Wildlife islands were built using dredged material. Most older islands did not have physical protection but the newer islands and CDF's have riprap or some other protective structure. All the AIWW islands were colonized naturally with the exceptions of Core Sound and Barren Island, which had shorelines planted with cordgrass.
Few records are available due to the age of most projects.
Other islands periodically surveyed for waterbird colonies by state agencies, local birding groups, and in a FWS nationwide survey in the early 1980's. National Park Service and Rutgers University has monitored islands in Long Island Sound and vicinities.