PETIT MANAN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Milbridge, Maine
(Satellite stations) Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge Franklin Island National Wildlife Refuge
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ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 1985 W •
U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM HH REVIEW AND APPROVALS
PETIT MANAN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Milbridge, Maine
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 1985
Submitted by: ^ /'C 2/28/86 Assistant Refuge Manager Date
ervisor Review Date INTRODUCTION
Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge is a 3,135-acre refuge complex confsisting of 1,991 acres on Petit Manan Peninsula, acquired in 1976 for $516,204, through the Nature Conservancy; 1,130 acres on Bois Hubert Island, donated in 1980 through the Nature Conservancy; nine acres on Petit Manan Island and five acres on Nash Island, both acquired from the Coast Guard in 1974 and 1983, respectively. The refuge is located in the towns of Stueben, Milbridge, and Addison in Washington County, Maine.
Petit Manan Peninsula has a rugged, windblown character. Its habi tats consist of red spruce forests with some mixed hardwoods, coastal raised heath peatlands, fresh and saltwater marshes, blueberry barrens, jack pine stands, old hayfields, rocky shores and cobble beaches. It is noted for its use by waterfowl, especially black ducks, shorebirds, and raptors—especially bald eagles. ^
At the turn of the century most of the peninsula was owned by the Maine Coast Club, a group of wealthy spo'rtsment from Philadelphia and Boston. Tennis courts, a golf course, a saltwater swimming impoundment, a deer enclosure, a wharf, and even a casino were all built by the club. Maps and plans were made dividing the peninsula into lots for development. Shortly thereafter the Maine Coast Club failed and the peninsula slowly grew up to brush and trees with only a few traces of its development remaining. More recently the land has been used for sheep farming, blueberry production, silver mining, and timber harvesting.
Bois Bubert Island is much like Petit Manan Peninsula in character and wildlife. The island runs parallel to Petit Manan Point, about one mile east. Approximately 90 percent of the island is under Fish and Wildlife Service ownership. Inholdings are being acquired as they come on the market.
Petit Manan Island, named by Champlain in 1605, is a 9-acre treeless island, two and one-half miles south of Petit Manan Point. Historic ally, it has been one of the most important colonial seabird nesting islands in the Gulf of Maine. It is the site of an historic light station which was automated in 1972. It is on the state Critical Areas Register.
Nash Island is approximately nine miles northeast of Petit Manan. A light station was maintained on the island by the Coast Guard for many years, but it has since been automated then abandoned, and finally given to the Fish and Wildlife Service. Half of the island is privately owned and used for sheep pasturage. INTRODUCTION Page
TABLE OF CONTENTS i
A. HIGHLIGHTS 1
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 1
C- LAND ACQUISITION
1. Fee Title Nothing to Report 2. Easements 1 3. Other.. Nothing to Report
D. PLANNING
1. Master Plan Nothing to Report 2. Management Plan * 1 3. Public Participation Nothing to Report 4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource NTR 5. Research and Investigations 1 6. Other Nothing to Report
E. ADMINISTRATION
1. Personnel 2 2. Youth Programs 3 3. Other Manpower Programs Nothing to Report 4. Volunteer Programs 3 3. Funding 3 6. Safety 3 7. Technical Assistance 3 8. Other...... Nothing to Report
F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
1. General ..Nothing to Report 2. Wetlands 4 3. Forests 4 4. Croplands , Nothing to Report 5. Grasslands 5 6. Other Habitats 5 7. Grazing .. 6 8. Haying Nothing to Report 9. Fire Management 6 10. Pest Control Nothing to Report 11, Water Rights Nothing to Report HABITAT MANAGEMENT (Cont.) Page 12. Wilderness and Special Areas Nothing to Report 13. WPA Easement Monitoring Nothing to Report
G. WILDLIFE
1. Wildlife Diversity 6 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species 6 3. Waterfowl 7 4. Marsh and Water Birds Nothing to Report 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species... 8 6. Raptors .Nothing to Report 7. Other Migratory Birds Nothing to Report 8. Game Mammals 10 9. Marine Mammals 10 10. Other Resident Wildlife Nothing to Report 11. Fisheries Resources 10 12. Wildlife Propagation and Stocking ^Nothing to Report 13. Surplus Animal Disposal Nothing to Report 14. Scientific Collections .. Nothing to Report 15. Animal Control Nothing to Report 16. Marking and Banding Nothing to Report 17. Disease Prevention and Control 11
H. PUBLIC USE
1. General 11 2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students. 11 3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers Nothing to Report 4. Interpretive Foot Trails..... 12 5. Interpretive Tour Routes Nothing to Report 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations ...Nothing to Report 7. Other Interpretive Programs 12 8. Hunting .Nothing to Report 9 . Fishing 12 10. Trapping .Nothing to Report 11. Wildlife Observation..... Nothing to Report 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation Nothing to Report 13. Camping. Nothing to Report 14. Picnicking Nothing to Report 15. Off-Road Vehicling Nothing to Report 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation Nothing to Report 17. Law Enforcement 12 18. Cooperating Associations Nothing to Report 19. Concessions Nothing to Report
I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
1. New Construction Nothing to Report 2. Rehabilitation 12 EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES (Cont.) ^>a§e 3. Major Maintenance Nothing to Report 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement 13 5. Communications Systems...... Nothing to Report 6. Computer Systems ...Nothing to Report 7. Energy Conservation ...Nothing to Report
J. OTHER ITEMS
1. Cooperative Programs Nothing to Report 2. Other Economic Uses • Nothing to Report 3. Items of Interest 14 4. Credits 14
K. FEEDBACK
L. INFORMATION PACKET (Map appended)
SATELLITE REFUGES (Appended)
Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge Franklin Island National Wildlife Refuge A. HIGHLIGHTS
Tern nesting and productivity increased significantly this year, the second year of the gull control project (Section G. 5).
