14 THE HOME-TIFE OF 
The island has remained in the possession of the Gardiner 
family since it was first ceded to them by the Indians in 
1637 for “ten coats of trading cloath’” “Whe birds have 
therefore been favoured not only with the protection 
afforded by natural isolation, but with the zealous guardian- 
ship of generations of owners interested in their welfare. 
Excepting a few fishermen, who are permitted to build 
shanties for shelter while tending their nets, all persons 
must secure permission to land upon the island. As a 
result, the Ospreys have been practically free from human 
molestation. Gardiner’s Island has been likened to the 
Isle of Wight, and although perhaps the definite points 
of resemblance would be hard to designate, nevertheless 
the simile is an indication of the natural beauties of the 
Ospreys’ chosen haunt. Maintained as a great farm and 
game-preserve, its vistas present a pleasing succession of 
rolling meadows, thick coverts, stately trees, lakes, and 
grassy marshes (Plate 2a). 
When one approaches the island from the south, as I 
did on my original visit, the first nest to be seen 1s one 
perched on the top of a weather-beaten old rock in the 
water, about two hundred yards from shore (Plate 3a). Its 
entire setting is quite ideal, and strongly suggests the historic 
sites of the old Scottish Ospreys’ nests described in St. 
John’s classic “Tour in Sutherland.” Surely no more 
romantic introduction to the Osprey at home could be 
desired. 
Upon landing, perhaps the most surprising discovery 
is the number of Ospreys’ nests built directly upon the 
ground (Plate 1). With memories of previous nests 
straddling inaccessible crotches in the tops of tall trees, 
it is certainly a delight to be able to gaze with perfect ease 
into the homes of these magnificent birds as one walks 
along the beach (Plate 24). For the majority of ground 
nests are confined to the sea-beach—just why, it is hard to 
determine. The fact is, Ospreys’ nests on Gardiner’s 
Island are placed in almost every conceivable situation. 
