ISLES OF SHOALS (MAINE-NEW HAMPSHIRE) 



SeabJrds 



Great black-backed gulls maintained very low breeding numbers from 1930 

 to the mid-1940's, but have increased rapidly since 1950 (Drury 1973) (Table 

 28). Herring gull numbers increased rapidly in the 1920's and 1930's, fluc- 

 tuated from 1945 to 1972 (Kadlec and Drury 1968a, Drury 1973), and have 

 decreased recently. 



Roseate terns nested fairly commonly about 1930 (Jackson and Allan 1931), 

 but colony abandonment occurred by 1955 (Taber 1955). Common terns were very 

 abundant in the early part of the century, peaking in 1940 (Wright 1937, 

 Palmer 1938, 1949, Drury 1973). They were apparently driven away in the 

 1950's when the gull population erupted (Drury 1973). In 1977, none nested. 



Double-crested cormorants increased from the 1940's to the mid-1960's (A. 

 Gross and W. drury unpubl. notes, Taber 1955) and have stabilized since then 

 at 300 to 400 pairs. Only two or three pairs of black guillemots nest at this 

 southernmost location (Drury 1973 unpubl. notes, A. Borror pers. comm. ). 



Wading Birds 



Since 1975, 25 to 38 pairs of glossy ibises have nested at Appledore 

 Island (Custer and Osborn 1977, A. Borror pers. comm.). 



Black-crowned night herons increased on Appledore from 1934 until 1965 

 (AFN, RNEB) but dwindled to only 10 pairs by 1977. After 30 pairs nested in 

 1971 (new record) at Appledore Island, little blue herons were not seen in 

 either 1975 or 1976, but one pair nested in 1977 (A. Borror pers. comm.). 

 Snowy egret numbers increased from 1961 to 1975 (AFN) but dropped to only 

 50-60 pairs in 1976 and 1977. 



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