An office for Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge was opened in September in Milbridge (Section E. 8).
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
The climate of coastal Washington County is moderated by the Atlantic Ocean. Summer temperatures are significantly cooler and winter tempera tures significantly warmer than inland areas. In the Machias area aver age annual temperature is 430F., average annual precipitation is 49 inches, average annual snowfall is 75 inches, and the average frast-free growing season is 132 days. Fog is an important influence on the coastal ecosystem, present 33 percent of the time during the summer months. The area receives an average of 14 thunderstorms per year.
No weather data is collected on the station.
C. LAND ACQUISITION
2. Easements
Approximately 175 acres on Petit Manan Peninsula are under easement to the Fish and Wildlife Service. At this year's annual Petit Manan Point property owners meeting, several of the summer residents expressed an interest in giving easements to the refuge. This is now being explored.
D. PLANNING
2. Management Plan
The refuge Migratory Bird Disease Contingency Plan and Fire Management . Plan were written and submitted to the Regional Office for approval.
5. Research and Investigations
Petit Manan NR85 - Monitoring Colonial Seabird Populations and Reproductive Success in Terns Nesting on Petit Manan Island (53533-1)
This was the second year of a long-term study designed to evaluate the effects of the gull control program on the island, and to investigate ways to'increase tern productivity through vegetation management.
Memorandum of Agreement Number 14-16-0005-85-9013 was issued to the College of the Atlantic on March 6. Under this contract the refuge paid $4,250 to have two College of the Atlantic students live on the island continuously during June and July to monitor the colonies and protect them from further gull intrusion. Their results are discussed in Section G. 5.
E. ADMINISTRATION
1. Personnel
Refuge Staff 10/85
1. Thomas A. Goettel, Assistant Refuge Manager GS-9 (EOD 1/5/85) PFT (transferred from Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge)
2. James L. Burney, Biological Aid GS-4 (9/3/85 to 11/2/85) Temp.
With the opening of a refuge headquarters in Milbridge, Assistant Refuge Manager Goettel was transferred to the area from Moosehorn National Wild life Refuge, Calais, Maine.
James Burney, a student at the University of Central Florida, spent two months as a Student Conservation Association volunteer. He was converted to Biological Aid in September and left in November to continue his studies at the University.
(Number of Employees) A PFT PPT Temp. Ttl. FTE
FY 1985 1 0 1 1.2 3.
2. Youth Programs
The Moosehorn YCC visited the refuge four times in August. Projects included trail and road maintenance, gravel pit reclamation, and brush removal from the blueberry grounds.
4. Volunteer Program
Two volunteers were recruited from the Student Conservation Association this year: Jim Burney from Sanford, Florida, and Mike Zeiser from Urbana, Iowa. Mike and Jim stayed at a local campground using a trailer on loan from Patuxent's Orono field station. They started on May 28 and continued working through August 16.
These two volunteers tackled many projects while here, including brush ing and posting of boundary lines on Bois Bubert Island; building clean up, maintenance, and stabilization on Petit Manan Island; field mowing; trail construction and maintenance; and assisting in the gull coijtrol work. Jim Burney was later converted to Biological Aid GS-4 (temporary) in September.
Total costs of the volunteer program included $1,847.39 to the Student Conservation Association and $589.23 for campsite rental.
5. Funding
Fiscal Year 1985 was the first year that Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge was given a separate budget. In previous years, funding came from the Moosehorn budget.
Travel and Operating Allotment Salaries Fixed Costs Balance
FY-85 78,000 25,987 8,906* 43,107**
*Includes ARM Goettel's moving expenses of $1,338
**Includes $24,992 for the purchase of the new boat
Much of this year's budget went to office setup, boat equipment, and materials to stabilize the buildings on Petit Manan Island.
6. Safety
No accidents of any sort occurred this year.
7. Technical Assistance
On May 16 Assistant Refuge Manager Goettel inspected a possible dona tion of property in Harrington at the request of the Maine Chapter of the Nature Conservancy.
On May 21 Mr. Goettel met with representatives of the Maine Weirman's Association, the Narraguagus Salmon Club, and other local fishermen to discuss double-crested and great cormorant population trends and problems. 4.
On January 21 Assistant Refuge Manager Goettel, Tom McAndrews and George Haas from the Regional Office met with representatives of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Maine Audubon Society, National Audubon Society, The Island Institute, Nature Conser vancy, and the College of the Atlantic to discuss tern and gull manage ment strategies.
F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
2. Wetlands
There are approximately 300 acres of freshwater wetlands and 200 acres of saltwater marsh on Petit Manan Peninsula and Bois Bubert Island. All are natural water systems that are not managed. The peninsula is also noted for its coastal raised peatlands, seldom found outside Washington County. Rainfall kept all of the freshwater marshes ^t ade quate levels during the year.
c
I*
"Tide's out" 3/83 TAG
Approximately 10 pounds of wild rice harvested near Stockton Springs by Biological Aid Burney and Assistant Manager Mills (Moosehorn) was seeded in refuge flowages in September.
3. Forests
Most of Petit Manan Peninsula and Bois Bubert Island can be classified as commercial forests, chiefly second-growth red spruce and mixed hard woods. Although once noted for high quality white pine and spruce logs, the second-growth forests of the coastal plain are now largely poor quality softwoods and hardwoods utilized chiefly for pulpwood and firewood. No wood harvesting takes place on the refuge. Major species include red spruce, jack pine, larch, gray and yellow birch, mountain ash, red maple, and alder.
