The History of Fire Island
Fire Island stretches 55 kilometers (32 miles) from Democrat Point on
the west to Moriches Inlet on the east. This barrier island
stands defiantly facing the Atlantic Ocean while protecting the waters
of Great South Bay and the mainland of Long Island at its back. People
have created 17 separate communities on Fire Island primarily for summer
recreation, but efforts have been made to preserve the natural life,
too, whether it be a hidden hardwood grove or long-legged herons
stalking stiffly through grassy wetlands. Here, too, wild geese and
brant fly over the salt marsh and occasionally a startled deer dashes
off through the thicket. Yet, this national seashore is almost within
sight of New York City's skyscrapers. The contrast makes any amount of
time spent here enjoyable.
In 1980 the 11-kilometer (7-mile) stretch of Fire Island from Smith
Point West to Watch Hill—an area of approximately 570 hectares (1,400
acres)—was designated by Congress as wilderness, the only area in New
York State to be honored in this manner. With the exception of the
boardwalk/rail for the handicapped at Smith Point West, the wilderness
is accessible only by foot. If you're willing to invest the time and
energy necessary to hike it, the wilderness will reward you with a view
of the island as it must have been when the first Europeans saw it 400
years ago. The wilderness is an amazing place, and every swale, every
blowout, and every grove of pines has its own fascination.
Throughout the year the park presents different faces at different
seasons. In winter the beach is deserted and the ocean booms as it
assaults the land. The forests are stark as the leafless trees stand
bare against their evergreen neighbors and the sky full of clouds.
Spring time brings a greening to the land and a muting of the ocean,
while the noise of new life quickens in the marshes. Rafts of migrating
waterfowl bob on the protected waters of Great South Bay. Summer is the
hot, golden sun on the white sands of the beach and the exhilarated
laughter and voices of people being refreshed by the cool water. Fall
sees the birds return on their way south as quiet once again invades the
island. The small animals prepare for winter, and summertime residents
close up their houses.
No matter what the season, fishing is good. In Great South Bay, you
will find bluefish, striped bass, winter flounder, and other species. In
the surf you can cast for striped bass, bluefish, mackerel, weakfish.
Not to be missed is the Sunken Forest —so called because of
its location down behind the dunes—directly west of Sailors Haven.
Gnarled holly, sassafras, tupelo, and shadblow form the canopy and vines
of catbrier, poison ivy, and wild grape climb from the forest floor
toward the sun.
Fire Island National Seashore is a jewel of many facets; there's
always something new to discover or a new way to look at something
familiar.
Things That Live and Play at the Seashore
Here on the fringes of the Nation's largest population concentration is
Fire Island, a place rich in marine life, waterfowl, and other wildlife,
and a place where you can enjoy recreational pursuits or Just a little
solitude. Boating takes place at Watch Hill marina, and the lighthouse
shows the imprint of man on the land. Common terns are just one of the
bird species that nest here, and when they do, take great care to avoid
them. Some nesting areas are marked in the spring, but keep your eyes
open wherever you walk.
In spring and fall you will find great numbers of waterfowl resting
upon the quiet waters of Great South Bay during their semi-annual
migrations. Of the many varieties the mallard ducks are the most
familiar to the untrained eye. Less common animals are also found on the
sand and oftimes your patience will be rewarded with a glimpse of a fox
making its rounds. The shallow waters of the bay are home to the
horseshoe crab and seeing it is a special treat, for so often only its
cast-off shell is found on the beach. And it may happen that you will
look up to discover that you are being watched by the soft, large eyes
of a whitetail deer. Monarch butterflies decorate a pine tree with a
beauty that surpasses any man-made object. Unlike the deer, these hardy
yet delicate creatures escape the snows and spend their winters in
Southern and Baja California. In spring and summer they wing their way
northeastward.
Ticks
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Three different varieties of tick are common on Fire Island:
- Dog (top),
- Lone Star (middle), and
- Northern Deer (bottom).
|
A bite may transmit various ailments. The Northern Deer tick is
known to carry Lyme Disease. Stay on the boardwalk, use commercial
repellents, and inspect yourself carefully, if you walk through grass or
brush. Ask a ranger for additional information.
Poison Ivy
 |
To say that poison ivy flourishes on Fire Island is an
understatement. Study the picture at left so that you will recognize
the plant wherever you see it. Doing so will spare you the
discomfort of enduring a skin irritation. The old adage "leaflets
three, let it be," is wisely |
