About 100 people gathered at Sunset Lake in Oak Bluffs Saturday for the unveiling of a statue dedicated to beloved Island naturalist Gus Ben David, who died last year at 81.

Work to dedicate a statue to Gus Ben David, the renowned Vineyard naturalist who died last year, is underway in Oak Bluffs. The select board voted last week to approve a statue of an osprey created by Barney Zeitz to be placed at Sunset Lake.

When Tim Leland went out with his shears one morning in mid-July to trim the bushes around his driveway in Wasque on Chappaquiddick, he checked in on his neighbors — a pair of ospreys.

The Island community turned out Monday for a memorial gathering in memory of Island naturalist Gus Ben David, the original director of Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, who died July 4 at 81.

Since 1971, Gus Ben David has built poles for ospreys to nest and placed them throughout the Island. In just over 50 years he’s seen 160 poles placed — varying in size and location, but always high above their surroundings.

A record number of osprey nests were reported this year on Martha’s Vineyard, marking a new milestone for the once-threatened migratory birds. Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary reported 106 active nests this year.