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 Mashomack Preserve  is a 2,350 acre nature preserve located on Shelter Island. It is managed by The Nature Conservancy. The area encompasses mature oak woodland, salt marsh, successional field , freshwater marsh and 11 miles of beach es. Mashomack was home to the Manhanset Native Americans for several millennia before the land was purchased by Europeans. It has a rich history and extensive biodiversity including over 200 species of bird.

==History==

In 1653 Chief Pogatticut of the Manhansets deeded all of Shelter Island to Nathaniel Sylvester. Sylvester, a sugar merchant from Barbados, established a Quaker refuge on the island. Orginally, Mashomack was known as Sachem's neck and only the tip of the "neck" was known as Mashomack point.

Sylvester's son sold Mashomack to William Nicoll I in 1693. The Nicoll family kept Mashomack in their possession for the next 230 years.

William Nicoll II was the first full-time resident of Mashomack. William II deeded Mashomack to William III who farmed the land with his family. Over the years the property was divided among members of the Nicoll family. Miss Annie Nicoll, was notable for farming the fields in the center of the preserve, which are still grassland today. Dr. Sam Nicoll, her brother, built the Bass Creek Cottage now known as the Manor House.

By 1908, Nicoll family members living off the island began to sell their portions of Mashomack. In 1925 Otto Kahn, a wealthy German financier, bought parts of the modern preserve as he planned to develop Mashomack into Hamptons-esque development for the wealthy. The Stock Market Crash of 1929 saw the failure of his development scheme.

In 1934, the property was leased to several fish and game clubs. The most notable of them was the Mashomack Fish and Game Club. Most members were wealthy Long Island or New York City residents who joined to hunt pheasant, duck, and deer. Fox hunts were sometimes held, complete with hounds and horses. The two fields in the center of the preserve were converted into a skeet range and tennis court. The historic Manor House became the Lodge, with French cuisine prepared for the members.

In the 1970's, several real estate companies planned to develop Mashomack into a private housing area, with spacious homes, marina s and golf courses included. The development scheme folded in 1979 by a slim margin.

Worried about losing Mashomack, The Nature Conservancy, who had been interested in acquiring Mashomack since the 1950's, came to an agreement with the Gerard family who owned the preserve at the time. To acquire the land, they would have to buy all assets of Aeon Realty, the Gerard family's company, at a cost of 10.6 million dollars. Most of the money was provided by the conservancy and New York State, but over a million dollars was given by the people of the island who were also interested in protecting Mashomack. The preserve was officially created and integrated in 1980.

== Geography and Climate ==

Mashomack Preserve has a Humid subtropical climate under the Köppen-Geiger classification. Its location on the Atlantic coast leads to warmer winters and cooler summers then farther inland in New York State. The annual temperature typically ranges from 26-79 degrees Fahrenheit and rarely drops below 13 degrees or rises above 85 degrees. Summers are warm and humid and winters are cold and wet. Snow accumulation does occur in Mashomack annually, but rain and sleet are more common during winter.

Mashomack is located on Shelter Island, which is situated in Peconic Bay on the tip of Long Island. Both islands are low in elevation, with small rolling hills and large marshy areas near the coast. The topography of Long Island, including Mashomack has been heavily influenced by intense glaciation. The glacial sand deposited by retreating glaciers shaped the region, and is still visible today under layers of topsoil. Kettle hole ponds are the only permanent above ground freshwater on Shelter Island.

== Flora and Fauna ==

Mashomack has a rich biodiversity, including rare old-growth pine swamp and breeding grounds for threatened birds like piping plover and least tern. Mashomack is a superb birding destination, with 200 bird species recorded. This includes over 79 nesting species. Common birds throughout the year include osprey, great blue heron , and red-tailed hawk. Mashomack has the highest density of nesting ospreys in the Eastern United States. Migratory birds like black duck and hooded merganser winter around Mashomack.

The preserve is home to around 11 mammal species. White-tailed deer and eastern chipmunks are often seen by visitors. Muskrats, squirrels , groundhogs , raccoons and red fox are also common. There are 8 reptile species in Mashomack. Amphibians like spotted salamander and spring peeper are found in kettle-hole ponds.

Endangered plants found in the preserve include Cypripedium acaule or pink lady's slipper and Pogonia ophioglossoides or snake mouth orchid. 1,400 acres of the preserve is considered old-growth forest. The pine swamp area of the preserve is very old, with organic material in the swamp dated to over 3,000 years old.

== Recreation in the Preserve ==

There are 7 trails in place for visitors to explore the preserve, with a total combined length of around 11 miles. Most of the main sights within Mashomack are accessible by hiking these trails. The longest of the trails is the Blue Trail, at 4.4 miles long. Popular activities include birdwatching, hiking and jogging. Biking, camping, lighting fires and fishing are not allowed in Mashomack. The preserve is open to visitors 7 days a week from dawn until dusk.

== References ==

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* [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Island#Climate]