On this day in 1704, the town of Newbury voted to pay a bounty to men who had killed two wolves on Plum Island. Wolves were a threat to the cattle, sheep, and pigs grazing on the island, and town officials offered bounties to thin their population. This event is one of many recorded instances of human interaction with nature on Plum Island. In summer, farmers from nearby towns used the meadows for pasture; in winter, they fed their livestock salt hay harvested from the island's abundant marshes. Although Plum Island was rich in natural resources, the harsh winter weather meant that there were few year-round residents. When accommodations were built for summer visitors, development seemed inevitable. But then a group of bird lovers began buying and preserving land. Because of their efforts, Plum Island is today one of the top 10 birding areas in the United States.