Great Gull Island

The island is the location of former military fortifications, but is now owned by the American Museum of Natural History which is working to restore its ecosystem.Gull Island is a major stopover for birds following the Atlantic Flyway and was the home of large colonies of nesting terns up until the end of the 19th century, when many birds were killed as a result of the millinery trade and the construction of military fortifications on the island.However, the Roseates are well suited to the narrow crevices and hard-to-reach spaces created in this environment, with their young quite adept at vanishing in between the rocks, only becoming accessible when a parent calls to summon them.[10] The Great Gull Island Program has an ongoing partnership with several Argentine projects that monitor the terns during the winter and spring months.[11] Occasionally, as a show of support, an Argentine delegation will arrive to assist in preparation work for "peak week", when hatchings-per-day can range into the thousands.
Excerpt of 1904 USGS Map, Great Gull Island is in upper right portion. Westward lies Plum Island , and Orient Point at the bottom left.
Plum IslandOrient PointLong IslandBlock IslandLittle Gull IslandSoutholdSuffolk County, New YorkFishers IslandAmerican Museum of Natural HistoryCommonRoseateAtlantic FlywayFort MichieCoast Defenses of Long Island SoundSpanish–American WarWorld War II16-inch gundisappearing carriageSterna hirundoCelastrusPhragmites australisSterna dougalliiUnited States ArmyHelen HaysArgentineThe New York TimesTown of SoutholdNew YorkSuffolkGreenportCutchogueEast MarionLittle GullLaurelMattituckNew SuffolkRobins IslandOrientPeconicGreenport WestFishers Island Union Free School District