Fu^s/oss 7?/f

Biological Services Program

FWS/OBS-79/09
September 1979

Coastal Waterbird Colonies:

MAINE

Fish and Wildlife Service

J.S. Department of the Interior

The Biological Services Program was established within the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service to supply scientific information and methodologies on
key environmental issues that impact fish and wildlife resources and their
supporting ecosystems. The mission of the program is as follows:

• To strengthen the Fish and Wildlife Service in its role as
a primary source of information on national fish and wild-
life resources, particularly in respect to environmental
impact assessment.

• To gather, analyze, and present information that will aid
decisionmakers in the identification and resolution of
problems associated with major changes in land and water
use.

• To provide better ecological information and evaluation
for Department of the Interior development programs, such
as those relating to energy development.

Information developed by the Biological Services Program is intended
for use in the planning and decisionmaking process to prevent or minimize
the impact of development on fish and wildlife. Research activities and
technical assistance services are based on an analysis of the issues a
determination of the decisionmakers involved and their information needs,
and an evaluation of the state of the art to identify information gaps
and to determine priorities. This is a strategy that will ensure that
the products produced and disseminated are timely and useful.

Projects have been initiated in the following areas: coal extraction
and conversion; power plants; geothermal , mineral and oil shale develop-
ment; water resource analysis, including stream alterations and western
water allocation; coastal ecosystems and Outer Continental Shelf develop-
ment; and systems inventory, including National Wetland Inventory,
habitat classification and analysis, and information transfer.

The Biological Services Program consists of the Office of Biological
Services in Washington, D.C., which is responsible for overall planning and
management; National Teams, which provide the Program's central scientific
and technical expertise and arrange for contracting biolooical services
studies with states, universities, consulting firms, and others; Regional
Staff, who provide a link to problems at the operating level; and staff at
certain Fish and Wildlife Service research facilities, who conduct inhouse
research studies.

FWS/OBS-79/09
September 1979

COASTAL WATERBIRD COLONIES:
MAINE

by

Carl E. Korschgen
Maine Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit
240 Nutting Hall
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469

Contract No. 14-16-0008-1189

Project Officer
Ralph Andrews
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
One Gateway Center, Suite 700
Newton Corner, MA 02158

A contribution of the Maine Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit,
University of Maine, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife,
the Wildlife Management Institute and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

cooperating.

Performed for

National Coastal Ecosystems Team

Office of Biological Services

Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Washington, DC 20240

DISCLAIMER

The opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in
this report are those of the author and do not necessanly reflect the
views of the Office of Biological Services, Fish and Wildlife Service,
U.S. Department of the Interior, nor does mention of trade names or
commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use
by the Federal government.

The correct citation for this report is:

Korschgen, C. E. 1979. Coastal waterbird colonies: Maine. U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service, Biological Services Program, FWS/OBS-79/09. 83 pp.

n

PREFACE

This report is one of several detailing the results of 1976 and 1977
inventories of nesting waterbird colonies along the U.S. Atlantic coast,
the U.S. Great Lakes and the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Appreciation for the diversity and numbers of coastal birds in Maine
and their dependence upon coastal nesting sites should help to guarantee
their protection and management.

Any suggestions or questions regarding this report should be directed to:

Information Transfer Specialist
National Coastal Ecosystems Team
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
NASA-Slidell Computer Complex
1010 Gause Boulevard
Slidell, Louisiana 70458

or

Regional Activities Leader

Coastal Ecosystems

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

One Gateway Center

Newton Corner, Massachusetts 02158

m

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Maine coast provides an abundance and diversity of nesting habitats
for many kinds of birds. The objectives of this 2-year study (1976-1977)
were: to locate all nesting colonies of seabirds and wading birds in Maine,
north of Cape Elizabeth; to estimate the number of breeding pairs of each
species; to determine the breeding chronology of each species; and to identify
species population trends since 1900. A similar study was conducted in 1976
and 1977 for the region bounded by Cape Elizabeth, Maine and the southern
boundary of Virginia (Erwin 1979). Data for all of Maine have been incorpora-
ted into this report for the benefit of the Maine user-group. Population data
from the 1977 inventory are presented as baseline data.

Surveys were flown each spring in fixed-wing aircraft to locate colonies
and to estimate populations of those species that are highly visible. Later
each colony site was visited by boat to determine species composition and to
estimate populations more accurately. Total nest counts, counts of breeding
adults, partial nest counts, and estimates of adults were felt to be the most
reliable inventory methods, in that order. A total of 353 colony sites was
found with an estimated population of 100,813 breeding pairs. Nineteen species
of sea and wading birds frequently nested at sites containing several species.
As many as nine species sometimes nested at such a site. The most abundant
nesting species on the coast was the herring gull, followed in order of abun-
dance by common eider. Leach's storm-petrel, double-crested cormorant, great
black-backed gull, 4 species of terns, 3 species of alcids, and 3 species of
herons. More than 220 colonies of herring and great black-backed gulls and
common eiders were located on the study area. Species with estimated total
populations of less than 150 pairs nested in only a few scattered colonies
along the Maine coast. Population estimates for all colonies of each species
are listed. Nearly 75 percent of the birds nested at sites that were pri-
vately owned. Diagrams depict the generalized nesting chronology for each
species.

From historical data and the 1977 survey, population trends for some
species since about 1900 were identified. There were increases in abundances
for the double-crested cormorant, common eider, great black-backed gull, her-
ring gull, common puffin, and black guillemot. Decreases were noted for the
common and Arctic terns. Recent additions to the Maine coast nesting water-
bird list are the snowy egret, glossy ibis, and Louisiana heron.

TV

A compilation of historical information about Maine seabird and wading bird
colonies is on microfiche at the back of this report. Aerial photographs
of colonies east of Cape Elizabeth are on file at the U.S. Fish and Wild-
life Service, Regional Office, Newton Corner, Massachusetts, and at the
Maine Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit.

This report was submitted in fulfillment of Contract 14-16-0008-1189

by the Maine Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Maine, under

the sponsorship of the Office of Biological Services, U.S. Fish and Wild-
life Service.

CONTENTS

Page

PREFACE iii

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY iv

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix

ABSTRACT x

KEY WORDS X

INTRODUCTION 1

MATERIALS AND METHODS 2

Study Area 2

Species 2

Colony Historical Information 5

Field Surveys 5

Colony Census 6

Nesting Chronology 10

RESULTS 11

Species Abundance and Distribution 11

Nesting Chronology 38

Population Trends of Waterbirds in Maine 38

Ownership of Waterbird Colony Sites 52

VI

Page

DISCUSSION 55

Importance of Colony Sites 55

Inventory Methods 56

Ownership of Colony Sites 56

CONCLUSIONS 58

RECOMMENDATIONS 59

Population Monitoring 59

Productivity of Colonies 59

Habitat Requirements 59

Protection of Waterbird Colonies 60

REFERENCES 61

APPENDIXES

A. Miscellaneous Observations of Osprey Nesting Sites in 1977 . 65

B. Alphabetical List of Colony Site Names 68

C. List of Maine Coastal Island Registry Numbers Where

Waterbirds Were Located in 1977 76

FIGURES

Number Page

1 Study area for survey of coastal nesting waterbirds .... 3

2 Example of aerial photograph taken with K-17 camera .... 7

3 Aerial photograph of Wreck Island (297 006) great blue

heron colony 8

4 Estimated breeding chronology of Leach's storm-petrels

nesting in Maine 39

5 Estimated breeding chronology of double-crested cormorants,

common eiders, and great blue herons nesting in Maine . . 40

6 Estimated breeding chronology of three species of gulls

nesting in Maine 41

7 Estimated breeding chronology of four species of terns

nesting in Maine 42

vn

FIGURES (Continued)

Number
8

9

10
11

Estimated breeding chronology of three species of
alcids nesting in Maine

Trends of herring and great black-backed gulls,
double-crested cormorants and common eiders nesting
in Maine since 1900

Trends of Arctic and common terns nesting in Maine
since 1900

Trends in nesting populations of three species of
alcids in Maine (excluding Machias Seal Island)
since 1900

Page
43

45
49

51

TABLES
Number Page

1 Colonial nesting waterbirds in Maine 4

2 Number of colonies and nesting pairs of colonial water-
birds in Maine and observations of nesting ospreys,

1977 13

3 Nesting populations, by species, of waterbird colonies

in Maine, 1977 14

4 Ownership of sites where colonies were located in 1977,
listed by species and number of pairs 53

5 Ownership of sites where colonies were located in 1977,
listed by species and number of colonies 54

VI n

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many individuals have contributed their time, advice, and expertise
during this study. Former Leader of Maine Cooperative Wildlife Research
Unit, Howard L. Mendall, was a co-project leader and provided valuable
assistance in planning and field work. Malcolm W. Coulter, Associate Director
of the School of Forest Resources, also a co-project leader, reviewed the
manuscript and made helpful suggestions throughout the study. Stewart I.
Fefer, Research Associate, participated in all aspects of the study. Ralph
Andrews served as Biological Services Project Officer.

I am indebted to Alan E. Hutchinson, Maine Department of Inland
Fisheries and Wildlife, for his participation in the field work. Howard E.
Spencer of the same department assisted in aerial surveys. Without the
cooperation, patience, and skill of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
pilot-biologists William Snow, Clyde Bolin, and James Goldsberry, this study
could not have been completed.

I am grateful to many former students at the University of Maine for
their assistance. James Wooley, Michael Morse, William Bicknell, Edward
Kennedy, and Renee Duval all participated in various phases of the work.
Consultants at the University's Computer and Processing Service, especially
Gary Lagasse, gave freely of their time and expertise in developing programs
to store and retrieve the data.

Several others contributed information and data. R. Michael Erwin of
the Massachusetts Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit provided data on colonies
in Maine west of Cape Elizabeth. Harry Tyler, Maine State Planning Office,
provided background material and was a source of much valuable information.
Employees of the Maine Bureau of Public Lands generously provided access to
coastal maps and island inventories. William Drury (College of the Atlantic)
permitted me to use his files on seabird observations. Eugene Lesser
(College of the Atlantic), Stephen Kress (Cornell University), Phillip
Conkling (Hurricane Island Outward Bound), Jeremy Hatch (University of
Massachusetts/Boston), and Carl Buchheister (National Audubon Society)
provided field observations. The cover art is by Charlotte Adamson (USFWS).
Steve Patton (National Coastal Ecosystems Team, USFWS) reviewed the manu-
script and provided editorial assistance.

IX

ABSTRACT

During the nesting seasons of 1976 and 1977, personnel of the Maine
Cooperatve Wildlife Research Unit inventoried waterbird colonies along the
coast of Maine. This survey was part of a larger effort sponsored by the
Office of Biological Services to survey all colonial waterbird colonies
from the southern border of Virginia to the Maine-Canada border during
1976-1977. A total of 353 colony sites was found that contained 100,813
pairs of birds. Nineteen species nested in the study area. A count of
nests or adult birds made during on site inspections of the colonies was
the best inventory technique. Species abundance and nesting locations
are listed.

Population trends of sea and wading birds since 1900 are based on pub-
lished and unpublished reports which are included on microfiche cards at
the back of this report. Populations of most seabird species have increased
whereas wading birds have probably decreased. Nesting chronology of water-
birds is depicted in diagrams. Seventy-five percent of the waterbirds in
Maine nested on privately owned sites.

KEY WORDS

Waterbirds Herons

Islands Egrets

Birds Colony

Gulls Breeding pairs

Terns Population estimates

Alcids Chronology, nesting

Eiders Seabirds

Cormorants Wading birds

Storm-petrels Maine

INTRODUCTION

The coastal regions of the United States contain a \/ery extensive renew-
able natural resource potential. However, these regions are subject to petro-
leum and natural gas developments, industrial developments, and associated
demands of an expanding urban society. Conservation of renewable natural
resources that will perpetually provide benefits to our nation and its citi-
zens requires that government and corporate planners have available an
adequate data-base on the biological components of the ecosystem.

Colonial nesting sea and wading birds in Maine are important components
of coastal ecosystems. They have biological, economic, educational, aes-
thetic, and recreational values. Many of these colonial species require
isolated and/or undisturbed nesting sites. Coastal islands in Maine presently
afford an abundance and diversity of suitable nesting habitats.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has the responsibility for providing a
comprehensive data-base on the avian components of coastal ecosystems.
Baseline information on colonial nesting waterbirds in Maine has hitherto been
incomplete or lacking. This study is part of a program sponsored by the
Office of Biological Services to obtain information on the status of colonial
nesting waterbirds. In T976 and 1977 the University of Maine at Orono,
through the Maine Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, conducted field inven-
tories of colonies in Maine. The objectives of this study were as follows:

1) Survey the Maine coastal zone for waterbird colonies.

2) Census each colony for breeding pairs.

3) Determine the nesting chronology of each species.

4) Compile published and unpublished records of the historical nesting
status of sea and wading birds in Maine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

STUDY AREA

This study, part of a larger survey, was intended to include the rocky,
island-bound coastal region of Maine from the Canadian border to Cape Eliza-
beth. Surveys west of Cape Elizabeth, south to the southern boundary of
Virginia were coordinated and compiled by R. Michael Erwin of the Massa-
chusetts Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit (Erwin 1979). The 1977 census
data for all of Maine (Figure 1) has been incorporated into this report for
the benefit of the user-group in Maine. Machias Seal Island which is claimed
by both the United States and Canada was not included in the study area.

The long and irregular coast line of Maine, with bays, coves, and har-
bors, is noted for its numerous islands. The Maine Bureau of Public Lands has
catalogued more than 3,000 islands and ledges. Nearly half of these support
grasses, herbs, shrubs, or trees. Meadow foxtail (Alopercurus pratensis),
timothy (Phleum pratense), and quackgrass (Agropyron repenT) are the most
common upland grasses. The typical forbs are cow parsnip (Heracleum maximum),
goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), and ragweed
(Ambrosia artemisii folia). Shrubs include bayberry (Myrica pensyl vanica)
raspberry (Rubus idaeus), rose (Rosa virginiana), and poison ivy (Rhus
radicans). On forested islands, coniferous trees, especially spruces (Picea
spp.) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea) dominate. Occasionally hardwood trees
occur in mixed stands with conifers on coastal islands .

SPECIES

Those seabirds and wading birds (collectively called "waterbirds") found
nesting in Maine are shown in Table 1. Nomenclature follows the Check-list of
the American Ornithologists' Union (1957) and revisions through the 33rd sup-
plement (Auk 93:875-879). All textual and tabular material for birds is pre-
sented in taxonomic order according to the Check-list of the American Ornithol-
ogists' Union (1957). The term "alcids" collectively refers to razorbills,
black guillemots, and common puffins which nest in Maine. The common eider

i\- / t'o'

' , rr. —

69 68 •.

e'7-

Cana

da

•;

Maine
Auqusto

Bangor

44°-

vt.

N

.H.

: Portland ^o'^
\ / CAPE

if

ELIZABETH

-

-

i

ATLANTIC
OCEAN

43°-

^

^Boston

Mas

. ^

V.Cape IfA
Cod j\

0 50

Kilometers

42"-

R,l.

/

1 1

1 1

Figure 1. Study area for survey of coastal nesting waterbirds. Cape Elizabeth demarks the western limit of the field work conducted by the
Maine Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit.

Table 1. Colonial nesting waterbirds in Maine.

Common name

Scientific name

Leach's storm-petrel

Double-crested cormorant

Great blue heron

Little blue heron

Snowy egret

Louisiana heron

Black-crowned night heron

Glossy ibis

Common eider

Great black-backed gull

Herring gull

Laughing gull

Common tern

Arctic tern

Roseate tern

Least tern

Razorbill

Black guillemot

Common puffin

Oceanodroma leucorhoa)

Phalacrocorax auritus)

Ardea herodias)

Florida caerulea)

Egretta thula)

Hydranassa tricolor)

Nycticorax nycticorax)
Plegadis falcinellus)

Somateria mollissima)

Larus marinus)

Larus argentatus)

Larus atricilla)

Sterna hirundo)

Sterna paradisaea)

Sterna dougallii)

Sterna albifrons)

Alca torda )

Cepphus gryl le)

Fratercula arctica)

is not considered a colonially-nesting seabird by some authors; however,
because of its nesting habits and its dependence upon Maine islands for
breeding sites, the eider has been included in this report. Active nest-
ing sites of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) are listed and appear in APPENDIX A,
although the osprey is not a colonial waterbird.

COLONY HISTORICAL INFORMATION

The general ornithological literature and other existing records were
searched to provide background information for locations and population trends
of colonies in Maine. Since most seabird and wadi^ig bird colonies in Maine
have been located on small coastal islands, data pertaining to specific
islands, or island groups, could be organized. Seventy-five years of histori-
cal information were available for some colonies. Most of the historical data
were found in unpublished reports. A compilation of the historical information
is on microfiche at the back of this report.

Many biologists have conducted nesting bird surveys along the coast of
Maine in the last 75 years. William Dutcher (1901, 1902, 1903) summarized
reports of special wardens who were assigned to protect gull and tern breeding
sites. Arthur H. Norton wrote many published and unpublished accounts of
seabirds in Maine from 1907 to 1932. Alfred 0. Gross published status reports
for many species of seabirds in Maine in the early 1940's. He also summarized
annually his work on the gull and cormorant control project from 1944 to 1952
(mimeo. reports). William Drury has censused gulls and terns and to a lesser
extent other seabirds in Maine from 1962 to 1974. In accounts of New England
seabird populations, Drury (1973, 1974) compiled the work of previous
researchers and estimated the numbers of most seabirds based upon his inter-
pretation of historical records.

Other biologists have contributed significantly to documenting particular
seabird populations in Maine. Howard Mendall has compiled records of nesting
eiders on islands since 1965 and double-crested cormorants during the mid-
1930's. Seabirds nesting on Matinicus Rock have been censused periodically
since the 1940's by Carl Buchheister. Ralph Palmer studied nesting common
terns in the early 1940's. The staff of the National Audubon Society Camp at
Hog Island has censused seabird populations on islands in Muscongus Bay since
the 1940's.

FIELD SURVEYS

To locate nesting colonies an aerial survey was flown during the first
week of May. A pilot and airplane were provided by the Law Enforcement Divi-
sion, District 13, of Region 5 of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The
surveys were flown in a De Havilland Beaver and Cessna 180 in 1976 and 1977,
respectively. Both aircraft were amphibious and capable of flight speeds as
low as 80 knots. The surveys were flown at an altitude of less than 100
meters. Colony site, location, species composition, and population estimate
data were recorded on tape with a battery-operated tape recorder.

COLONY CENSUS

Standardization of census methods is desirable. The determination of the
appropriate census technique depends upon the particular species and number
of species to be inventoried, the size of the population, the size and geo-
graphic location of the colony site, and the nest substrate. These factors
are compounded by the accessibility of the colony, the breeding chronology,
and the availability of manpower. The methods described herein were used to
census waterbirds in the Maine study area. These techniques may not be
applicable in all situations. The judgement, intuition, and experience of the
observers must be relied upon for choice of the most appropriate survey
method.

Nesting islands were visited by boat starting the last week in May to
determine the number of nesting pairs for each species. Nest counts were
made where possible. Two teams of three observers censused the same part
of the coastal region in both 1976 and 1977. In both years two of the three
members of each crew were the same, so that in the second year of the study
each team was better prepared to inventory effectively.

In Maine, identification of colonial waterbirds presented few problems.
The common, Arctic, and roseate terns occasionally nested in mixed colonies
and spedal attention had to be given to determine the species composition of
those colonies. Since all of the Maine seabird colonies except two were on
coastal islands, the physical size of the island often demarked the size of the
colony as well. Most of the seabird colonies were located on relatively small
islands or limited to parts of larger islands.

Estimates of Nesting Populations from Aenal Photographs

On 14-16 June 1977, low-level photographs of all colonies within the
study area were made with a K-17 aerial camera (9" x 9" format) mounted on
a U.S. Fish and Wildlife airplane. Counts of nesting double-crested
cormorants, gulls, and great blue herons were made from the aerial
photographs in a few cases. The negatives of the aerial photographs are
filed at the Maine Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit with an index. Figures
2 and 3 are examples of these photographs.

Census Method for Each Species

Leach's storm-petrel. Adult petrels never were seen in the vicinity of
colonies during daylight hours, therefore finding colony sites was difficult.
The only method used in this inventory was to ground check all islands in
the offshore area. Petrels were found nesting on wooded islands and treeless
islands, islands with rocky soils, and those with deep organic soils. Identifi-
cation of nesting burrows was the only positive indication that an active
colony was on an island. Remains of dead birds sometimes provided a clue to
the location of colonies.

A count of active burrows is the most reliable method for estimating a
petrel population. However, because burrows are difficult to locate, these
counts provide a low population estimate in most cases. The large colonies of
Leach's storm-petrels on Little Duck and Great Duck islands were censused by

6

Figure 2. Aerial photograph of herring gull and double-crested cormorant colonies on Fisherman island (268091), taken with K-17 camera.

Figure 3. Aerial photograph of Wreck Island (297 006) great blue heron colony.

Lesser in 1977 (unpublished) using a combination of line transects, quadrats,
and subjective evaluation of the burrow abundance and colony distribution.
Lesser suggested that petrel colonies be censused in early August when
active and inactive burrows can be distinguished.

