— 2004 Season —
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| Lighthouse on Pond Island. Credit: USFWS |
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acquired Pond Island from the US Coast Guard in 1973. The 10 acre island is located in the mouth of the Kennebec River, and until 1937 supported a Common Tern colony. North and South Sugarloaf Islands are within a quarter of a mile from Pond Island and until 1987 supported Roseate and Common Terns. At one point in time, North Sugarloaf was the largest Roseate colony in Maine. The terns were displaced by nesting gulls on all three islands, until the restoration program was initiated on Pond Island in 1996. One pair of Common Terns nested in 1996, and five pairs nested in 1997, however none of these nesting attempts produced any chicks. In 1998, when the one pair of terns nesting on Pond failed to hatch their eggs, NAS transplanted two Common Tern chicks from the nearby Jenny Island. The chicks were immediately cared for by the adults, and later fledged from the island.
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| Common tern on Pond Island. Credit: USFWS |
In 1999, Pond Island produced its first tern chick in more than 60 years, when 10 pairs of Common Terns successfully nested. Eleven additional pairs nested later in the season, with a total of 20 chicks produced. The colony has continued to grow and in 2004 supported 429 Common Terns and nine pairs of Roseate Terns. Unfortunately the island continues to experience significant Great Horned Owl predation, as well as occasional mammal predation. Pond Island is cooperatively managed by National Audubon Society and the Service.