5. Grasslands
Two of the old sheep pastures totalling approximately 10 acres will be maintained as fields for upland game management, especially woodcock. They were not mowed this year.
6. Other Habitats
There are approximately 38 acres of blueberry Jbunds on Petit Manan Pen insula which are important to migrating songbirds, raptors, and shore- birds, particularly whimbrels ("blueberry curlews"). These will b,e maintained by prescribed burning every three years.
The arctic-like Petit Manan Point with its shrub-slope peatlands end raised peatlands contains several fragile unique habitats that will not be actively managed.
\
Shrub-sloped Peatland in Fall Plumage 10/84 TAG
Petit Manan and Nash Islands are noted for their populations of beach head iris (Iris hookeri), sea lungwort (Mertensia maritima), and rose- root stonecrop (Sedum rosea). "Mertensia maritima" 8/85 TAG
7. Grazing
One-half of Nash Island is privately owned and is used for sheep pastur ing. Although once fenced when it was an active light station, the fence has long since been torn down and the sheep have been given the run of the island for many years. If the fence were restored this would make a good test site for research into the effects of sheep on the coastal island's flora and fauna.
9. Fire Management
The fire management plan for the refuge was written and submitted for approval this year. It addresses prescribed burning of the blueberry grounds on Petit Manan Peninsula and the nest sites on Petit Manan Island, as well as wildfire control.
G. WILDLIFE
1. Wildlife Diversity
Prescribed burning and mowing will continue to provide a diversity of habitats to help maintain a diversity of wildlife species.
2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species
Bald eagles and osprey are common year-round residents of the refuge. The scarcity of old-growth pine, the preferred nest tree for eagles in this area, is one of the limiting factors for nesting on the refuge. Eagles do nest on Sally Island, off Birch Point, and on Pond Island, off Bois Bubert Island. They also frequent the marshes, ponds, and shoreline of the refuge.
An eagle feeding station was started on the lower end of the homestead field this year, but was discontinued in February because of lack of use. Only four eagles were using the station, which did not make moni toring worthwhile. We decided to .better concentrate our efforts on the Moosehorn feeding sites.
Peregrine falcons are common migrants on the islands, feeding on shore- birds and songbirds that are also passing through.
A right whale spent most of November 27 next to Petit Manan Peninsula in Dyer's Bay. It was first sighted off Yellow Birch Head and meandered along the western shore, at one point grounding out near one of t^ie old herring weirs. It finally left the bay just before sunset. Although right whales can be seen further up the Bay of Fundy during the summer, one this close to shore at this time of year was very unusual. «
3. Waterfowl
Black ducks and wood ducks are the most common nesters on the peninsula. Common eiders nest on Petit Manan and Nash Islands. The ponds and marshes on Petit Manan Peninsula and Bois Bubert Island are important black duck staging areas; the peak population on Petit Manan Point was 2,000 during October.
Black ducks often darken the sky in the fall. 10/85 TAG
Seaducks (common eider, white-winged and black-winged scoter, goldeneye, oldsquaw, and bufflehead) are common year-round residents of the refuge area. Ten thousand eiders and 4,500 scoters were commonly seen off Petit Manan Island in the spring. The male eiders usually raft during the summer and increase to peak numbers, of 10-15,000 individuals during the late summer molt. They remain rafted during the fall and are joined by oldsquaws in. late October.
The rapid increase in mussel dragging in this area will undoubtedly have a long-term impact on the eider and scoter distributions and possibly population levels. Nesting eider populations, however, are still increasing at this time. Atlantic brant and Canada geese are occasional visitors to the area.
5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species
This was the second year of the Petit Manan Island gull/tern management program. The avicide 1339 Gull Toxicant was applied four times during May and June this year to a total of 233 nests, compared with 1,055 nests last year. Ninety-seven gulls were collected with a 2:1 ratio of great black-backed to herring gulls, compared with 668 collected and a 5:1 ratio of herring gulls to great black-backed gulls in 1984. An additional 15 gulls were shot during the nesting season for "raiding" the tern colony.
The first terns were seen on the island on May 12 and by the 20th over 500 were present. The tern nest count was 1,350 arctic, common, and roseate tern nests—up from 800 last year. Tern productivity was approximately one chick per nest—up from .75 last year. Like last year, the final number of terns increased due to desertion of other colonies in the area caused by gull predation, but the late nesters were usually not productive and were therefore not included in the nest count/produc tivity figures. Petit Manan Island was once again one of the largest tern colonies in the Gulf of Maine and, most importantly, had a produc tivity double that needed to maintain colony strength.
Laughing gull numbers also increased by 50 pairs; to 250 nesting pairs.
Fifty-six Atlantic puffins were seen on the island at one time, often observed in courtship activities. It is not known how many, if any, nested and raised young, but their.very presence on Petit Manan Island is significant because the island contains very little nesting habitat. It appears that they were attracted to the island because of one reason— there are no nesting gulls. Part of the high number of nesters this year may be due to the scarcity of food resources in the Machias Seal Island area, site of the nearest puffin colony, 40 miles northeast. Several puffin burrows were constructed, but usage was uncertain due to their location. We plan to experiment with other artificial burrows in the future 9.
Typical gull defense tactic 7/85 TAG well demonstrated by puffins.
Common eider nests also significantly increased from 68 in 1984 to 221 in 1985. This is the actual number of birds flushed during the avicide application. The actual nesting population was believed to be between 300 and 350 nests. Productivity also undoubtedly increased as gulls are a major source of mortality for the juvenile eiders.
