No, not the Plum Island in Massachusetts, but the lesser known Plum Island off the eastern tip of Long Island. A small portion of the island has long been used as an animal disease research facility, but the federal government recently decided to move the facility to Kansas and sell Plum Island to private developers. The 840-acre gem of an island is part of an Important Bird Area and hosts a variety of regionally-rare plants as well as a host of nesting birds.
What can you do to help? Go check out Preserve Plum Island, and, while you’re there, sign the petition to make Plum Island a National Wildlife Refuge.
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.
This has to be a no brainer. Already owned by the Feds, great location, perfect situation.
There’s also a Plum Island on Sandy Hook.
Thanks for sharing this Corey! Public awareness is vital in our campaign to save this beautiful island from development. We saw about 50 seals hauled out on the offshore rocks today, a pretty awesome sight!