With all due respect to The 5th Dimension, I am not particularly convinced “The world’s a nicer place in my beautiful balloon.”

I have more than enough photo documentation that suggests rubber, Mylar, latex, and nylon balloon debris can be hazardous to our delicate Fishers Island Sound ecosystems.

I am aware that in these next few weeks I will see washed up, tangled up, maybe even deflated, tired AND fed up balloons congratulating graduates and acknowledging mothers and fathers.

Perhaps in this season of celebration, reunions and happy festivities we can all keep it simple — even courageous. Bring on the cakes, the recyclable cards or just say “I love you,” but ban the balloons!

And if you think I might be full of hot air take a walk on nearby shores and coves, hike into seaside woods and look into those thickets and see for yourselves.

Justine Kibbe is a naturalist for the Fishers Island Conservancy. A lifelong environmentalist, Kibbe spent six years on Alaska’s Island of St. Paul among the native Unungan people to study fur seals. Now a Fishers Island resident, Kibbe offers wildlife snapshots from her observations around the island in “My Neck Of The Woods.” She can be reached at bjkibbe@gmail.com.