Counting nests

Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge recently completed our annual Gulf of Maine Seabird Surveys on six islands managed for nesting common, Arctic, and roseate terns, Atlantic puffins, razorbills, black guillemots, laughing gulls, and common eiders.  Petit Manan Island remains the largest tern colony in Maine with over 2,550 pairs of terns.  The puffin colony on PMI increased by 47% this season, and now supports a record high 81 pairs of puffins.  Pond Island NWR also experienced tremendous growth in their tern population, and surpassed the 2007 season high by 38%.  Refuge staff and our seasonal technicians continue to monitor the productivity rates and the diet composition of the terns and puffins. The six seabird restoration islands managed by the refuge now support over 7,800 pairs of terns representing 95% of the Arctic terns breeding in the lower 48 states, and 90% of the Atlantic puffins breeding in the United States.