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Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge

 

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 A Group Effort
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works closely with other government agencies, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and private individuals to accomplish wildlife and habitat management goals at Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
Blind and puffin decoys on Seal Island. Credit: USFWS Refuge sign on Pond Island. Credit: USFWS National Audubon Society and Fish and Wildlife Service staff at Matinicus Rock. Credit: USFWS

Partnerships between the Service and other public and private organizations are key to the success of seabird restoration efforts at the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Since 1984, refuge staff have worked closely with representatives from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, College of the Atlantic, National Audubon Society, Maine Audubon Society, and Canadian Wildlife Service in the Gulf of Maine Seabird Working Group. The Group guides restoration efforts on Maine's offshore islands, including those in the refuge complex.

The Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge is pleased to have as its newest partner the Friends of Maine Seabird Islands. The Friends of Maine Seabird Islands describes its mission as supporting the conservation, restoration and management of seabirds and significant seabird nesting islands in Maine through education, partnership and stewardship. Friends of Maine Seabird Islands is based at Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge's Rockport office. During two short years of growth, the organization has made valuable contributions in support of the refuge's operations and natural resources.

Since the early 1980s, the National Audubon Society has worked with the Service to restore seabirds to Seal Island, located 21 miles southeast of Rockland, Maine. Through its Project Puffin, the Society successfully re-introduced Atlantic puffins to the island by transporting chicks from Newfoundland, Canada, and hand-raising them. Puffins now nest on the island, after a 150-year absence. Seal Island also supports the largest tern colony in the Gulf of Maine, with 2,000 pairs. Audubon is working with the Service to manage and restore seabirds on Matinicus Rock and Pond Island.

The Service works with private organizations at the local, state, and national levels to add land to the refuge. These groups serve a vital function by purchasing and protecting property until it can be acquired by the Service. Through conservation easements, refuge staff help landowners manage their properties for wildlife.

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Contact Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge at MaineCoastal@fws.gov or: P.O. Box 279
Milbridge, ME 04658
207/546-2124