The American eider is Maine's only resident sea duck (ducks that usually 

 inhabit nearshore coastal waters). It is abundant as a breeder from Machias 

 Bay southwesterly to Cape Elizabeth (see atlas map 4) . It winters in 

 abundance from Narraguagus Bay, Washington County, to Cape Neddick, York 

 County. Although eiders also are abundant in the winter off Cape Cod, 

 Massachusetts, few have been observed in southern Maine. Small numbers are 

 observed in Machias Bay but none in Cobscook Bay. 



The Canada goose has been a resident of Maine primarily because of propagation 

 and release programs at the FWS Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, and a 

 transplant program by MDIFW. At least 40 broods comprised of 170 goslings 

 were hatched in Maine in 1977 (Spencer and Corr 1977). A few of these birds 

 were planted in the characterization area. Most of the Canada geese 

 apparently remain in Maine during the year. 



Breeding Species 



The wood duck is by far the most abundant and universally distributed breeding 

 duck in Maine, but few inhabit the estuarine or coastal waters (table 15-2). 

 They are most abundant as breeders in the central and southwest regions 

 (regions 1, 2, and 3) and less numerous in the northeast (regions 4, 5, and 

 6). This species heavily utilizes managed beaver impoundment areas and well 

 conceived and managed nest box programs. The wood duck is the most numerous 

 of the three cavity-nesting waterfowl (the others are the goldeneye and hooded 

 merganser). It is one of the most beautiful of waterfowl, a dabbling species 

 (feeds on or near the bottom by tipping), and a highly desirable game and 

 table bird. Although it is an early fall migrant (it is implied in this 

 chapter that fall migrants may fly south as early as July) , and near the 

 northern limits of its range, the statewide hunting kill in 1976 was 10,000 

 ducks (only black duck and green-winged teal exceeded that number) . In early 

 fall, during migration, wood ducks tend to congregate along the coast where 

 most of the wood ducks are taken by hunters. Hunting mortality would be 

 higher if the wood ducks did not migrate south so early in the hunting season. 



The blue-winged and green-winged teal make up a small but regular component of 

 the waterfowl breeding population of coastal Maine. The blue-winged teal is a 

 predominantly freshwater bird that prefers shallow, grass/sedge, emergent, 

 palustrine wetland as breeding habitat. It is a very early fall migrant and 

 is abundant in the coastal areas only in late August and early September. Due 

 to their early migration, they are not a reliable part of the hunter's 

 harvest. For example, the annual estimated Statewide blue-winged teal killed 

 from 1975 to 1977 was 2483, 2814, and 663 respectively. 



The green-winged teal, as a breeder, is less numerous than the blue-wing in 

 coastal Maine. The green-winged teal prefers smaller palustrine wetlands for 

 breeding purposes and is often found in the shrub/scrub class of palustrine 

 habitat. Apparently the migrant contingent of the species is fairly abundant 

 in coastal waters from late August until mid-November. Although they seem to 

 prefer inland freshwater habitats, they occasionally inhabit estuarine areas. 

 The green-winged teal traditionally is the second most important duck for 

 hunting in Maine. Although it probably is the smallest of game ducks, it is 

 highly sought in Maine and is an excellent table bird. Hunters killed 8000 to 

 12,000 green-winged teal annually from 1975 to 1977, contributing 11% to 14% 

 of the state total. 



15-9 



10-80 



