Nonsuch Island, Bermuda facts for kids
Nonsuch Island is a small, special island in Bermuda. It is part of the many islands that make up Bermuda. You can find it in St George's Parish, in the northeast. This island is about 5.7 hectares (14 acres) big. It sits at the eastern entrance of Castle Harbour. It is also very close to Cooper's Island. Nonsuch Bay is a well-known spot on the island.
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Island History
Nonsuch Island has an interesting past. In 1865, it was used as a hospital. People with yellow fever were kept there to stop the sickness from spreading. There is still a small cemetery on the east side of the island from that time. Later, in 1930, the island became a base for a famous deep-sea dive. Scientists William Beebe and Otis Barton used Nonsuch Island for their amazing bathysphere dive. They explored the ocean's depths from here.
Wildlife and Conservation
Nonsuch Island is now a very important wildlife sanctuary. It has many trees and a small freshwater marsh. Because it is a sanctuary, public access to the island is very limited. This helps protect the animals and plants that live there.
Bringing Back Bermuda's Past
The island is being restored to look like Bermuda before people settled there. It is like a 'Living Museum' of old Bermuda. This amazing project is the life's work of David B. Wingate. He is a Bermudian bird expert and conservationist. His main goal is to help the cahow bird.
The Cahow: Bermuda's National Bird
The cahow is a special seabird that is active at night. It is also Bermuda's national emblem. This bird was once very common but almost disappeared. Dr. Wingate has worked hard to bring the cahow back from near-extinction. His efforts have helped this unique bird survive and thrive again on Nonsuch Island.
Other Species on the Island
The restoration project also brings back other native species. One example is the West Indian topshell. This is a type of sea snail that is important to the island's ecosystem.
Historical Bird Sightings
Old writings from when Bermuda was first settled tell us about many birds. People saw different kinds of herons and egrets living and nesting on the island. For example, in 1603, Diego Ramirez wrote about "many very large dark herons." In 1610, Sylvanus Jourdain, a survivor of a shipwreck, said there were "great store and plenty of herons." He noted they were so tame that people could catch them easily. William Strachey, another shipwreck survivor, also wrote about "white and grey Hernshawes and bittons." These stories show how rich the birdlife was on Nonsuch Island long ago.
