Goose Island (Guilford)
41°12′31″N 72°40′20″W / 41.20861°N 72.67222°W
Goose Island is a small, uninhabited rocky
The island is currently privately owned, but may someday become part of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge.
Shipwrecks
In 1805, a gale storm caused a ship to crash on the island, killing the crew of seven men. They were found and buried by Joseph Griffing, keeper of the lighthouse on Falkner.
During the time that Captain Oliver N. Brooks owned Falkner Light, there were at least 100 shipwrecks on Goose Island. Brooks saved 71 sailors.[4]
In 1858, a coal schooner named Moses F. Webb crashed on the island. The crew of five was saved by Brooks. He later was given a medal, silver set, salary raise, and was nicknamed the "Hero of 1858".
A 1913 Hartford Courant article said of Webb, "He kissed his wife and babies good-by and made Goose Island all right, though he never expected to go back alive."[5]
Flora and fauna
Due to the circumstances, there are few plants and animals that are permanent residents. Those that do are mostly hardy plants,
Other birds found here include
There is a patch of
As with many islands in Long Island Sound, seals can be seen basking here in the cooler months.