Faulkner Island

Troop 61 joined Troop 28 of Hebron in going to Faulkner Island (Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge) which is off the coast of Guilford and is about 3 miles off shore. The island is extremely important because it is a nesting grounds for several types of birds. The scouts worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in preparing the Island for its Migratory birds (Common tern, Roseate tern).  The scouts helped put the blinds together on the south side of the Island and built a new blind on the north end. They also cleared nesting areas of tall plant growth and prepare nesting boxes for the terns.

The scouts also, where able to go into the light and check out the view from the top as well as received a little history lesson about the light house and the island.

In fact the scientists that are doing research on the island wear hard hats because the birds are so aggressive during nesting season and anyone coming even close to the island is open to attack.

The light house stands 40 feet tall and was completed in 1802. President Thomas Jefferson came out to the island to dedicated the light. Faulkner's Island Light is Connecticut's second oldest lighthouse and also the only active light station on an island in the state.