Volunteer Spotlight

Edward Gilmartin

In the early spring of 2019, I emailed Adam Moore and asked if I could help in some way. Little did I know then that I’d be the one benefiting. We had a great conversation and soon after I met Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation Property Manager Liz Loucks at Sheriff’s Meadow Sanctuary in Edgartown. Liz’s knowledge and enthusiasm for the property was an eye opener. As we walked the trails, Liz pointed out numerous flowers, plants and shrubs, and invasive species. I learned a lot and knew I’d like to start volunteering with SMF.

Liz asked if I’d like to attend a Beach-Nesting Bird Training. There, I met biologists from BiodiversityWorks and The Trustees who gave a power point presentation on the protected shorebirds. After the classroom portion we were off on a field trip to SMF’s Little Beach. Out on the beach and using spotting scopes from the Eel Pond boat launch and I had a chance to speak with the shorebird biologists that SMF contracts to protect the birds and to learn more. It’s easy to see their passion to protect the shore birds.

I highly recommend putting Sheriff’s Meadow Sanctuary and Little Beach on your to-do list. The trails are well-groomed for an easy stroll around Sheriff’s Pond, where ice was harvested and used before refrigeration. You’ll pass John Butler’s mudhole with views of Eel pond and Edgartown outer harbor. Along the trail you’ll see some of my favorite wildflowers like the blazing red Cardinal flower, Swamp Rose-mallow and the small delicate flowers of Wild Lettuce, Lactuca, to name just a few. Look closely and you’ll find native blueberries and blackberries to pick and eat. At the pond viewing benches at the SW corner of the pond, you’ll be near the dead tree, or snag, that some locals call the “Harry Potter Tree.” Look closely along the wet meadows and you might just see the brilliant blue Damselfly, (I call it a Dragonfly).

Out on Little Beach Preserve you may see the endangered Piping Plover, the Black Skimmer feeding on fish as it glides just above the water, talkative Terns flying overhead, and my favorite, the American Oystercatcher with its gleaming orange eyes and long orange beak.

I hope my experiences volunteering for SMF inspire others to discover these properties. Be sure to say hello if you see the crew from SMF during your adventures and thank you to Director Moore and the entire crew for welcoming me; its greatly appreciated!

Edward Gilmartin is an Edgartown seasonal resident.

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]