LONGVIEW -- The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Ducks Unlimited have purchased a Columbia River island that is an important nesting site for waterfowl and other birds.

Fisher Island near Longview, opposite Willow Grove, offers some 257 acres of important wildlife habitat for the birds. The island shelters more than 100 great blue heron nests in its thick vegetation and is widely used by bald eagles as well as ducks and geese.

The department and Ducks Unlimited purchased the island from Lloyd Ewing, who lived there in the 1940's. Ewing rejected several previous offers to purchase the island because he wished to preserve its wildlife habitat.

The $230,000 to purchase the island came from Ducks Unlimited and the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition. The department will manage it as part of the Shillapoo/Mt. St. Helens Wildlife Area.