Mashomack Preserve

Description: Comprising one third of Shelter Island, the preserve was acquired by The Nature Conservancy to preserve this nearly pristine peninsula and to protect one of the most dense populations of breeding osprey on the east coast. With ten miles of coastline, Mashomack is an area of extraordinary scenic beauty. Tidal creeks and salt marshes, woodlands, fields, and coastline combine to make it a superb wildlife habitat. A visitor center with interesting exhibits is staffed by volunteers daily during the summer and on weekends the rest of the year. Programs are scheduled regularly for children, families, and school classes.

Viewing Information: Four loop trails ranging from 1.5 to 11 miles enable visitors to explore much of the preserve. For visitors wanting a shorter walk, an eighth of a mile barrier-free Braille trail passes the native plant garden, a woodland and a fresh water kettle.

With its abundance of both fresh and salt water habitats, Mashomack is best known for its bird life. Nearly 200 species have been recorded; about 75 nest on the preserve. Besides the nesting ospreys, which can be observed from the trail, Mashomack harbors nesting populations of endangered piping plovers and least terns. Some commonly seen wading birds include great blue herons, great and snowy egrets, green herons and black-crowned night herons. Oldsquaw and white-winged scoter are two sea ducks common both fall and winter. The strikingly marked ruddy turnstone is the most abundant of the sandpipers. Also, look for both spotted and painted turtles sunning on logs in the kettle hole pools.

1400 acres of the preserve are comprised of oak-hickory and beech forests. White-tailed deer, gray squirrels, eastern chipmunks and raccoons find cover, nuts, and berries among the trees and shrubs here. You may even spot a harmless ribbon snake that looks like a long, thin garter snake.

Directions: Located at the Eastern end of Long Island, 90 miles from New York City, Shelter Island is accessible either on the North Ferry from Greenport or the South Ferry from North Haven. From the North follow Route 114 three miles South to the entrance. From the South, the preserve is one mile North on Rt. 114.

Closest Town: Shelter Island

Ownership: The Nature Conservancy

Telephone: (516)749-1001

Size: 2,039 acres