Black guillemot numbers also increased from 20 nests in 1984 to over 50 in 1985. Over 200 individuals frequent the island, but like the puffins, are probably limited by the lack of suitable habitat. They readily accepted the rocks heaped into small piles on the beach that we provided for them.
Application of the avicide will continue for at least two more years, or until gull numbers decrease to a level where only nest descruction and shooting need be used. However, 1339 gull toxicant remains the most efficient, "humane", and environmentally safe method of gull control.
A pair of black-headed gulls nested on Petit Manan this year—the second record in the United States. The first was on Monomy National Wildlife Refuge in 1984. Native to Europe, they are now nesting in large numbers in Quebec and Newfoundland. The nest was abandoned during a storm in early July.
Other seabirds recorded in the area this year were gannets in May and razor-billed auks and black-legged kittiwakes. Ring-billed gulls and Bonaparte's gulls are common in late summer and fall. A black skimmer was seen briefly on the island in June. A young peregrine falcon, undoubtedly one of the birds hacked on Mt. Desert Island, raided the island daily during the last week of July and the first two weeks of August. At first the bird was very inadept at catching prey and greatly disturbed the colony, but as he became more experienced, the seabirds were disturbed less and less. Overall, it had little impact on the terns.
Three previously banded arctic terns were trapped this year. Two were banded as adults in 1970 and one was banded as a chick in 1976 by Jeremy Hatch of the University of Massachusetts. They were not cap tured this year as part of a banding program, but to obtain band numbers.
Two plywood and angle-iron blinds were prefabricated at the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge and assembled on Petit Manan Island where they were invaluable to the observation and monitoring program.
There were no terns nesting on Nash Island this year.
8. Game Mammals
White-tailed deer have increased in numbers on Petit Manan Point, pro bably due to our increased enforcement patrols during the hunting season over the last four years. The herd now includes two pie-bald deer. Twelve deer were seen nightly along the one-half mile of refuge roads in the fall—the actual population is considerably higher.
Coyotes are also increasing in the area and may be present on Bois Bubert Island. One was shot on Bois Bubert in July by a local fisherman.
No moose were found on the refuge this year, although one summered in the Pigeon Hill Road, Rte. 1, area.
9. Marine Mammals
Harbor seals are common residents in the area and are reported by a University of Maine professor to be increasing at the unbelievable rate of 15 percent per year. They will soon be added to the local most- frequently-complained-about-species list, along with gulls, shags (cor morants), and coyotes.
11. Fisheries Resources
The herring fishery has always been a source of concern in this area, especially because of its value to the nesting seabirds. Over- exploitation of the adult herring by offshore fishing fleets during the 1970's and SO's has resulted in the closing of nearly all of the sardine canneries in Maine.
This year, although very few herring were landed in Washington County, there was an ample food supply for most of the coast's seabirds. The one exception was the major tern and puffin colony at Machias Seal Island, off Cutler, where the scarcity of herring resulted in the star vation of large numbers of tern and puffin chicks. Although food resources for seabirds have been historically volatile, this appears to be a long-term decline with no end in sight. 11.
17. Disease Prevention and Control
Avian cholera was once again positively diagnosed on Petit Manan Island. One eider was collected and sent to the National Wildlife Health Lab in June. This was the only one found. Endemic, the cause of the cholera epidemic is not known. It is especially a problem with eiders because the females do not normally leave the nest during incuba tion and are therefore in a weakened state during the latter stages of nesting, and are more susceptible to disease.
Three common loons were sent to the National Wildlife Health Lab during the year. Two died of lead poisoning from fishing gear and one died of aspergillosis.
H. PUBLIC USE
1. General
Since the refuge was not manned prior to 1985, public use was not encouraged to prevent trespass on adjacent private holdings. During 1985 several signs were erected to encourage wildlife oriented public use. Several hikers, cross-country skiiers, birdwatchers, and clam diggers used the area this year. Hunting and trapping are not permit ted at this time.
Petit Manan and Nash Islands are closed to all use during the seabird nesting season, April 1 - July 31. They get very little use during the rest of the year.
There was virtually no interest in the gull/tern management program this year despite several presentations at schools, on a talk show on WQDY radio in Calais, and to the Schoodic Chapter of the Maine Audubon Society. Our press release was ignored by the local newspapers.
Other presentations about refuge management during the year included a University of Maine at Orono seminar on non-game management in February, a University of Maine wildlife management class in September, the Narraguagus Snowmobilers Club in December, and the Milbridge Cur rent Events Club in September.
On June 22, Assistant Refuge Manager Goettel led a Nature Conservancy field trip on Petit Manan Point.
2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students
On October 8 Assistant Refuge Manager Goettel and Biological Aid Burney led a Steuben grade school field trip of Petit Manan Point to discuss bird migration and habitat management.
In June Mr Goettel gave a presentation on Petit Manan Island to a group of students participating in The Island Institute's first college-level course entitled "The Cold Coast". 12.
A. interpretive Foot Trails
The trail system on Petit Manan Peninsula was expanded further this year to form a small loop trail around Birch Point.
7. Other Interpretive Programs
On March 19 Assistant Refuge Manager Goettel traveled to Fredericton, New Brunswick, with Game Warden Ernest Smith to pick up a crippled, immature bald eagle that was fledged in the Grand Falls Flowage area of the St. Croix River. A mew was prefabricated at Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge and assembled in Steuben to house the bird which will be trained for educational presentations similar to the ones conducted in past years.
9. Fishing
Shell fishing is very important to the local economy. Shell fishing, mainly softshell clams, is permitted on the refuge in accordance with state and town regulations.
17. Law Enforcement
The refuge is very fortunate to have good relations with the local law enforcement officers who give us cooperation and support. Three cases were taken to federal court this year and two to state court. Other hunting cases were made that were processed by state officers and are not listed below.
