A.6 DuTCHER, Protection of Gulh a7id Terns. \j'^ 



Great Duck Island was in charge of the owner, Dennis Driscoll, 

 and of Wm. F. Stanley, keeper of the lighthouse located at the south 

 end of the island. This probably is the largest colony of Herring 

 Gulls in the United States. On the adjoining island, Little Duck, 

 there is also a colony of a few hundred Herring Gulls. Both of 

 these islands were thoroughly watched and the wardens report 

 that the increase was absolutely normal. It is estimated that on 

 the two islands, at least 2500 to 3000 young birds matured. 



The birds that breed on this island are the ones that are seen 

 about Bar Harbor and the other summer resorts on Mount Desert 

 Island, and it will be of interest to quote from a letter accompany- 

 ing a contribution from Mrs. Kennedy : "There was a perceptible 

 increase in the numbers of sea gulls seen about Bar Harbor last 

 summer over the year before. Much of the pleasure in sailing 

 about Frenchman's Bay is derived from watching the various sea 

 birds flying about, and if these can be protected and increased in 

 numbers, I consider it a privilege to help on the good work." 



The colony at No-mans-land is in charge of the owner of the 

 island, Mark Young of Matinicus Island ; this colony is probably 

 but very little smaller than the one on Duck Island. The birds 

 were thoroughly protected, and there fs no doubt that at least 

 2500 young birds were matured at this station. Mr. Young, in his 

 report, gives a very interesting incident ; about the time the young 

 gulls were full grown, flocks of them visited the grass and potato 

 fields and ate immense numbers of grasshoppers and Colorado 

 beetles. If the gulls, besides their work as scavengers, are also 

 insectivorous, there is greater reason than ever why they should be 

 protected. 



James E. Hall, keeper of the light on Matinicus Rock, reports 

 that the Terns {Sterna hirundo et paradiscea) and Sea Pigeons 

 {Cepphus grylle) breeding there were again thoroughly protected, 

 and consequently the increase was normal. He reports as an 

 interesting ornithological fact that two pairs of Puffins {Fraterciila 

 arctica) raised young upon the island during the past season, and 

 also that the colony of Black Guillemots was increased by at least 

 100 birds. 



Mr. Geo. D. Pottle had charge of Shark, Egg and Western 

 Rocks, near Friendship ; he reports that the Terns {^Sterna hirundo 



