Nature Conservancy @ Mashomack / July: Seabird / Dragonflies / Shellfish Paddle / Music ….

Seabird Spotlight

For the third year in a row, The Nature Conservancy is conducting GPS tracking of great shearwaters to follow their movements from the time they arrive in New York waters through their fall migration south to breeding colonies on isolated islands, midway between South America and Africa. Great shearwaters are non-breeding residents along our coasts throughout the summer months, but their habitat use during this period has not been well-studied since they are difficult to access in their offshore habitats.

The Nature Conservancy has refined techniques for capturing shearwaters at-sea, and our work is improving understanding of how shearwaters respond to oceanographic conditions and human impacts. This year, our team tagged 20 shearwaters off Montauk with solar-recharging GPS transmitters. They are now transmitting location data every hour to an online portal, providing unprecedented insight into their movements and behavior. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.

Summer Programming 

Summer is here! Paddle, hike and explore Mashomack’s marshes, meadows and forests with programs all summer long. All programs require advanced registration unless otherwise noted. Register at nature.org/nyevents. Registration closes 24 hours before program start time. For questions, please email MashomackPreserve@tnc.org. 

Muddling in the Marsh
Date: Thursday, July 9th, 2:00 – 3:30 PM

Join us as we wade through the water and explore the shoreline of Bass Creek! We’ll check out the fish, crabs, snails and lots of other animals that call the marsh home. Please come prepared to get wet and wear shoes that can go in the water. Nets and buckets will be provided. Ages 4 to 7; Parent or guardian required to stay for the program.

Fireflies in the Meadow
Date: Friday, July 10^th, 7:30 – 9:00 PM

Remember the joy of watching the twinkling lights of fireflies on a summer evening? Join us for a walk in Mashomack’s meadows to learn about this amazing insect while using hand nets to get a close-up view of “nature’s fireworks.” All ages welcome.

Dragonfly Field Day
Date: Saturday, July 11^th, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
(Rain date, Sunday, July 12, same time) 

Dragonflies are beautiful and fascinating insects that play a key role in nature. Join the South Fork Natural History Museum and The Nature Conservancy’s dragonfly expert Kevin Munroe as he leads this exploration at Mashomack’s Bass Creek and Sanctuary Pond. Use hand nets to gently capture dragonflies and get a rare, close-up look at them. You’ll even get  to briefly hold them before they’re safely released. All are welcome. Parent or guardian required.

Log Cabin Creek Shellfish Paddle
Date: Thursday, July 16th, 3:00 – 5:00 PM 

What could be better than spending a summer afternoon paddling along a quiet coast? We will venture to Log Cabin Creek and learn about the importance of shellfish in our coastal waters with Kate Rossi-Snook of Cornell Cooperative Extension. Kayaks, paddles and safety gear provided. Adults only. 

Friends of Music
Date: Wednesday, July 22^nd, 4:00 – 5:30 PM

Attendees will enjoy music in nature at the Mashomack Visitor Center pavilion area where the Shelter Island Friends of Music will present world class quartets, in an informal, family-friendly outdoor concert setting. 

The Busy Tree by Jennifer Ward 

Enjoy a self-guided, half-mile walk and read as you go. Trees are busy places! Learn all about the importance of trees and the animals that depend on them, from their roots to branches.