1 Unlicensed ATV (State Court) $50.00 1 Unregistered Motor Vehicle (Federal Court) 25.00 1 Shooting under power (Federal Court) 50.00 1 Unplugged Shotgun (Federal Court) 35.00 1 Trafficking Sched. Z drug (State Court) 75.00
Several warnings were given for motor vehicle trespass.
Assistant Refuge Manager Goettel attended the LaW Enforcement Refresher Course at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge during the week of April 6. He requalified with the Service revolver on December 4.
I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
2. Rehabilitation
When the Coast Guard automated Petit Manan Light Station in 1972 the Island and six buildings were transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service. Nothing was done to the buildings until 1984 when they were cleaned out and secured. This year we further stabilized the buildings pending their nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. Although one of the buildings is useful as a storage facility for the refuge programs, they are all over 100 years old and are a bottomless 13.
pit for refuge maintenance funds. Over the past three years there has been increased concern by the public because many light stations have been destroyed. However, it takes more than interest to keep these old buildings going.
Petit Manan Field Station 8/85 TAG
4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement
A 4 X 4, diesel, Chevrolet Blazer was delivered in March, after waiting nearly two years. We are happy with the diesel, although it is pretty noisy. It replaces the 1979 Dodge 2X4 pickup that was transferred from the YACC.
In August the 20-foot Aquasport was traded in for a 24-foot Privateer. It has a 6-cylinder Volco diesel, 140 hp, fiberglass planing hull, Volvo sterndrive with counter-rotating propellers, and full cabin. Its quite a change from the old center console. We can actually stay dry when we go out to the islands now. The total price was $24,990. The 10-foot Chrysler Hydro-Vee with 115 hp outboard will be kept as a spare.
A 16-foot fiberglass dory was purchased to facilitate transporting equipment to Petit Manan and also to be used as a tender to land on the Coast Guard Boat Slip.
8. Other
A new building for the refuge office was built in Milbridge by a local developer. Rent for the one-room, 20 X 30-foot office, plus garage is $489 per month, including utilities. We moved in in September following eight months of operating out of Mr. Goettel's residence. 14.
J. OTHER ITEMS
3. Items of Interest
Assistant Refuge Manager Goettel received the Schoodic Chapter of Maine Audubon Society's Conservationist of the Year Award in September for his work with the bald eagle education project.
Messrs. Goettel and Burney attended The Island Institute's Lighthouse Conference in Rockland on October 19. Topics of discussion included alternative uses for the automated light stations.
Mr. Goettel attended the Petit Manan Point property owner's meeting at the All-Sould-by-the-Sea Church on August 18.
George Haas, Regional Biologist, visited the refuge on July 11.
Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Kress of the National Audubon Society and Susan Woodward of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife visited Petit Manan Island on June 21.
Debbie McGiever, from the Regional Office Public Affairs Office, visited the refuge on March 14 to review plans for signs and leaflets.
Assistant Refuge Manager Goettel attended the regional Project Leaders Meeting in Leetown, West Virginia, during the week of January 13,
On February 21, Mr. Goettel attended a course at Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine, on Ocean Survival which included the use of life rafts, PFD's, survival suits, and hypothermia prevention.
4. Credits
Goettel: All Sections
Forsyth: Typing
Mullen: Editing K. FEEDBACK
Nothing to Report CROSS ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Cutler, Maine
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 1985 INTRODUCTION
Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge is a 1,355-acre island complex donated to the Fish and Wildlife Service through the Nature Conservancy by Thomas and Virginia Cabot in 1980. Located in the town of Cutler in Washington County, the complex is composed of six islands; Cross Island, 1,306 acres; Scotch Island, 10 acres; Inner Double Head Shot Island, 8 acres; Outer Double Head Shot Island, 14 acres; Mink Island, 11 acres; and Old Man Island, 6 acres.
Twenty acres on Cross Island were retained by the Cabot's for the use of their heirs; however, the Fish and Wildlife Service has reverter rights of refusal should the Cabots decide to sell. Eighteen acres are owned by Hurricane Island Outward Bound, Inc., an environmental/survival education organization. It owns and maintains the former Coast Guard Station which is the field station of The Island Institute, an offshoot of Outward Bound. The Nature Conservancy has recently acquired ^.30 acres on Cross Island's Northwest Head; acquisition by the Fish and Wild life Service is being actively pursued.
Like many of the islands on the Maine coast. Cross Island has a long history of human occupation. Known by the Indians as Sebeheganuk (passage), it was used as a fishing base by both Indians and early mariners through the 19th century. In the latter half of the 19th cen tury it even had a small village with a store, school, several salt water farms, and copper mines near Seal Cove and on Outer Double Head Shot.
The U.S. Life Saving Service built a station on Cross Island in 1874 which was taken over by the Coast Guard in 1^78. , The station was replaced by a new set of buildings on Northeast Harbor in 1928. Both sets of buildings remain today. Shortly after World War I the island was bought by a businessman who hoped to turn it into a hunting camp for out-of-state sportsmen. It was bought by the Cabots in the 1940's after it was commercially clearcut between 1939 and 1941.
Cross, Mink, and Scotch Islands are forested with dense stands of red spruce and some mixed hardwoods, yellow birch, red maple, and gray birch. The shoreline is generally rocky with some cliffs over 100 feet high on Cross Island.
The Double Head Shot Islands and Old Man Island are valuable colonial seabird nesting islands vegetated largely by grasses and forbs. with some red spruce. Old Man Island is one of only three nesting sites for razor-billed auks in Maine. At the turn of the century Old Man Island was the site of the sole surviving common eider colony in Maine, the rest having fallen victim to egg, feather, and meat market hunters. 1.