Double-crested cormorants. A ground count of nests is the best method
of censusing the nesting population. Counts of nests from aerial photographs
taken vertically above the colony are also an accurate means of censusing
cormorants.

Wading birds. A nest count from fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft is the
best census technique for great blue herons in Maine since these birds nest
primarily in tops of trees. Verification of aerial counts by ground counts
also is recommended. Ground checks should be made early in the spring when
the adults are incubating and young are relatively immobile. Nest counts
from aerial photos are equally useful for censusing great blue herons.

Black-crowned night herons were never observed from fixed-wing aircraft
and even when active nests were approached closely with a helicopter, the
adults were not seen. A nest count from the ground is considered the most
reliable method for censusing black-crowned night herons, snowy egrets, and
glossy ibises, since they nest lower in the trees than great blue herons.

Common eider. Eider nesting islands are found readily by aerial surveys
in late April or May. If the surveys are timed accurately, counts of eiders
closely associated with islands can be used to provide a close approximation
of the nesting population.

Nest counts in June provide a reliable estimate of the breeding popula-
tion. If nest counts are made, nests which are active and inactive (abandoned,
hatched, or destroyed by predators) should be tallied. Nest counts of eiders
can be disruptive because of predation by gulls. Eider eggs should be covered
with nest material after hens flush.

Gulls. The three species of gulls nesting in the study area occupied
relatively small colonies. Aerial surveys were useful for locating the small
colonies and in many cases a reliable population estimate could be obtained
from a fixed-wing aircraft. Photographic counts may be a reliable way to
estimate gull populations early in the season when cover is not too dense.
The utility of this technique is being investigated. Almost all gull colonies
on the Maine coast were inventoried by boat. Total nest counts were made
whenever possible. If each nest in a colony could not be counted, a portion
of the nesting habitat was surveyed to provide a partial count of the relative
density of nests. An estimate of the breeding population was obtained by
extrapolating the partial nest count to the total area of the colony. This
technique frequently was used in conjunction with counts and estimates of
adult birds. Special attention had to be given whenever nonnesting subadult
birds, usually identifiable by plumage characteristics, were observed in the
colony.

Herring and great black-backed gulls usually nested at sites containing
both species, but the nests often were distinguishable by the location of the
nest, size of the eggs, or color of the young. Black-backed gulls usually

9

nested on higher vegetated parts of the islands, whereas herring gulls often
nested seaward from vegetated areas and among storm-tide debris. The eggs
of black-backs are larger and the nestlings are more buffy-colored than those
of the herring gulls. In large colonies the nests were counted or sampled
and the proportion of adults of each species was extrapolated to derive an
estimate of the respective nesting populations. The low density of laugh-
ing gulls in the few colonies where they were found required no special
technique.

Terns. The protective coloration of tern eggs and the lack of struc-
tured nests make tern nests difficult to find and count. A count or estimate
of adult birds is the best method for censusing large colonies. Correction
factors must be used to account for members of pairs away from nests and for
nonbreeders. In this inventory we assumed that 10 percent of the birds in
a colony were nonbreeders, based on previous work by Nisbet (1973).

At sites containing several species the proportionate number of each
species must be estimated as well as the total number. An estimate of
each species population is then derived.

Alcids. Common puffins and black guillemots nest in concealed sites
beneath large boulders or in rock crevices along the shoreline. Razorbills
nest on rock ledges or in crevices. Nest counts are extremely time consum-
ing and incomplete because nests are usually situated in inaccessible
locations.

Methods used to census alcids are primarily for black guillemots since
few common puffins and razorbills nest on the Maine coast. To census
guillemots the shoreline of islands was circled very slowly by boat to flush
incubating birds from their nest sites. Counts of flushed birds were con-
sidered equivalent to a nest count. However, the resulting estimate is very
conservative since some incubating birds undoubtedly remain in burrows. In
some instances, counts of the total number of adults on the water adjacent
to an island were made after birds were flushed from nest sites. This number
was divided by two to give the number of breeding pairs in the colony, assum-
ing that there are few nonbreeding birds. Studies should be conducted to
evaluate the nonbreeding portion of alcid populations. Aerial counts are
not recommended for censusing alcids in Maine.

NESTING CHRONOLOGY

Information on nesting chronology is important to establish the best
time to conduct inventories and, if necessary, to make corrections for late
nesting birds. For this study most information was obtained through a
literature search. When possible, colonies were visited more than once
in 1976 and 1977 to provide additional information.

10

RESULTS

SPECIES ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

The 1976 breeding season was considered an experimental period to develop

inventory techniques, train observers, and refine the logistics of visiting

the colonies by boat. Data collected during the 1977 season are presented as

baseline information. Nearly every colony was visited by boat during the 1977

field season whereas many colonies, especially in eastern Maine, were not
visited in 1976. Estimates of nesting populations were made between 23 May
and 19 July 1977.

Cooperators located 353 waterbird colony sites along the Atlantic coast
of Maine. Colonies west of Cape Elizabeth (Figure 1) were inventoried by
R. M. Bollengier and A. C. Borror in conjunction with the waterbird inventory
conducted by the Massachusetts Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit. Informa-
tion on those colonies in western Maine are included in this report to bring
all of the Maine data together. The numbers of colonies and estimated popula-
tions for each species are summarized in Table 2. The number of nesting pairs
of each species in each colony is shown in Table 3. An atlas (Erwin and
Korschgen 1979), based on this and the companion study by the Massachusetts
Unit shows colony location, description, species composition, and population
estimates. An alphabetical list of colony site names (APPENDIX B) and a
cross reference to Maine Coastal Island Registry numbers (APPENDIX C) are
included.

Most of the colony sites contained more than one waterbird species.
The Matinicus Rock site with nine species had the greatest diversity of
birds. Black guillemots, herring gulls, great black-backed gulls, double-
crested cormorants, and common eiders commonly nested at the same site.
Birds nesting at the northern edge (laughing gull, roseate tern, least
tern, snowy egret, little blue heron, Louisiana heron, and glossy ibis)
or southern edge (common puffin and razorbill) of their breeding ranges
occurred in relatively few colonies and in low numbers.

11

By far the largest nesting population of a single species existed on
Great Duck Island. Eugene Lesser (unpublished) estimated that 14,000 pairs
of Leach's storm-petrels and 400 pairs of black guillemots nested on that
island in 1977. Observations of only a single pair of breeding birds were
considered important because those birds might represent remnants of formerly
large colonies or pioneers forming a new colony which may become important
in the future. All colony sites used in 1977 are listed for each species in
decreasing order of size (Table 3).

12

Table 2. Number of colonies and nesting pairs of coastal bird colonies
in Maine and observations of nesting ospreys, 1977.

Species

Number of colonies

Estimated number
of nesting pairs

Leach's storm-petrel

Double-crested cormorant

Great blue heron

Little blue heron

Snowy egret

Louisiana heron

Black-crowned night heron

Glossy ibis

Common eider

Great black-backed gull

Herring gull

Laughing gull

Common tern

Arctic tern

Roseate tern

Least tern

Razorbill

Black guillemot

Common puffin

Osprey

16°
103
18

2

4

1

8

3
239^
219^
221^

6
24

8^

3

2

2
114^

1
125 Islands

19,131

15,333

903

4

90

1

117

75

22,390

9,847

26,037

231

2,095

1,640

80

21

25

2,668

125

172

^Present at one additional colony site but numbers were not estimated.

13

Table 3. Nesting colonies, by species,
waterbirds in Maine, 1977.

of

Species

Colony site
number

Colony site
name

Nesting
pairs

Leach's storm-petrel

Double-crested cormorant

268 088 Great Duck Island

268 085 Little Duck Island
297 065 Matinicus Rock
297 054 Seal Island

297 092 Eastern Egg Rock

269 026 Jordans Delight

268 118 Brimstone Island
297 057 Wooden Ball Island

269 014 The Brothers Island
297 055 No Mans Land Island
297 012 Franklin Island
297 Oil Haddock Island

269 015 West Brothers Island

268 038 Schoodic Island

297 014 Western Egg Rock

297 059 Pudding Island

268 129 Great Spoon Island

268 035 The Thrumcap

268 071 Green Ledge

297 014 Western Egg Rock

296 015 Outer Green Island

268 085 Little Duck Island

268 126 Green Ledge

268 078 Ship Island

269 027 Egg Rock

296 052 Duck Island
268 060 Grass Ledge

297 086 White Island (Inner)
297 105 White Bull Island
268 019 Colt Head Island

268 121 West Halibut Ledge

269 006 Nightcap Island
268 079 West Barge Island
268 091 Fisherman Island
268 086 Green Island

268 038 Schoodic Island

268 034 Goose Cove Rock

268 104 Green Ledge

268 052 Hardhead Island

14,000

4,000

550

335

50

50

34

25

25

20

12

12

10

3

3

2

present

650
575
565
543
474
446
440
417
400
388
373
350
350
310
285
280
275
274
272
270
270
250

(Continued)
14

Table 3.

(Continued)

Cole

my site Colony site

Nesting

Species

number

name

pairs

Double-crested cormorant

(Continued)

297

044

Metinic Green Island

238

268

070

Mahoney Island

229

269

004

Old Man

215

296

032

West Brown Cow Island

214

297

090

Pumpkin Island

210

297

039

Hay Ledge

196

296

041

Eagle Island

196

297

111

Heron Island

194

268

017

Two Bush Island

190

297

094

Little Egg Rock

180

296

050

Bumpkin Island

171

296

033

Inner Green Island

166

297

049

Yellow Ridge Island

160

297

095

Shark Island

152

296

034

Junk of Pork Island

150

268

115

Roberts Island

148

269

016

Pulpit Rock

140

268

087

Green Island Ledge

125

297

038

Gunning Rocks

125

268

123

Saddleback Island

120

268

039

Goose Rock

120

297

052

Little Green Island

120

268

074

Shabby Island

116

268

080

East Barge Island

115

268

120

Sparrow Island

112

297

055

No Mans Land Island

108

297

062

Green Ledge

107

296

008

Upper Green Island

104

297

027

Gunning Rocks

104

268

111

Green Ledge

97

268 042

Egg Rock

97

268

105

Medric Rock

96

268

059

Spoon Ledge

95

268

122

Southern Mark Island

95

297

029

Long Ledge

85

269

003

Red Island

80

297

085

The Hyprocrites

79

268

092

Marblehead Island

78

269

007

Ballast Island

78

268

135

Johns Island

75

268

127

White Ledge

75

269

046

Freeman Rock

75

297

013

Little Franklin Ledge

70

296

016

Ram Island

68

269

002

Goose Island

67

268

041

Mouse Island

66

(Continued)

15

Table 3. (Continued)

Species

Colony site
number

Colony site
name

Nesting
pairs

Double-crested cormorant

Great blue heron

(Continued)
269 034
268 005

268 129

269 042
268 128

296 036
268 015
268 131

268 132

269 021

297 113
268 106
268 097
297 003
297 010
268 113
297 054
268 047
297 032
297 030
268 134
268 043
297 031
297 096
268 094

296 038

268 033

297 064

269 013
269 026
297 091

268 133

269 023
269 036
268 082

297 006

268 001
297 048

296 003

297 088

269 025

268 031

269 005

The Ladle

Bald Rock

Great Spoon Island

Egg Rock

Spirit Ledge

Ram Island

Green Ledge

White Horse Island

Black Horse Island

Eastern Island

Ellingwood Rock

Hurricane Island Ledge

Garden Island

Jones Garden Island

Ross Island

Carvers Island

Seal Island

Robinson Rock

Old Hump Ledges

Shag Ledges (East)

Brimstone Island

East Goose Rock

Shag Ledges (West)

Eastern Duck Rock

Crescent Island

Bluff Island

Bar Island

Brig Ledge

Green Island

Jordans Del ight

New Harbor Dry Ledge

Green Island

Pot Rock

Batson Ledges

Crow Island

Wreck Island
Burying Island
Graffam Island
Upper Goose Island
Outer Heron Island
Middle Douglas Island
Hardwood Island
Upper Birch Island

65
60
60
60
52
43
40
40
40
40
35
34
33
32
30
29
27
25
25
24
20
20
20
20
19
17
15
15
12
7
6
4
3
2
1

150
130
90
75
75
75
60
60

(Continued)
16

Table 3. (Continued)

Species

Colony site
number

Colony site
name

Nesting
pairs

Great blue heron (Continued)

Little blue heron

Snowy egret

268 045

Mark Island

50

269 019

Stone Island

50

268 025

Eaton Island

22

297 104

Mark Island

20

268 037

Turtle Island

15

268 067

Scraggy Island

15

269 032

Outer Ram Island

7

268 073

Sheep Island

5

268 007

Seven Hundred Acre Island

3

268 002

Islesboro Island

1

296 037

Stratton Island

3

324 001

Appledore Island

1

324 001

Appledore Island

50

296 043

Wood Island

28

297 104

Mark Island

6

296 037

Stratton Island

6

Louisiana heron

296 037

Stratton Island

Black-crowned night heron

Glossy ibis

Common eider

297 006

Wreck Island

30

297 104

Mark Island

21

296 043

Wood Island

21

296 028

Eagle Island

20

324 001

Appledore Island

10

268 014

Western Island

8

296 037

Stratton Island

5

296 049

Green Island

2

296 043

Wood Island

33

324 001

Appledore Island

30

296 037

Stratton Island

12

269 020

Libby Island

1,500

297 012

Franklin Island

1,300

297 055

No Mans Land Island

800

269 043

Browney Island

800

268 050

Little Spruce Head Island

500

(Continued)

17

Table 3. (Continued)

Species

Colony site
number

Colony site
name

Nesting
pairs

Common eider (Continued)

268 129

Great Spoon Island

500

268 119

Little Brimstone Island

486

268 014

Western Island

450

296 018

Stockman Island

439

296 023

Bangs Island

400

268 033

Bar Island

400

268 085

Little Duck Island

400

297 040

Metinic Island

400

297 044

Metinic Green Island

400

268 055

Compass Island

350

268 116

Roberts Island

350

297 059

Pudding Island

350

268 006

Flat Island

350

268 038

Schoodic Island

300

268 078

Ship Island

300

268 Oil

Spectacle Island

300

268 022

Scott Island

300

269 028

Green Island

300

268 054

Grass Ledge

290

296 019

Little Birch Island

250

268 061

Bald Island

250

268 120

Sparrow Island

250

297 035

The Brothers

250

297 037

The Brothers

250

297 006

Wreck Island

250

296 028

Eagle Island

225

297 052

Little Green Island

208

268 136

Heron Island

200

268 137

Mason Ledge

200

268 052

Hardhead Island

200

268 091

Fisherman Island

200

297 028

Hart Island

200

297 054

Seal Island

200

269 007

Ballast Island

200

269 010

Ram Island

200

297 057

Wooden Ball Island

164

268 113

Carvers Island

160

268 077

Trumpet Island

150

268 067

Scraggy Island

150

297 009

Crane Island

150

297 014

Western Egg Rock

150

297 087

White Island (Outer)

150

268 122

Southern Mark Island

125

(Continued)

18

Table 3. (Continued)

Species

Colony site
number

Colony site
name

Nesting
pairs

Common eider (Continued)

297 023
297 025
297 058
269 037
297 104
268 070
268 123
268 118

268 041
297 042
297 007

269 004
269 018
269 038
269 033
297 062
269 013
296 033

296 024
268 084
268 135
268 008
268 018
268 019
268 029
268 076
268 074
268 103

268 104

297 095
297 093
297 056

269 014
269 040
297 053
268 097
268 063
268 044

268 047

296 015

269 044

297 102
268 086

Bar Island
McGee Island
Ten Pound Island
Inner Sand Island
Mark Island
Ma honey Island
Saddleback Island
Brimstone Island
Mouse Island
Hog Island
Harbor Island
Old Man

125
125
125
125
110
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

Outer Double Head Shot Island 100

Big Nash Island 100

Little Drisko Island 100

Green Ledge 90

Green Island 90

Inner Green Island 85

Upper Flag Island 75

Gooseberry Island 75

Johns Island 75

Thrumcap Island 75

Barred Island 75

Colt Head Island 75

Torrey Island 75

Three Bush Island 75

Shabby Island 75

Green Island 75

Green Ledge 75

Shark Island 75

Burnt Island 75

Two Bush Island 75

The Brothers Island 75

Flat Island 75

Large Green Island 65

Garden Island 62

Dagger Island 60

Goose Island 60

Robinson Rock 60

Outer Green Island 54

Green Rock 53

Pond Island 50

Green Island 50

(Continued)
19

Table 3. (Continued)

Species

Colony site
number

Colony site
name

Nesting
pairs

Common eider (Continued)

268 115

Roberts Island

50

268 126

Green Ledge

50

297 086

White Island (Inner)

50

297 090

Pumpkin Island

50

297 109

Pond Island

50

269 006

Nightcap Island

50

269 026

Jordans Delight

50

269 027

Egg Rock

50

297 101

Ram Island

45

268 043

East Goose Rock

40

297 047

Seal Island

40

297 065

Matinicus Rock

40

297 010

Ross Island

40

268 013

Pond Island

35

268 096

Oak Island

35

297 039

Hay Ledge

35

297 084

Fisherman Island

35

297 088

Outer Heron Island

35

268 082

Crow Island

30

268 125

South Popplestone Ledge

30

268 130

Little Spoon Island

30

268 092

Marblehead Island

30

297 061

Ragged Island

30

268 040

Ram Island

25

297 Oil

Haddock Island

25

297 096

Eastern Duck Rock

25

297 098

Inner Duck Rock

25

297 110

Wood Island

25

297 068

Jenny Island

20

297 069

Elm Island

20

296 020

Horse Island

20

296 029

Rogues Island

20

268 087

Green Island Ledge

20

268 099

Cutters Nubble

20

268 095

Tommy Island

20

268 107

Little Hurricane Island

20

297 038

Gunning Rocks

20

297 001

Jims Island

20

269 008

Foster Island

20

269 Oil

Scabby Island

20

269 039

Nash Island

20

268 015

Green Ledge

19

268 068

Scraggy Island Ledge

18

(Cont

;inued)

20

Table 3. (Continued)

Colony site Colony site Nesting
Species number name pa i rs

Common eider (Continued)

268 059

Spoon Ledge

268 117

Otter Island

297 067

Duck Rock

296 016

Ram Island

268 035

The Thrumcap

268 133

Green Island

268 028

Bar Island Ledge

268 057

Sloop Island

268 069

Smuttynose Island

268 064

The Downfall

268 093

Otter Island

268 101

Sugar Loaves

297 005

Black Island

297 002

Thief Island

297 032

Old Hump Ledges

297 089

Damariscove Island

269 030

Stevens Island Ledge

269 021

Eastern Island

268 049

Horse Head Island

297 100

Cedar Ledge

268 027

Eaton Island Ledge

296 026

Ministerial Island

297 029

Long Ledge

268 060

Grass Ledge

296 021

Pinkham Island

296 030

Bates Island

268 075

Halibut Rocks

297 051

Two Bush Island

297 016

Sand Island

297 027

Gunning Rocks

297 092

Eastern Egg Rock

297 003

Jones Garden Island

297 004

Killick Stone

269 009

Shag Ledge

269 035

Toms Island

269 029

Petit Manan Island

296 006

Irony Island

268 124

Fog Island Ledge

296 027

Sand Island

268 009

Buck Island

297 072

Two Bush Island

297 082

Thrumcap Island

269 036

Batson Ledges

(Cont

inued)

18
18
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
15
14
13
13
12
12
12
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
9
9
8
8
7
7
7

21

Table 3. (Continued)

Species

Colony site
number

Colony site
name

Nesting
pairs

Common eider (Continued)

297 106

East Brown Cow Island

6

268 045

Mark Island

6

268 046

Robinson Rock Ledge

6

269 045

Curlew Rock

6

297 066

Rogue Island

5

296 007

French Island

5

296 013

Vaill Island

5

296 022

Crow Island

5

296 025

Turnip Island

5

269 022

Sally Island

5

268 080

East Barge Island

5

268 012

Pond Island

5

268 017

Two Bush Island

5

268 020

Beach Island

5

268 025

Eaton Island

5

268 111

Green Ledge

5

268 102

Dog Fish Island Ledge

5

268 108

Little Hurricane Island Ledge

5

268 106

Hurricane Island Ledge

5

297 036

The Brothers

5

297 043

Little Hog Island

5

297 050

Crow Island

5

297 008

Little Hall Island

5

297 017

Ram Island

5

297 020

Cranberry Island

5

297 019

Little Island

5

297 021

Eagle Island

5

297 024

Twobush Island

5

297 034

Allen Island

5

297 077

Middle Mark Island

5

297 078

Cedarbush Island

5

297 081

Thread of Life Rock

5

297 083

Thrumcap Island

5

269 034

The Ladle

5

268 081

Cherry Ledge

4

268 021

Resolution Island

4

268 114

Hay Island

4

268 016

Fiddle Head Island

3

268 023

Sheep Island Ledge

3

268 039

Goose Rock

3

297 111

Heron Island

3

297 Oil

Crow Island

2

268 024

Little Eaton Island

2

268 112

Deadman Ledge

2

268 089

Clam Ledges

2

(Continued)

