MAINE (CAPE ELIZABETH TO KITTERY, EXCLUDING THE ISLES OF SHOALS) 



Seabirds 



Black guillemots have apparently never been abundant (Gross unpubl . 

 notes) but their cryptic nesting habits make them very difficult to census 

 (Table 27). Only 14 pairs were seen by Drury (1973) in the early 1970's. No 

 nesting was confirmed in southern Maine in 1976-77, except at the Isles of 

 Shoals. 



In Saco Bay, populations of the great black-backed gull have expanded 

 very rapidly since the 1940's (Drury 1973) and they continue to increase. 

 Somewhat earlier, in the 1920' s, the herring gull showed a similar explosion 

 (Allan 1931, Jackson and Allan 1932, Wright 1937, A. 0. Gross unpubl. notes). 

 Kadlec and Drury (1968a) estimated that the population was doubling e^/ery 

 12-15 years. It apparently continues to increase although the rate may have 

 declined. The laughing gull, at the northern edge of its range, nests only at 

 a few widely-separated colonies in Maine and Massachusetts. The former 

 Stratton Island colony has dwindled and no nesting occurred in 1976 or 1977. 

 A few small colonies are still active north of Portland (Korschgen 1979). 



Arctic terns were wery abundant in southern Maine in the early part of 

 the century (Norton 1907, 1914), but have declined substantially in recent 

 years (Drury 1973). No colonies were found south of Cape Elizabeth in either 

 1976 or 1977. Common tern populations increased from the beginning of the 

 century (Brownson 1906, 1907) and peaked about 1940 (Palmer 1949, Drury 1973). 

 Recently, the population has been reduced to two breeding locations (Beach 

 Island and West Goose Rocks). Because of the problems in censusing them, 

 least terns have never been reported in significant numbers until concerted 

 efforts were made by Mrs. E. J. Risk in 1973 and 1974. They have never been 

 abundant in Maine and only 20-50 pairs have nested at one or two colonies from 

 1969 to 1977 (AFN, RNEB, P. Grace pers. comm. ). Roseate terns, nesting asso- 

 ciates of common terns, seemed to disappear, with only one record of a large 

 colony in 1931 (Palmer 1949). However, a 1977 report of about 25 pairs at 

 Beach Island (P. Cannell pers. comm.) provides some encouragement for their 

 reestabl ishment. 



Double-crested cormorants have been controlled in the past because of 

 their alleged predation on stocked salmon smolts. They were most abundant in 

 southern Maine in the late 1940's and early 1950's (A. Gross unpubl. notes), 

 declined in the 1960's (Drury 1973), but now have increased and breed at four 

 locations. 



Common eiders were reported by Drury as nesting in southern Maine but 

 most of his records were based on counts of breeding-plumaged adults on the 

 water near islands, not on nest counts. Bluff Island in Saco Bay is the only 

 confirmed nesting location (Jones 1906, Drury 1973). No nesting was reported 

 in 1976 or 1977 (R. Bollengier pers. comm.). 



Wading Birds 



Glossy ibises first nested in southern Maine at Stratton Island in 1972 

 (AFN/AB). In 1977, 45 pairs were recorded at Stratton and Wood islands, the 

 only nesting sites north of the Isles of Shoals. An estimate of 247 pairs at 

 Wood Island in 1975 (Custer and Osborn 1976, 1977) seems unlikely. 



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