the threatening English flotilla, and Peter Stuyvesant, New Netherland’s canny director general. The New York that emerged from their peaceful talks blended the multiethnic, capitalistic society of New Amsterdam with the power of the rising English empire.
WHEN: Sunday, September 28, 2025
TIME: 4 p.m.
PLACE: In person at the Museum and virtual via zoom
Reception and book signing to follow
Join Zoom WebinarThe birth of what might be termed the first modern city is also a story of the brutal dispossession of Native Americans and of the roots of American slavery. The book draws from newly translated materials and illuminates neglected histories—of religious refugees, Indigenous tribes, and free and enslaved Africans. Taking Manhattan tells the riveting story of the birth of New York City as a center of capitalism and pluralism, a foundation from which America would rise. It also shows how the paradox of New York’s origins—boundless opportunity coupled with subjugation and displacement—reflects America’s promise and failure to this day. Russell Shorto, whose work has been described as “astonishing” (New York Times) and “literary alchemy” (Chicago Tribune), has once again mined archival sources to offer a vibrant tale and a fresh and trenchant argument about American beginnings.

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Invasive Plant Guided Trail Walk
2025-10-11 13:00 - 14:00 | NY
Join us for a guided walk on Chocomount Hill Trail – one of the newest HLFM Land Trust trails, and learn how to identify and remove invasive plants.
Our guides will help you develop the practical skills required to improve the Fishers Island native landscape on your property!
WHEN: Saturday, October 11, 2025
TIME: 1-2 pm
PLACE: Meet at the Museum @ 12:30 pm before proceeding to carpool to Chocomount Hill Trail.
Light refreshments and Q&A at the end of the trail walk!
DRESS: We recommend long pants, long sleeves, and gloves to protect yourself from thorns and poison ivy.
This event is free, but please register so we know you’re coming!
REGISTER FOR FREE!Please let us know when you register for the event, if you have or do not have a FIDCO sticker to get to the east side of the island so we can coordinate rides!
Did you know that some invasive plants are easier to identify and remove during the fall? During this walk we will help you develop the practical skills required to improve the Fishers Island native landscape on your property!
Why Chocomount Hill Trail?
The HLFM Land Trust works diligently to remove invasive plants from their properties, but as a newer trail, it has not yet undergone the extensive invasive plant management that other trails have benefited from. This gives us a unique opportunity to find many species of invasive plants in one, short, easily accessed trail! We want to take advantage of this moment to share this experience with the Fishers Island community.
Our incredible guides have many years of experience removing invasive plants on Fishers Island. As they guide you through the Chocomount Hill Trail, they will:

Point out invasive plants
Describe how they identified them and distinguished them from native plants
Demonstrate what they would do when removing them
Provide the ideal timeline for the invasive plant’s removal

This event is organized by the Fishers Island Seagrass Management Coalition and sponsored by the Henry L. Ferguson Museum.
ABOVE PHOTO CREDIT: Diana Fiske leads community members on a guided trail walk through Clay Point Road Trail on Saturday, October 12, 2024.

PHOTO CREDIT: Chocomount Hill Trail, August 7, 2025, by Molly Heeney.
Learn more.
Chocomount Hill Trail2024 Invasive Plant Guided Trail Walk: Clay Point Road Trail

Citizen Science Day
2025-10-19 12:30 | NY
Join us at the Museum for a celebration of work by the community. Hear about the efforts of volunteers to gather data and conduct important conservation work on the Land Trust. Attendees will learn about various citizen science opportunities and what the initial data shows us about flora and fauna on Fishers Island.
WHEN: Sunday, October 19, 2025
TIME: 12:30 p.m.
PLACE: In person at the Museum and virtual via zoom
Lunch will be provided. Optional guided trail walk to follow.
Please RSVP to Jessica NeJame at jnejame@fergusonmuseum.org by Friday, October 17.
Join via ZoomMeeting ID: 864 5248 2130
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PHOTO CREDIT: In 2020 a group of 15 masked and distanced bird watchers got a perfect day for migrating hawks and songbirds (and a few Monarch butterflies and dragonflies) – Northwest winds following a front.
Photograph by Pierce Rafferty

Bunker Clearing
2025-11-01 09:00 - 11:30 | NY
Join us at the Janet Harvey Sanctuary to help with our continued efforts to liberate historic Battery Hamilton and Battery Hoffman from vines and other vegetation. Meet next to the Ordnance. Lunch will be provided for volunteers.
When: Saturday, November 1, 2025
Time: 9:00 – 11:30 am
Place: Meet next to the Ordnance
Please RSVP to Scott Reid at bsr1265@gmail.com or 646-431-8536 by end of day Friday so that we can get a count for lunch.
PHOTO CREDIT: Battery clearing February 1, 2025 by Kate Stevens.

