used for bird watching, such as binoculars, cameras, and field guides, 

 contribute to local economies. 



Some species of terrestrial birds accumulate high concentrations of toxic 

 materials, such as heavy metals or persistent pesticides, as they pass through 

 the food chain. For this reason birds can act as indicators of environmental 

 contamination, particularly where large amounts of chemicals are used. The 

 most vulnerable of Maine's birds are ospreys , bald eagles, shrikes, and 

 Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks, because they prey on high-level consumers, 

 including fish and other birds. 



Birds may be pests on certain agricultural crops. Blueberry growers consider 

 birds, especially gulls, robins, and blackbirds, a nuisance because they feed 

 on blueberries (Ismail et al. 1974). The magnitude of this damage has 

 increased in recent years. Growers in mid-coast regions (regions 3 to 5) 

 believe the problem to be more serious than growers in eastern Maine (region 

 6; Ismail et al. 1974). Small fields with good cover nearby are more often 

 affected than larger fields. 



Grouse and many species of finches (primarily pine grosbeaks) feed on buds or 

 flowers of commercially important trees during fall, winter, and spring. This 

 reduces productivity and may cause adventitious buds which disfigure trees. 

 Feeding activity by woodpeckers may damage trees, and woodpeckers serve as 

 vectors for the chestnut blight and dutch elm disease (personal communication 

 from Dr. Richard Campana, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, University 

 of Maine, Orono , ME.; June, 1972). 



MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 



Migratory game birds (common snipe, American woodcock, Virginia and sora 

 rails, crows, and American coots) are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

 Service and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Non- 

 migratory game birds (ruffed grouse and pheasant) are managed by the MDIFW. 

 The State prepared long range management plans for woodcock, ruffed grouse, 

 and pheasant (Corr et al. 1977a, b, and c). Nongame terrestrial birds are 

 protected by State and Federal laws. With the exception of the bald eagle 

 (see case study below) no active management of nongame birds is currently 

 underway in Maine. 



The best recommendation for managing terrestrial birds is the maintainence of 

 adequate amounts of habitats used by birds. Urban, suburban, rural, edge, and 

 successional habitats can be expected to increase in the future in coastal 

 Maine at the expense of forests and palustrine habitats. More emphasis should 

 be directed to preserving mature forests and palustrine habitats, as well as 

 coastal shoreline areas (beaches and salt marshes), and coastal islands and 

 headlands used by nesting eagles and ospreys. Developed habitats can be 

 enhanced for birds by leaving areas of natural and diverse vegetation in parks 

 and along water courses and highway corridors. Hedgerows and fencerows should 

 be encouraged in agricultural areas. Forest management alternatives 

 benefiting birds include leaving cull trees for cavity nesters, cutting in 

 small patches, and maintaining a diversity of successional stages in close 

 proximity to one another. 



16-32 



