Coastal Waterbird Colonies: Maine to Virginia, 1977. An Atlas Showing Colony Locations and Species Composition

摘要

Colonial-nesting seabirds and wading birds are important and conspicuous components of coastal ecosystems. Surveys were conducted during the spring and summer of 1976 and 1977 to locate and describe all nesting colonies of these birds from the Maine-Canada border to the southern boundary of Virginia. In the 10 States included in the surveys, 327,496 pairs of waterbirds of 30 species nested at 844 colony sites. Maine, Virginia and New Jersey harbored the greatest numbers; New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Delaware the fewest. The most abundant seabird species were herring and laughing gulls and common terns. Colony locations are shown on 7.5-min. quad. maps. The estimated number of breeding pairs for each species, the inventory date, and the survey method are listed in a Table immediately preceding each Colony Map. Location, size, habitat, nesting substrate and ownership of each colony site are reported in respective Tables.