Great Gull Island facts for kids
Great Gull Island is a small island, about 17-acre (6.9 ha) in size. It sits between Long Island Sound and Block Island Sound in New York. The island is located in Suffolk County, New York. It lies roughly halfway between Plum Island and Fishers Island. Great Gull Island is a very important place for many birds.
Island History
Great Gull Island is a major stop for birds flying along the Atlantic Flyway. For a long time, it was home to huge groups of nesting terns. But by the late 1800s, many birds were killed. This happened because of the hatmaking trade, where bird feathers were used for hats. Also, military forts were built on the island.
In 1897, a fort called Fort Michie was built on Great Gull Island. It was part of the plan to defend the coast of Long Island Sound. The military used this base from the Spanish–American War through World War II. It even had one of the biggest guns in the United States. This was a 16-inch gun that could hide itself after firing.
The American Museum of Natural History bought Great Gull Island on March 31, 1949. This started the Great Gull Island Project. It's a long-term effort by museum staff and volunteers. Their goal is to help the island's natural environment recover. Slowly, terns began to come back to the island to nest. Their numbers grew into one of the largest groups in the world for two types of terns.
Amazing Terns of Great Gull Island
During the summer, the most common bird on the island is the Common Tern (Sterna hirundo). These birds nest all over the flatter parts of the island. Scientists believe there are about 9,500 pairs of Common Terns nesting here.
Another important bird on Great Gull Island is the Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii). These terns mostly live in the ring of large rocks around the island's edges. The U.S. Army originally placed these rocks to stop the island from washing away. Roseate Terns are very good at using the small cracks and hidden spots in these rocks. Their young can quickly disappear between the stones. They only come out when a parent calls them. It's estimated that about 1,300 pairs of Roseate Terns live on the island.
Caring for the Island
The person who started and leads the Great Gull Island Project is Helen Hays. She has been managing the island since 1969. Joe DiCostanzo helps by keeping a detailed record of the birds. This database includes their family history, when they hatched, and where their nests are.
The Great Gull Island Program also works with several groups in Argentina. These groups watch the terns during the winter and spring months. Sometimes, people from Argentina visit the island to help get ready for "peak week." This is when thousands of tern chicks can hatch in just one day. To thank them for their help, the west end of the island is called "Little Argentina."
