Table 5-9. Invertebrates Common to Gravel and Cobble Beaches in 

 Maine Estuaries and Relative Scares of Abundance^. 



Larsen and Doggett 1978. 



habitats sampled by Larsen and Doggett (1978a), gravel and cobble beaches 

 ranked seventh and fifth respectively. 



Gulls, terns, shorebirds, and waterfowl are the dominant waterbirds utilizing 

 beaches. Most waterbirds utilizing sand and gravel beaches and bars and spits 

 use them more for resting than for feeding. Sand beaches are the most 

 important roosting areas for shorebirds. Concentrations of more than 40,000 

 semipalmated sandpipers on a sand beach in Harrington (region 5) have been 

 reported while more than 10,000 have been observed at beaches in Cutler 

 (region 6) and Lubec (region 6; see atlas map 4 for specific locations). 

 Roosts of more than 5000 have been observed on beaches in Perry (region 6), 

 Eastport (region 6), Lubec (region 6), and Phippsburg (region 2). 



More than 2400 semipalmated plovers also have been reported resting on a 

 Harrington beach (region 5). Gulls and terns roost in large numbers on sand 

 and gravel beaches. Up to 5000 gulls have been reported to roost on a gravel 

 bar in south Lubec (region 6), while concentrations of 2000 gulls are not 

 uncommon throughout coastal Maine. 



The least tern and piping plover breed and feed along sand beaches in region 2 

 (Popham Beach and Morse River Beach) . Sanderlings feed extensively on sand 

 beaches and flats throughout coastal Maine. Semipalmated plovers, black- 

 bellied plovers, red knots, and semipalmated sandpipers feed on sand and 

 gravel flats. Many large gulls feed extensively on sand and gravel flats. 



5-97 



10-80 



