On June 1, the Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT), in partnership with the Ontario Bays Initiative (OBI) Land Trust, hosted a shoreline cleanup on Cherry Island in Chaumont Bay, bringing together volunteers to remove debris and protect one of the region’s most ecologically significant undeveloped islands.
The recently conserved Cherry Island, now known as the Cosgrove Nature Preserve on Cherry Island represents one of the last remaining wild, undeveloped islands in Chaumont Bay. The collaboration between the two organizations reflects a shared commitment to protecting water quality, shoreline habitat, and the broader ecological integrity of the Lake Ontario watershed.
OBI is also part of the Atlantic Flyway migration network, making Chaumont Bay and surrounding shorelines an important stopover habitat for migratory birds. The Island’s protected shoreline provides critical resting and feeding areas for species traveling long distances along this major migration corridor.
During the cleanup, volunteers collected a wide range of shoreline debris, including plastic bottles, bags, cans, balloons, and much more. A highlight of the day was the sighting of two bald eagles overhead, a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting intact shoreline habitat for wildlife that depends on these waters.