Third House Nature Center is a 501c3 environmental education organization located in Montauk’s historic Third House. Third House Nature Center volunteers provide the eyes and ears for invasive species on the easternmost point of Long Island and New York State, affectionately known as “The End.”
Ed Johann, President, and Vicki Bustamante, Vice President, of the Third House Board of Directors, are actively involved in the preservation of native species and ecological communities on the East End, as well as the monitoring and management of invasive species.
Vicki, Ed, and other Third House Nature Center volunteers have been instrumental in leading the protection of Montauk from one of our highest priority invasive species, Arthraxon hispidus, commonly known as small carpet grass. Arthraxon is known from only two places on Long Island: Montauk County Park in Montauk and Gabreski Airport in Westhampton. Third House recently collaborated with LIISMA and Suffolk County Parks to design and install an interpretive sign for the park, highlighting the importance of controlling arthraxon and other invasive species, while protecting native species at the park. Funding for the sign was provided by the New York Environmental Protection Fund, through a subcontract with LIISMA.
“Third House Nature Center, as part of our stewardship of the Montauk County Park, are active in detecting and removing invasive species in the Big Reed Pond environs,”said Vicki Bustamante. “We highlight the importance of educating our high school senior interns on how to identify the ‘worst offenders’ and how they affect the balance of the native vegetation. During trail maintenance days, the interns also participate in invasive removal activities alongside us.”
The Third House Nature Center offers a variety of programs, in partnership with Suffolk County Parks, including the Montauk quail restoration project, student internship program, children’s nature program, Camp DeBruce, and trail maintenance program. For more information, visit the Third House Nature Center website at https://www.thirdhousenaturecenter.org/
