What’s happening on the island
WCAI Interviews SIT President Mon Cochran
Nonprofit is restoring Pleasant Bay island
ORLEANS — On Friday the Trust, which bought the land in 2020, began demolishing abandoned buildings as part of a restoration to reflect how the marine habitat existed 300 years ago, SIT president Mon Cochran told Morning Edition host Patrick Flanary. …
Closed for Demolition!
The long-awaited "undevelopment" phase of rewilding Sipson Island is underway! The three buildings being removed have been emptied and prepped. Demolition will begin on November 1. For the safety of all, the island is closed to visitors until this work is completed. …
Restoring Natural Communities
From the Friends of Pleasant Bay newsletter, Fall 2023: SIT’s master plan for restoration will aim to maintain existing natural communities, strengthen biodiversity, increase the island’s capacity to store carbon, and potentially reestablish natural communities suppressed by anthropogenic forces. …
Newsbrief June 2023
There’s so much news to share about the Trust’s work to restore the island’s ecological integrity and make it a place for our community to gather and learn. But first and foremost: We’re counting on your continued support to complete our “Removal & Renewal” capital campaign, launched early this year. We’ve made great progress so far …
Spring Cleaning on Sipson
From the Friends of Pleasant Bay newsletter, Summer 2023: Although Sipson Island herself reposed peacefully through the winter, the Sipson Island Trust board has been beavering away in preparation for the exciting next steps in rewilding the island. …
Newsbrief Late Summer 2022
The dock is in, the trails are mowed, and a southwest wind keeps the biting flies at bay. The annual cycle of life on Pleasant Bay is peaking, with meadow grasses in full flower and horseshoe crabs nearing the end of their mating season. The eelgrass beds around the island are thriving this year. …
Removal & Renewal Update
On a blustery March 1, with ‘real feel’ in the single digits, a dozen people were ferried across Pleasant Bay to Sipson Island —members of the team that will carry out our ambitious “Removal & Renewal” initiative. The ultimate goal is to restore this unique saltwater island for the benefit of Pleasant Bay's ecosystems and local communities. …
Harbor Seals Spotted
When our team visits the island, it’s not unusual to see harbor seals, sometimes resting on a rock in Pleasant Bay. Note that this photo was taken from a distance to avoid disturbing the seal and cropped/magnified during editing.
Coyote on Our Wildlife Cam!
From our review of 2021 wildlife camera footage - blink and you’ll miss this coyote slinking past the camera on a December evening!
Newsbrief Fall 2021
Autumn is especially beautiful on Sipson. Goldenrod, thistle, and asters host mobs of pollinators. Migrating shorebirds and warblers pass through by the hundreds. Our trail cameras capture coyotes and deer that swim or wade over on low tides. On fair weekend days, local boaters and paddlers stop by for a rest or a stroll on the trails. …
Newsbrief Spring 2021
As spring moves toward summer, we’re seeing the annual renewal of life on Sipson Island. Our teams working to inventory natural resources find wonders every time we visit: native plants blooming in the meadows, horseshoe crabs spawning on the south spit. migrating warblers in the cedar groves. As part of the greater Pleasant Bay community, you have a stake in what happens at “the heart of Pleasant Bay.”