Menunketesuck Island, a long sand and rock spit at the mouth of the Menunketesuck River, was named for the Native Americans who once lived in the area. One of the most interesting episodes in its history occurred in 1893, when townspeople found a pirate camp there and ended the looting of harbor-side houses that had taken place that year. Today the island is owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and serves as important habitat for a variety of birds throughout the year, including terns, herons, and the colorful oystercatcher. Duck Island, a natural preserve owned by the State of Connecticut, once served as a hospital for smallpox victims. Today a chimney from a long-abandoned building and a set of stairs are all that remain of human existence there. The long stone jetty on the island's west side supports its reputation as a safe harbor. Duck Island hosts a major colony of long-legged waders, including egrets, herons, and ibises, and in summer people often observe great egrets and snowy egrets nesting in the treetops, while other important species such as dunlin appear in winter.