Historical Trends 



Although accurate historical records of shorebird numbers are scarce, several 

 accounts indicate they were very abundant from colonial times until the 1870s. 

 About that time market hunters were faced with declining waterfowl populations 

 and turned to shorebirds. At the same time some species (red knot and white- 

 rumped sandpiper) were being hunted on their wintering grounds in Argentina. 

 By the 1890s and early 1900s many species of shorebirds became scarce (Norton, 

 quoted in Palmer 1949 and Cooke 1915). The eskimo curlew, golden plover, 

 whimbrel, and long-billed curlew suffered the greatest losses. The eskimo 

 curlew was particularly susceptible to hunting and remains on the verge of 

 extinction. 



Laws protecting shorebirds were enacted during the late 1800s and early 1900s. 

 In 1900 the Lacey Act outlawed interstate transportation of hunted birds. In 

 1918 most of the small sandpipers and certain of the larger plovers, curlews, 

 and godwits, came under full protection of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. 

 Hunting seasons on plovers and yellowlegs were allowed until 1927. Since 

 that time most species have made remarkable recoveries although they have 

 probably not recovered their pre-1870 population levels. Loss or 

 deterioration of habitat may prevent a full recovery. 



Present Status of Shorebirds 



Breeding summer residents. The piping plover and spotted sandpiper are 

 the two species of shorebirds breeding along the Maine coast that are 

 discussed in this chapter. The willet breeds in the Scarboro Marshes just 

 outside the characterization area southwest of region 1. Four upland species 

 are discussed in chapter 16, "Terrestrial Birds." 



The piping plover nests in loose colonies on the upper portions of sand 

 beaches. There are six known nesting areas in Maine, two of which (Popham 

 Beach and Sprague River Beach in region 2) are in the characterization area 

 (atlas map 4) . In 1976 these two colonies contained four and eight nesting 

 pairs respectively (Dorr 1976b). In addition, piping plovers are reported 

 each year in appropriate breeding habitat in Reid State Park (region 2), but 

 no nests have been reported. 



Piping plovers return to Maine from southern wintering areas in early April. 

 Eggs are usually laid in early May but nesting and renesting occurs throughout 

 the month. The eggs (3 or 4) are incubated for 27 days. Although the young 

 are capable of leaving the nest and feeding themselves almost immediately 

 after hatching, they remain under parental attention for at least 6 weeks. 

 They depart from Maine in mid- to late August. 



Populations of piping plovers have been declining along the east coast over 

 the last few decades and the species has been placed on the National Audubon 

 Society's Blue List for New England (Arbib 1978). Increased recreational use 

 of beaches by bathers, off road vehicles, fishermen, and pets disturb breeding 

 colonies and reduce nesting success. Opening private beaches to the general 

 public will certainly result in additional disturbances to piping plover 

 breeding areas. 



14-29 



10-80 



