It’s mid-July on Nantucket, and a number of harmful algae blooms (or HABs) have already been documented within the island’s freshwater ponds. In past years, this phenomenon has occurred later in the summer. However, the unusually warm spring weather seems to have created earlier-than-usual conditions that favor the excess growth of Cyanobacteria, a particular type…
Here’s your friendly annual reminder before the 4th of July this weekend. The weather doesn’t look superb, but our threatened shorebirds on Coatue are still in need of protection, space, and consideration. If you do make it over to Coatue this weekend, please follow the map above to locate good spots to land your boat.…
With wildflowers distracting the eye with bursts of bright color, it’s often easy to overlook some of the island’s most common plants, grasses, many of which are blooming right now. While most grass species lack brilliant colors and have small flowers, they are an important part of the ecosystem, feeding many familiar herbivores, from voles…
By Bret “Malibu” Tetreault If two truths and a lie were a tournament sport I would be the undeniable best. It’s usually an easier task for me to name the cool things I haven’t done yet, like visit Mars. Have I swam a couple hundred yards of class-5 whitewater (twice). I have! Have I ever…
Each field season (~May-October), the Science and Stewardship Department of the Nantucket Conservation Foundation welcomes seasonal field assistants to help us do all manner of ecological field work. Our field assistants are often on Nantucket for the first time, coming from various different places around the country. Come meet and learn a little about this…
We are happy to share that the Science and Stewardship team at the Nantucket Conservation Foundation will be participating in a very exciting collaborative event next week as part of the the Nantucket Biodiversity Initiative (NBI) Science Showcase Week. The NBI is hosting a full week of opportunities for the Nantucket community to enjoy. All…
Its spring on Nantucket and as we return to the island’s beaches, there are many treasures to find! This year, the really low tides around our full and new moons, one of the most common things on the beach seems to be horseshoe crabs – left high and partially dry by retreating tides. Why are…
Nantucket is home to a remarkably high number of rare and endangered species. These plants and animals occur here for many of the same reasons that people find Nantucket so special–its undeveloped conservation lands and unique, windswept vegetation communities. Nantucket County has one of the highest concentrations of rare and endangered species in Massachusetts: of…
At home colonizing old fields transitioning to woods, sassafras (Sassafras albidum) can be found around Nantucket, from the maturing forests of Squam to small, scattered stands in the Serengeti area of the Middle Moors, and miniature thicket forests in Tom Nevers, where they endure harsh winds and salt spray directly off the Atlantic. Perhaps best…
What type of beach goer are you? Do you prefer your own private beach for miles or like to be right next to your neighbor? Depending on your answer, you may be very similar to a Piping Plover! Yes, Piping Plovers are little grey and white birds with an orange beak with a black tip…