Another nesting season is upon us!  The terns are starting to show up in greater numbers.  Thanks to Steve McGuire and others, I have been able to view the terns’ arrival

Setting the boxes

from my computer screen.  Only yesterday there were a couple hundred, but now I’d say it’s closer to a thousand.  With help from volunteers this spring, we’ve been able to make some improvements to the boat house, field blinds, and tern habitat found on the island.

U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Tern Boxes

The cadets from the Sustainability Club and USCGA staff helped us build a couple hundred chick shelters over the winter, as well as several boardwalk pieces.  Some of the shelters were transported out to the island to create hiding places for young terns during this breeding season, and all of the boardwalks have been installed to allow the crew passage through the vegetation without the risk of stepping on eggs or chicks.

Guilford Boy Scouts – Troop 474 – April 15-16

The boy scouts from Troop 474 helped us remove the old field observation blinds, clean and temporarily restore the boathouse floor, move trash and material off the island, and manage vegetation in prime tern habitat.  With their help, we were able to set-up the southwestern shelf for the terns.  This is one of the densest areas of common tern nests on the island.  Additionally, Joel Helander, Guilford’s town historian, visited the island to tell Falkner Island stories to the Boy Scout troop members.

Hebron Boy Scouts, Master Bird Conservationists, & Sound School – Troop 28 – April 27-28

New Blinds

Eric Saunders from Troop 28 completed his Eagle Scout project which was to build and install 5 field observation blinds on Falkner Island.  The new blinds are sturdier than their predecessors and have also been relocated to points on the island that will allow the summer crew better views of tern nesting locations.  The troop, Master Bird Conservationists (Julie and Peter), and Sound School students set-up nest boxes, cut trail, fixed fencing around the field station, and brought lots of pea gravel to the top of the northern portion of the island to create better tern habitat here.  This area was historically a roseate tern nesting site.  We are hoping that with the loss of habitat on the north spit, the roseates will chose this location as a substitute for breeding.

The Refuge Staff

The Refuge Staff also worked hard to get the island mowed, to rototill areas on the top southern portion of the island, to clean the field station, and to set up nest boxes and productivity plots.  The only things that remain to be done this spring are to install a screen door and windows in the field station and to put hardware onto the north spit blind.

There will always be things to do and ways to improve…but I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish this year to protect and create more habitat for the terns.  Thank you to everyone who helped!  We couldn’t have done it without you.

Stay tuned for our next blog…an introduction to our 2013 summer crew.

Last night Ryan Hanrahan from CT NBC News reported from and used used a bit of the feed in the newscast. After learning of the new Webcam he wanted to do a story on the hurricane Sandy damage to the island, so Rick Potvin, USFW Refuge manager for the island took him and Steve out on Tuesday morning. According to Steve, “There were already many nests and eggs, but the colony was not quite in full attack mode. It will be soon.” Work is still being done to repair the weather station, but for now we are all hoping for some good nesting conditions and out there. Enjoy!

Visit the Webcam often & invite everyone you know to support the Island with Memberships and Sponsorship. – Thank you

here is a link to the news story & the see the video…

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Hurricane-Sandy-Damage-Threatens-Wildlife_Hartford.html

View more videos at: http://nbcconnecticut.com.

Photos of Faulkner Island, taken in January 2013  show erosion to the island as a result of wave pounding and storm surge. This aerial slide show is presented courtesy of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary taken shortly after hurricane Irene in August 2011 for the purpose of assessing damage to the island from the pounding wave surge. The Coast Guard Auxiliary is a volunteer organization dedicated to assisting the US Coast Guard with its missions. The Auxiliary is prohibited from engaging in any military or law enforcement activities, however, it does assist the USCG with other activities. The Auxiliary is best known for its role in providing public education on boating safety but has many other missions. The Auxiliary aviation program is comprised of volunteer pilots and observers who fly missions in support of the Coast Guard using private aircraft. The focus of the flights is on safety, security and stewardship of the environment.

Disaster Relief Money Denied

On a related subject click on the link to read an article by Daniella Altimari, published in the Hartford Courant on February 20, 2013 regarding a congressional battle over funding for the storm repairs to the Stuart B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge  http://articles.courant.com/2013-02-19/news/hc-superstorm-sandy-refuge-money-20130219_1_outer-island-sandy-disaster-relief-bills.

All lectures are free and open to all.  Please register to reserve your place.

Guilford Free Library – 67 Park Street, Guilford, CT 06437

 (203) 453-8282 - www.guilfordfreelibrary.org

 Tuesday, January 29, 7:00pm 

Tom Andersen, author of  This Fine Piece of Water:  An Environmental History of Long Island Sound, presents Adrian Block Quadricentennial.

Learn about Block’s voyage and discovery in 1613 of Long Island Sound and the Connecticut River.  It is an adventure tale of mutinies, gun battles, burning ships, fierce economic competition and encounters with Native Americans.

 click here to register for this lecture

Tuesday, February 19, 7:00pm

Bart Mansi, Bud Harris & Frank Camarota discuss the Realities of Commercial Fishing   

If you’re considering quitting your day job because you think it would be romantic and exciting to become a commercial fisherman from Guilford, this is a must lecture that should not be missed. Bart Mansi, Bud Harris, and Frank Camarota will talk about the trials and tribulation of dealing with severe weather, failing equipment, and surprises the sea delivers.  You won’t believe what their trawlers haul in!

click here to register for this lecture

Tuesday, March 19, 7:00pm

Andy Weaver:  A Half Century as a Lobsterman on Long Island Sound

Andy Weaver, a Madison resident who has fished and lobstered in Long Island Sound for a half a century, will amuse you with many of his antidotes and challenges of hauling in lobsters as a commercial lobster man. Andy started using wooden pots which now have become collectables as coffee tables and finally switched to wire pots which have a longer life span. Andy maintained a contact with many of the personnel that keep the Faulkner’s light on. What is the present state of the Connecticut lobster industry? Why are prices of lobsters so low in Connecticut if the local catch has fallen so dramatically?

click here to register for this lecture

Tuesday, April 16, 7:00pm

Michael McBride, Museum Curator of the Henry Whitfield State Museum 

Michael McBride will do a costumed presentation as a 19th century light keeper on Faulkner’s Island. Step back in to history as the challenges in keeping the light on and maintaining a domicile in the harshest of conditions are brought to light.

 click here to register for this lecture 

First Place – Francis Arpaia, Brooklyn, NY

Second place Virginia Baltay Guilford, CT

Third Place Lynne Kerber,
Agawam, MA

Other entries received:

Thomas Jacob Southington, CT

Susan Lautier, Stratford, CT

Sarah Page Kyrcz, Madison, CT

H. Albino

Charles Lautier, Stratford, CT

Alexis

2012 Presidential Green Team

The White House Council on Environmental Quality recently announced the winners of the 2012 GreenGov Presidential Awards, honoring Federal agency teams and individuals who are taking innovative approaches to curbing waste, reducing energy use and saving taxpayer money in federal agency operations. Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge in Connecticut, as part of a team led by the United States Coast Guard Academy, won the 2012 GreenGov Presidential Award in the Green Dream Team category. The refuge developed a partnership with the Sustainability Club at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy to support roseate tern management efforts on Falkner Island. The Sustainability Club also coordinated with the Military Academy at West Point, the local government, the Boy Scouts, and area high schools.

Press release
Learn more about Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge

Published on: Thursday, September 27, 2012