Backyard Birding with Ken
2025-11-02 09:00 | NY
Join us for coffee, tea, pastries, and birdwatching with local naturalist Ken Edwards, Sr.
When: Sunday, November 2, 2025
Time: 9 am
Place: At the Museum, Gazebo (back deck)
Ken is well-known on the Island and beyond for his wide breadth of wildlife knowledge and his particular passion for birds. Together, we’ll watch the feeder at the Museum gazebo and learn from Ken’s expertise. All ages welcome.

20th Annual Thanksgiving Trail Clearing, Beach Clean Up
2025-11-28 14:00 - 16:00 | NY
The Henry L. Ferguson Museum
Presents the
20th Annual
Thanksgiving Trail Clearing, Beach Clean Up, Invasive Removal
Friday, November 28, 2025
WE NEED YOUR HELP! You and your family and friends are invited to join the rest of the HLFM community for some hale and hearty in-the-field-fellowship on the Friday afternoon after Thanksgiving. Together we’ll clear invasives from bunker emplacements and trails, de-vine trees, and pick up debris along the beach. It’s a wonderful tradition, now in its 20th year—as good for the soul as it is for the Island. ALL are WELCOME!
WHERE / WHAT:
Be sure to arrive promptly at 2 p.m. for hot cider and autumn treats as you get your team assignments and pep talk from Board Member Scott Reid before proceeding to the Museum’s Land Trust trails and beaches. This year we will be expanding assignments to include invasive plant control in order to clear vines on select trails such as the bunker emplacements along the new coastal trail, as well as clean-ups at several beach areas.
TOOLS:
Please bring tools you can handle safely (clippers, loppers, etc.) NO CHAINSAWS. We will provide heavy-duty garbage bags for beach and path cleaning.
DRESS:
We suggest you wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, socks and gloves to battle beastly thorns and poison ivy.
Please take photos of your team in action and share them with the Museum.
“OYSTERS AFTER” PARTY (approximately 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.):
All participants are invited immediately thereafter to a post-clearing party AT THE MUSEUM to enjoy drinks and oysters. Thanks to Fishers Island Oyster Farm, Summer Shuckers, Bottlerocket, and Fishers Island Lemonade for their generous sponsorship of this festive Island tradition.
Oysters on deck, H.L.F. Museum, Thanksgiving weekend, November 26, 2021.
Photo by Wendy O’Neil.
For further information please contact:
Scott Reid
646.431.8536
bsr1265@gmail.com
or
Pierce Rafferty
631.788.7239
info@fergusonmuseum.org
Happy Thanksgiving!

Nature Crafts: Outdoor Ornaments for the Birds
2025-12-20 13:00 - 14:00 | NY
Celebrate the season with a cozy crafting session at the Museum! Join us to create beautiful, nature-inspired outdoor ornaments that not only brighten your yard but also provide food for local birds.
WHEN: Saturday, December 20, 2025
TIME: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
PLACE: In-person at the Museum, second floor
Supplies will be provided, along with hot cocoa to keep you warm while you work. Participants will take their handcrafted ornaments home at the end of the workshop.
All are welcome at this family friendly activity. Children should be accompanied by an adult.

13th Annual HLFM Holiday Party
2025-12-22 17:00 - 19:00 | NY
Join us for an evening of Holiday cheer,
convivial conversations,
and tasty light fare by Karla Heath.
Adults and children of all ages are welcome,
as are visiting relatives and house guests!
While at the Museum, be sure to visit (or revisit)
the 2025 Annual Exhibit
The Cottage Colonies of Fishers Island
generously sponsored by Altus Partners.
We hope to see you at the Museum!

