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 c anadensis ), 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 



