The Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge is not well known, even in Maine.  The refuge’s many islands are “out of sight” (literally); a few are as far as 26 miles off shore.  Due to the sensitivity of the colonial nesting seabirds that nest on the islands, the islands are closed to the public during the nesting season, and even for people with their own boats, sea and weather conditions can be daunting during the remainder of the year. 

In an effort to increase awareness about the refuge and its role in wildlife conservation, refuge staff contacted Down East (The Magazine of Maine) and asked if they would write an article about the refuge. In addition, the refuge was looking for an opportunity to celebrate its newly acquired 50th island.  The resulting article is featured on the cover of the magazine's April 2009 edition.  The cover has a beautiful picture and the words, “Maine’s wild islands; 50 secret sanctuaries revealed.”  The article, entitled “Nature’s Refuge” is eight pages long, and covers the refuge’s history and seabird restoration projects, names and maps the islands, and discusses staffing, NWRS budget, and partners in land acquisition.  Visitation opportunities via tour boats and mainland unit trails are featured in a side bar.  Contact information for the refuge and the Friends of Maine Coastal Islands is also included; several new volunteers have contacted refiuge staff and the Friends have already received a donation from someone who read the article.  The magazine has a circulation of 105,000.

You can read the article at http://www.downeast.com/Down-East-Magazine/April-2009/Natures-Refuge/