New Title: Heron Habitat Restoration Assistant

I just finished my first week working as the Heron Habitat Restoration Assistant on Prall's Island. Herons used to nest on the island, but environmental catastrophes (an oil spill and an Asian long-horned beetle infestation) have caused the herons to move elsewhere for nesting and feeding grounds. The best description of the island and its history I found on Mr Beller's Neighborhood Blog.

To get to work, I take the 1 train to the Staten Island Ferry, where my supervisor picks up the two other seasonals and I and brings us to the office at the Greenbelt Native Plant Center. From there, we drive a Parks truck to Saw Mill Creek Marsh, load the canoes in the water, and canoe 40 minutes to the northern end of the island.

The island is surrounded almost entirely by salt marsh (primarily spartina alterniflora). This is a view approaching it from the southern end. The island is shaped like an ice cream cone.

Here's a view looking south down the shoreline on the western side of the island. 

Looking northward on the western side. You can see the industry on the NJ shoreline. I found a live oyster that was over 6 cm on this beach. I think it would be a fantastic site for an oyster restoration project. : )

Currently, my job is to help construct a fence that will protect trees that will be planted in the spring with two other seasonals. The trees will hopefully serve as nesting habitat for the herons. In the effort to eradicate the long-horned beetle, all of the trees over 5 cm were cut down and mulched, eliminating all potential nesting habitat. Million trees attempted to plant 4,000 trees on the island a few years ago, but the trees were eaten by deer and rabbits over a period of a few days. Yes, there are deer and rabbits in NYC and they are increasingly becoming a problem because they are loosing habitat in suburban areas and are forced to forage in the city. This is why we need a fence. 

We are digging a trench a foot deep in order to place chicken wire and prevent the rabbits from digging under the fence. The chicken wire is going to be attached to a 7 ft tall fence. Organic pellets (which smell like a mixture of Christmas and pee because the ingredients are herbs and urea) are going to be placed around it to deter the animals. Fishing line and colored tape is going to form a web around the fence to scare off the deer as well. This thing is going to be a fortress.

So far I have enjoyed working here. It is nice to be outside all day surrounded by nature in New York City. It is a surreal experience. However, it is difficult to forget you are still in the city because the roar of traffic, planes, and construction is still omnipresent, albeit fainter and the island is covered in invasive plants and poison ivy...