Region 1 contains 12 feeding areas and 6 roosting sites. Greatest 

 concentrations of birds and bird species are usually found at Back Cove 

 (Portland) , Presumpscot River flats (Portland) , Fore River (South Portland) , 

 Middle Bay (Brunswick), and Maquoit Bay (Brunswick). Although shorebird 

 concentration areas are poorly documented in region 1, especially west of 

 Mackworth Point, MDIFW is conducting systematic waterbird surveys (including 

 shorebirds) of the Casco Bay region every two weeks from September, 1979, to 

 October, 1980. 



Region 2 has 10 major feeding areas and 5 roosting areas. Major feeding areas 

 include the tidal flats along the Kennebec River, Spirit Pond (Phippsburg) , 

 Popham Beach, Sprague River Beach, Reid State Park, Hermit Island Flats 

 (Phippsburg) , New Meadows River (West Bath) , and Winnagance Creek (South 

 Bath). Roosting areas are generally poorly known for this region. The 

 largest roosting area (5000+ birds) known is on Morse River Beach at Small 

 Point. 



The two piping plover breeding colonies of the characterization area are 

 located in region 2 at Popham Beach and Sprague River Beach. 



Region 3 is characterized by rocky headlands and rock bound islands with 

 relatively few intertidal mudflats and salt marshes. There are 14 feeding 

 areas and 3 roosting areas. The mudflats along the St. George River in 

 Thomaston, the intertidal flats at Spruce Head (St. George) and the intertidal 

 flats and saltmarshes along the Weskeag River (South Thomaston), are the major 

 shorebird areas. Up to 12,000 semipalmated sandpipers and 1000 semipalmated 

 plovers have been observed along the St. George River. The region is also 

 important for ruddy turnstones and purple sandpipers. 



Region 4 is a large region with 13 important feeding areas and 3 major 

 roosting areas. Shorebird areas in this region are poorly documented. The 

 most important areas (based on historic accounts) are Rockland Harbor, 

 Brookline, and the Bagaduce River estuary. Because of its large number of 

 islands this region supports large flocks of wintering purple sandpipers, 

 migrating ruddy turnstones and least sandpipers, and breeding spotted 

 sandpipers. The Penobscot River valley is an important inland migration 

 corridor for spotted sandpipers and killdeer. In addition, many least 

 sandpipers migrate along the shores of the Penobscot. 



Region 5 has 33 major feeding areas and 14 important roosting sites (areas of 

 more than 1000 birds). The number of roosting areas is probably 

 underestimated. The coastal zone east of Mt. Desert Island (Trenton Bay to 

 Perry; region 6) is probably the most important fall migratory stopover area 

 in eastern U.S. for semipalmated sandpipers, semipalmated plovers, white- 

 rumped sandpipers, and whimbrels. It is also very important for short-billed 

 dowitchers, black-bellied plovers, and ruddy turnstones. 



The largest known semipalmated sandpiper and semipalmated plover roost in the 

 eastern U.S. is located in Wards Cove (east Carrying Place Cove on Ripley 

 Neck), Harrington (region 5). More than 40,000 semipalmatd sandpipers and 

 2400 semipalmated plovers have been reported from this location. The 

 extensive flats along the Pleasant and Harrington Rivers, Mill Creek, Flat 

 Bay, Back Bay, and Narraguagus Bay (Harrington-Milbridge area) are also 

 important feeding areas for the above species , as well as for short-billed 



14-34 



