The Island community turned out Monday for a memorial gathering in memory of Island naturalist Gus Ben David, the original director of Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, who died July 4 at 81.
Since 1971, Gus Ben David has built poles for ospreys to nest and placed them throughout the Island. In just over 50 years he’s seen 160 poles placed — varying in size and location, but always high above their surroundings.
The osprey, once a seriously threatened Vineyard bird, has made a significant recovery. The osprey population on the Vineyard has doubled and doubled again in recent years. The recovery comes from a well proven nesting pole program developed by Gus Ben David, director of Massachusetts Audubon’s Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary.
A record number of osprey nests were reported this year on Martha’s Vineyard, marking a new milestone for the once-threatened migratory birds. Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary reported 106 active nests this year.
Island naturalist Gus Ben David has helped return 400-pound sea turtles to the ocean and helped return struggling, orphaned great horned owls to the skies. But nature isn’t a Disney movie. And that was never more clear than on Monday.
Rob Bierregaard's first children's book inhabits a world he is both familiar with and passionate about. Belle's Journey: An Osprey Takes Flight tells the story of a real-life young osprey finding her wings and traveling the world.
Naturalist Gus Ben David has handled everything from gigantic snakes to enormous birds of prey, but the latest creature under his care is less intimidating and quite a bit more endearing: a baby osprey recently rescued on Chappaquiddick. Mr. Ben David has been feeding and housing the small raptor.