22

Table 3. (Continued)

Species

Colony site Colony site
number name

Nesting
pairs

Common eider (Continued)

Great black-backed gull

297 022

Stone Island

2

296 031

Little Mark Island

268 010

Spectacle Island

268 026

Eaton Island Ledge

268 051

Last Chain Link

268 053

Scrag Island

268 056

Channel Rock

268 058

Sloop Island Ledge

268 066

Moose Island Ledge

268 072

Egg Rock

268 065

Sheep Island

268 110

Flat Island

268 048

Dumpling Island

297 026

Barter Island

297 107

South Sugarloaf Island

297 112

Gooseberry Island

269 031

Stevens Island

269 041

Stanley Ledge

268 088

Great Duck Island

pres

324 002

Smuttynose Island

960

296 052

Duck Island

800

268 038

Schoodic Island

500

268 078

Ship Island

500

324 001

Appledore Island

366

296 038

Bluff Island

360

296 043

Wood Island

300

296 041

Eagle Island

210

297 054

Seal Island

200

297 103

Ragged Island

200

269 043

Browney Island

200

296 028

Eagle Island

172

296 037

Stratton Island

150

268 135

Johns Island

150

297 111

Heron Island

120

268 085

Little Duck Island

100

268 091

Fisherman Island

100

297 109

Pond Island

100

269 004

Old Man

100

269 007

Ballast Island

100

269 Oil

Scabby Island

100

269 040

Flat Island

100

269 038

Big Nash Island

100

(Continued)

23

Table 3. (Continued)

Species

Colony site
number

Colony site
name

Nesting
pa i rs

Great black-backed gull (Continued)

297 040
297 086
297 114
297 087

296 016
268 136
268 122

297 065

296 018

297 055
268 077
268 079
268 019
268 070
268 113
268 119
268 120
268 126
268 129
268 130

268 104
297 089

269 020
269 010
269 014
269 034
269 033
269 026
269 028
297 044
268 060

296 036

297 Oil
297 014
268 074
297 090
268 015
268 059
297 096

296 033

297 104
268 044

Metinic Island

White Island (Inner)

Seguin Island

White Island (Outer)

Ram Island

Heron Island

Southern Mark Island

Matinicus Rock

Stockman Island

No Mans Land Island

Trumpet Island

West Barge Island

Colt Head Island

Mahoney Island

Carvers Island

Little Brimstone Island

Sparrow Island

Green Ledge

Great Spoon Island

Little Spoon Island

Green Ledge

Damariscove Island

Libby Island

Ram Island

The Brothers Island

The Ladle

Little Drisko Island

Jordans Del ight

Green Island

Metinic Green Island

Grass Ledge

Ram Island

Haddock Island

Western Egg Rock

Shabby Island

Pumpkin Island

Green Ledge

Spoon Ledge

Eastern Duck Rock

Inner Green Island

Mark Island

Goose Island

90
90
90
80
75
75
75
75
68
60
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
50
45
44
43
43
41
40
40
38
38
37
35
35
35

(Continued)
24

Table 3. (Continued)

Species

Colony site
number

Colony site
name

Nesting
pairs

Great black-backed gull (Continued)

297 057

Wooden Bal 1 Island

35

297 003

Jones Garden Island

35

297 038

Gunning Rocks

34

297 039

Hay Ledge

34

297 095

Shark Island

34

296 050

Bumpkin Island

32

268 086

Green Island

30

268 092

Marblehead Island

30

297 042

Hog Island

29

297 072

Two Bush Island

27

268 017

Tv;o Bush Island

27

296 034

Junk of Pork Island

25

268 087

Green Island Ledge

25

268 052

Hardhead Island

25

297 110

Wood Island

25

269 008

Foster Island

25

269 006

Nightcap Island

25

296 023

Bangs Island

23

297 030

Shag Ledges (East)

23

297 094

Little Egg Rock

22

296 017

Goose Nest Island

20

268 080

East Barge Island

20

268 082

Crow Island

20

268 041

Mouse Island

20

268 095

Tommy Island

20

268 103

Green Island

20

297 012

Franklin Island

20

297 056

Two Bush Island

20

297 107

South Sugarloaf Island

20

269 013

Green Island

20

269 016

Pulpit Rock

20

297 068

Jenny Island

18

297 053

Large Green Island

18

296 015

Outer Green Island

18

297 052

Little Green Island

17

296 032

West Brown Cow Island

16

297 058

Ten Pound Island

16

296 046

Gooseberry Island

16

296 019

Little Birch Island

15

268 084

Gooseberry Island

15

268 054

Grass Ledge

15

268 071

Green Ledge

15

268 125

South Popplestone Ledge

15

268 047

Robinson Rock

15

(Continued)

25

Table 3. (Continued)

Colony site Colony site Nesting
Species number name pairs

Great black-backed gull (Continued)

297 037

The Brothers

15

269 002

Goose Island

15

269 046

Freeman Rock

15

269 027

Egg Rock

15

297 085

The Hypocrites

14

268 097

Garden Island

13

297 062

Green Ledge

13

297 010

Ross Island

13

297 073

Cedar Ledge

12

297 028

Hart Island

11

297 061

Ragged Island

11

296 048

Folly Island

11

324 003

Cedar Island

10

296 008

Upper Green Island

10

296 024

Upper Flag Island

10

297 006

Wreck Island

10

268 035

The Thrumcap

10

268 134

Brimstone Island

10

268 061

Bald Island

10

268 076

Three Bush Island

10

268 116

Roberts Island

10

268 040

Ram Island

10

268 043

East Goose Rock

10

269 037

Inner Sand Island

10

269 035

Toms Island

10

297 102

Pond Island

9

268 028

Bar Island Ledge

9

268 057

Sloop Island

9

297 098

Inner Duck Rock

9

297 069

Elm Island

8

297 071

Long Ledge

8

297 101

Ram Island

8

297 106

East Brown Cow Island

8

297 023

Bar Island

8

297 031

Shag Ledges (West)

8

296 044

Stage Island

8

268 112

Deadman Ledge

7

268 106

Hurricane Island Ledge

7

297 027

Gunning Rocks

7

297 100

Cedar Ledge

6

268 009

Buck Island

6

268 068

Scraggy Island Ledge

6

296 051

Clarks Island

6

(Continued)

26

Table 3. (Continued)

Colony site Colony site Nesting
Species number name pairs

Great black-backed gull (Continued)

296 045 Negro Island 6

297 074 Flag Island 5

296 025 Turnip Island 5

297 105 White Bull Island 5
268 137 Mason Ledge 5
268 029 Torrey Island 5
268 075 Halibut Rocks 5

268 115 Roberts Island 5
297 043 Little Hog Island 5
297 018 Gull Rock 5
297 029 Long Ledge 5
297 032 Old Hump Ledges 5
297 084 Fisherman Island 5
297 008 Outer Heron Island 5
297 097 Duck Rocks 5
297 077 Middle Mark Island 5

269 036 Batson Ledges 5
269 044 Green Rock 5
269 021 Eastern Island 5
269 029 Petit Manan Island 5
297 067 Duck Rock 4
297 070 Long Ledge 4

296 009 Upper Green Island 4

268 117 Otter Island 4

297 059 Pudding Island 4

269 045 Curlew Rock 4

296 020 Horse Island 3
268 128 Spirit Ledge 3
268 123 Saddleback Island 3
268 063 Dagger Island 3

268 101 Sugar Loaves 3

297 035 The Brothers 3

269 041 Stanley Ledge 3
268 036 Heron Island 2
268 034 Goose Cove Rock 2
268 081 Cherry Ledge 2
268 133 Green Island 2
268 056 Channel Rock 2
268 064 The Downfall 2
268 121 West Halibut Ledge 2
268 093 Otter Island 2
268 096 Oak Island 2
268 098 Dix Island 2
268 089 Clam Ledges 2

(Continued)
27

Table 3.

(Continued)

Colony site Colony site

Nesting

Species

r

lumber

name

pairs

Great black-backed gull

(Continued)

297

004

Killick Stone

2

297

041

The nubble

2

297

047

Seal Island

2

297

049

Yel low Ridge Island

2

297

092

Eastern Egg Rock

2

297

081

Thread of Life Rock

2

296

042

Ram Island

2

268

032

Rumel 1 Island

268

023

Sheep Island Ledge

268

027

Eaton Island Ledge

268

026

Eaton Island Ledge

268

051

Last Chain Link

268

058

Sloop Island Ledge

268

066

Moose Island Ledge

268

072

Egg Rock

268

062

Dagger Ledge

268

111

Green Ledge

268

114

Hay Island

268

124

Fog Island Ledge

268

046

Robinson Rock Ledge

268

108

Little Hurricane Island Ledge

297

099

Smutty Nose Island

269

023

Pot Rock

268

088

Great Duck Island

present

Herring gull

324

001

Appledore Island

2,274

324

002

Smuttynose Island

1,800

296

037

Stratton Island

1,200

296

043

Wood Island

900

268

006

Flat Island

800

268

129

Great Spoon Island

750

296

051

Clarks Island

579

296

038

Bluff Island

540

268

014

Western Island

500

268

038

Schoodic Island

500

268

070

Mahoney Island

500

268

113

Carvers Island

500

269

004

Old Man

500

268

085

Little Duck Island

450

269

043

Browney Island

400

296

044

Stage Island

385

296

036

Ram Island

380

296

018

Stockman Island

380

296

048
(Cont

Fol ly Island

inued)
28

356

Table 3. (Continued)

Species

Colony site
number

Colony site
name

Herring gull (Continued)

Nesting
pa i rs

296 016
269 007
268 033

268 022

269 002
269 001
269 020
296 028
296 050
296 049

268 120

296 041

297 109

269 006

296 019

268 074

297 054

269 018
268 091
296 015
296 052

296 046

297 102
297 103

268 136

269 037
269 026
297 106

296 033

297 047

296 008

268 061

297 052
297 065

269 034
268 095
297 028
268 135
268 052

268 116

269 010
269 040

Ram Island
Ballast Island
Bar Island
Scott Island
Goose Island
Spectacle Island
Libby Island
Green Island
Bumpkin Island
Green Island
Sparrow Island
Eagle Island
Pond Island
Nightcap Island
Little Birch Island
Shabby Island
Seal Island

350
350
300
300
300
300
300
300
285
283
250
240
225
225
200
200
200

Outer Double Head Shot Island 200

Fisherman Island 185

Outer Green Island 182

Duck Island 180

Gooseberry Island 169

Pond Island 165

Ragged Island 150

Heron Island 150

Inner Sand Island 150

Jordans Delight 150

East Brown Cow Island 143

Inner Green Island 140

Seal Island 140

Upper Green Island 130

Bald Island 125

Little Green Island 125

Matinicus Rock 125

The Ladle 125

Tommy Island 120

Hart Island 104

Johns Island 100

Hardhead Island 100

Roberts Island 100

Ram Island 100

Flat Island 100

(Continued)

29

Table 3. (Continued)

Colony site Colony site Nesting
Species number name pa i rs

Herring gull (Continued)

269 038

Big Nash Island

100

297 040

Metinic Island

90

296 009

Upper Green Island

87

296 045

Negro Island

85

297 071

Long Ledge

80

268 004

Bean Island

80

297 087

White Island (Outer)

80

296 024

Upper Flag Island

75

268 130

Little Spoon Island

75

268 040

Ram Island

75

297 089

Damariscove Island

75

297 110

Wood Island

75

297 101

Ram Island

70

297 073

Cedar Ledge

65

297 023

Bar Island

65

297 057

Wooden Ball Island

60

268 039

Goose Rock

59

296 023

Bangs Island

58

268 012

Pond Island

56

268 035

The Thrumcap

50

268 077

Trumpet Island

50

268 078

Ship Island

50

268 019

Colt Head Island

50

268 047

Robinson Rock

50

268 104

Green Ledge

50

297 044

Metinic Green Island

50

297 055

No Mans Land Island

50

297 056

Two Bush Island

50

269 039

Nash Island

50

269 033

Little Drisko Island

50

269 035

Toms Island

50

324 003

Cedar Island

50

268 124

Fog Island Ledge

49

297 010

Ross Island

48

297 068

Jenny Island

47

297 074

Flag Island

45

296 042

Ram Island

45

296 025

Turnip Island

45

297 061

Ragged Island

45

297 096

Eastern Duck Rock

45

297 069

Elm Island

43

297 058

Ten Pound Island

42

297 105

White Bull Island

41

268 084

Gooseberry Island

40

(Continued)

30

Table 3.

(Continued)

Colony si

te Colony site

Nesting

Species

r

lumber

name

pairs

Herring

gull (Continued)

268

043

East Goose Rock

40

297

114

Seguin Island

40

296

014

House Island

35

297

100

Cedar Ledge

35

297

104

Mark Island

35

268

044

Goose Island

35

297

007

Harbor Island

35

297

006

Wreck Island

35

297

070

Long Ledge

34

297

067

Duck Rock

33

268

064

The Downfal 1

32

297

027

Gunning Rocks

31

268

133

Green Island

30

268

041

Mouse Island

30

297

077

Middle Mark Island

30

297

072

Two Bush Island

27

268

097

Garden Island

27

296

034

Junk of Pork Island

25

268

137

Mason Ledge

25

268

Oil

Spectacle Island

25

268

115

Roberts Island

25

-

268

118

Brimstone Island

25

268

122

Southern Mark Island

25

268

126

Green Ledge

25

297

Oil

Haddock Island

25

297

084

Fisherman Island

25

297

086

White Island (Inner)

25

297

111

Heron Island

25

297

035

The Brothers

23

268

096

Oak Island

21

296

017

Goose Nest Island

20

296

032

West Brown Cow Island

20

268

086

Green Island

20

268

029

Torrey Island

20

268

099

Cutters Nubble

20

-

268

114

Hay Island

20

268

117

Otter Island

20

297

012

Franklin Island

20

297

112

Gooseberry Island

20

269

046

Freeman Rock

20

297

059

Pudding Island

18

297

092

Eastern Egg Rock

17

297

009

Crane Island

16

297

098

Inner Duck Rock

16

(Continued)

31

Table 3. (Continued)

Species

Colony site
number

Colony site
name

Nesting
pa i rs

Herring gull (Continued)

296 012

Crow Island

15

296 013

Vaill Island

15

268 111

Green Ledge

15

268 119

Little Brimstone Island

15

297 037

The Brothers

15

297 053

Large Green Island

15

297 078

Cedarbush Island

15

297 079

Cat Ledge

15

269 Oil

Scabby Island
Shag Ledge

15

269 009

15

269 021

Eastern Island

15

297 094

Little Egg Rock

14

297 085

The Hypocrites

14

296 020

Horse Island

12

296 031

Little Mark Island

12

268 123

Saddleback Island

12

297 003

Jones Garden Island

12

296 028

Eagle Island

10

268 128

Spirit Ledge

10

268 134

Brimstone Island

10

268 076

Three Bush Island

10

268 046

Robinson Rock Ledge

10

268 092

Marblehead Island

10

268 093

Otter Island

10

297 029

Long Ledge

10

297 062

Green Ledge

10

297 088

Outer Heron Island

10

297 080

The Cuckolds Island

10

269 008

Foster Island

10

269 027

Egg Rock

10

297 014

Western Egg Rock

9

297 042

Hog Island

8

268 055

Compass Island

6

297 039

Hay Ledge

6

269 030

Stevens Island Ledge

6

296 001

Sister Island Ledge

5

259 022

Sally Island

5

268 071

Green Ledge

5

268 059

Spoon Ledge

5

268 125

South Popplestone Ledge

5

268 103

Green Island

5

297 043

Little Hog island

5

297 049

Yel low Ridge Island

5

(Cont

inued)

32

Table 3. (Continued)

Colony site Colony site Nesting
Species number name pairs

Herring gull (Continued)

Laughing gull

Common tern

297 008

Little Hall Island

5

297 018

Gull Rock

5

297 032

Old Hump Ledges

5

297 004

Killick Stone

5

297 081

Thread of Life Rock

5

297 090

Pumpkin Island

5

269 013

Green Island

5

269 016

Pulpit Rock

5

269 029

Petit Manan Island

5

297 038

Gunning Rocks

4

268 094

Crescent Island

3

297 051

Two Bush Island

3

269 045

Curlew Rock

3

269 044

Green Rock

3

296 022

Crow Island

2

296 027

Sand Island

2

296 030

Bates Island

2

296 029

Rogues Island

2

268 058

Sloop Island Ledge

2

268 132

Black Horse Island

2

268 098

Dix Island

2

268 105

Medric Rock

2

297 041

The Nubble

2

297 095

Shark Island

2

268 032

Rumell Island

268 068

Scraggy Island Ledge

268 063

Dagger Island

297 046

Hurricane Island

297 013

Little Franklin Ledge

268 088

Great Duck Island

pres

269 029

Petit Manan Island

150

297 065

Matinicus Rock

40

297 036

The Brothers

17

297 004

Killick Stone

15

297 057

Wooden Ball Island

8

297 052

Little Green Island

1

269 029

Petit Manan Island

700

297 075

North Sugarloaf Island

350

268 008

Thrumcap Island

300

296 047

Beach Island

152

(Co

ntinued)
33

Table 3.

(Continued)

Colony si

te Colony site f

^Jesting

Species

number

name

pa i rs

Common tern (Continued)

297 004

Killick Stone

100

297 036

The Brothers

80

296 005

Grassy Ledge

65

296 002

Sister Island

50

296 039

West Goose Rocks

45

296 010

Clapboard Island Ledge

45

268 069

Smuttynose Island

25

297 016

Sand Island

25

297 067

Duck Rock

21

297 015

Nubbins Island

20

269 038

Big Nash Island

20

268 030

Green Island Ledge

19

296 025

Turnip Island

18

268 122

Southern Mark Island

17

268 027

Eaton Island Ledge

15

296 004

Black Rock

14

268 125

South Popplestone Ledge

6

268 110

Flat Island

4

268 003

Johns Island

3

268 109

Big Smith Island Ledge

1

Arctic tern

269 029

Petit Manan Island

700

297 065

Matinicus Rock

400

297 075

North Sugarloaf Island

350

269 040

Flat Island

75

297 057

Wooden Bal 1 Island

65

297 052

Little Green Island

20

297 053

Large Green Island

20

297 040

Metinic Island

10

268 129

Great Spoon Island

present

Roseate tern

297 075

North Sugarloaf Island

35

296 047

Beach Island

25

269 029

Petit Manan Island

20

Least tern

296 040

Goose Rocks Beach (Mainland)

14

297 108

Sprague River Beach (Mainland)

7

Razorbill

297 065

Matinicus Rock

15

269 004

Old Man

10

(Continued)

34

Table 3. (Continued)

Species

Colony site Colony site

Nesting

numbe

r name

pairs

268 088

Great Duck Island

400

268 085

Little Duck Island

250

297 057

Wooden Ball Island

200

297 054

Seal Island

200

297 065

Matinicus Rock

175

269 014

The Brothers Island

150

297 055

No Mans Land Island

100

269 004

Old Man

100

297 092

Eastern Egg Rock

60

268 118

Brimstone Island

50

269 018

Outer Double Head Shot

Island 50

269 026

Jordans Delight

50

297 053

Large Green Island

40

297 058

Ten Pound Island

35

268 128

Spirit Ledge

30

268 092

Marblehead Island

30

268 055

Compass Island

25

268 111

Green Ledge

25

297 052

Little Green Island

25

297 061

Ragged Island

25

269 020

Libby Island

25

269 016

Pulpit Rock

25

297 012

Franklin Island

21

268 038

Schoodic Island

20

268 113

Carvers Island

20

297 040

Metinic Island

20

297 094

Little Egg Rock

18

297 032

Old Hump Ledges

17

268 087

Green Island Ledge

15

268 115

Roberts Island

15

297 056

Two Bush Island

15

268 129

Great Spoon Island

15

268 130

Little Spoon Island

15

297 062

Green Ledge

15

297 089

Damariscove Island

15

268 097

Garden Island

14

268 052

Hardhead Island

12

268 075

Halibut Rocks

12

268 117

Otter Island

12

297 098

Inner Duck Rock

12

297 103

Ragged Island

10

268 134

Brimstone Island

10

268 091

Fisherman Island

10

268 094

Crescent Island

10

297 044

Metinic Green Island

10

297 042

Hog Island

10

(Co

ntinued)
35

Black guil lemot

Table 3. (Continued)

Species

Colony site
number

Colony site
name

Nesting
pairs

Black guillemot

(Continued)

269

029

Petit Manan Island

10

268

046

Robinson Rock Ledge

8

268

047

Robinson Rock

8

297

095

Shark Island

8

269

034

The Ladle

8

268

116

Roberts Island

7

297

014

Western Egg Rock

7

297

105

White Bull Island

6

268

014

Western Island

6

268

043

East Goose Rock

6

268

123

Saddleback Island

6

268

122

Southern Mark Island

6

268

125

South Popplestone Ledge

6

268

104

Green Ledge

6

297

027

Gunning Rocks

6

297

010

Ross Island

6

297

096

Eastern Duck Rock

6

268

086

Green Island

5

268

136

Heron Island

5

268

137

Mason Ledge

5

297

038

Gunning Rocks

5

297

035

The Brothers Island

5

297

039

Hay Ledge

5

297

059

Pudding Island

5

297

Oil

Haddock Island

5

297

084

Fisherman Island

5

297

114

Seguin Island

5

268

070

Mahoney Island

4

268

124

Fog Island Ledge

4

268

100

Andrews Island

4

268

083

High Sheriff Island

3

268

074

Shabby Island

3

268

114

Hay Island

3

268

126

Green Ledge

3

268

095

Tommy Island

3

297

045

Hewett Island

3

297

033

Old Hump Ledges

3

297

087

White Island (Outer)

3

324

002

Smuttynose Island

3

296

016

Ram Island

2

296

015

Outer Green Island

2

268

133

Green Island

2

268

061

Bald Island

2

268

090

Sheep Island

2

268

098

Dix Island

2

(Continued)

36

Table 3. (Concluded)

Colony site Colony site Nesting
Species number nane pai rs

Black guillemot

Common puffin

(Continued)

297

037

The Brothers

2

297

041

The Nubble

2

297

022

Stone Island

2

297

031

Shag Ledges (West)

2

297

034

Allen Island

2

297

060

Shag Ledge

2

297

063

Seal Ledge

2

297

086

White Island (Inner)

2

297

090

Pumpkin Island

2

269

017

Inner Double Head Shot Island

2

269

012

Halifax Island

2

269

013

Green Island

2

269

021

Eastern Island

2

269

023

Pot Rock

2

269

027

Egg Rock

2

268

019

Colt Head Island

268

044

Goose Island

268

106

Hurricane Island Ledge

297

049

Yel low Ridge Island

297

023

Bar Island

297

026

Barter Island

297

076

Salter Island

269

024

Shipstern Island

296

035

Whale Rock

poss

297

065

Matinicus Rock

125

37

NESTING CHRONOLOGY

Initiation of egg-laying for a given species at a given colony can vary
by as much as 3 weeks from year to year due to environmental conditions.
Also, birds in the western part of the Maine coast tend to nest earlier than
birds in eastern Maine due to differences in climate. Therefore, the
estimated breeding chronology of seabirds and wading birds in Maine is shown
by phenophase diagrams (Figures 4-8). In general, great black-backed
gulls, herring gulls, common eiders, great blue herons, and double-crested
cormorants start nesting in late April or early May. The terns, alcids.
Leach's storm-petrels, and laughing gulls nest later.

