In 1949, development on Long Island and along the Connecticut shore had radically reduced locations where terns could nest. Richard Pough, Chairman of the Conservation Department at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) and a founder of The Nature Conservancy, worked to acquire Great Gull Island from the U.S. Government. His hypothesis was that since terns had nested there in the past, they might recolonize the island. The Museum promptly assigned The Linnaean Society of New York the task of returning the island to a habitat suitable for nesting terns. 

Irwin Alperin, a Linnaean Society member, flew over Great Gull Island in 1955 and spotted 25 pairs of Common Terns nesting at the far eastern end of the island. Roseate Terns began nesting on the island soon after. In 1963, Catherine Pessino (AMNH) together with Helen Hays checked the island again and found both species of terns nesting there. Helen thought the island looked ideal for a group to work there and study the populations of both tern species. By 1969, there were enough recruits willing to stay on the island and they began monitoring the two species during the summer breeding season. 

Great Gull Island Research Station, hailed as an environmental and conservation success story, is now home to the largest colony of nesting Common Terns in the world and the largest Roseate Tern colony in the Western Hemisphere. Thanks to the many years of hard work by Helen Hays and her team, both Common and Roseate Tern colonies have increased their numbers, which remain at an all-time high.

Research on Great Gull Island continues to this day, as does our partnership. Members are encouraged to support the work on Great Gull Island through financial contributions. Checks should be made payable to “Great Gull Island Project – AMNH”, and mailed to: Helen Hays, Great Gull Island Project, Ornithology Department, American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024.

The Society also raises funds for the Great Gull Island Project every May with a two-day birdathon. Details of the birdathon are emailed/mailed to members in April, encouraging them to raise funds for this important project either by birding or by sponsoring fellow members with pledges.

News and Media

• Episode #108: Helen Hays by BirdCallsRadio, 1219,/2017
• GGI 50th Aniversary. Thanks and Fundraiser — 11/11/2017
• Helen Hays Receives Environmental Champion Award — 5/13/2016
• The Trans-Atlantic Terns of Great Gull Island — 5/11/2016
• Helen Hays recognized by the University of Connecticut for 45 years of leading Great Gull Island Project — 5/10/2015
• FEMA Commits Funds for Dock Repair — 1/1/2015
• An article about Helen: “Great Gull Island for the birds” in The Day, Connecticut, July, 27, 2014 by Judy Benson and Sean D. Elliot
• Dale Dancis’ History of the Great Gull Island Project, The Linnaean Society of New York Website —  4/21/22