A. HIGHLIGHTS
A record number of razor-billed auks (75) were found near Old Man Island in July. (Section G. 5)
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
The climate of coastal Washington County is moderated by the Atlantic Ocean. Summer temperatures are significantly cooler and winter tem peratures significantly warmer than inland areas. In the Machias area average annual temperature is 430F, average annual precipitation.15.49 inches, average annual snowfall is 75 inches, and the average frost- free growing season is 132 days. Fog is an important influence on the coastal ecosystem, present 33 percent of the time during the summer months. The area receives an average of 14 thunderstorms per year.
No weather data is collected on the refuge.
E. ADMINISTRATION
1. Personnel
The refuge is staffed and administered as a satellite of Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge in Midbridge.
F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
Southern Shore, Cross Island 7/84 TAG 1. General
There is virtually no active management on the refuge at present due to staffing limitations. Future management will be directed towards bald eagles and colonial seabirds.
2. Wetlands
There is virtually no open fresh water on Cross Island, although there are several small wetland areas. There is a large saltwater marsh between Cross Island and Northwest Head, and several smaller saltwater marshes on the northern shore.
.3. Forests
Cross Island was last commercially clearcut between 1939 and 1941*. The forest now consists of dense stands of second growth red spruce with mixed hardwoods, chiefly yellow and gray birch, red maple, and alder. Because of the year-round use by bald eagles no timber harvest is planned.
6. Other Habitats
The rocky shorelines and cliffs provide nesting habitat for black guillemots and, on Old Man Island, razor-billed auks. The raspberry/ grass thickets on the Double Head Shot Islands provide exceptional eider nesting habitat.
9. Fire Management
The Fire Management Plan was completed and submitted to the Regional Office for approval this year. It calls for active suppression of wild fires to preserve the eagle nesting/roosting habitat. No prescribed burning is recommended.
12. Wilderness and Special Areas
Grassy Point on the northern shore of Cross Island is an unusual tom- bolo bar that is listed on the Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Bar rier Resource List. Barrier beaches of any sort are very unusual in downeast Maine.
G. WILDLIFE
2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species
The bald eagle nest on Cross Island was once again unproductive this year. It has been occupied by a pair for many years and is probably one of the remaining pairs still affected by pesticide accumulation.
Mink Island and Northwest Head are important roosting areas throughout the year for adult and immature bald eagles. 3.
There are several osprey nests on the refuge, including an unusual ground nesting pair on Inner Double Head Shot Island.
3. Waterfowl
Approximately 200 pairs of common eiders nest on Inner and Outer Double Head Shot and Old Man Islands. The saltwater marshes are locally impor tant black duck staging areas.
9/84 TAG Salt Marsh, Cross Island. Cutler Navy Base in background
5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species
v . > . > -am Razor-bills 6/84 TAG Great black-backed and herring gulls and over 200 pairs of double- crested cormorants nest on the complex.
Approximately 200 pairs, of black guillemots nest on the rugged cliffs of Cross Island, the Double Head Shot Islands, and Old Man Island.
The College of the Atlantic seabird crew visited Old Man Island in July. Approximately 75 razor-billed auks were seen, but the extent of nesting is not known,. This is double the number usually seen in the past. We plan on doing more work with the auks in the future.
8. Game Mammals
Cross Island supports healthy populations of white-tailed deer and black bear.
17. Disease Prevention and Control
% The Migratory Bird Disease Contingency Plan was written and submitted for approval this year.
H. PUBLIC USE
1. General
The Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, an environmental education/ survival oriented school, has used Cross Island for many years, and has owned 18 acres on Northeast Harbor since 1980. With the creation of The Island Institute in 1983, their former Coast Guard facilities became the Cabot Biological Station, the downeast base of their operations.
Public use of the island is centered on the Outward Bound enrollees, teachers, and interns and is very lightly used during the summer months. Other public use includes occasional picnickers, fishermen, and deer poachers.
No public use is allowed on the three seabird islands from April 1 to July 31.
4. Interpretive Foot Trails
Hurricane Island Outward Bound School enrollees have blazed two trails on the island, one to Spruce Head and one to Northwest Head, to get to different ecosystems on the island.
8. Hunting
The islands have been closed to all hunting by state lav? for many years. We are pursuing a regulation change to give us the flexibility to allow a deer harvest in the event of an overpopulation. 3.
J. OTHER ITEMS
3. Items of Interest
Assistant Refuge Manager Goettel and Biological Aid Burney met with Bob Weiler of the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School in Rockland to discuss mutual interests on Cross Island in September.
4. Credits
Goettel: All Sections
Forsyth; Typing
Mullen: Editing SEAL ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Matinicus Isle, Maine
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calenday Year 1985 INTRODUCTION
Seal Island is a 65-acre treeless island approximately 21 miles south of Rockland, Maine, in Knox County. Formerly a bombing/shelling tar get, it was transferred from the Navy in 1972. This remote, inacces sible grass and granite island provides some of the best colonial sea- bird habitat in the Gulf of Maine with boulder fields for puffins and razorbills, rock ledges for black guillemots, grass and rock areas for terns, raspberry and grass thickets for eiders, and peat/glaciated till substrate for Leach's storm-petrels. Seal Island has a maximum eleva tion of 65 feet.
