Nonsuch Island Exploration
The Bio Class' ecological study led us to the secluded, preserved, self-sufficient offshore sanctuary for endangered species called Nonsuch Island. Nonsuch Island is located in the Castle Harbour waters and encompasses 16 acres of Greenland. Nonsuch Island has been used for varies projects such as a quarantine hospital when past dwellers were fatally struck by the disease “yellow fever”. It has also been used as a prison for delinquent boys.
Buildings on the island were constructed in the mid 1800's and are now used by Dr. David Wingate and Mr. Jeremy Madeiros for housing when they reside on the island for research projects. Dr. David Wingate began a restoration of Nonsuch Island around 1960 after it was discovered that the supposedly extinct cahow bird had been located on the smaller islets in Castle Harbour.
Dr. Wingate in his preservation attempt is trying to negate any outside influences to Nonsuch Island in the hopes of imitating life on the island before any settlers ever arrived. By removing any outside influences Dr. Wingate is able to study the native, endemic and introduced plants and animals in a natural environment for research. Unfortunately the transport of seeds from traveling birds is an uncontrollable haste to the project. Nonsuch Island is home to over 10,000 different native and endemic plants. The island is also home to over 160 nesting pairs of longtail birds (Government, Nonsuch, 2013).
The cahow is an amazing bird. It has been known to fly thousands of miles to the Azores, following the gulf stream at times, to find food and bring it back to their young. The cahow has also helped shape the history of Bermuda. It is said when the spanish fleets captained by Juan De Bermudez sailed past the island at night the shreiks of the cahow birds stopped the sailors from setting foot in fear thinking the island was inhabited by devils. So.... Bermuda could have been a spanish island.
To help the growth of the cahow population Dr. Wingate made man-made burrows for the cahows to inhabit. To prevent other animals, specifically the longtail, from inhabiting their burrows. A makeshift door made from a small piece of wood is placed in the entry hole with a small hole in the wood allowing only the cahow sized bird to enter. The longtails have a nasty habit of entering the cahow's burrows and would kill the cahow chick to make the burrow their own home. The cahow also has a natural GPS system. When very young, the cahow will star gaze and literally map that spot and be able find its burrow throughout its life no matter how far it travels away.
Nonsuch island has, like many parts of Bermuda, been invaded by species of trees which were introduced to the island, but have now become a burden to the ecosystem. The casurina tree has become so abundant it has been considered an invasive species in it quest to take up space. First brought to Bermuda to help restore trees to the island after the Bermuda Cedar population declined, and to provide shade, the Casurina has now spread significantly. This becomes a burden when hurricanes strike as the tall Casurina trees are usually the first to die and get toppled over.
The Bermuda Cedar was used in early settlers years for its strength and durability when constructing ships. The Bermuda Cedar plants its roots deep into the earth which helps its stability and survival within hurricane conditions. Another strong endemic species of tree is The Bermuda Palmetto, with its strong roots and less height allows the wind to pass over it as the winds travel over the land and stays strongly rooted through the worst of weather. Local islanders plant the Bermuda Palmettos around their property to help break the hurricane force winds from damaging their homes.
The attempt to make Non-Such Island a pre-colonial restored island will have its challenges. With other native and introduced plants and animals inhabiting the island reproduction and spawning will occur from the species being settled on the island.,Therefore restoration to its original state before human occupation will be difficult. Some plants such as the Casurina are heavily spread while the Kiskadee bird and Jamaican Anole, lizard, have established themselves quite comfortably over the years to the island life With Bermuda's isolated location it allows Dr. Wingate to observe the island, positively and negatively without much outside influence. However it is still possible with seeds travelling over the ocean , and being blown onshore, or birds carrying seeds from distant places for such a delicate balance of wildlife and flora to be disturbed from its natural habitat.
During our tour of the beach area, the class observed the many plastic containers that drift to the beach and how important it is for individuals enjoying the water to refrain from throwing plastic containers overboard as this is damaging to the marine life. Due to Bermuda's isolated location in the Atlantic Ocean, drifting waste from North America or Europe can find its way into the local waters endangering local sea life. It is known that simple sandwich bags and the plastic soda can holders are found suffocating and or digested killing sea life, such as the Green Sea Turtle which mistakes the plastic for a jellyfish which is part of their natural diet.
Nonsuch Island has been and is visited by many school children where they have learned the history of the old Bermuda and the importance of sustaining our culture and heritage in a pristine way.
Buildings on the island were constructed in the mid 1800's and are now used by Dr. David Wingate and Mr. Jeremy Madeiros for housing when they reside on the island for research projects. Dr. David Wingate began a restoration of Nonsuch Island around 1960 after it was discovered that the supposedly extinct cahow bird had been located on the smaller islets in Castle Harbour.
