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4) Compile published and unpublished records of the historical nesting 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. 



