Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-07-23
citation. formerly the Maine Anti
tuberculosis Association.
WITH THE BIRDS
ON THE MAINE COAST
The Tern, Gulls, Her.
ons and Elder Ducks

Of Common ana hare 0iroe-oeeu'o
Many Photographs and Much
Valuable pata-Somethins Must
Be Done To Keep Certain Species
In Their Maine Summer Homes
Deputy Warden n. L. Spinney OF
Bath, of the Inland Fisheries and
Game Department, in company with
Prof. Arthur H. Norton Of the Port
land Society of National History,
have recently made a trip of explor-
alton and investigation along a GER
tain part of the Maine coast. to as
certain the present condition Of the
terms, gulls, herons and elder ducks.
The trip, they report, was full of in
terest and much valuable data was
gathered. Warden Spinney has just
made his report of the trip to the
department, from which we are per-
mitted to take the following infor-
nation and extracts:
The trip was started by motor boat
June 20 last, with York island, Jer-
icho bay, 30 miles to the eastward OF
Bath, as the objective, from whence
they worked back home. A log was
kept and it gives in detail every days
run, stops, and mentions every point
Of interest passed or visited. Jericho
bay was reached June "a. OF it, Mr..
Spinney says:
Before proceeding allow me to say
that Jericho bay is the last hope OF
the elder duck breeding within the
limits Of the United States and it is
on a few of these small islets of that
bay that less than 20 pairs are breed
ing. A survey of the island Gone of
Cow Yard islands) discovered no
evidence Of birds breeding there. so
we proceeded by the eastern Cow
Pen, to Little Spoon island, some
three miles at sea to the south.
AT that island we landed and there
was the largest colony Of herring
gulls we saw during the trip. We
judged there were 1000 gulls breeding
there. 1t was a beautiful sight
thousands of the adult birds over
head, their beautiful white bodies
gyrating in every direction with the
graceful movements only sea gulls
can execute. All over the island
we're to be seen eggs and young Of
the named species. Some were just
leaving the shell. others of one hour
or days growth. Some fine exposures
were made with the. camera. No
other birds were found breeding at
that island"
Visiting Great Spoon island. the
warden says:
I'VE found the southwest part of
the island. which is the highest in
altitude, occupied by some 1000 or
Common. There as with the herring
gulIs on Little Spoon. were found all
stages Of incubation. Uncompleted
burrows, and also some completed,
gave evidence that a small colony
of Leach's Petrels or Mother Carey's
Chickens, were trying to get foot
hold with the rest. A ravens nest
was found, but had been used this
season by crows whose young gave
evidence of the success of the ven
ture.
I'VE next turned our attention to
the elder duck, as this species had
In following the shore line. we no.
ticed a female duck leave the shore
and further observation disclosed
sitting on the water, another female
with five ducks of perhaps a weeks
age, both. females joining and swim
ming out seward with their young.
Further search flushed another duck
from her three eggs, which were all
that were noticed on that island.
Going to White or Wat ledge, which
has had the largest number Of elder
duck nests known-four-but one
was found this year. We were told
that a party from Deer Island on
July 4, 1919 came down and shot up
the old birds, with the present re-
suits.
Il wish it could be impressed on
our State and the Federal govern
ment, if it is wished to keep the
elder duck as a breeder in the Unit
ed States. how important it is that
the few birds now breeding there
should have the best of warden serv-
ice during June, July and August"
They visited Southern Mark island,
where 100 or more herring gulls were
breeding, conditions as before men
SAOhSus hdS SOAiPAGtCo tIIC survey
of Jericho bay and they proceeded
to East Penobscot bay, passing
around Bradbury's island, where a
colony of Great Blue herons once
existed, but none were seen.
The first landing on Friday, June
%, was on one Of the Hog islands
where the young in an Osprey's nest
were photographed. This species
are In numbers in that vicinity, |
building their nests on small eleva-
tons Of rocks on the shore lines Of |
the small islands. This is in con- |
trast with its nesting habits of Sag
adahoc and more western counties,
where 1t usually selects tall dead |
stubs for its nests. Little Sheep and |
Bald islands showed a number of
nesting sites. Dagger island had a
colony of some 500 or more herring
gulls.
A large number of photographs
were secured
They went across West Penobscot
bay. down Mussel Ridge channel.
past Fisherman's island, where about
100 herring gulls were found Marble
island had about IS or more commo-
rants, but no signs Of breeding.
On Saturday, June rs thew pro-
ceeded to Muscongus bay and first
visited Old Lump ledge. No sulls
were ever known to breed there, but
We found a new colony, about 100
adult birds. with young and eggs.
Eastern Egg rock had about 200 herr
ing gulls, with young and eggs. Three