A Brief History of Land Use and Conservation on Fishers Island (Re-broadcast)
2026-02-01 16:00 - 17:00 | NY
HLFM Director Pierce Rafferty will host a virtual-only re-broadcast of his recorded illustrated talk “A Brief History of Land Use and Conservation on Fishers Island” in which he surveyed the history of land use on Fishers Island since first European settlement before turning his focus to land conservation efforts on our island from the mid-1960s to date.
This virtual talk encompasses both the origins and evolution of the Museum’s Land Trust and its trail network, and the FI Conservancy’s project to convert the former Fort Wright Parade Ground into a meadow – a model for restoration and successful invasive species management in an eastern grassland.
WHEN: Sunday, February 1, 2026
TIME: 4 p.m.
PLACE: VIRTUAL via zoom
Join Zoom WebinarPLEASE NOTE: This recorded talk was first presented by Pierce at the Museum on August 10, 2025 – a day celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Museum’s Land Trust.

Large color aerial photograph on display in the Museum lobby on which properties now preserved via the Land Trust are marked. Total acreage protected from development under Land Trust auspices, either directly or through conservation easements, now exceeds 377 acres, more than 13% of the Island’s land mass when you exclude the water surface area.

WOODLAND TRAILS, Fishers Island – New York. Circa 1966. This early East End trail network was created by Matty Matthiessen and friends.

Queen Anne’s Lace on the Parade Grounds, August 2, 2018. Photograph by Jane T. Ahrens

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Lunch and Learn: Osprey Nation
2026-02-27 12:45 - 14:00 | NY
Join us at the Henry L. Ferguson Museum for lunch and a remote presentation on Osprey populations from the Connecticut Audubon Society’s Milan “Miley” Bull. Milan will describe how Osprey Nation volunteers “adopt” nearby nests and collect data like arrival dates, nesting success, and departure dates, and what that data tells us about Connecticut Osprey.
When: Friday, February 27, 2026 (NEW DATE!)
Time: Lunch at 12:45 pm, Lecture at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Place: At the Museum, 2nd floor and virtual, via zoom
Lunch will be provided at this free event. RSVP to Jessica NeJame at jnejame@fergusonmuseum.org.
Join Zoom WebinarMilan Bull is the Senior Director of Science and Conservation for the Connecticut Audubon Society. A long-time expert with over 60 years of birding experience, he leads EcoTravel expeditions and directs conservation, habitat improvement, and research projects. Milan holds a B.S. in wildlife management from the University of Connecticut and an M.S. in biology from the University of Bridgeport. He is also a contributor to the society’s “Bird Finder” guide.
Osprey with fish photograph by Todd McCormack
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A Most Curious Shorebird: Secrets of the American Woodcock Revealed
2026-03-22 15:00 - 16:00 | NY
Join us at the Museum for an illustrated talk by Scott R. McWilliams, professor at the University of Rhode Island. The American Woodcock is a common (but declining) inhabitant of New England though this shorebird has abandoned the shores for the forests. Yet few of us have seen or heard this secretive bird, and even fewer know about the woodcocks’ way of life and how our land use over time has affected their populations. The secrets of this secretive shorebird will be revealed including its migration patterns, its unique mating system, its habitat needs, and how we can manage lands for their benefit.
When: Sunday, March 22, 2026
Time: 3-4 pm
Place: At the Museum, 2nd floor and virtual, via zoom
Scott McWilliams with Peregrine falcon
Prior to coming to URI, Scott McWilliams was a Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Wisconsin (Madison). Scott earned his PhD from University of California at Davis where he studied the physiological ecology of arctic-nesting geese, and an MSc from Iowa State University where he studied the behavioral ecology of a threatened species of salamander. Scott earned a BA in Biology from Hiram College (Ohio). His research group primarily focuses on the nutrition, physiology, and ecology of wild vertebrates, with an emphasis on migratory birds of conservation interest. Current research topics include the physiology and ecology of songbirds during migration; habitat use, diet, and nutrition of arctic-nesting geese, sea ducks, and migratory songbirds; forest management to support healthy bird populations; exercise physiology of long-distance migratory songbirds; effects of climate change on migratory birds; how offshore wind farms affect migratory birds.

