| May 9, 2024 |
| LaHave Coastal protects East Spectacle Island |
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Dear Friends, We are happy to announce that LaHave Coastal is now protecting East Spectacle Island! We acquired the island on May 3, 2024. We’re grateful to the Crown Share Land Legacy Trust and many donors for supporting LaHave Coastal's work to secure and restore East Spectacle Island. |
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| East Spectacle Island is in the mouth of the LaHave River between Gaff Point and Dublin Shore. |
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This unique island is 19 hectares and relatively far from human disturbances, which makes it an ideal reservoir for biodiversity. |
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| This map of wetland delineations on East Spectacle Island is informing our monitoring and tree planting. |
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Would you like to protect coastal habitat?
Join LaHave Coastal! |
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A century ago, the island was in active use. At one point, it even had a hotel! Lobster buyers would stay at the hotel when visiting the lobster plant on Mosher's island. |
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| 1931 aerial imagery shows that East Spectacle Island was actively farmed and the woods were in use. |
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About fifty years ago, the island was unified under a single owner and allowed to rest. It is now in recovery. Remnants of its mixed wood forests are enabling natural reseeding of some tree species. Its wetlands provide insect habitats and food webs that are essential for birds. |
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| East Spectacle Island has diverse habitats, including a small salt marsh pictured above. The island's interior has a ridge with a drainage fen. |
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| The southeastern banks of East Spectacle Island are candidates for hosting Bank Swallows, also known as Sand Martins (Riparia riparia), a threatened shore bird. |
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| The island's biological significance reaches beyond its rocky shores to the near-shore waters rich in marine life. |
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We are establishing monitoring and beginning planting. We look forward to updating you in our summer newsletter. If you'd like to join a planting expedition to the island, please let me know. Remember to renew your annual membership on our website! Warm regards, Jim Sunderland, President PS: please forward this to your friends! |