For several hundred years Seal Island was used by fishermen as a summer camp for harvesting lobsters, herring and groundfish found in abundance in the area. Seal Island was also the site of the largest puffin and tern colonies in the area, which were also harvested by the fishermen for meat, eggs, and feathers. This harvesting had extirpated th^se colonies by the late 1800's. The island has since been recolonized by herring and great black-backed gulls, double-crested cormorants, and arctic terns. The terns were present on the island as recently as the 1950's, but have since been displaced by the gulls. A. HIGHLIGHTS
The National Audubon Society puffin and tern colony restoration project continued this year with another 100 puffin chicks . transplanted from Newfoundland. Several forms of gull control were also part of the pro ject this year. (Section G. 1)
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
The climate of the Rockland area is moderated by the surrounding ocean. Summer temperatures are significantly cooler and winter temperatures are significantly warmer than inland areas. In the Rockland area, average annual temperature is 46°F., average annual snowfall is 60 inches, average annual precipitation is 47 inches, and the average growing season is 143 days. Fog is an important influence on coa«stal ecosystems occurring an average of 21 percent of the time during the summer.
E. ADMINISTRATION
1. Personnel
The refuge is administered and funded out of the Petit Manan Refuge office in Milbridge, Maine.
4. Volunteer Program
Petit Manan's Student Conservation Corps volunteers, James Burney and Mike Zeiser, visited the refuge on July 20 and 21 to assist with the puffin transplant program.
F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
6. Other Habitats
Seal Island is vegetated with a variety of grasses and forb inter spersed with varying sizes of rocks and ledge. Some of the more common plants include New York aster, beach pea, yarrow, raspberry, gooseberry, chickweed, shepherd's purse, creeping juniper, ragweed, and red fescue. It is probably one of the most important preserves for the rare plant Sedum rosea, roseroot stonecrop, in the state. Two botanists from the National Audubon Society visited the island this year to provide a more complete plant list and do some basic vegetation analysis in relation to the tern nesting habitat.
The effects of the bombing can still be seen. Small craters and scars are abundant, but the thick vegetation has healed most of the damage to the seabird nesting habitat. No active habitat management is planned at this time.
9. Fire Management
Because of the remoteness of the island, 100 percent ownership by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the fact that it is closed to public use, Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge was exempted from fire manage ment plan preparation.
12. Wilderness and Special Areas
The refuge is on the Maine Critical Areas Register.
G. WILDLIFE
1. Wildlife Diversity
Young puffins placed into 7/85 TAG burrows.
This was the second year of the National Audubon Society's puffin and tern colony restoration project on Seal Island. One hundred puffin chicks were transplanted from Witless Bay, Newfoundland, with the cooperation of the Canadian Wildlife Service, and raised in artificial burrows. This number will be increased to 200 per year in 1986 through 1989. Puffins normally spend their first three to five years at sea and return to their natal island to nest. When these return they will be encouraged by puffin and razorbill decoys, and possibly by other puffins recruited from Matinicus Rock or Machias Seal Island.
7/85' TAG Tern Decoy Area - Photo voltaic panel powers tape recorder and speakers.
The second part of this project is to restore the former tern colony. Terns nested on the island up until the 1950's when they were displaced by the regionwide mushrooming gull population. Although tern restora tion and protection in itself is important, it i>s even more important in this case because the terns often provide the first line of defense for the puffins against the marauding gulls. Terns will be attracted to the area by a combination of decoys and vocalization recordings.
The first step, however, is to provide nesting space by eliminating the gulls. This year the Audubon crew tried a combination of shooting, scarecrows, and propane exploders. Shooting was most successful, but obviously cannot be used while trying to decoy other birds in, so when the shooting stopped the gulls quickly moved in. Therefore, discus sions of the use of 1339 Gull Toxicant were begun this year.
The concern over tern and puffin populations is well founded. Arctic tern populations along the Maine coast have decreased 40 percent in the last 10 years. At the time of this writing roseate terns are being proposed for Endangered Species listing. Puffins, although very numerous as a whole, have been declining in the Western Atlantic since the 1920's. One colony in Witless Bay, Newfoundland, has declined 20 to 30 percent since 1975.
"Scaregull" pivots with 7/85 TAG the wind.
Gull populations are just the opposite and have increased many-fold during the same time period. They are major competitors for nesting space and prey on the other seabirds during all phases of the sea- birds' life cycle. It appears that we need to take a strong stand now, while we still have viable seabird populations to work with.
The environmental education aspect must also be addressed. Puffins are a very popular bird and are pursued by many birdwatchers and photographers. We believe that, although they are far from endangered as a whole, we can get people to understand "what's going on out there" through their concern for this species.
2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species
See Section G. 6.
3. Waterfowl
Approximately 200 pairs of common eiders nest on Seal Island. 5.
5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns, and Allied Species
Twenty-five double-crested cormorant nests were counted this year. The number of Leach's storm-petrel nests is unknown, but it is believed to be over 1,000.
6. Raptors
The importance of the outer islands to migrating raptors, particularly peregrine falcons, is just beginning to be understood. Current studies by The Island Institute are focusing on the fall raptor migrations.
7. Other Migratory Birds
A Jackdaw (European corvid) was sighted on nearby Matinicus Rock in June.
9. Marine Mammals *
Harbor and gray seals are common throughout the year as the island's name implies. They are attracted to the rich fishing grounds in the area.
17. Disease Prevention and Control
The Migratory Bird Disease Contingincy Plan was written and submitted for approval this year.
H. PUBLIC USE
1. General
Seal Island field station - National Audubon 7/85 TAG Society. Due to the presence of unexploded ordnance on the island, it is closed to all public use. The National Audubon Society team is issued a Special Use Permit for their work and are required to sign a written release absolving the Fish and Wildlife Service of any liability due to the ordnance.
A local tour boat operator expressed interest in bringing binding tours to the island during May and June. He was denied permission to land, but does circumnavigate the refuge.