There are insufficient data from Maine to determine the breeding
chronology of roseate terns; however, for this report the timing is assumed
to be similar to that of common and Arctic terns. Breeding chronology data
are scant for such scarce nesters as razorbills, laughing gulls, and some of
the wading birds. The complete citation for each literature reference is
included in the REFERENCES section of this report. Diagrams without a
reference are based on observations made during the present study.

POPULATION TRENDS OF WATERBIRDS IN MAINE

Drury (1973) summarized the status of seabird populations in New
England (primarily Maine) prior to 1900 as follows:

Seabirds were almost completely "eaten off" the outer islands during
the 18th and 19th centuries (Bent, 1919, 1921, 1922, 1925; Dutcher,
1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905; Forbush, 1925, Norton, 1907, 1923,
1924a, b, 1925a, b). Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax
auritus) and Great Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinuF) had dis-
appeared from the coast as breeding birds early in the 19th century.
By the 1870' s Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima). Common Puffins
(Fratercula arctica), and Black Guillemots (Cepphus grylle) were
essentially eliminated and the remnant populations of Herring Culls
(Larus argentatus) were driven to small outer islands. Only small
birds of relatively little food value, such as Leach's Petrels
(Oceanodroma leucorhoa) and terns (Sterna sp. ) survived in large
numbers. Two great campaigns of shooting seabirds for the millinery
trade, about 1876 and 1896, nearly eliminated all seabirds except
petrels (Norton 1923, 1924, 1925). The low ebb of seabird popula-
tions in New England seems to have been between 1890 and 1906.

Norton (unpublished) reported that in 1900 there were only 28 colonies
of gulls and terns along the entire coast of Maine. Seabirds were protected
on their breeding grounds starting in 1901 under the auspices of the
American Ornithologists' Union and the National Association of Audubon
Societies. Maine islands now support major populations of several seabird
species. Historical trends for individual species follow.

38

MONTH
JUME I JULY I AUG. | SEPT. [ OCT. , NOV.

LEACH'S

STORM

PETREL

1.2

>

ARRIVAL

<

BROODING

3,4,5

>

EGG LAYING
INCUBATION

1,5,6

FLEDGING

<

1,5

REFERENCE:

1 Palmer 1962

2 Lesser (unpublished)

3 Bent 1922

4 Gross 1935

5 Norton and Allen 1932

6 Brewer 1877

Figure 4. Estimated breeding chronology of Leach's storm-petrels nesting in Maine.

39

DOUBLE-
CRESTED
CORMORANT

COMMON
EIDER

GREAT

BLUE

HERON

MONTH
APRIL I MAY I JUNE | JULY | AUG.

SEPT.

<

1.2

EGG LAYING
INCUBATION

HATCHING <^ 1,2 2>

BROODING

1.2

FLEDGING

< ' >

3,4

EGG LAYING
INCUBATION

HATCHING
BROODING

3,4,5

>

3.4

>

FLEDGING

>

<

ARRIVAL

<

EGG LAYING
INCUBATION

HATCHING

<

FLEDGING

REFERENCE:

1 Palmer 1962

2 Mendall1936

3 Choate 1966

4 Clark 1968: p55-56

5 Gross 1938

6 Palmer 1976

7 H. Tyler (unpublished)

Figure 5. Estimated breeding chronology of double-crested cormorants, common eiders, and great blue herons nesting in Maine.

40

GREAT
BLACK-
BACKED
GULL

APRIL

MAY

MONTH
JUNE I JULY

AUG.

<L

BROODING

EGG LAYING
INCUBATION
"^ HATCHING

FLEDGING

<

SEPT.

>

HERRING
GULL

<

EGG LAYING
INCUBATION

HATCHING <Cr ^ ^^

BROODING

FLEDGING \^

>

LAUGHING
GULL

ARRIVAL <^

EGG LAYING ^
INCUBATION ^

HATCHING

<

REFERENCE:

1 Clark 1968: p5S-56

2 Bent 1921

3 Palmer 1949

Figure 6. Estimated breeding chronology of three species of gulls nesting in Maine.

41

COMMON
TERN

MONTH
APRIL I MAY . JUNE . JULY | AUG.

SEPT.

AR

RIVAL <^ 1 '^

EGG LAYING <^ ] ^
INCUBATION ^

BROODING

^ ■ >

FLEDGING

<r—r->

ARCTIC &
ROSEATE
TERNS

SIMILAR TO ABOVE

LEAST
TERN

AR

RIVAL <^ 2

EGG LAYING ^ f
INCUBATION

BROODING <r ^ Z^

FLEDGING <C ^ ^

REFERENCE:

1 Palmer 1941

2 P. Grace (unpublished)

Figure 7. Estimated breeding chronology of four species of terns nesting in Maine.

42

COMMON
PUFFIN

BLACK
GUILLEMOT

RAZORBILL

MONTH
APRIL I MAY I JUNE | JULY [ AUG. | SEPT.

1

ARRIVAL <^ 1 y

EGG LAYING ^ 23
INCUBATION ^^ —

BROODING <Cr ^ y^~

FLEDGING <Z ^ ^ —

EGG LAYING ^ ^

INCUBATION

HATCHING
BROODING

4,5

4.5

>

FLEDGING <f 4 ^

EGG LAYING
INCUBATION

2.6

BROODING

2.7

REFERENCE:

1 Brown 1911

2 Bent 1919

3 Pettingill 1939

4 Palmer 1949

5 Winn 1947

6 Tufts 1961

7 Buchheister (unpublished)

Figure 8. Estimated breeding chronology of three species of alcids nesting in Maine.

43

Leach's storm-petrel. On the western Atlantic coast. Leach's petrels
breed from Labrador to New England. Information about New England petrel
populations is meager because Maine is on the southern edge of the breeding
range and colonies tend to be isolated. The nocturnal habits of the birds at
nesting sites make them difficult to observe and the entrances to nest
burrows are often well concealed by vegetation. Actual counts of all adults
at petrel colonies have not been made, and only a small percentage of nesting
burrows may have been found.

At the turn of the century "enormous" colonies were reported on 7
islands, "large" colonies on 4 and "small" colonies on 6 islands (Drury 1973).
In 1931, Norton (unpublished) reported finding occupied burrows on 12
Islands. At that time the colony on Great Duck Island was considered the
second largest. Allen (1937) reported that when he revisited 5 islands which
had been occupied by petrels in 1931, petrels remained at only 3. Drury
(unpublished) has found petrels nesting on 15 islands in Maine including
Machias Seal Island.

The most intensive attempt to estimate nesting populations of the large
petrel colonies was performed by Lesser (unpublished) during the summer of
1977. Based on quadrat studies, he estimated that Great and Little Duck
Islands had 14,000 and 4,000 active nests, respectively. These large
colonies, plus the smaller colonies found on 15 other islands, indicate that the
petrel population in Maine was at least 19,131 pairs.

Double-crested cormorant. Double-crested cormorants were extirpated
from the New England coast in the early 19th century (Audubon 1835,
Dutcher 1901, Mendall 1936). The birds apparently did not breed again in
Maine until 1893 when seven nests were found on Black Horse Ledge (Knight
1900). Between 1903 and 1923 Norton (1924) found no cormorants nesting
between Portland and Cutler, Maine.

Exactly when the birds began to nest again in Maine is not known, but
it was probably about 1925 (Mendall 1936). In 1931 Norton (unpublished)
found 875 pairs nesting on five islands. The population increased rapidly
between 1925 and 1945 reaching about 13,000 pairs (Figure 9) in 38 colonies
by 1943 (Gross 1944).

Due to the complaints of fishermen, a cormorant control program began
in 1944 and continued through 1953 (Gross, unpublished). This program
caused a temporary halt in population growth. Drury (1973) estimated that
the Maine cormorant population in 1972 was slightly over 13,000 pairs. In the
1970's double-crested cormorants have been controlled locally in eastern Maine
by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service. This was necessary because cormorants were found to
be eating stocked Atlantic smolt released in the spring in selected rivers and
streams. During the 1977 field season an estimated 15,333 pairs of
cormorants nested in Maine.

Herons, egrets and glossy ibises. Wading birds have established both
coastal and inland nesting colonies in Maine. Coastal colonies are the
largest and contain the most species (H. Tyler, unpublished). Historical

44

100000 -1

10000 -

<
o

CA

u

oe
u

o

CO

o

1000 -

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970

YEAR

Figure 9. Trends of herring and great black-bacl<ed gulls, double-crested cormorants and common eiders nesting in Maine since 1900.

45

records of heron colonies are sketrhy and population estimates are
inadequate to establish trends.

Colonies in Maine have not been accurately inventoried due, in part, to
the difficulty of finding the colonies and also because heronries have been
reported incidental to seabird censuses.

Norton (unpublished) found seven great blue heron colonies in eastern
and midcoast Maine in 1931. In 1977, 18 great blue heron colonies were
located with a total of 903 pairs. Colony size ranged from 1 to 150 pairs.
More inventories will be required in future years to establish the population
trend of great blue herons in Maine.

If all major colonies of black-crowned night herons were found during
the 1977 inventory, there is little doubt that their population has drastically
declined in recent years. Colonies containing several hundred pairs have
been reported at various times in the last 75 years (Gross 1923, H.L.
Mendall, personal communication). In 1977 only eight coastal colonies were
found with an estimated breeding population of 117 pairs.

Snowy egrets were first reported nesting in Maine in 1963 on Stratton
Island by Tyler (unpublished). In 1966 snowy egrets also were nesting on
Appledore Island at the New Hampshire border. By 1977 colonies were found
on Mark Island, Wood Island, Stratton Island, and Appledore Island with 50
pairs at the latter colony. Louisiana herons were found nesting for the first
time in Maine on Stratton Island in 1976 and also nested in 1977 (Vickery
1977). Eggs and young were observed. Three pairs of little blue herons
pioneered to Stratton Island in 1977 and nested there. They first nested on
Appledore Island in 1971 (Erwin, unpublished).

Glossy ibises began nesting in southern Maine in 1972 on Stratton Island
and have since nested also on Wood and Appledore Islands. Seventy-five
pairs nested on those three islands in 1977.

Common eider. The numbers of common eiders nesting on the Maine
coast have fluctuated greatly since Colonial days. Historical accounts mention
a gradual decline from the mid-1800's to shortly after the turn of the 20th
century. According to Gross (1944), the low point for eiders in Maine was
reached about 1907. Norton (1907) found only one breeding colony that year
on Old Man Island in eastern Maine. According to the early writers, egg
collecting for food and over-shooting at concentration points, especially on
breeding islands in the spring, were the major factors causing the decline.
Soon after 1907, protection policies were implemented. They included
abolition of spring shooting, complete closing of the eider hunting season for
several years and the protection of several seabird nesting islands by the
National Audubon Society. As a result, by 1915 the population of eiders
began to increase (Figure 9).

At first the increase was gradual. Gross (1944) surveyed seabird colo-
nies in Maine and found eiders nesting on 31 islands and probably nesting on
14 others. He estimated the population as "probably" more than 2,000 pairs
in 1943. Eiders were nesting on at least 75 islands in 1967 (Mendall 1968),
and the population appeared to have stabilized between the mid-1960's and the

46

mid-1970's at 20,000 pairs (Mendall 1976). In 1977 eider nests were found on
240 islands, and the breeding population was approximately 22,390 pairs.

Great black-backed gull. This large gull has expanded its nesting range
southward during this century. No great black-backed gulls nested in New
England during the closing decades of the 19th century. Allen and Norton
(unpublished) stated that no great black-backed gulls nested in Maine in 1883
or 1914. Norton (1907) reported that this gull was roosting in small numbers
on three islands in Maine. Since the mid-1920's breeding black-backs have
increased in number along the entire coast of Maine.

Norton (unpublished) found 25-35 pairs nesting at eight different loca-
tions in 1931. Gross (1945) estimated that the nesting population in Maine
was at least 1,700 pairs on 98 islands in the 1940's. Many of the colonies
consisted of only 1 to 5 pairs, but Gross found that black-backs in some
areas were in colonies of up to 150 pairs. Drury (1973) estimated that in
1972 the Maine breeding population of great black-backed gulls was approxi-
mately 7,500 pairs. In 1977, 220 great black-backed gull colonies were found
with an estimated population of 9,847 pairs (Figure 9). Black-backs usually
nested in association with herring gulls.

Herring gull. William Drury has had a special interest in the herring
gull population of the Northeast, including Maine, and has compiled population
estimates for different periods of time based on interpretations of data of
various researchers. Allen and Norton (unpublished) stated that an
extensive inspection of the coast carried out in the summer of 1903, located
only 14 herring gull colonies, numbering about 11,000 pairs. In 1931, Norton
(unpublished) conducted another extensive search for seabird colonies and
found approximately 26,000 pairs on 65 islands. Drury (1973) noted that
some of the estimates by Norton appeared to be exceedingly high for some
colonies in the 1920's. Norton (unpublished) suggested that the control of
herring gulls was essential for the survival of smaller, more vulnerable terns.
Gross (unpublished) managed a gull control program, under contract from the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, for a large section of the Maine coast between
1944 and 1952. Drury used Gross's unpublished data on the number of gull
eggs per island to estimate the breeding population. The control program
appeared to have limited and even reversed the growth of the herring gull
population in Maine for a short time. The gull control program may also have
accelerated the shift of gulls from the coast of Maine southward to
Massachusetts and from outer islands on the coast to ones closer to the
mainland (Drury 1973).

The Maine population of herring gulls began to stabilize about 1945
(Figure 9) while the gull population in Massachusetts increased rapidly. The
southward extension of the breeding range continued during the 1950's. The
shift from outer islands toward centers of human population has continued
during the last 20 years. Drury (1973) believed that the population in Maine
remained relatively constant for the last 20 years and estimated that 29,000
pairs of herring gulls nested in the coastal region between Portland and the
Canadian border in 1972. The 1976-1977 census found herring gulls nesting
in 222 colonies with an estimated population of 26,037 pairs.

47

Laughing gull. Maine 1s the northern breeding limit of laughing gulls
and the population has never been very large. In 1895 there was only one
colony, Western Egg Rock, containing seven pairs (Gross 1945). In 1900,
approximately four pairs of nesting birds and 50 nonbreeding associates
remained in Maine (Norton 1924). By 1920 this colony had increased to
several hundred birds. In 1937 about 300 pairs were found on two islands,
and in 1940 about 300 pairs nested in the only remaining colony on Little
Green Island. Encroachment by herring gulls and grazing of sheep on
certain islands resulted in poor nesting conditions. Palmer (1949) reported
that after 1944 this species did not nest in Maine. Laughing gulls returned
to breed in the early 1950's when sheep were removed from Little Green
Island, but the gulls left when sheep were reintroduced.

In 1969 and 1970 there were only three colonies in Maine with approxi-
mately 100 breeding pairs (Nisbet 1971). In 1977 six active laughing gull
colonies were found with an estimated population of 231 pairs.

Common and Arctic terns. Drury (1973) pointed out several problems
that are encountered when one attempts to synthesize historical population
data on terns. The foremost of which is that until recently censuses in Maine
did not distinguish species (i.e., common or Arctic terns). Also, terns often
shift nesting locations from year to year making it difficult to compare data
obtained in successive years. Lastly, few researchers have been able to
conduct total nest counts; instead, the total number of birds flying above a
nesting colony has been estimated (excluding those nonbreeding birds loafing
near the colony).

Allen and Norton (unpublished) listed 67 Islands on which terns nested
in Maine in 1886. By 1890 that number declined to 32 and by 1900 to about
16. Since 1900 terns have nested on 80 different Islands in Maine but have
occupied no more than 30 in a given year (Drury 1973).

The history of common terns in Maine since 1900 has been one of early
increase followed by three decades of decline (Figure 10). From the early
1900's until the 1940's common terns Increased. Norton (unpublished) esti-
mated the population in 1931 to be 3,650 pairs in 19 colonies. Several
sources indicate that in 1940 the population peaked with approximately 8,000
pairs nesting on 25 Islands. From this peak the population declined to about
2,600 pairs on 18 islands in 1972 (Drury 1973). In 1977, 24 common tern
colonies with a total estimated breeding population of 2,095 pairs were found.
Many of the colonies were small; less than 50 pairs. Harassment by gulls and
Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus), overgrazing of cover by sheep, and human
disturbance are believed to have contributed to the recent decline. However,
common and Arctic terns have "been subject to ceaseless series of cycles with
an alternating ebb and flow of their numbers and contraction and expansion
of their breeding range" (Norton 1924).

Arctic terns are less abundant now on the Maine coast than they have
been at any time in the last 75 years. According to Drury (1973), 5,500 pairs
of Arctic terns nested in Maine (including Machias Seal Island) in 1902 and
1911. Allen and Norton (unpublished) censused four major Arctic tern colonies
in 1930 and listed 1,650 pairs, excluding Machias Seal Island. Palmer (1949)

48

100000 -I

<
u

M

u

oc
u

o

CO

oc

10000 -

■:i^"" --r—.

7-^ •••..V

100

COMMON TERN

ARCTIC TERN

X

1900 1910 1920

— I 1 —

1930 1940

YEAR

1950

1960

V.

\

\

\

1970

Figure 10. Trends of Arctic and common terns nesting in Maine since 1900.

49

listed 8,000 pairs at 10 colonies in 1936 (Figure 10). In 1972, 2,900 pairs of
Arctic terns were estimated to be nesting on four islands in Maine (Drury
1973). In 1977, nine Arctic tern colonies were located which had a combined
estimated breeding population of 1,640 pairs.

Roseate terns. Nisbet (1971) indicated that roseate terns in Maine are
at the northern limit of their range. A small number have nested in western
Maine for at least the last 40 years. The most persistent colony is on North
Sugarloaf Island at the mouth of the Kennebec River, where they nest with
common and Arctic terns. A few pairs of roseate terns have nested in
association with common terns from time to time at other locations.

In 1931 Norton (unpublished) reported 275 pairs of roseates in 2 colonies
on Stratton Island, and North Sugarloaf Island, and 1 bird on Machias Seal
Island. North Sugarloaf recently has been the largest colony. Morse (1957)
reported five pairs in 1956. In 1971, 150 pairs were seen and in 1972, 75
pairs. In 1977 roseate terns were found nesting on North Sugarloaf, Petit
Manan, and Beach islands with a combined population estimate of 80 pairs.

Least tern. The least tern has never been abundant in Maine, probably
reaching a high population of 50-60 pairs in 1972 (Dorr, unpublished). Like
the roseate tern, it is at the northern limit of its nesting range. Only two
colonies were found during this inventory, and they were located on mainland
beaches. H. Tyler (personal communication) reports that approximately 10
pairs nested on Popham Beach in 1976. In 1977 this small colony moved from
Popham Beach westward to Sprague River Beach. Fourteen pairs also nested
on Goose Rocks Beach in 1977.

