A natural pest control program at the historic Manor of St. George has dramatically decreased the tick and mosquito population on the 127-acre Mastic estate.
The effort was bolstered this week by the release of 150 more pheasants, which are flourishing among the manor’s fields and woodland. The birds, along with a native turkey population and peacocks, have been cleaning out the ticks, while overhead, bats and purple martins, nesting in unique houses provided for them, take care of the mosquitoes.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine was on hand for the release, calling the program a model of environmental stewardship.
“This is about working with nature, not against it,” Romaine said. “These birds provide a natural way to reduce ticks and mosquitoes, which carry serious diseases, without resorting to pesticides that harm our environment. At a time when we need to protect our waterways and open space, the Manor is showing us what true conservation looks like.”
John Scott Prudenti, a representative of the Manor’s trust, emphasized the health benefits of the effort. “With the concerns surrounding Lyme Disease and other tick-borne illnesses, as well as West Nile from mosquitoes, we’re grateful for the job these birds are doing,” Prudenti said. “They’re thriving here, living entirely off the land, and proving that natural forms of insect control are highly effective.”
The pheasants came by way of the Reynolds Farm in upstate Ithaca and require no supplemental food, Prudenti noted. They bolster a population of 150 birds released last year.
By not using harmful insecticides at the waterfront property, the Manor also boasts a significant dragonfly population, which is deadly to mosquitoes and other flying pests such as flies. “Anyone who’s been down to our local beaches knows about greenflies, blackflies, and other biting pests. We get rid of them naturally here at the Manor,” caretaker Bob DeVito pointed out.
The Manor of St. George is one of Long Island’s historic gems, having played a role in the founding of America. Built by one of Brookhaven Town’s earliest settlers, Col. William Tangier Smith, the estate became Fort St. George after the British captured it during the Revolutionary War. A militia headed by Col. Benjamin Tallmadge took it back in 1780 and, during his return to Connecticut, stopped off in Coram to famously burn a huge supply of hay stored for the British Cavalry.
Two canons from the War of 1812 still peering from the property toward Bellport Bay highlight the manor’s military importance. During World War I, it served as a center for recreational activities for Army soldiers stationed at Camp Upton in Yaphank and those assigned to an airfield located south of the manor house.
“Now patrolling the area are a legion of birds and dragonflies,” said Prudenti, who is working with local organizations to reduce the area’s feral cat population through spay and neutering efforts. “The birds do have natural enemies such as foxes, hawks, and owls, but we want to cut down on the other factors that threaten this beneficial population.”
The Manor grounds and its local history museum, open for tours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, attract thousands of visitors each year. It will be closed for the year in November and reopen in May.