the only common puffin colony in Maine owned by the Federal Government and has 

 one of the only two razorbill colonies in the coastal zone, as well as large 

 numbers of arctic terns, laughing gulls, guillemots, and some Leach's storm 

 petrels . 



The largest numbers of cormorants, eiders, herring gulls, and black guillemots 

 nest in region 4 (35%, 41%, 36%, and 43% of total State populations 

 respectively). The 5 most important colonies are on Matinicus Rock, Wooden 

 Ball Island, Thrumcap Island, Seal Island, and No Mans Land Island. 



Region 5 has 19 major seabird breeding islands. This region is most important 

 for Leach's storm petrels, great black-backed gulls, laughing gulls, common 

 terns, and arctic terns. The 5 most important breeding islands include Petit 

 Manan Island, Great Duck Island, Little Duck Island, Schoodic Island, and Ship 

 Island. Great Duck Island has the largest petrel colony south of 

 Newfoundland, and Petit Manan Island and Machias Seal Island (in region 6) are 

 the most important areas south of Newfoundland for breeding arctic terns. 



Region 6 has 17 major seabird islands. The 5 most important islands are Old 

 Man Island (east), Libby Island, Browney Island, The Brothers, and Ballast 

 Island. Old Man Island has one of the only two U.S. razorbill colonies in the 

 coastal zone. The region is very important for arctic terns, common puffins, 

 and razorbills (Machias Seal Island) and contains Maine's largest eider colony 

 (Libby Island) . 



Most of the important colonies are located west of Cutler (few islands are 

 located along the coast east of Cutler). To the east, Cobscook Bay supports 

 small numbers of eiders, cormorants, herring gulls, and great black-backed 

 gulls. Two important seabird nesting islands in Cobscook Bay are Goose Island 

 and Spectacle Island. 



Nonbreeding summer residents . Nonbreeding summer resident birds breed in 

 the southern hemisphere during our winters and spend their winter in the North 

 Atlantic. The most common species are the sooty, manx, and greater 

 shearwaters, Wilson's storm petrel, and some southern skuas (table 14-5). The 

 northern fulmar has been observed more frequently in recent years. These 

 species are generally found in offshore and pelagic waters but wander inshore 

 during periods of extended fog or east-southeast winds. They are more common 

 in regions 5 and 6 and their abundance increases with distance from land. 

 Their seasonal occurrence in the Gulf of Maine (based primarily on Bluenose 

 Ferry sightings) was recently reviewed by Finch et al. (1978). 



Winter residents . Seventeen species of seabirds are found along the Maine 

 coast in winter (table 14-5). Eleven species are found primarily in inshore 

 and estuarine waters and six species inhabit offshore and pelagic waters. 



The herring gull, common eider, and great black-backed gulls are the most 

 abundant winter residents. They are found in inshore and estuarine waters 

 throughout the coastal area. Horned grebes and great cormorants are somewhat 

 less abundant than the above species. Horned grebes are found throughout the 

 coastal zone, usually as single birds or in small groups of less than 10. 

 Occasionally they will be found in flocks as large as 300 during the fall and 

 spring migration. 



14-15 



10-80 