Razorbill Nesting razorbills have been scarce in Maine in this century
(FiguTe 11). Razorbills have been seen on a number of islands but until
recently have nested only on Matinicus Rock.

Norton (1923) reported that between 1894 and 1923 no razorbills nested
in Maine. Five pairs nested on Matinicus Rock in 1968 to 1970, and nine
pairs in 1974 (C. Buchheister, unpublished). Drury (1973) counted 40
razorbills on Old Man Island in May 1973. However, he did not find evidence
of nesting. In July 1976, Old Man Island was visited and young razorbills
were seen on the island. We determined that at least 4 pairs had young and
about 50 adults were in the vicinity. In May 1977 numerous razorbills were
seen on or around the island and several appeared to be nesting; a close
inspection was not made due to the vulnerability of the razorbill eggs to
gulls. Maine now has two active nesting colonies of razorbills totaling about
25 pairs.

Black guillemot The guillemot population has increased on the Maine
coast during recent decades (Figure 11). This increase has been associated
primarily with the establishment of new colonies. Norton (unpublished) re-
ported that in 1903 guillemots nested on 14 islands and totaled about 75 pairs.
His survey in 1931 recorded 24 nesting islands with a total population of
about 300 pairs. The total breeding population was estimated to be approxi-
mately 3,400 pairs in 1970-1972 (Drury 1973).

50

10000

1000

u

u

a

CA

cc

BLACK GUILLEMOT

1900 1910

1920 1930 1940
YEAR

1950

1960

1970

Figure 11. Trends in nesting populations of three species of alcids in Maine (excluding Machias Seal Island) since 1900. Breeding popula-
tions were nonexistent or very low prior to the first data point.

51

During the 1977 nesting season 115 guinemot colonies were found with
estimated numbers ranging from 1 to 400 pairs. The estimated population was
2,668 pairs. Because of the difficulty of estimating nesting pairs of black
guillemots, population estimates given are presumed to be low.

Guillemots appear to have extended their range westward as the population
increased. In 1969 and 1970 Drury (1973) found a few guillemots nesting on
Smuttynose Island in the Isles of Shoals group on the Maine-New Hampshire
border.

Common puffin Maine islands represent the southern breeding limit of
common puffins. Puffins were abundant on some islands in Maine before 1860
(Norton 1923); however, no population estimate was made. Puffins were elimi-
nated from Maine islands by the millinery trade and by fishermen in the late
1800' s.

At least six islands have been mentioned in the literature as being used
by nesting puffins. Norton (unpublished) reported that the only puffin colony
in Maine in 1903 was on Matinicus Rock. The population of puffins on Matini-
cus Rock has increased slowly during the last 75 years (Figure 11). Three or
four pairs nested in 1897, 2 pairs in 1901, 3 pairs in 1904, 20 pairs in 1937,
100 pairs in 1968-70, and approximately 125 pairs in 1977. Machias Seal
Island, an offshore island claimed by both the United States and Canada, has
been a nesting site for puffins for many years (Brown et al. 1975). Machias
Seal Island reportedly had about 30 pairs nesting in 1883 and 150 pairs in
1902. Since then the population has increased to about 750 pairs (Drury 1973).
A sharp drop in the nesting puffin population on Machias Seal Island was
reported during 1977 by the Canadian Wildlife Service. The cause of the
decline was u nknown.

Gull predation is believed to be a major factor limiting the spread of
the puffin population in Maine (Drury 1973).

OWNERSHIP OF WATERBIRD COLONY SITES

In order to determine the potential amount of protection which can be
given to waterbird colonies, the ownership of nesting sites was obtained from
the Maine Bureau of Public Lands. Ownership was classified according to
public or private categories. The name of the governtrient agency or private
group was recorded when appropriate.

Approximately 100,813 pairs of colonial waterbirds nested on the Maine
coast in 1977. Of those, 73,720 pairs (73%) nested on privately owned prop-
erty. Most black guillemots, great black-backed gulls, herring gulls. Leach's
storm-petrels, common eiders, and wading birds nested on privately owned sites
(Table 4). This pattern holds true for the number of colonies as well as for
the number of pairs of birds (Table 5).

52

Table 4. Ownership of sites where colonies were located in 1977,
listed by species and numbers of pairs.

Species and Sample Size (n)

Public Ownership

Private Ownership

c c

CO w

=ig

.2 ■;
= a.

m

O

CO

5

r

CO

3

iZ

c -a

|3

II

e
S cc

£ C

(D

a.

1

i

3

a.
o

Ui

c
o

3

a

<

1

i
1

o
£

3

s

3

"3
c

S

a

Leach's slorm-petrel (19.131)

347

550

52

949

4,003

14.179

18,182

1 .8%

0

2.9%

0

0

0

0.3%

0

5.0%

20.9%

0

74.1%

95.0%

Double-cresled cormorant (15.3331

27

1,912

6,580

8,519

1,086

194

5,534

6,814

0.2%

0

0

0

12.5%

0

42.9%

0

55.6%

7.1%

1.3%

36.1%

44.4%

Great blue heron (903)

115

788

903

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

12.7%

87.3%

100.0%

Little blue heron (4)

4

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

100.0%

100.0%

Snowy egret (90)

28

62

90

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

31.1%

0

68.9%

)00.0%

Louisiana heron (1)

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

100.0%

100.0%

Black-crowned night heron (117)

20

20

21

76

97

0

0

0

0

0

17.1%

0

0

17.1%

17.9%

Q

65.0%

82.9%

Glossy ibis (75)

33

42

75

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

44.0%

0

56.0%

100.0%

Common eider (22.390)

1.560

200

50

1.665

626

2,004

20

6,125

715

24

15,526

16,265

7.0%

0.9%

0.2%

0

7.4%

2.8%

9.0%

0.1%

27.4%

3.2%

0.1%

69.3%

72.6%

Great black-backed gull (9.847)

325

75

75

6

471

215

78

8

2.153

988

170

6,536

7,694

3.3%

0.8%

0.8%

0.1%

4.8%

2.2%

9.9%

0.1%

21.9%

10.0%

1.7%

66.4%

78.1%

Herring gull (26.037)

450

150

128

594

1.598

68

1,893

43

4.924

1.449

100

19,564

21,113

1.7%

0.6%

0.5%

2.3%

6.1%

0.3%

7.3%

0.2%

18.9%

5.6%

0.4%

75.1 %

81.1%

Laughing gull (231)

150

40

190

41

41

64.9%

0

17.3%

0

0

0

0

0

82.2%

0

0

17.7%

17.7%

Common tern (2.095)

700

300

360

334

3

1,687

408

408

33.4%

0

0

0

14.3%

16.7%

15.9%

0.1%

80.5%

0

0

19.5%

19.5%

Arctic tern (1,640)

700

400

350

1,450

190

190

42.7%

a

24.4%

0

0

21.3%

0

0

88.4%

0

0

11.6%

11.6%

Roseate tern (80)

20

35

25

80

25.0%

a

0

0

0

43.8%

31.2%

0

100.0%

0

0

0

0

Least tern (21)

14

14

7

7

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

66.6%

66.6%

0

0

33.3%

33.3%

Razorbill (25)

15

15

10

10

0

0

60.0%

0

0

0

0

0

60.0%

0

0

40.0%

40.0%

Black guillemot (2,668)

231

5

175

111

320

842

298

15

1,513

1,826

8.7%

0.2%

6.6%

0

4.2%

0

12.0%

0

31.6%

11.2%

0.6%

56.7%

68.4%

Common puffin (125)

125

125

0

0

100.0%

0

0

0

0

0

100.0%

0

0

0

0

Subtotal (100,8131

4,510

430

1.558

600

6.057

1.664

12,186

88

27.093

8,621

613

64,481

73,720

53

Table 5. Ownership of sites where colonies were located in 1977.
Listed by species and number of colonies.

Species and Sample Size In)

Pub

Ic Ownership

Private Ownersh

P

0)

ll

.2 a>

= s

Z V3

=■<£

•o
ra
3
C3

re

O

u

M

=i

1

z

iZ

JO 2

c p

II

c

-* c
S .2

ii

re 0)

'o

re
o.
'u

'c

3

E

u

3

a.

s

o

i

.£
'3
o
(/)

c
o

3

■a

3

d

&

c

I

c
o
u

£

s

re

Z

3
C

S

a

Leach's storm-petrel (17)

2

0

1

0

0

0

2

0

5

2

0

10

12

Double-crested cormorant (103)

1

0

0

0

13

0

50

0

64

4

1

34

39

Great blue heron (18)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

15

18

Little blue heron (2)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

2

Snowy egret (4)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

2

4

Louisiana heron (1)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

Black-crowned night heron (8)

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

2

0

5

7

Glossy ibis (3)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

1

3

Common eider (240)

4

1

2

0

19

3

61

1

91

4

3

142

149

Great black-backed gull (220)

4

1

1

1

18

3

78

1

107

8

2

103

113

Herring gull (222)

4

1

2

2

16

2

61

1

89

8

2

123

133

Laughing gull (6)

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

4

4

Common tern (24)

1

0

0

0

1

1

8

1

12

1

0

11

12

Arctic tern (9)

1

0

1

0

0

1

0

0

3

0

0

6

6

Roseate tern (3)

1

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

2

1

0

0

1

Least tern (2)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

1

1

Razorbill (2)

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

1

Black guillemot (115)

3

1

1

0

11

0

35

0

51

4

1

59

64

Common puffin (1)

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

G

1

0

0

0

0

54

DISCUSSION

IMPORTANCE OF COLONY SITES

Interest in protecting the seabirds and wading birds of Maine has been
at a high level ever since the turn of the century. Many ornithologists have
estimated populations of some species at frequent enough intervals to deter-
mine the increase or reduction of numbers. Even though some early estimates
were rough, it is evident that the numbers of alcids, large gulls, cormorants,
and eiders have increased substantially from their near extirpation in the late
1800's. The numbers of terns, laughing gulls, and herons do not appear to
be as high as in the past. Undoubtedly, certain ecological or environmental
factors are operating to limit populations. Population levels of the Leach's
storm-petrel have never been accurately assessed in Maine. It is hoped that
the numbers of pairs estimated for petrel colonies will provide a base for
comparison with future information.

The historical information compiled during this project documents the
presence of colonies on particular islands as far back as 75 years and illus-
trates that some species shift their colonies from one site to another. A
study of the historical information confirms the importance of Maine coastal
islands for nesting seabirds and wading birds. All islands in Maine, especial-
ly the "bird" islands, deserve protection because they are discrete ecological
units which can be destroyed wery gradually or \/ery quickly depending upon
the forces which are operating.

The 1977 inventory data has a current value and a historical value. For
those colonies with an historical record, the 1977 species data will add another
link to that record. For those colonies without a historical record, the 1977
data will establish a base to add to in the future. The data must be used in
light of not only other ecological data but also in terms of man induced
changes in the environment. For example, several colonies with long term
historical records did not appear to have bird populations as high in 1977 as
were recorded in previous decades. By talking to local island owners, pre-
disposing causes for the decline were recognized. Grazing of domestic
livestock, burning, timber cutting, quarrying, and house building may result

55

in a direct disturbance or affect the habitat which in turn affects the bird
populations for many years. Other problems of shorter duration such as the
presence of rats, mink (Mustela vison), dogs, and cats on islands are fre-
quently too subtle to be noticed except by the experienced observer.
Inventory data must be used prudently.

The shifting of colonies from one site to another over a period of years
is characteristic of some species, for example terns and herons. To designate
present colony sites for protection at the expense of permitting abuse to
former or potential colony sites could result in a drastic decline of those
species in the future. Groups or clusters of islands should be protected and
managed as units for colonial nesting waterbirds.

INVENTORY METHODS

Aerial Versus Ground Inventories

In both 1976 and 1977, the inventories were initiated by surveying the
coastal islands from a fixed-wing amphibious aircraft. Fixed-wing aircraft
were used for the survey because they offered greater flight speed and
longer sustained flights than helicopters. Approximately 20 hours of flight
time was required to survey the entire study area.

Ground counts of the colonies were considered essential. During the
spring surveys at altitudes of less than 100 m and at 80 knots/hour, common
puffins, black guillemots, razorbills, laughing gulls. Leach's storm-petrels,
and black-crowned night herons were rarely seen because of their low
numbers, inconspicuous coloration, small size, or secretive habits. It was
also impossible to differentiate common, Arctic, and roseate terns.
Therefore, an inventory of Maine's coastal waterbird colonies would be ^^ery
incomplete without ground verification of species composition and breeding
populations.

A flight in a small Bell helicopter during the 1977 nesting season re-
vealed some advantages and disadvantages of surveying the Maine colonies by
helicopter. Excellent visibility permitted fairly precise estimates of the
number of nests of double-crested cormorants and great blue herons and also
adult gulls and terns. However, the advantage to the observer appeared to
be outweighed by the disadvantage to the birds. Black guillemots and
common eiders were disturbed by the approaching helicopter. Black
guillemots took flight and if overtaken by the helicopter dove directly from
the air into the water. Substantial losses of nests of common eiders were
anticipated due to predation by gulls when incubating eiders were flushed,
because gulls returned to the colony sooner than eiders. The nest predation
could be somewhat alleviated by landing the helicopter and covering eider
nests with down as was done when ground checks were made. The habitat
and small size of the islands frequently precluded landing a helicopter without
damage to the nesting cover or nests.

OWNERSHIP OF COLONY SITES

The fact that a large proportion (73%) of the seabirds and wading birds
nested in colonies located on privately-owned lands is cause for some concern.

56

Some owners are aware of the nesting birds on their islands and attempt to
restrict their activities during the nesting season. Some people are oblivious
to the birds and picnic and camp in the middle of colonies. Disturbance of
colonies could become critical in the future as the coast is used by increas-
ing numbers of people for recreation. Both privately-owned colony sites and
publicly-owned sites will be affected adversely unless the general public is
educated about the destructive nature of visitation to waterbird colonies.
Trespass laws should be enforced on publicly-owned colony sites during the
nesting season.

57

CONCLUSIONS

Coastal islands of Maine provide nesting habitat for more kinds of water-
birds than are found in most other States along the Atlantic coast. Maine is
the only Atlantic State with breeding populations of comnon puffins, black
guillemots, razorbills. Leach's storm-petrels, and common eiders. Large
populations of great black-backed gulls, herring gulls, and double-crested
cormorants also are present.

Data in this report will serve as baseline information from which numbers
and the geographical distribution of waterbirds in Maine can be evaluated in
the future. This inventory was conducted using techniques that provided the
most precise information feasible in the limited time available to cover a
large geographical area. Based on the 1976 and 1977 nesting seasons, the
locations of the major colonies of each species were found. The precision of
the population estimates for most species are believed to be relatively re-
liable. The nesting chronology, predation, renesting, and the logistics of
surveying all colonies in a short time will always preclude exact determina-
tions of breeding populations.

58

RECOMMENDATIONS

POPULATION MONITORING

This report should be useful to Federal, State, and local governments
and private organizations interested in the avian component of the coastal
ecosystem in Maine. The value of these data will be increased if inventories
can be repeated in the future. For most species, inventories at 3-year
intervals will be frequent enough unless ecological or environmental changes
indicate a need for more frequent inventories.

This 2-year inventory demonstrated that not all waterbird colonies are
stable in terms of population numbers and colony location. Future inventories
will be most useful when they are based on intensive fieldwork to locate new
colonies and document disappearance of others. Censuses of only the known
largest colonies of each species would be difficult to interpret and extrapolate
in terms of total population trends.

Aerial surveys in fixed-wing aircraft are valuable because they alert
observers to the location and size of some of the populations. Ground checks
of the colony sites are necessary to determine species composition and
estimate nesting pairs. Surveys by helicopter generally are not recommended
for the Maine colonies. Aerial photography is useful to estimate populations
of some species. Various census techniques should be correlated so that
accurate census data can be obtained. Behavioral studies to document nest
attentiveness, nesting chronology, and disturbance factors should be made
and interpreted to determine how species specific behavior affects population
estimates.

PRODUCTIVITY OF COLONIES

Censuses of breeding adults should be supplemented with long term
studies of the productivity of each species. In Maine the productivity of
species at different colony sizes, in different habitat regimes, and
geographical areas should be investigated. The large colonies may not always
be the ones with the highest productivity. Studies of those species which
now nest in abundance should have priority over those species which are on
the periphery of their historical breeding range and have sparse populations
in Maine.

HABITAT REQUIREMENTS

The nesting requirements of breeding waterbirds are fulfilled by
numerous islands in the coastal zone of Maine. Perhaps the best recommenda-
tion with regard to habitat requirements is to maintain colony sites in their
existing condition, except in those situations where predisposing causes for
population decline can be recognized, such as overgrazing by sheep.

Controlled experiments to enhance the nesting substrates for particular
species could be attempted. Alcids may be receptive to artificial nesting
structures. More raspberry bushes, fallen spruce trees, or wooden shelters
might increase eider production by protecting nests from predation.

59

The habitat requirements for nesting birds during the entire annual cycle
should be determined. Roosting and feeding areas should be identified for
those species which are permanent residents. Likewise, concentration areas
for migrant shorebirds and wintering seabirds should be delineated. Baseline
information on food availability and utilization for each species should be
gathered.

PROTECTION OF WATERBIRD COLONIES

Human Activity. Human activity should be restricted in the vicinity of
waterbird colonies from 1 May to 15 July for most birds and even later for
terns. Activities which disturb the nesting habitat should be discouraged.
Pets and domestic livestock should not be permitted to roam over islands
during the nesting seasons.

An educational program to inform the general public, conservation
groups and agencies should be initiated. The booklet by P. and F, Buckley
(1976) could serve as a model. Owners of colony sites should be contacted
to acquaint them of the importance of their land to a nesting population.
Private landowners should be encouraged to restrict activity on their
property during the nesting season. Signs near colony sites informing
the public of the island's use by birds should be erected.

Acquisition. Acquisition programs should endeavor to preserve as many
optimum nesting sites as possible for each species. Wherever possible
clusters of islands, islets, ledges, and beaches should be acquired to provide
for colony expansion and also serve as a buffer from human disturbance.
Active and potential colony sites should be evaluated to provide a diversity
of nesting habitat in the future for all species.

Cooperative agreements for management of waterbird colonies between
Federal agencies and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
should be encouraged. Leases and easements of publicly-owned colony sites
to private individuals or groups should not be allowed. Property title to a
colony site should be given to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the Maine
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife directly. These agencies should
encourage this type of donation.

60

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Allen, R. P., and A. H. Norton. Unpublished. An inspection of the colonies
of seabirds on the coast of Maine by the National Association of Audubon
Societies, June 23 to July 14, 1931, and a comparison of present condi-
tion with those existing in 1900 and subsequent years of the Associa-
tion's protection.

American Ornithologists' Union. 1957. Check-list of North American birds.
American Ornithologists' Union. 691 pp.

American Ornithologists' Union. 1976. Thirty-third supplement to the American
Ornithologists' Union check-list of North American birds. Auk 93(4) :875-
879.

Audubon, J. J. 1835. Ornithological biography. Vol. III. Adam Black.
Edinburgh. 638 pp.

Bent, A. C. 1919. Life histories of North American diving birds. Smith-
sonian Inst. Bull. 107. Washington, D.C. 245 pp.

Bent, A. C. 1921. Life histories of North American gulls and terns. Smith-
sonian Inst. Bull. 113. Washington, D.C. 345 pp.

Bent, A. C. 1922, Life histories of North American petrels and pelicans and
their allies. Smithsonian Inst. Bull. 121. Washington, D.C. 343 pp.

Bent, A. C. 1925. Life histories of North American wildfowl. Order Anseres
(Part II) . U.S. Natl. Kus. Bull. 130. 376 pp.

Brewer, T. M. 1877. Breeding of Leach's petrel on the coast of Maine.
Bull. Nuttall Ornith. Club 2:44-48.

61

Brown, F. A. 1911. Machias Seal Island. Bird-Lore 13:23S-245.

Brown, R. G. B., D. N. Nettleship, P. Germain, C. E. Tull, and T. Davis. 1975.
Atlas of eastern Canadian seabirds. Canadian Wildlife Service. 220 pp.

Buchheister, C.W. Unpublished. Report on Matinicus Rock Wildlife Refuge on
the Matinicus Rock Light Station, Maine-Summer of 1975. Mimeo report
submitted to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Coast Guard. 6 pp.
Reported 1975.

Buckley, P. A. and F. G. Buckley. 1976. Guidelines for the protection and
management of colonially-nesting waterbirds. Natl. Park Serv. Rep.
54 pp.

Choate, J. S. 1966. The breeding biology of the American eider (Somiateria
mollissima dresseri ) in Penobscot Bay, Maine. M.S. Thesis. Univ. Maine,
Orono. 173 pp.

Clark, S. H., 1968. The breeding ecology and experimental management of
the American eider in Penobscot Bay, Maine. M.S. Thesis. Univ. Maine,
Orono. 169 pp.

Dorr, D. K. Unpublished. Least tern. Sterna albifrons, nesting habitat in
Maine and its relevance to the Critical Areas Program. A report submitted
for the Maine Critical Areas Program, State Planning Office. 1976. 20 pp.

Drury, W. H. 1973. Population changes in New England seabirds. Bird-Banding
44:267-313.