American Woodcock photo by David Small, USFWS

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Firefly: A Solar Electric Boat
2026-04-12 16:00 - 17:00 | NY
Join us for a VIRTUAL ONLY illustrated talk by Don Baugh, President and Founder of Upstream Alliance, and Ronnie Vesnaver, Director of Regional Programs and Partnerships, to learn about the innovative solar-electric vessel, Firefly. It will be the first U.S. Coast Guard-approved passenger vessel powered by lithium iron phosphate batteries — marking a major step forward for carbon-neutral transportation on the water. Get the inside scoop on the construction of Firefly and the impactful programs it will provide.
WHEN: Sunday, April 12, 2026
TIME: 4-5 p.m.
PLACE: Virtual via zoom
Join Zoom WebinarFirefly is a 49-foot, fully electric, aluminum catamaran being custom built by Lyman-Morse boatbuilding in Maine. Designed to be quiet, smooth, and totally emissions-free – to get people out on the water in a clean and sustainable way. With solar panels on the roof and a wide, stable platform, it’s ideal for hands-on learning, group trips, and connecting with nature — while showcasing what the future of boating can look like. Whether you care about innovation in marine technology or empowering communities through education, Firefly is more than just a boat. It’s a flagship vessel for the Mid-Atlantic — a bold example of what’s possible when carbon-neutral design meets real-world impact. From students testing water quality to scientists studying river health, Firefly will help bring a new generation of stories to life—on the water.
Don Baugh is a national leader in environmental education programs and policies. Don’s hallmark is connecting students, educators and leaders to nature through life-changing field experiences. His career includes 38 years directing education programs at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, founding the No Child Left Inside Coalition, and leading the consulting firm Environmental Leadership Strategies. The impacts of Don’s work are far-reaching. He directed 19 education centers, providing field investigation experiences to over 1,000,000 students. The No Child Left Inside coalition Don founded brought together 2,250 environmental groups, reaching 50,000,000 constituents. The partnership begot the first ever statewide high school graduation requirement for environmental literacy. It produced historic funding advances for outdoor environmental education.
Ronnie Vesnaver is passionate about the history and environment of waterways. That passion has steered her toward a career in education and conservation. After graduating from Colby College, Ronnie taught at the Pennington School in New Jersey. While there, she earned a masters in Environmental History at Rutgers University focusing her research on coastal and ocean history. Ronnie spent summers working on the schooner Mystic Whaler and is an alum of the Williams-Mystic maritime studies program. In 2020, she moved to the Eastern Shore of Maryland to join the Gunston School where she taught humanities for, and later directed, the Chesapeake Watershed Semester, a place-based experiential semester program. Ronnie has enjoyed that her career has allowed her to share the history and environments she loves with others.

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Community Art: Wrapped in Nature
2026-04-14 17:00 - 18:00 | NY
Join us at the Museum for an engaging community art project with Lighthouse Works resident Laurie Lambrecht. Together, we will connect with nature and art by wrapping driftwood with colorful wool yarn to create an adorned nest for the Museum’s Osprey statue.
All ages are welcome at this hands-on event. Driftwood and yarn will be provided, but feel free to bring your own (wool yarn preferred for this outdoor installation please).
When: Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Time: 5-6 pm
Place: In-person only. At the Museum, 2nd floor
Laurie Lambrecht is a visual artist working in photography and fiber, merging observation of the natural world with tactile, hand worked processes. Her photographs are held in the collections of the National Gallery of Art, the Center for Creative Photography, and the Parrish Art Museum, and she has presented solo exhibitions in the United States and abroad. In the early 1990s she served as administrative assistant to Roy Lichtenstein while photographing the artist and his studio, later published as Roy Lichtenstein in His Studio (Monacelli Press, 2011). Lambrecht has created site-specific outdoor installations at the Madoo Garden Conservancy, the Watermill Center, and the Nassau County Museum of Art, and is the recipient of two recent NYSCA project grants. Her monograph Texere will be published by Radius Books in late spring 2026.
This event is co-sponsored with Lighthouse Works
