Strawberry Island (New York) facts for kids
 Strawberry Island
Location in New York
Location of Strawberry Island in New York State
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Niagara River |
| Coordinates | 42°57′13″N 78°55′25″W / 42.9537°N 78.9236°W |
| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Highest elevation | 568 ft (173.1 m) |
| Administration | |
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United States
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| State | New York |
| County | Erie |
| Town | Tonawanda |
| Owner | New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation |
Strawberry Island is an island in the Niagara River in Erie County, New York. It is located southeast of Grand Island. This small island is about 5 acres in size. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation owns the island. It is managed as a special place for fish and wildlife.
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About Strawberry Island
Strawberry Island is found southeast of Grand Island. It helps divide the Niagara River into two main parts. The island has a unique horseshoe shape. On its north side, you can find a quiet lagoon. This area also has plants that grow in water, like emergent vegetation. On the southern edge, there are groups of willow trees.
The island is officially called Strawberry Island State Park. However, it is not developed for visitors. Instead, it is kept wild to protect nature. The island is managed as a fish and wildlife preserve. This work is done with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Strawberry Island is part of a small group of islands. This group is called an archipelago. Other islands nearby include Frog Island, Motor Island, and Little Beaver Island. They are all located a bit downstream from Strawberry Island.
Island History
The name "Strawberry Island" has been used since at least 1750. No one is quite sure how the island got its name. During the War of 1812, British soldiers used the island. They used it in 1814 to prepare for a fight in Buffalo. The island was bought from the Seneca in 1815.
In 1882, a two-story hotel was built on the island. It had an 11-acre grove of trees and a canal. But the hotel did not last long. By the end of the century, it was taken apart. Tourists preferred newer resorts on nearby Grand Island. Over the years, the island had many private owners. Some of these were companies that mined gravel. Mining and dredging happened on and near the island. This took place at different times between 1912 and 1950. These activities made the island much smaller. They also helped create its horseshoe shape.
The island was sold to the Town of Tonawanda in 1953. They used it to help with local building projects. In 1989, the island was given to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
How Strawberry Island Changed Over Time
Strawberry Island was likely formed by natural processes. Glaciers left behind sand and rocks. These built up around a small rock outcrop. This happened during the Ice Age.
The size of Strawberry Island has changed a lot. Today, it is much smaller than it used to be. When it was first mapped in the early 1800s, the island was about 100 acres. It was mostly marshland. The island grew to 138 acres in 1819. This was because of soil and rock from digging the Erie Canal. It grew even more in 1908. This was from material used to build a canal lock in Black Rock.
By 1912, the island was estimated to be 200 acres. But it shrank to just 40 acres by 1948. This was due to uncontrolled gravel mining. The island became even smaller, about 25 acres, by 1950. This happened because dredging focused on the island's center. This made its lagoon bigger. The island kept losing land due to erosion. High water levels and winter storms caused this. By 1987, it was about 20 acres. By 2013, it had shrunk to its current size of 5 acres.
Plans to help Strawberry Island were made in 2007. These plans aimed to make the island stronger. They also wanted to improve the habitat. This was part of a larger project. It was funded by the New York Power Authority. Work on Frog Island was finished in 2014. This island had been underwater. Ecosystem work was also done on Motor Island and Little Beaver Island. In March 2015, a contract was given to start work on Strawberry Island. This work includes restoring wetlands and controlling erosion.
Wildlife on Strawberry Island
Strawberry Island is next to a large shallow area of the river. This area is called the "Strawberry Island – Motor Island Shallows." It covers about 400 acres. This is the Niagara River's biggest riverine littoral zone. This is a very important type of habitat for fish and wildlife. It is rare in the region.
In the 1970s, this shallow area was found to be a major spawning ground for muskellunge. These are large game fish. It is also a good home for other game fish species. The area is also an important place for waterfowl to spend the winter.
A pair of bald eagles successfully built a nest on Strawberry Island in 2013. This was after several tries. This shows that bald eagle numbers are growing in the area. To help protect these nesting eagles, parts of the island have been closed off. This happens during nesting season since 2016. Also, motorized boats are not allowed too close to the island.