Drury, W. H. 1974. Population changes in New England seabirds (continued).
Bird-Banding 45:1-15.

Drury, W. H. Unpublished. Bird nesting islands--coast of Maine. Reported
December, 1974.

Dutcher, W. 1901. Results of special protection to gulls and terns obtained
through the Thayer Fund. Auk 18:76-103.

Dutcher, W. 1902, Results of special protection to gulls and terns obtained
through the Thayer Fund. Auk 19:34-63.

Dutcher, W. 1903. Report of the A. 0. U. Committee on the protection of
North American birds. Auk 20:101-159.

Dutcher, W. 1904. Report of the A. 0. U. Committee on the protection of
North American birds for the year 1903. Auk 21:97-208

Dutcher, W. 1905. Maine, in state reports. Bird-Lore 7:90-94.

62

Erwin, R. M. 1979. Coastal waterbird colonies: Cape Elizabeth, Maine
to Virginia. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Services
Prograni, FWS/OBS-79/10. 212 pp.

Erwin, R. M., and C. E. Korschgen. 1979. Coastal waterbird colonies:
Maine to Virginia, 1977. FWS/OBS-79/08.

Forbush, E. H. 1925. Birds of Massachusetts and other New England

states. Vol, I. Boston, Mass. Dep. Agric. Norwood Press, Norwood.
484 pp.

Grace, P. W. Unpublished. A report on the nesting activities of the least
tern (Sterna albifrons) at the Wells Harbor, Maine colony. 6 pp.

Gross, A. 0. 1923. The black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
of Sandy Neck. Auk 40:1-31, 191-214.

Gross, A. 0. 1938. Eider ducks of Kent's Island. Auk 55:387-400.

Gross, A. 0. 1944. The present status of the double-crested cormorant on
the coast of Maine. Auk 61:513-537.

Gross, A. 0. 1945. The present status of the great black-backed gull on
the coast of Maine. Auk 62:241-256.

Gross, A. 0. Unpublished. The herring gull--cormorant control project.
Annual reports, 1944-1952. Reports submitted to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Boston, Massachusetts.

Knight, 0. W. 1900. Some birds of sunshine and vicinity. J. Maine Ornith.
Soc. 2:4-8.

Lesser, E. A. Unpublished. A study of marine birds on Little Duck Island,
Maine. 60 pp.

Mendall, H. L. 1936. The home-life and economic status of the double-
crested cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus auritus (Lesson). Univ. Maine
Studies, 2nd Ser. , 38. 159 pp.

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N.E. Fish Wild!. Conf. 25:95-104.

Mendall, H. L. 1976. Eider ducks, islands and people. Maine Fish Wildl.
18(2):4-7.

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63

Norton, A. H. 1907. Report of Arthur H. Norton on colonies of birds in Maine
receiving special protection in 1907. Bird-Lore 9:319-327.

Norton, A. H. 1923. Notes on birds of the Knox County region. Maine
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Norton, A. H. 1925. Notes on birds of the Knox County region. Maine
Natur. 5:1-4, 46-56.

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to the Critical Areas Program. A report submitted for the Maine Critical
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Audubon Soc. 31:161-163.

64

APPENDIX A
Table Al: Osprey Nesting Islands in 1977.

Island name

Latitude

Longitude Quadrangle

Pairs

Allen Island

435200

691900

Friendship

Andrew Island

440848

684212

Deer Isle NW/4

Andrews Island

440000

690315

Rockland

Anguilla Island

443400

672820

Roque Bluffs

Ash Island

440220

690415

Rockland

Babson Island

441415

683345

Deer Isle NE/4

Bar Island

443100

674700

Harrington

Bar Island Ledge

441612

684254

Blue Hill SW/4

Basket Island

434400

701000

Portland East

Bear Island

441315

684930

Vinalhaven NE/4

Bear Island

434700

695250

Orrs Island

Big Douglas Island

442700

675120

Bois Bubert

Big Freeze Island

441215

683645

Deer Isle NE/4

Birch Island

434920

700020

Orrs Island

Birch Island

441800

684450

Blue Hill SW/4

Burnt Island

441115

684900

Vinalhaven NE/4

Butter Island

441348

689730

Vinalhaven NE/4

Calf Island

442740

680930

Bar Harbor NW/4

Carney Island

441630

684110

Blue Hills SW/4

Clark Island Ledge

434900

691100

Tenants Harbor

Clarke Island

435900

691100

Tenants Harbor

Crane Island

435350

692300

Louds Island

Crow Island

441440

684430

Deer Isle NW/4

Crow Island

441440

684430

Deer Isle NW/4

Crow Island

435800

690500

Hewetts Island

Crow Island Ledge

434940

694230

Boothbay Harbor

Curtis Island

441200

690300

Camden

Dix Island

440030

690415

Rockland

Dram Island

442806

681124

Bar Harbor NW/4

Dumpling Island

440742

685342

Vinalhaven NW/4

Eagle Island

435540

691800

Friendship

Eastern Island

442400

675615

Petit Manan

Eastern Mark Island

441010

683440

Deer Isle NE/4

Eaton Island

441610

684350

Blue Hill SW/4

Eben Island

440120

690650

Rockland

Ensign Island

441350

685745

Vinalhaven NW/4

First Chain Link

441354

684830

Vinalhaven NE/4

Franklin Island

435330

692230

Louds Island

George Head

440745

683920

Deer Isle NW/4

Googins Island

434915

700450

Freeport

Goslings Island

434700

700245

Freeport

Goslings Island

434700

700230

Freeport

Graffam Island

435900

690530

Hev/etts Island

Great Spruce Head Island

441405

684930

Vinalhaven NE/4

3

Great Sprucehead Island Ledge

441405

(Cont
65

684930
inued)

Vinalhaven NE/4

1

Table Al.

(Continued)

Island name

Latitude

Longitude Quadrangle

Pairs

Green Island

442845

673300

Jonesport

Haddock Island

435220

692600

Louds Island

Haddock Island

435220

692600

Louds Island

Harbor Island

435420

692300

Louds Island

Hardv/ood Island

440630

684000

Deer Isle SU/4

Hewett Island

435930

690415

Hewetts Island

High Island

440045

690340

Rockland

Hog Island

441042

684900

Vinalhaven NE/4

Hog Island

435000

692600

Louds Island

Hog Island

444050

672000

Machias Bay

Horsehead Island

441500

685100

Vinalhaven NE/4

Ingalls Island

442930

681215

Bar Harbor NW/4

Inner Double Head Shot Is

land 443630

671550

Cross Island

Isle of Springs

435145

694100

Boothbay Harbor

Jim's Island

435730

692400

Louds Island

Job Island

441330

685640

Vinalhaven NW/4

Johns Island

435200

693200

Pemaquid Point

Lakeman Island

443430

672920

Roque Bluffs

Lassell Island

441145

685740

Vinalhaven NW/4

Lime Island

441220

685715

Vinalhaven NW/4

Little Birch Island

434940

695920

Orrs Island

Little Douglas Island

442650

675045

Bois Bubert

Little Hardv/ood Island

442940

673330

Great Wass Island

Little Green Island

435500

690218

Hewetts Island

Little Mullens Island

440945

684830

Vinalhaven NE/4

Little Pickering Island

441530

684500

Blue Hill SW/4

Little Pond Island

440045

690300

Rockland

Little Spruce Head

441354

685100

Vinalhaven NE/4

Little Whaleboat Island

434550

700315

Freeport

Lower Mark Island

434730

694030

Boothbay Harbor

Mark Island

434330

695400

Bailey Island

Mark Island

440815

684200

Deer Isle NW/4

Mark Island

441020

685900

Vinalhaven NW/4

McGee Island

435500

691830

Friendship

McGlatherey Island

440725

683700

Deer Isle NE/4

Metinic Island

435300

690730

Tenants Harbor

Minot Island

441430

685615

Vinalhaven NW/4

Monroe Island

440445

690225

Rockland

Narrows Island

443100

674700

Harrington

Negro Island

434915

693640

Pemaquid Point

Norton Island

435900

690830

Tenants Harbor

Oar Island

435900

692430

Louds Island

Osprey's Nest Island

441354

684830

Vinalhaven NE/4

Otter Island

440124

690430

Rockland

Outer Heron Island

434630

693505

Pemaquid Point

Outer Ram Island

442920

673815

Drisko Island

2

Preble Island

442745

(Cont

66

681030
inued)

Bar Harbor NW/4

3

Table Al. (Concluded)

Island name

Latitude Longitude Quadrangle

Pairs

Ragged I

Ram I si a

Ram Is! a

Ram Is la

Ram I si a

Resoluti

Roque Is

Saddle I

Scott Is

Scott

Scrag

Sheep

Sheep

Sheep

Sheep

Sheep

Stave

Stone

Teel

Is
Is
Is
Is
Is
Is
Is
Is
Is
Isl

Thrumcap
Tommy Is
Trafton
Treasure
Turkey I
Upper Go
Warren I
White Is
Wi 1 1 iams
Wi 1 1 iams
Wood Isl
Wreck Is
Yellow H
Yellow I

sland

nd

nd

nd

nd

on Island

land

sland

land

land

land

land

land

land

land

land Ledge

land

land

and

Island
land
Island

Island
sland

ose Island
sland
land

Island

Island
and
land
ead
sland

434340

695620

Bailey Island

440810

683650

Deer Isle NW/4

442015

685520

Castine SW/4

442930

674220

Drisko Island

442940

673830

Drisko Island

441530

685140

Castine SE/4

443500

673100

Jonesport

441040

685800

Vinal haven NW/4

441700

684410

Blue Hill SW/4

441700

684420

Blue Hill SW/4

441324

685006

Vinalhaven NE/4

441645

684330

Blue Hill SW/4

441030

683600

Deer Isle NE/4

440350

690300

Rockland

443036

674500

Addison

441645

684330

Blue Hill SW/4

442630

680800

Bar Harbor NW/4

443600

672215

Cross Island

435530

691730

Friendship

434915

693300

Pemaquid Point

442900

674840

Bois Bubert

442906

674922

Bois Bubert

442900

680930

Bar Harbor NW/4

442715

675030

Bois Bubert

434820

700200

Freeport

441620

685645

Castine SW/4

440300

685420

Vinalhaven SW/4

434830

695415

Orrs Island

434845

700300

Freeport

434420

694645

Small Point

435430

692400

Louds Island

443830

672100

Machias Bay

442505

680815

Bar Harbor NW/4

1
1
1
1

3
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
2
6
1
1
1
8
2
1
1
6
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1

67

APPENDIX B

Table Bl.

Alphabetical 1

ist of

colony

site names.

Colony

site

Lat.

Long

I.

Colony site name

number

N

W

Quadrangle

Allen Island

297

034

4352

6919

Friendship

Andrews Island

268

100

4400

6903

Rockland

Appledore Island

324

001

4259

7037

Isles of Shoals

Bald Island

268

061

4411

6847

Vinalhaven NE/4

Bald Rock

268

005

4425

6813

Bar Harbor NW/4

Ballast Island

269

007

4434

6733

Jonesport

Bangs Island

296

023

4343

7005

South Harpswell

Bar Island

268

033

4415

6827

Mount Desert SW/4

Bar Island

297

023

4355

6917

Friendship

Bar Island Ledge

268

028

4416

6843

Blue Hill SH/4

Barred Island

268

018

4416

6850

Castine SE/4

Barter Island

297

026

4354

6918

Friendship

Bates Island

296

030

4342

7005

South Harpswell

Batson Ledges

269

036

4428

6740

Drisko Island

Beach Island

268

020

4415

6849

Castine SE/4

Beach Island

296

047

4326

7027

Biddeford Pool

Bean Island

268

004

4428

6812

Bar Harbor NW/4

Big Nash Island

269

038

4428

6744

Drisko Island

Big Smith Island Ledge

268

109

4405

6848

Vinalhaven SE/4

Black Horse Island

268

132

4402

6835

Deer Isle SE/4

Black Island

297

005

4356

6922

Louds Island

Black Rock

296

004

4348

7000

Freeport

Bluff Island

296

038

4331

7019

Prouts Neck

Brig Ledge

297

064

4349

6853

Matinicus

Brimstone Island

268

134

4407

6828

Swans Island SW/4

Brimstone Island

268

118

4401

6846

Vinalhaven SE/4

Browney Island

269

043

4428

6737

Great Wass Island

Buck Island

268

009

4419

6847

Castine SE/4

Bumpkin Island

296

050

4321

7027

Kennebunkport

Burnt Island

297

093

4352

6917

Mo nh eg an

Burying Island

268

001

4433

6816

Ellsworth SE/4

Carvers Island

268

113

4401

6848

Vinalhaven SE/4

Cat Ledge

297

079

4348

6941

Boothbay Harbor

Cedarbush Island

297

078

4349

6941

Boothbay Harbor

Cedar Island

324

003

4259

7036

Isles of Shoals

Cedar Ledge

297

073

4345

6957

Orrs Island

Cedar Ledge

297

100

4345

6957

Bailey Island

Channel Rock

268

056

4413

6849

Vinalhaven NE/4

Cherry Ledge

268

081

4411

6826

Swans Island NW/4

Clam Ledges

268

089

4400

6905

Rockland

Clapboard Island Ledge

296

010

4343

7012

Portland East

Clarks Island

296

051

4305

7043

Kittery

Colt Head Island

268

019

4416

6850

Castine SE/4

(c<

Dntin
68

ued)

Table

Bl.

(Conti

nued)

Colony ;

site

Lat.

Long.

Colony site name

number

N

W

Quadrangle

Compass Island

268

055

4413

6852

Vinalhaven NE/4

Cranberry Island

297

020

4356

6922

Friendship

Crane Island

297

009

4354

6923

Louds Island

Crescent Island

268

094

4401

6902

Rockland

Crow Island

296

Oil

4343

7008

Portland East

Crow Island

296

012

4341

7011

Portland East

Crow Island

296

022

4344

7006

South Harpswel 1

Crow Island

268

082

4411

6826

Swans Island NW/4

Crow Island

297

050

4358

6905

Hewetts Island

Curlew Rock

269

045

4426

6736

Great Wass Island

Cutters Nubble

268

099

4404

6903

Rockland

Dagger Island

268

063

4411

6848

Vinalhaven NE/4

Dagger Ledge

268

062

4411

6848

Vinalhaven NE/4

Damariscove Island

297

089

4346

6937

Pemaquid Point

Deadman Ledge

268

112

4401

6852

Vinalhaven SE/4

Dix Island

268

098

4400

6904

Rockland

Dogfish Island Ledge

268

102

4405

6855

Vinalhaven SW/4

Duck Island

296

052

4300

7036

Isles of Shoals

Duck Rock

297

067

4346

6955

Orrs Island

Duck Rocks

297

097

4347

6919

Monhegan

Dumpling Island

268

048

4408

6854

Vinalhaven NW/4

Eagle Island

296

028

4343

7003

South Harpswel 1

Eagle Island

296

041

4329

7022

Biddeford Pool

Eagle Island

297

021

4356

6918

Friendship

Eastern Duck Rock

297

096

4347

6919

Monhegan

Eastern Egg Rock

297

092

4352

6923

New Harbor

Eastern Island

269

021

4424

6756

Petit Manan

East Barge Island

268

080

4414

6826

Swans Island NW/4

East Brown Cow Island

297

106

4342

6953

Bailey Island

East Goose Rock

268

043

4411

6859

Vinalhaven NW/4

Eaton Island

268

025

4416

6844

Blue Hill SW/4

Eaton Island Ledge

268

027

4416

6844

Blue Hill SW/4

Eaton Island Ledge

268

026

4416

6843

Blue Hill SW/4

Egg Rock

268

072

4411

6830

Deer Isle NE/4

Egg Rock

268

042

4411

6853

Vinalhaven NW/4

Egg Rock

269

042

4426

6738

Drisko Island

Egg Rock

269

027

4424

6752

Bo is Bubert

Ell ingwood Rock

297

113

4343

6946

Small Point

Elm Island

297

069

4345

6956

Orrs Island

Fiddle Head

268

016

4417

6847

Castine SE/4

Fisherman Island

258

091

4403

6902

Rockland

Fisherman Island

297

084

4348

6936

Pemaquid Point

Flag Island

297

074

4345

6953

Orrs Island

Flat Island

268

110

4404

6852

Vinalhaven SE/4

Flat Island

268

006

4419

6856

Castine SW/4

Flat Island

269

040

4427

6742

Drisko Island

(Contin
69

ued)

Table Bl. (Continued)

Colony site

Lat.

Long

•

Colony site name

number

N

W

Quadrangle

Fog Island Ledge

268 124

4406

6834

Deer Isle SE/4

Folly Island

296 048

4321

7026

Kennebunkport

Foster Island

269 008

4435

6724

Roque Bluffs

Franklin Island

297 012

4353

6922

Louds Island

Freeman Rock

269 046

4428

6743

Great Wass Island

French Island

296 007

4347

7004

Freeport

Garden Island

268 097

4401

6907

Rockland

Gooseberry Island

268 084

4408

6828

Swans Island NW/4

Gooseberry Island

296 046

4327

7020

Biddeford Pool

Gooseberry Island

297 112

4343

6951

Small Point

Goose Cove Rock

268 034

4415

6825

Mount Desert SW/4

Goose Island

268 044

4411

6857

Vinal haven NW/4

Goose Island

269 002

4455

6702

Eastpoint

Goose Nest Island

296 017

4344

7005

South Harpswell

Goose Rock

268 039

4411

6903

Camden

Goose Rocks Beach

296 040

4323

7025

Biddeford

Graffam Island

297 048

4359

6905

Hewetts Island

Grass Ledge

268 060

4412

6848

Vinalhaven NE/4

Grass Ledge

268 054

4413

6851

Vinalhaven NE/4

Grassy Ledge

296 005

4347

7003

Freeport

Great Duck Island

268 088

4409

6815

Swans Island NE/4

Great Spoon Island

268 129

4402

6833

Deer Isle SE/4

Green Island

268 086

4409

6820

Swans Island NE/4

Green Island

268 133

4407

6827

Swans Island SW/4

Green Island

268 103

4404

6855

Vinalhaven SW/4

Green Island

269 013

4434

6727

Roque Bluffs

Green Island

269 028

4422

6752

Bo is Bubert

Green Island

296 049

4321

7026

Kennebunkport

Green Island Ledge

268 087

4409

6820

Swans Island NE/4

Green Island Ledge

268 030

4415

6830

Blue Hill SE/4

Green Ledge

268 015

4417

6850

Castine SE/4

Green Ledge

268 071

4411

6833

Deer Isle NE/4

Green Ledge

268 111

4403

6847

Vinalhaven SE/4

Green Ledge

268 126

4405

6834

Deer Isle SE/4

Green Ledge

268 104

4404

6855

Vinalhaven SW/4

Green Ledge

297 062

4350

6853

Matinicus

Green Rock

269 044

4426

6736

Great Wass Island

Gull Rock

297 018

4357

6922

Friendship

Gunning Rocks

297 038

4354

6915

Tenants Harbor

Gunning Rocks

297 027

4355

6915

Friendship

Haddock Island

297 Oil

4352

6926

Louds Island

Halibut Rocks

268 075

4408

6831

Deer Isle NE/4

Halifax Island

269 012

4434

6727

Roque Bluffs

Harbor Island

297 007

4354

6923

Louds Island

Hardhead Island

268 052

4413

6845

Vinalhaven NE/4

Hardwood Island

268 031

4418

6827

Mount Desert SW/4

(Continued)
70

Table 81. (Contin

ued)

Colony !

site

Lat

Long

,

Colony site name

numi

36 r

N

W

Quadrangle

Hart Island

297

028

4354

6916

Friendship

Hay Island

268

114

4401

6848

Vinalhaven SE/4

Hay Ledge

297

039

4355

6914

Tenants Harbor

Heron Island

268

036

4422

6806

Bar Harbor SE/4

Heron Island

268

136

4406

6828

Swans Island SW/4

Heron Island

297

111

4343

6948

Small Point

Hewett Island

297

045

4359

6904

Hewetts Island

High Sheriff Island

268

083

4408

6828

Swans Island NW/4

Hog Island

297

042

4352

6907

Tenants Harbor

Horse Island

296

020

4344

7003

South Harpswell

Horse Head Island

268

049

4415

6851

Vinalhaven NE/4

House Island

296

014

4339

7012

Portland East

Hurricane Island

297

046

4401

6906

Hewetts Island

Hurricane Island Ledge

268

106

4402

6853

Vinalhaven SW/4

Inner Double Head Shot Isl<

and 269

017

4436

6716

Cross Island

Inner Duck Rock

297

098

4346

6919

Monhegan

Inner Green Island

296

033

4340

7006

South Harpswell

Inner Sand Island

269

037

4428

6740

Drisko Island

Irony Island

296

006

4347

7002

Freeport

Islesboro Island

268

002

4419

6854

Castine NW/4

Jenny Island

297

068

4346

6954

Orrs Island

Jims Island

297

001

4357

6924

Louds Island

Johns Island

268

135

4407

6824

Swans Island SW/4

Johns Island

268

003

4424

6835

Blue Hill NE/4

Jones Garden Island

297

003

4356

6923

Louds Island

Jordans Delight

269

026

4427

6749

Bois Bubert

Junk of Pork Island

296

034

4339

7007

South Harpswel 1

Killick Stone

297

004

4356

6925

Louds Island

Large Green Island

297

053

4354

6901

Hewetts Island

Last Chain Link

268

051

4414

6848

Vinalhaven NE/4

Libby Island

269

020

4435

6721

Cross Island

Little Birch Island

296

019

4344

7003

South Harpswell

Little Brimstone Island

268

119

4400

6846

Vinalhaven SE/4

Little Drisko Island

269

033

4429

6740

Drisko Island

Little Duck Island

268

085

4410

6815

Swans Island NE/4

Little Eaton Island

268

024

4416

6844

Blue Hill SW/4

Little Egg Rock

297

094

4351

6920

Monhegan

Little Franklin Ledge

297

013

4353

6922

Louds Island

Little Green Island

297

052

4355

6902

Hewetts Island

Little Hall Island

297

008

4354

6922

Louds Island

Little Hog Island

297

043

4352

6907

Tenants Harbor

Little Hurricane Island

268

107

4402

6854

Vinalhaven SW/4

Lt. Hurricane Island Ledge

268

108

4402

6854

Vinalhaven SW/4

Little Island

297

019

4356

6921

Friendship

Little Mark Island

296

031

4342

7002

South Harpswell

Little Spoon Island

268

130

4402

6834

Deer Isle SE/4

(Contin
71

ued)

Table Bl. (Contint

ied)

Colony site

Lat.