Dr. Wingate in his preservation attempt is trying to negate any outside influences to Nonsuch Island in the hopes of imitating life on the island before any settlers ever arrived. By removing any outside influences Dr. Wingate is able to study the native, endemic and introduced plants and animals in a natural environment for research. Unfortunately the transport of seeds from traveling birds is an uncontrollable haste to the project. Nonsuch Island is home to over 10,000 different native and endemic plants. The island is also home to over 160 nesting pairs of longtail birds (Government, Nonsuch, 2013).
The cahow is an amazing bird. It has been known to fly thousands of miles to the Azores, following the gulf stream at times, to find food and bring it back to their young. The cahow has also helped shape the history of Bermuda. It is said when the spanish fleets captained by Juan De Bermudez sailed past the island at night the shreiks of the cahow birds stopped the sailors from setting foot in fear thinking the island was inhabited by devils. So.... Bermuda could have been a spanish island.
To help the growth of the cahow population Dr. Wingate made man-made burrows for the cahows to inhabit. To prevent other animals, specifically the longtail, from inhabiting their burrows. A makeshift door made from a small piece of wood is placed in the entry hole with a small hole in the wood allowing only the cahow sized bird to enter. The longtails have a nasty habit of entering the cahow's burrows and would kill the cahow chick to make the burrow their own home. The cahow also has a natural GPS system. When very young, the cahow will star gaze and literally map that spot and be able find its burrow throughout its life no matter how far it travels away.
Nonsuch island has, like many parts of Bermuda, been invaded by species of trees which were introduced to the island, but have now become a burden to the ecosystem. The casurina tree has become so abundant it has been considered an invasive species in it quest to take up space. First brought to Bermuda to help restore trees to the island after the Bermuda Cedar population declined, and to provide shade, the Casurina has now spread significantly. This becomes a burden when hurricanes strike as the tall Casurina trees are usually the first to die and get toppled over.
The Bermuda Cedar was used in early settlers years for its strength and durability when constructing ships. The Bermuda Cedar plants its roots deep into the earth which helps its stability and survival within hurricane conditions. Another strong endemic species of tree is The Bermuda Palmetto, with its strong roots and less height allows the wind to pass over it as the winds travel over the land and stays strongly rooted through the worst of weather. Local islanders plant the Bermuda Palmettos around their property to help break the hurricane force winds from damaging their homes.
The attempt to make Non-Such Island a pre-colonial restored island will have its challenges. With other native and introduced plants and animals inhabiting the island reproduction and spawning will occur from the species being settled on the island.,Therefore restoration to its original state before human occupation will be difficult. Some plants such as the Casurina are heavily spread while the Kiskadee bird and Jamaican Anole, lizard, have established themselves quite comfortably over the years to the island life With Bermuda's isolated location it allows Dr. Wingate to observe the island, positively and negatively without much outside influence. However it is still possible with seeds travelling over the ocean , and being blown onshore, or birds carrying seeds from distant places for such a delicate balance of wildlife and flora to be disturbed from its natural habitat.
During our tour of the beach area, the class observed the many plastic containers that drift to the beach and how important it is for individuals enjoying the water to refrain from throwing plastic containers overboard as this is damaging to the marine life. Due to Bermuda's isolated location in the Atlantic Ocean, drifting waste from North America or Europe can find its way into the local waters endangering local sea life. It is known that simple sandwich bags and the plastic soda can holders are found suffocating and or digested killing sea life, such as the Green Sea Turtle which mistakes the plastic for a jellyfish which is part of their natural diet.
Nonsuch Island has been and is visited by many school children where they have learned the history of the old Bermuda and the importance of sustaining our culture and heritage in a pristine way.
The Bermuda Skink and The Jamaica Anole
The highlighted endangered animals and birds on the island are the Skink which is a likeness of a miniature lizard and
the Cahow Bird which was very abundant in the early years of Bermuda being discovered. The cahow population was estimatd to be over a million but has now been diminished to a few hundred.
Reference
Government of Bermuda, 2013, "Nonsuch Island", retrieved from website April 19, 2013, http://www.conservation.bm/nonsuch-island/
Tacklyn, B, C., 2013 "Nonsuch Exploration", JPEG File
Global Journey, "Solitary Shore", retrieved from website April 22, 2013, http://www.global-journey.com/free/
Tacklyn, B, C., 2013 "Nonsuch Exploration", JPEG File
Global Journey, "Solitary Shore", retrieved from website April 22, 2013, http://www.global-journey.com/free/