410 Bird -Lore 



should be a guarantee of enough water flowing into the lake to supply the 

 reservation. This boundary would insure the inclusion of all the large bird 

 colonies at present on the reservation. 



During June, 1922, surveyors and representatives, both of the state and 

 Federal government investigated the matter on the ground and while State 

 Engineer Cupper has not yet offered a proposition in writing, it may be that 

 some compromise can be made which will be accepted by the Government. 



REPORT OF ARTHUR H. NORTON, FIELD AGENT FOR 



MAINE 



While the winter was very mild in this state and favorable to the wintering 

 of wild birds, the early summer was remarkable for its excess of rain. This 

 was fatal to many birds nesting in open places and in lowland water-courses. 

 Terns raised almost no young in Maine this season, and the single colony of 

 Laughing Gulls, which has prospered for the last few years, fared as badly. 

 Herring Gulls were less inconvenienced by the weather conditions and raised 

 a good many young, while Black Ducks, which have been breeding in increasing 

 numbers for the last few years, seemed to have passed through the rains with 

 comparatively little loss of young. Ruffed Grouse, which had recovered from 

 the serious depletion of three to four years ago, nested in considerable numbers, 

 but, hatching just before the heavy rains, seem to have lost many young. 

 Robins, Swallows, and Swifts are known to have suffered much inconvenience 

 through this cause. 



The fall has been very dry, and the condition of the forests and the preva- 

 lence of late forest fires raging in various parts of the state have caused the 

 Governor, for the first time in our history, to issue a proclamation prohibiting 

 the hunting of all woodland game in the state until such time as conditions 

 warrant the safety of the forests. In response to the request of the United 

 States Game Warden, Bertrand G. Smith, I again went as pilot on a trip by 

 water along the coast in early May, from Portland to Roques Island in Eng- 

 lishman's Bay, visiting the islands and ledges where gunning for sea-birds is 

 practiced. On this trip we were able to locate several new, or previously 

 unnoticed, breeding-places for a number of species of birds. 



Several small groups of Eider Ducks were observed at places where they 

 have not been noticed before at this season; half a dozen Black Ducks, un- 

 doubtedly the mates of breeding females, were found to be stopping at Flint 

 Island. A small colony of Great Blue Herons was found breeding near Jonesport 

 and with them several Ospreys, and various other pairs of the latter at other 

 places in this vicinity. Herring Gulls were found at all of their regular breeding- 

 places along the route of our course, and new colonies were noted at Otter 

 Island of the Vinal Haven group. This is an old breeding-place for this species, 

 but they had been expelled from it about twenty years ago. Later in the season 