Long

,

Colony site name

number

N

W

Quadrangle

Little Spruce Head Island

268 050

4414

6851

Vinalhaven NE/4

Long Ledge

297 070

4345

6954

Orrs Island

Long Ledge

297 071

4345

6954

Orrs Island

Long Ledge

297 029

4353

6922

Friendship

Mahoney Island

268 070

4413

6831

Deer Isle NE/4

Marblehead Island

268 092

4402

6902

Rockland

Mark Island

297 104

4343

6954

Bailey Island

Mark Island

268 045

4410

6859

Vinalhaven NU/4

Mason Ledge

268 137

4406

6829

Swans Island SW/4

Matinicus Rock

297 065

4347

6851

Matinicus

McGee Island

297 025

4355

6918

Friendship

Medric Rock

268 105

4404

6856

Vinalhaven SW/4

Metinic Green Island

297 044

4352

6908

Tenants Harbor

Metinic Island

297 040

4353

6907

Tenants fiarbor

Middle Douglas Island

269 025

4427

6751

Bo is Bubert

Middle Mark Island

297 077

4344

6942

Boothbay Harbor

Ministerial Island

296 026

4343

7005

South Harpswel 1

Moose Island Ledge

268 066

4409

6841

Deer Isle NW/4

Mouse Island

268 041

4412

6857

Vinalhaven NW/4

Nash Island

269 039

4428

6745

Drisko Island

Negro Island

296 045

4327

7021

Biddeford Pool

New Harbor Dry Ledge

297 091

4352

6929

New Harbor

Nightcap Island

269 006

4431

6745

Harrington

No Mans Land Island

297 055

4353

6852

Matinicus

North Sugarloaf Island

297 075

4345

6947

Phippsburg

Nubbins Island

297 015

4358

6921

Friendship

Oak Island

268 096

4401

6905

Rockland

Old Hump Ledges

297 032

4352

6921

Friendship

Old Hump Ledges

297 033

4352

6921

Friendship

Old Man

269 004

4437

6714

Cutler

Otter Island

268 117

4400

6848

Vinalhaven SE/4

Otter Island

268 093

4401

6904

Rockland

Outer Double Head Shot Isl

and 269 018

4436

6716

Cross Island

Outer Green Island

296 015

4339

7007

Portland East

Outer Heron Island

297 088

4346

6935

Pemaquid Point

Outer Ram Island

269 032

4429

6738

Drisko Island

Petit Manan Island

269 029

4422

6752

Bois Bubert

Pinkham Island

296 021

4344

7001

South Harpswel 1

Pond Island

297 102

4344

6958

Bailey Island

Pond Island

268 012

4417

6848

Castine SE/4

Pond Island

268 013

4417

6848

Castine SE/4

Pond Island

297 109

4344

6946

Small Point

Pot Rock

269 023

4429

6745

Bois Bubert

Pudding Island

297 059

4350

6853

Matinicus

Pulpit Rock

269 016

4433

6728

Roque Bluffs

Pumpkin Island

297 090

(Contin
72

4345
ued)

6935

Pemaquid Point

Table Bl,

(Continued)

Colony

site

Lat.

Long

,

Colony site name

number

M

W

Quadrangle

Ragged Island

297

103

4344

6956

Bailey Island

Ragged Island

297

061

4349

6853

Matinicus

Ram Island

296

016

4338

7011

Portland East

Ram Island

296

036

4333

7016

Prout's Neck

Ram Island

296

042

4328

7022

Biddeford Pool

Ram Island

297

101

4344

6959

Bailey Island

Ram Island

268

040

4408

6904

Camden

Ram Island

297

017

4358

6921

Friendship

Ram Island

269

010

4434

6724

Roque Bluffs

Red Island

269

003

4455

6705

Eastport

Resolution Island

268

021

4415

6852

Castine SE/4

Roberts Island

268

116

4401

6848

Vinalhaven SE/4

Roberts Island

268

115

4401

6849

Vinalhaven SE/4

Robinson Rock

268

047

4410

6859

Vinalhaven NW/4

Robinson Rock Ledge

268

046

4410

6859

Vinalhaven NW/4

Rogue Island

297

066

4346

6954

Orrs Island

Rogues Island

296

029

4342

7007

South Harpswell

Ross Island

297

010

4354

6926

Louds Island

Rumell Island

268

032

4416

6825

Mount Desert SW/4

Saddleback Island

268

123

4406

6832

Deer Isle SE/4

Sally Island

269

022

4424

6757

Petit Kanan

Salter Island

297

076

4345

6945

Phippsburg

Sand Island

296

027

4343

7006

South Harpswell

Sand Island

297

016

4358

6921

Friendship

Scabby Island

269

Oil

4434

6724

Roque Bluffs

Schoodic Island

268

038

4420

6802

Bar Harbor SE/4

Scott Island

268

022

4417

6844

Blue Hill SW/4

Scrag Island

268

053

4413

6850

Vinalhaven NE/4

Scraggy Island

268

067

4408

6842

Deer Isle NW/4

Scraggy Island Ledge

268

068

4408

6842

Deer Isle NW/4

Seal Island

297

047

4359

6907

Hev^etts Island

Seal Island

297

054

4353

6844

Matinicus

Seal Ledge

297

063

4349

6853

Matinicus

Seguin Island

297

114

4342

6945

Small point

Seven Hundred Acre Island

268

007

4415

6858

Castine SW/4

Shabby Island

268

074

4410

6834

Deer Isle NE/4

Shag Ledge

297

060

4351

6853

Matinicus

Shag Ledge

269

009

4435

6725

Roque Bluffs

Shag Ledges (East)

297

030

4353

6918

Friendship

Shag Ledges (West)

297

031

4353

6918

Friendship

Shark Island

297

095

4351

6921

Monhegan

Sheep Island

268

073

4410

6836

Deer Isle NE/4

Sheep Island

268

065

4411

6848

Vinalhaven NE/4

Sheep Island

268

090

4404

6903

Rockland

Sheep Island Ledge

268

023

4417

6843

Blue Hill SW/4

Ship Island

268

078

4414

6826

Swans Island NW/4

(Contin
73

ued)

Table Bl

(Contin

ued)

Colony site

Lat

Long

,

Colony site name

number

N

W

Quadrangle

Shipstern Island

259

024

4428

6748

Bois Bubert

Sister Island

296

002

4349

7002

Freeport

Sister Island Ledge

296

001

4349

7002

Freeport

Sloop Island

268

057

4412

6849

Vinalhaven NE/4

Sloop Island Ledge

268

058

4412

6849

Vinalhaven NE/4

Smuttynose Island

268

069

4413

6831

Deer Isle NE/4

Smuttynose Island

324

002

4259

7036

Isles of Shoals

Smutty Nose Island

297

099

4346

6919

Monhegan

South Popplestone Ledge

268

125

4406

6834

Deer Isle SE/4

South Sugarloaf Island

297

107

4345

6946

Small Point

Southern Mark Island

268

122

4407

6834

Deer Isle SE/4

Sparrow Island

268

120

4407

6842

Deer Isle SW/4

Spectacle Island

268

Oil

4418

6847

Castine SE/4

Spectacle Island

268

010

4418

6847

Castine SE/4

Spectacle Island

269

001

4455

6702

Eastport

Spirit Ledge

268

128

4405

6831

Deer Isle SE/4

Spoon Ledge

268

059

4412

6850

Vinalhaven NE/4

Sprague River Beach

297

108

4344

6949

Small Point

Stage Island

296

044

4328

7021

Biddeford Pool

Stanley Ledge

269

041

4427

6740

Drisko Island

Stevens Island

269

031

4429

6740

Drisko Island

Stevens Island Ledge

269

030

4430

6740

Drisko Island

Stockman Island

296

018

4344

7005

South Harpswel 1

Stone Island

297

022

4356

6918

Friendship

Stone Island

269

019

4436

6722

Cross Island

Stratton Island

296

037

4331

7019

Prouts Neck

Sugar Loaves

268

101

4407

6855

Vinalhaven SW/4

Tenpound Island

297

058

4351

6853

Matinicus

The Brothers

297

035

4355

6914

Tenants Harbor

The Brothers

297

036

4355

6914

Tenants Harbor

The Brotfiers

297

037

4355

6914

Tenants Harbor

The Brothers Island

269

014

4433

6726

Roque Bluffs

The Cuckolds Island

297

080

4347

6939

Boothbay Harbor

The Downfall

268

064

4411

6848

Vinalhaven NE/4

The Hypocrites

297

085

4348

6935

Pemaquid Point

The Ladle

269

034

4429

6744

Drisko Island

The Nubble

297

041

4352

6907

Tenants Harbor

The Thrumcap

268

035

4422

6811

Bar Harbor SW/4

Thief Island

297

002

4356

6925

Louds Island

Thread of Life Rock

297

081

4350

6933

Pemaquid Point

Three Bush Island

268

076

4407

6831

Deer Isle NE/4

Thrumcap Island

268

008

4419

6845

Castine SE/4

Thrumcap Island

297

082

4349

6933

Pemaquid Point

Thrumcap Island

297

083

4349

6933

Pemaquid Point

Tommy Island

268

095

4401

6907

Rockland

Toms Island

269

035

4429

6741

Drisko Island

(C(

jntin
74

lued)

Table Bl. (Concluded)

Colony site name

Colony site
number

Lat.

N

Long.
VI

Quadrangle

Torrey Island

268

029

4415

6835

Trumpet Island

268

077

4415

6827

Turnip Island

296

025

4343

7001

Turtle Island

268

037

4421

6806

Tv/obush Island

297

051

4358

6905

Twobush Island

297

024

4355

6919

Two Bush Island

297

072

4345

6956

Tvjo Bush Island

268

017

4417

6846

Two Bush Island

297

056

4353

6853

Upper Birch Island

269

005

4432

6746

Upper Flag Island

296

024

4343

7003

Upper Goose Island

296

003

4348

7002

Upper Green Island

296

008

4346

7005

Upper Green Island

296

009

4346

7005

Vaill Island

296

013

4340

7010

West Barge Island

268

079

4414

6827

West Brothers Island

269

015

4433

6726

West Brown Cow Island

296

032

4342

7004

Western Egg Rock

297

014

4353

6925

Western Island

268

014

4417

6849

West Goose Rocks

296

039

4323

7025

West Hal ibut Ledge

268

121

4407

6842

Whale Rock

296

035

4342

7002

White Bull Island

297

105

4343

6955

White Horse Island

268

131

4402

6834

White Island (Inner)

297

086

4348

6935

White Island (Outer)

297

087

4347

6935

White Ledge

268

127

4405

6834

Wooden Ball Island

297

057

4351

6849

Wood Island

296

043

4328

7020

Wood Island

297

110

4344

6947

Wreck Island

297

006

4354

6924

Yel low Ridge Island

297

049

4359

6907

Blue Hill SE/4
Swans Island NW/4
South Harpswel 1
Bar Harbor SE/4
Hewetts Island
Friendship
Orrs Island
Castine SE/4
Matinicus
Harrington
South Harpswel 1
Freeport
Freeport
Freeport
Portland East
Swans Island NW/4
Roque Bluffs
South Harpswel 1
Louds Island
Castine SE/4
Biddeford
Deer Isle NW/4
South Harpswel 1
Bailey Island
Deer Isle SE/4
Pemaquid Point
Pemaquid Point
Deer Isle SE/4
Matinicus
Biddeford Pool
Small Point
Louds Island
Hewetts Island

75

APPENDIX C

Tab!

B CI.

List of Maine Coas

tal Island

Regist

-.ry Numbers where

waterbird colonies

were loca

ted i n

1977.

Island^

Col(

Dny SI

te

Lat.

Long.

number

number

Island name

N

U

Quadrangle

55-150

297

066

Rogue I

4346

6954

Orrs Island

55-156

297

067

Duck Rk

4346

6955

Orrs Island

55-159

297

068

Jenny I

4346

6954

Orrs Island

55-174

297

069

Elm I-

4345

6956

Orrs Island

55-175

297

070

Long Ld

4345

6954

Orrs Island

55-176

297

071

Long Ld

4345

6954

Orrs Island

55-177

297

074

Flagg I

4345

6953

Orrs Island

55-178

297

072

Two Bush I

4345

6956

Orrs Island

55-179

297

073

Cedar Ld

4345

6957

Orrs Island

55-237

296

001

Sister I Ld

4349

7002

Freeport

55-238

296

002

Sister I

4349

7002

Freeport

55-251

296

003

Upper Goose I

4348

7002

Freeport

55-252

296

004

Black Rk

4348

7000

Freeport

55-259

296

005

Grassy Ld

4347

7003

Freeport

55-264

296

006

Irony I

4347

7002

Freeport

55-271

296

007

French I

4347

7004

Freeport

55-275

296

008

Upper Green I

4346

7005

Freeport

55-297

296

009

Upper Green I

4346

7005

Freeport

55-328

296

010

Clapboard I Ld

4343

7012

Portland East

55-331

296

Oil

Crow I

4342

7008

Portland East

55-358

296

012

Crow I

4341

7011

Portland East

55-369

296

013

Vaill I

4340

7010

Portland East

55-381

296

014

House I

4339

7012

Portland East

55-383

296

016

Ram I

4338

7011

Portland East

55-386

296

015

Outer Green I

4339

7007

Portland East

55-400

296

017

Goose Nest I

4344

7005

South Harpswel 1

55-401

296

018

Stockman I

4344

7005

South Harpswel 1

55-404

296

021

Pinkham I

4344

7001

South Harpswel 1

55-405

296

020

Horse I

4344

7003

South Harpswel!

55-406

296

019

Little Birch I

4344

7003

South Harpswel!

55-411

296

022

Crow I

4344

7006

South Harpswel!

55-412

296

023

Bangs I

4343

7005

South Harpswel 1

55-415

296

024

Upper Flag I

4343

7003

South Harpswel!

55-424

296

026

Ministerial I

4343

7005

South Harpswel!

55-426

296

027

Sand I

4343

7006

South Harpswel!

55-427

296

025

Turnip I

4343

7001

South Harpswel!

55-437

296

031

Little Mark I

4342

7002

South Harpswel!

55-439

296

028

Eagle I

4343

7003

South Harpswel 1

55-440

296

030

Bates I

4342

7005

South Harpswel!

(Continued)

Island numbers and names designated by the Coastal Island Registry Program,

Maine Bureau of Public Lands. -,r

/b

Table

CI. (Contin

ued)

Island

Colony site

Lat.

Long.

number

number

Island name

N

W

Quadrangle

55-441

296

029

Rogues I

4342

7007

South Harpswell

55-445

296

035

Whale Rk

4342

7002

South Harpswell

55-458

296

032

West Brown Cow

I 4342

7004

South Harpswel 1

55-486

296

034

Junk of Pork I

4339

7007

South Harpswell

55-499

296

033

Inner Green I

4340

7006

South Harpswel 1

55-605

297

101

Ram I

4344

6959

Bailey Island

55-608

297

100

Cedar Lds

4345

6957

Bailey Isla

nd

55-615

297

102

Pond I

4344

6958

Bailey Island

55-626

297

103

Ragged I

4344

6956

Bailey Isla

nd

55-628

297

105

White Bull I

4343

6955

Bailey Island

55-630

297

104

Mark I

4343

6954

Bailey Island

55-632

297

106

East Brown Cow

I 4342

6953

Bailey Island

59-001

268

128

Spirit Ld

4405

6831

SE/4 Deer I

sle 15

59-037

269

022

Sally I

4424

6757

Petit Manan

59-062

268

038

Schoodic I

4420

6802

SE/4 Bar Harbor 15

59-065

268

037

Turtle I

4421

6806

SE/4 Bar Harbor 15

59-069

268

036

Heron I

4422

6806

SE/4 Bar Harbor 15

59-084

268

001

Burying I

4433

6816

SE/4 Ellswo

rth 15

59-190

268

004

Bean I

4428

6812

NW/4 Bar Harbor 15

59-192

268

005

Bald Rk

4425

6813

NW/4 Bar Ha

rbor 15

59-236

268

031

Hardwood I

4418

6827

SW/4 Mount Desert 15

59-238

268

032

Rumell I

4416

6825

SW/4 Mount

Desert 15

59-239

268

034

Goose Cove Rk

4415

6825

SW/4 Mount

Desert 15

59-244

268

033

Bar I

4415

6827

SW/4 Mount Desert 15

59-300

268

035

The Thrumcap

4422

6811

SW/4 Bar Harbor 15

59-340

268

077

Trumpet I

4415

6827

NW/4 Swans

Island 15

59-341

268

078

Ship I

4414

6826

NW/4 Swans

Island 15

59-342

268

080

East Barge I

4414

6826

NW/4 Swans

Island 15

59-343

268

079

West Barge I

4414

6827

NW/4 Swans

Island 15

59-356

268

081

Cherry Ld

4411

6826

NW/4 Swans

Island 15

59-359

268

082

Crow I

4411

6826

NW/4 Swans

Island 15

59-397

268

083

High Sheriff I

4408

6828

NW/4 Swans

Island 15

59-398

268

084

Gooseberry I

4408

6828

NW/4 Swans

Island 15

59-439

268

085

Little Duck I

4410

6815

NE/4 Swans

Island 15

59-440

268

088

Great Duck I

4409

6815 ■

NE/4 Swans

Island 15

59-445

268

087

Green I Ld

4409

6820

NE/4 Swans

Island 15

59-446

268

086

Green I

4409

6820

NE/4 Swans

Island 15

59-478

268

133

Green I

4407

6827

SW/4 Swans

Island 15

59-479

268

134

Brimstone I

4407

6828

SW/4 Swans

Island 15

59-480

268

136

Heron I

4406

6828

SW/4 Swans

Island 15

59-481

268

137

Mason Ld

4406

6829

SW/4 Swans

Island 15

59-483

268

135

Johns I

4407

6824

SW/4 Swans

Island 15

59-622

268

003

Johns I

4424

6835

NE/4 Blue H

ill 15

59-669

268

008

Thrumcap I

4419

6845

SE/4 Castine 15

(Continued)
77

Table CI

(Continued)

Island

Colony site

Lat.

