called island acre crescent shaped island located miles coast connecticut united_states island visited native americans thousands years meaning place great fish hawks founders purchased island tribe transaction land east purchased stone family remained family sold government island light constructed commissioned president light second oldest connecticut listed national_register_of_historic_places lighthouse automated continues operate navigational aid nearby island stewart national wildlife refuge fifth largest colony nesting northeastern united_states island land mass lost erosion acres original acres reinforced eastern boundary slow advancing deterioration origins recorded coined native americans island meaning place great fish hawks refer possession instead usage resources island identity european explorer unknown likely dutch explorer sailed united_states government credits block early english settlers called likely stemming native american writes island probably named english translation falcon suggesting presence falcon simple ignorance island dutch maps later evolved result family lived island island transferred government deed states changed established island change universally recognized popular usage island lighthouse use including publications history site human activity thousands years archaeological survey performed island found point triangle variety dates study conducted erosion control project required law island national_register_of_historic_places findings published bulletin history indians identifies site ceremonial religious practices practices unknown according thirteen turtle island permanent settlement likely fishing hunting trips summer european contact occurred half map possession reverend deed shows island founders purchased island tribe transaction land east acquired land married daughter point owner island purchased island remained stone family sold distant relative named equivalent sold island government equivalent historian notes government likely openly communicating island united_states congress appropriated march lighthouse prior government acquisition property inhabited family war british forces landed island told keeper wife fear long kept light burning later keeper light order new london customs inspector british threatened blow lighthouse stone got order lighthouse generator house light renovated summer house united_states study endangered erosion control project completed hurricane sandy greatly reduced breeding habitat square metres erosion threatens island existence believed acres reduced acres total area fallen acres projected lose inches year disappears sea constructed commissioned president lighthouse keeper houses service life erected rebuilt keeper house burned lighthouse repaired automated undertaken restoration preservation lighthouse major restoration work completed march access light restricted nesting season august second oldest extant lighthouse connecticut listed national_register_of_historic_places wildlife island stewart national wildlife refuge acquired according currently supports nesting connecticut site largest pairs colonies regular nesting location federally endangered species state living island american breeding pairs noted year erosion control project completed hurricane sandy greatly reduced breeding habitat square metres spring dock damaged scheduled rebuilt
Falkner Island