J. OTHER ITEMS
4. Credits
Goettel: All Sections
Forsyth: Typing
Mullen: Editing FRANKLIN ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Friendship, Maine
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 1985 INTRODUCTION
Franklin Island is located in Muscongus Bay, about six miles from the village of Friendship, Maine, in Knox County. This 12-acre island is all upland, vegetated with red spruce, raspberry, rose, and various grasses and forbs. It has a very acidic, organic duff soil layer on top of glaciated granite and schists, and a maximum elevation of 35 feet. It was acquired in 1973 from the Coast Guard which still main tains an automated light.
The Two Bush Island unit of the refuge is located approximately 16 miles east of Franklin Island and seven miles south of Owls Head, Maine. It is a small, 8-acre island owned by the Coast Guard and leased to the Fish and Wildlife Service for 5-year periods. It, too, has an automated light. A. HIGHLIGHTS
A revenue sharing check for $222.00 was presented to the Town of Friendship in March.
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
The climate of the Muscongus Bay area is moderated by the surrounding ocean. Summer temperatures are significantly cooler and winter tem peratures are significantly warmer than inland areas. In the Rockland area average annual temperature is 460F., average annual snowfall is 60 inches, average annual precipitation is 47 inches, and the average growing season is 143 days long. Fog is an important influence on coastal ecosystems occurring an average of 21 percent of the time dur ing the summer. *
E. ADMINISTRATION
1. Personnel
The refuge is administered and funded out of the Petit Manan office in Milbridge, Maine.
F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
1. General
There is no active habitat management on the refuge at this time. Man agement is directed towards resource protection rather than active management.
2. Forests
Franklin Island was undoubtedly forested at one time with red spruce. About half of it was cleared when the light station was built. At some point, probably after the light was automated, cormorants established a colony. As often happens, after many years of cormorant dropping accumulation many of the remaining spruce trees died and the cormorants left. The southern half of the island is now sparsely vegetated with spruce, with a thick raspberry understory, and many dead snags.
Two Bush Island may have been forested also, but we are not certain. C. WILDLIFE
2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species
There are two active osprey nests on Franklin Island.
3. Waterfowl
Franklin Island was not visited this year in time to do an accurate eider count. Once one of the largest eider colonies in Maine with 1,400 nests, it was decimated by an outbreak of avian cholera in 1984. Two Bush Island has a population of about 75 pairs of eiders.
4. Marsh and Water Birds ,
Franklin Island has a growing colony of approximately 30 pairs of black-crowned night herons. The island's thin spruce stand with*many snags provides good nesting habitat for the herons.
Black-crowned night heron nest 5/84 TAG
5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns, and Allied Species
Franklin Island has approximately 20 nesting pairs of black guillemots and 20 pairs each of herring and great black-backed gulls. Two Bush has approximately 50 nesting pairs of herring gulls, 20 pairs of great black-backed gulls, and 15 pairs of black guillemots. Leach's storm- petrels also nest on both islands. 3.
L. ' 5/84 TAG Organic soil makes good substrate for petrel burrows. Note dead spruce killed by cormorants. Also note raspberry thicket.
17. Disease Prevention and Control
The Migratory Bird Disease Contingency Plan was written and submitted for approval this year.
H. PUBLIC USE
1. General
The refuge is closed to all public use from April 1 to July 31 to pro tect the nesting seabirds.
Pleasure boat traffic is more common in this area, but few people actually land on either of the islands because of the difficulty of landing. However, the picturesque light towers on both islands do attract some visitors.
I 3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers
The National Audubon Society operates an environmental education camp for adults during the summer on nearby Hog Island in Medomak. They regularly take field trips to Muscongus Bay and usually visit Franklin Island to observe the eiders, herons and osprey,
J. OTHER ITEMS
4. Credits
Goettel: All sections
Forsyth: Typing
Mullen: Editing ^ FRANKLIN ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE UNITED STATES KNOX COUNTY MAINE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Muscongus Bay
U.S. COAST 0U Automated Lighthouse 6
43053'30"
FRANKLIN ISLAND
ATLANTIC OCEAN VICINITY MAP
SCALE IN MILES
69022,30" 60o22*00" COMPILED IN THE DIVISION OF ENGINEERING FROM SURVEYS BY O S. AND B. S. F. A W. 2000 Feet MEAN DECLINATION GOO Metere IVSS
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 5R ME. 864 PETIT MANAN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
UNITiO STATU WASHINGTON COUNTY, MAINE UNITIO STATIS DIPAITMINT OF TMi INTKIOI FISH AND WILDLIFE SEIVICI aTSBOO"
MEAN DECLINATION 1948
•OSTON, MASSACHUSETTS CROSS ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
UNITED STATES WASHINGTON COUNTY. MAINE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Doubl* Head Shot Islands
Spruce Point
Old Man Island
tu""0 42
COMPILED IN THE OFFICE OF REALTY FROM SURVEYS OF THE U.S.0.S. MEAN AND THE U.S.F.4W.S. SCALE 0 1000 2000 3OO0 4000 FEET y DECLINATION 0 1977 1 KILOMETERS NEWTON , MASS . FEBRUARY 1981 POSTED: 5R ME. 971 401 SEAL ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
UNITED STATES KNOX COUNTY, MAINE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
eeMsxxr
EASTERN LEDGE
43o63'00"
1* 1*-
Seal Island N.W.R.
ee-aaoo"
COMPILED IN THE DIVISION OF REALTY VH FROM SURVEYS BY U.S.O S. AND U.S.F.AW.S. MEAN 1000 FEET \\ DECLINATION 1953 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS AUGUST 1972 5R MA 848 402