IC.A. XyvTCVi^Vi.^ Report of Committee 071 Bird Protection. Ij^n 



"The mortality of Terns at this rock, as at all other places in 

 Maine, has this year been very slight. Capt. Hall and his assis- 

 tants have observed that during a brief period of mortality, earlier 

 this year, the old birds were bringing very little food ashore. 



" Capt. Hall has the esteem of his assistants, and they all take 

 a personal interest in the birds, and it is evident that the latter 

 receive absolute protection. They are almost without fear of man, 

 and I had an excellent opportunity to observe them at short range ; 

 large flocks could be gathered at th-e boat slip by use of fish livers 

 or anything that would float. As they alighted upon the rocks or 

 hovered close at hand, the field glasses made their identification as 

 Arctic Terns positive. It was only the day before I left the Rock 

 that a small number of Common Terns were found. These were 

 back of the beach on the inside of the northeast point. Many of 

 the young terns were on the wing, some being with their parents 

 as far away as Matinicus. 



" Nearly all of the Sea Pigeons had young and were busy bring- 

 ing food ashore. This seemed to consist entirely of rock eels 

 ( Gunnelhis gunnelhts) . 



" Four Puffins are here this year, an increase of one pair since 

 last year. These were so tame that I crept, mostly in open sight, 

 within thirty feet of them, focused my camera, and secured a pho- 

 tograph of the whole group. I did not see them carry fish ashore 

 and doubt if they had young at that time. Mr. Talmon, one of the 

 light-keepers, is sure that he had seen them carry food this year. 

 There being no mistake about this, it is my opinion that the young 

 died of some natural cause. Their nest, if they had one, had not 

 been discovered. It is much to be hoped that these birds shall 

 receive especial care, and none be taken for any purpose whatever 

 until a safe increase has occurred. 



"It is interesting to note that six Laughing Gulls paid a tempo- 

 rary visit of a couple of days to the Rock this spring. 



"On July 28, Mr. Martin Talmon of Matinicus Rock Light took 

 Capt. Mark Young and myself to No-Mans-Land. We were under 

 obligations to Capt. Hall for his naphtha boat on this occasion. 

 Capt. Young took much pains to show us about the island, and his 

 o-uUs. These latter were in their usual excellent condition, showing 

 the unmistakable evidences of unmolested birds. The young were 