Long.

number

number

Island name

N

W

Quadr

"angle

59-672

268

009

Buck I

4419

6847

SE/4

Castine 15

59-673

268

Oil

Spectacle I

4418

6847

SE/4

Castine 15

59-674

268

015

Green Ld

4417

6850

SE/4

Castine 15

59-675

268

014

Western I

4417

6849

SE/4 Castine 15

59-676

268

012

Pond I

4417

6848

SE/4 Castine 15

59-677

268

013

Pond I

4417

6848

SE/4 Castine 15

59-680

268

016

Fiddle Head

4417

6847

SE/4

Castine 15

59-681

268

017

Two Bush I

4417

6846

SE/4 Castine 15

59-684

268

018

Barred I

4416

6850

SE/4

Castine 15

59-685

268

019

Colt Head I

4416

6850

SE/4 Castine 15

59-686

268

021

Resolution I

4415

6852

SE/4

Castine 15

59-687

268

020

Beach I

4415

6849

SE/4 Castine 15

59-688

268

010

Spectacle I

4418

6847

SE/4

Castine 15

59-709

268

022

Scott I

4417

6844

SW/4

Blue Hill 15

59-711

268

023

Sheep I Ld

4417

6843

SW/4

Blue Hill 15

59-713

268

024

Little Eaton I

4416

6844

SW/4

Blue Hill 15

59-714

268

025

Eaton I

4416

6844

SW/4

Blue Hill 15

59-716

268

027

Eaton I Ld

4416

6844

SW/4

Blue Hill 15

59-717

268

026

Eaton I Ld

4416

6843

SW/4

Blue Hill 15

59-718

268

028

Bar I Ld

4416

6843

SW/4

Blue Hill 15

59-750

268

030

Green I Ld

4415

6830

SE/4

Blue Hill 15

59-758

268

029

Torrey I

4415

6835

SE/4

Blue Hill 15

59-770

268

049

Horse Head I

4415

6851

NE/4

Vinalhaven 15

59-772

268

050

Little Spruce Hd

I 4414

6851

NE/4

Vinalhaven 15

59-782

268

052

Hardhead I

4413

6845

NE/4

Vinalhaven 15

59-783

268

051

Last Chain Link

4414

6848

NE/4

Vinalhaven 15

59-788

268

053

Scrag I

4413

6850

NE/4

Vinalhaven 15

59-789

268

054

Grass Ld

4413

6851

NE/4

Vinalhaven 15

59-790

268

055

Compass I

4413

6852

NE/4

Vinalhaven 15

59-792

268

056

Channel Rk

4413

6849

NE/4

Vinalhaven 15

59-795

268

057

Sloop I

4412

6849

NE/4

Vinalhaven 15

59-796

268

058

Sloop I Ledge

4412

6849

NE/4

Vinalhaven 15

59-802

268

060

Grass Ld

4412

6848

NE/4

Vinalhaven 15

59-803

268

061

Bald I

4411

6847

NE/4

Vinalhaven 15

59-830

268

066

Moose I Ld

4409

6841

NW/4

Deer Isle 15

59-836

268

067

Scraggy I

4408

6842

NW/4

Deer Isle 15

59-837

268

068

Scraggy I Ld

4408

6842

NW/4

Deer Isle 15

59-931

268

069

Smuttynose I

4413

6831

NE/4

Deer Isle 15

59-933

268

070

Ma honey I

4413

6831

NE/4

Deer Isle 15

59-949

268

071

Green Ld

4411

6833

NE/4

Deer Isle 15

59-950

268

072

Egg Rk

4411

6830

NE/4

Deer Isle 15

59-953

268

073

Sheep I

4410

6836

NE/4

Deer Isle 15

59-980

268

076

Three Bush I

4407

6831

NE/4

Deer Isle 15

59-991

268

075

Halibut Rks

4408

6831

NE/4

Deer Isle 15

(Continued)
78

Table CI. (Continued)

Island Colony site Lat. Long.

number number Island name ^j W Quadrangle

NE/4 Deer Isle 15
SE/4 Deer Isle 15
NE/4 Vinalhaven 15
NE/4 Vinalhaven 15
NE/4 Vinalhaven 15
NE/4 Vinalhaven 15
NE/4 Vinalhaven 15
SE/4 Vinalhaven 15
SE/4 Vinalhaven 15
SE/4 Vinalhaven 15
SE/4 Vinalhaven 15
SE/4 Vinalhaven 15
SE/4 Vinalhaven 15
SE/4 Vinalhaven 15
SE/4 Vinalhaven 15
SE/4 Vinalhaven 15
SE/4 Vinalhaven 15
SE/4 Vinalhaven 15
SW/4 Deer Isle 15
SW/4 Deer Isle 15
SE/4 Deer Isle 15
SE/4 Deer Isle 15
SE/4 Deer Isle 15
SE/4 Deer Isle 15
SE/4 Deer Isle 15
SE/4 Deer Isle 15
SE/4 Deer Isle 15
SE/4 Deer Isle 15
SE/4 Deer Isle 15
Camden
Camden

NW/4 Vinalhaven 15
NW/4 Vinalhaven 15
NW/4 Vinalhaven 15
NW/4 Vinalhaven 15
NW/4 Vinalhaven 15
NW/4 Vinalhaven 15
NW/4 Vinalhaven 15
NW/4 Vinalhaven 15
Rockland
Rockland
Rockland
Rockland
Rockland

59-996

268

074

Shabby I

4410

6834

59-999

268

123

Saddleback I

4406

6832

63-011

268

059

Spoon Ld

4412

6850

63-014

268

062

Dagger Ld

4411

6848

63-015

268

063

Dagger I

4411

6848

63-016

268

064

The Downfal 1

4411

6848

63-018

268

065

Sheep I

4411

6848

63-089

268

109

Big Smith I Ld

4405

6848

63-106

268

110

Flat I

4404

6852

63-135

268

111

Green Ld

4403

6847

63-166

268

113

Carvers I

4401

6848

63-169

268

114

Hay I

4401

6848

63-170

268

112

Deadman Ld

4401

6852

63-174

268

116

Roberts I

4401

6848

63-175

268

115

Roberts I

4401

6849

63-176

268

118

Brimstone I

4401

6846

63-179

268

119

Little Brimstone I

4400

6846

63-183

268

117

Otter I

4400

6848

63-200

268

120

Sparrow I

4407

6842

63-206

268

121

W Halibut Ld

4407

6842

63-260

268

122

Southern Mark I

4407

6834

63-263

268

124

Fog I Ld

4406

6834

63-265

268

125

Popplestone Ld

4406

6834

63-266

268

126

Green Ld

4405

6834

63-267

268

127

White Ld

4405

6834

63-287

268

129

Great Spoon I

4402

6833

63-289

268

130

Little Spoon I

4402

6834

63-293

268

131

White Horse I

4402

6834

63-294

268

132

Black Horse I

4402

6835

63-314

268

039

Goose Rk

4411

6903

63-323

268

040

Ram I

4408

6904

63-330

268

041

Mouse I

4412

6857

63-333

268

042

Egg Rk

4411

6853

63-335

268

043

East Goose Rk

4411

6859

63-336

268

044

Goose I

4411

6857

63-339

268

045

Mark I

4410

6859

63-340

268

046

Robinson Rk Ld

4410

6859

63-341

268

047

Robinson Rk

4410

6859

63-351

268

048

Dumpling I

4408

6854

63-393

268

090

Sheep I

4404

6903

63-398

268

099

Cutters Nubble

4404

6903

63-402

268

091

Fisherman I

4403

6902

63-403

268

092

Marble head I

4402

6902

63-410

268

093

Otter I

(Cont-
79

4401
inued)

6904

Table CI.

(Continued)

Island

Colony s

ite

Lat.

Long.

number

number

Island name

N

W

Quadrangle

63-411

268

094

Crescent I

4401

6902

Rockland

63-415

268

095

Tommy I

4401

6907

Rockland

63-420

268

097

Garden I

4401

6907

Rockland

63-421

268

096

Oak I

4401

6905

Rockland

63-427

268

098

Dix I

4400

6904

Rockland

63-432

268

100

Andrews I

4400

6903

Rockland

63-439

268

089

Clam Lds

4400

6905

Rockland

63-465

268

101

Sugar Loaves

4407

6855

SW/4 Vinalhaven

15

63-474

268

102

Dogfish I Ld

4405

6855

SW/4 Vinalhaven

15

63-485

268

103

Green I

4404

6855

SW/4 Vinalhaven

15

63-493

268

103

Green Ld

4404

6855

SW/4 Vinalhaven

15

63-496

268

105

Hedric Rk

4404

6856

SW/4 Vinalhaven

15

63-516

268

108

Little Hurricane I Ld 4402

6853

SW/4 Vinalhaven

15

63-518

268

107

Little Hurricane I

4402

6854

SW/4 Vinalhaven

15

63-526

268

106

Hurricane I Ld

4402

6853

SW/4 Vinalhaven

15

63-578

297

038

Gunning Rks

4354

6915

Tenants Harbor

63-579

297

035

The Brothers

4355

6914

Tenants Harbor

63-580

297

036

The Brothers

4355

6914

Tenants Harbor

63-581

297

037

The Brothers

4355

6914

Tenants Harbor

63-582

297

039

Hay Ld

4355

6914

Tenants Harbor

63-584

297

040

Metinic I

4353

6907

Tenants Harbor

63-585

297

044

fletinic Green I

4352

6908

Tenants Harbor

63-586

297

041

The Nubble

4352

6907

Tenants Harbor

63-588

297

043

Hog I

4352

6907

Tenants Harbor

63-589

297

042

Little Hog I

4352

6907

Tenants Harbor

63-626

297

046

Hurricane I

4401

6906

Hewetts Island

63-628

297

045

Hewett I

4359

6904

Hewetts Island

63-634

297

048

Graffam I

4359

6905

Hewetts Island

63-637

297

047

Seal I

4359

6907

Hewetts Island

63-640

297

049

Yellow Ridge I

4359

6907

Hewetts Island

63-651

297

050

Crow I

4358

6905

Hewetts Island

63-653

297

051

Two Bush I

4358

6905

Hewetts Island

63-654

297

052

Little Green I

4355

6902

Hewetts Island

63-655

297

053

Large Green I

4354

6901

Hewetts Island

63-700

297

005

Black I

4356

6922

Louds Island

63-701

297

007

Harbor I

4354

6923

Louds Island

63-704

297

008

Little Hall I

4354

6922

Louds Island

63-705

297

009

Crane I

4354

6923

Louds Island

63-707

297

012

Franklin I

4353

6922

Louds Island

63-708

297

013

Little Franklin Ld

4353

6922

Louds Island

63-724

297

018

Gull Rock

4357

6922

Friendship

63-725

297

015

Nubbins I

4358

6921

Friendship

63-730

297

016

Sand I

4358

6921

Friendship

63-731

297

017

Ram I

4358

6921

Friendship

63-765

297

020

Cranberry I

4356

6922

Friendship

63-770

297

019

Little I

4356

6921

Friendship

(Continued)
80

Table CI.

(Contin

ued)

Island

Col(

Dny site

Lat.

Long.

number

number

Island name

N

W

Quadrangle

63-774

297

029

Long Ld

4353

6922

Friendship

63-795

297

021

Eagle I

4356

6918

Friendship

63-798

297

022

Stone I

4356

6918

Friendship

63-802

297

023

Bar I

4355

6917

Friendship

63-804

297

024

Twobush I

4355

6919

Friendship

63-805

297

025

McGee I

4355

6918

Friendship

63-807

297

026

Barter I

4354

6918

Friendship

63-820

297

030

Shag Lds (East)

4353

6918

Friendship

63-821

297

031

Shag Lds (West)

4353

6918

Friendship

63-833

297

028

Hart I

4354

6916

Friendship

63-836

297

027

Gunning Rks

4355

6915

Friendship

63-838

297

032

Old Hump Lds

4352

6921

Friendship

63-839

297

033

Old Hump Lds

4352

6921

Friendship

63-840

297

034

Allen I

4352

6919

Friendship

63-860

297

092

Eastern Egg Rock

4352

6923

New Harbor

63-873

297

094

Little Egg Rock

4351

6920

Monhegan

63-875

297

095

Shark I

4351

6921

Monhegan

63-880

297

093

Burnt I

4352

6917

Monhegan

63-900

297

055

No Mans Land I

4353

6852

Matinicus

63-901

297

056

Two Bush I

4353

6853

Matinicus

63-917

297

057

Wooden Ball I

4351

6849

Matinicus

63-910

297

058

Ten Pound I

4351

6853

Matinicus

63-923

297

054

Seal I

4353

6844

Matinicus

63-924

297

059

Pudding I

4350

6853

Matinicus

63-925

297

060

Shag Ld

4351

6853

Matinicus

63-929

297

062

Green Ld

4350

6853

Matinicus

63-930

297

061

Ragged I

4349

6853

Matinicus

63-931

297

063

Seal Ld

4349

6853

Matinicus

63-934

297

064

Brig Ld

4349

6853

Matinicus

63-940

297

065

Matinicus Rock

4347

6851

Matinicus

65-179

297

001

Jims I

4357

6924

Louds Island

65-186

297

002

Thief I

4356

6925

Louds Island

65-188

297

003

Jones Garden I

4356

6923

Louds Island

65-189

297

004

Kil lick Stone

4356

6925

Louds Island

65-194

297

006

Wreck I

4354

6924

Louds Island

65-198

297

010

Ross I

4354

6926

Louds Island

65-200

297

Oil

Haddock I

4352

6926

Louds Island

65-201

297

014

Western Egg Rk

4353

6925

Louds Island

65-258

297

081

Thread of Life Rk

4350

6933

Pemaquid Point

65-266

297

082

Thrumcap I

4349

6933

Pemaquid Point

65-267

297

083

Thrumcap I

4349

6933

Pemaquid Point

65-272

297

085

The Hypocrites

4348

6935

Pemaquid Point

65-274

297

084

Fisherman I

4348

6936

Pemaquid Point

65-276

297

086

White I

4347

6934

Pemaquid Point

65-278

297

087

White I

(Cont
81

4347
inued)

6934

Pemaquid Point

Table CI.

(Cont in

ued)

Island

Col(

Dny site

Lat.

Long.

number

number

Island name

N

W

Quadrangle

65-279

297

088

Outer Heron I

4346

6935

Pemaquid Point

65-280

297

089

Damariscove I

4346

6937

Pemaquid Point

65-287

297

090

Pumpkin I

4345

6935

Pemaquid Point

65-301

297

091

New Harbor Dry Ld

4352

6929

Nev; Harbor

65-310

297

097

Duck Rocks

4347

6919

Monhegan

65-313

297

096

Eastern Duck Rock

4347

6919

Mo nh eg an

65-314

297

099

Smuttynose I

4346

6919

Monhegan

65-316

297

098

Inner Duck Rk

4346

6919

Monhegan

65-445

297

078

Cedarbush I

4349

6941

Boothbay Harbor

65-453

297

079

Cat Ld

4348

6941

Boothbay Harbor

65-466

297

080

The Cuckolds I

4347

6939

Boothbay Harbor

73-XXX

297

108

Sprague River Beach

4344

6949

Small Point

73-213

297

075

N Sugarloaf I

4345

6947

Phippsburg

73-215

297

076

Salter I

4345

6945

Phippsburg

73-234

297

077

Middle Mark I

4344

6942

Boothbay Harbor

73-280

297

107

South Sugarloaf I

4345

6946

Small Point

73-282

297

109

Pond I

4344

6946

Small Point

73-283

297

110

Wood I

4344

6947

Small Point

73-301

297

112

Gooseberry I

4343

6951

Small Point

73-315

297

111

Heron I

4343

6948

Small Point

73-319

297

113

Ellingwood Rock

4343

6946

Small Point

73-320

297

114

Seguin I

4342

6945

Small Point

77-012

268

002

Islesboro I

4419

6854

NW/4 Castine 15

77-047

268

006

Flat I

4419

6856

SW/4 Castine 15

77-054

268

007

Sev. Hund. Acre I

4415

6858

SW/4 Castine 15

79-126

269

002

Goose I

4455

6702

Eastport

79-132

269

001

Spectacle I

4455

6702

Eastport

79-137

269

003

Red I

4455

6705

Eastport

79-313

269

004

Old Man

4437

6714

Cutler

79-351

269

017

Inner Double Hd Sh

4436

6716

Cross Island

79-352

269

018

Outer Double Hd Sh

4436

6716

Cross Island

79-356

269

019

Stone I

4436

6722

Cross Island

79-359

269

020

Libby I

4435

6721

Cross Island

79-488

269

007

Ballast I

4434

6733

Jonesport

79-551

269

008

Foster I

4435

6724

Roque Bluffs

79-552

269

010

Ram I

4434

6724

Roque Bluffs

79-554

269

Oil

Scabby I

4434

6724

Roque Bluffs

79-556

269

009

Shag Ld

4435

6725

Roque Bluffs

79-570

269

012

Halifax I

4434

6727

Roque Bluffs

79-572

269

013

Green I

4434

6727

Roque Bluffs

79-573

269

014

The Brothers I

4433

6726

Roque Bluffs

79-576

269

016

Pulpit Rk

4433

6728

Roque Bluffs

79-586

269

015

W Brothers I

4433

6726

Roque Bluffs

79-602

269

032

Outer Ram I

(Cont
82

4429
inued)

6738

Drisko Island

Table CI.

(Concli

jded)

Island

Colony si

te

Lat.

Long.

number

number

Island name

N

W

Quadrangle

79-605

269

042

Egg Rock

4426

6738

Drisko Island

79-608

269

031

Stevens I

4429

6740

Drisko Island

79-613

269

036

Batson Lds

4428

6740

Drisko Island

79-614

269

037

Inner Sand I

4428

6740

Drisko Island

79-618

269

041

Stanley Ld

4427

6740

Drisko Island

79-621

269

040

Flat I

4427

6742

Drisko Island

79-626

269

038

Big Nash I

4428

6744

Drisko Island

79-627

269

039

Nash I

4428

6745

Drisko Island

79-632

269

034

The Ladle

4429

6744

Drisko Island

79-637

269

030

Stevens I Ld

4430

6740

Drisko Island

79-638

269

033

Little Drisko I

4429

6740

Drisko Island

79-639

269

035

Toms I

4429

6741

Drisko Island

79-676

269

046

Freeman Rk

4428

6743

Great Wass Island

79-693

269

043

Browney I

4428

6737

Great Wass Island

79-697

269

045

Curlew Rk

4426

6736

Great Wass Island

79-699

269

044

Green Rk

4426

6736

Great Wass Island

79-740

269

005

Upper Birch I

4432

6746

Harrington

79-748

269

006

Nightcap I

4431

6745

Harrington

79-843

269

021

Eastern I

4424

6756

Petit Manan

79-902

269

023

Pot Rk

4429

6745

Bo is Bubert

79-906

269

024

Shipstern I

4428

6748

Bois Bubert

79-918

269

025

Middle Douglas I

4427

6751

Bois Bubert

79-922

269

026

Jordans Del ight

4427

6749

Bois Bubert

79-929

269

028

Green I

4422

6752

Bois Bubert

79-933

269

029

Petit Manan I

4422

6752

Bois Bubert

79-935

269

027

Egg Rock

4424

6752

Bois Bubert

81-001

296

038

Bluff I

4331

7019

Prouts Neck

81-002

296

037

Stratton I

4331

7019

Prouts Neck

81-010

296

041

Eagle I

4329

7022

Biddeford Pool

81-011

296

036

Ram I

4333

7016

Prout's Neck

81-015

296

043

Wood I

4328

7020

Biddeford Pool

81-016

296

044

Stage I

4328

7021

Biddeford Pool

81-018

296

047

Beach I

4326

7027

Biddeford Pool

81-025

296

046

Gooseberry I

4327

7020

Biddeford Pool

81-161

296

042

Ram I

4321

7026

Biddeford Pool

81-XXX

296

040

Goose Rocks Beach
(Mainland)

4323

7025

Biddeford

81-041

296

039

West Goose Rocks

4323

7025

Biddeford

81-094

296

045

Negro I

4327

7021

Biddeford Pool

81-098

296

049

Green I

4321

7026

Kennebunkport

81-101

296

048

Folly I

4321

7026

Kennebunkport

81-102

296

050

Bumpkin I

4321

7027

Kennebunkport

81-161

296

042

Ram I

4321

7026

Biddeford Pool

81-163

296

051

Clarks I

4305

7043

Kittery

81-181

296

052

Duck I

4300

7036

Isles of Shoals

81-182

324

002

Smuttynose I

4259

7036

Isles of Shoals

81-191

324

001

Appledore I

4259

7037

Isles of Shoals

81-194

324

003

Cedar I

4259

7036

Isles of Shoals

83

50272-101

REPORT DOCUMENTATION i "epo"^ no. 2.
PAGE , FWS/OBS-79/09 1

3. Recipient's Accession No

4. Title and Subtitle

Coastal Waterbird Colonies: Maine

5. Report Date

September 1979

6.

7. Author(s)

Carl Korschgen

8. Performing Organization Rept. No.

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

Maine Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit
University of Maine
Orono, ME

10. Project/Task/Work Unit No.

11. Contract(C) or Grant(G) No.

(C) 14-16-0008-1189

(G)

12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Address

Office of Biological Services
Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Washington, D.C. 20240

13. Type of Report & Period Covered

14.

15. Supplementary Notes

16. Abstract (Limit: 200 words)

Waterbird colonies along the coast of Maine were inventoried during the
nesting seasons of 1976 and 1977. A total of 353 colony sites was found; they
contained 100,813 pairs of birds. Nineteen species nested in the study area.
A count of nests on adult birds made during on-site inspections was the best
inventory technique. Species abundance and nesting locations are listed.

Population trends since 1900 are based on published and unpublished
reports. Populations of most seabird species have increased whereas wading
birds have probably decreased.

17. Document Analysis a. Descriptors

Birds, wildlife

b. Identifiers/Open-Ended Terms

Waterbirds, gulls, terns, alcids, eiders, cormorants, storm-petrels, herons,
egrets, Maine

c. COSATI Field/Group 0603

18. Availability Statement

Unl imited

19. Security Class (This Report)

21. No. of Pages

83

20. Security Class (This Page)

22. Price

(See ANSI-Z39.18)

See lns(ruc(ions on Reverse

OPTIONAL FORM 272 (4-77)
(Formerly NTIS-35)
Department of Commerce

CO«ST«L MBTERBIRD COLONIES HBINE
MESTING RECORDS SINCE 1988

^7\

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has respon-
sibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural resources. This Includes
fostering the wisest use of our land and water resources, protecting our fish and wildlife,
preserving th&environmenta! and cultural values of our national parks and historical places,
and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation. The Department as-
sesses our energy and mineral resources and works to assure that their development is in
the best interests of all our people. The Department also has a major responsibility for
American Indian reservation communities and for people who live in island territories under
U.S. administration.