Based on biological studies conducted this fall, researchers believe they may have discovered a previously unknown, but potentially very important, flyway that songbirds are using as a short-cut across the Gulf of Maine during fall migration, according to Linda Welch, wildlife biologist at the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
During a bird banding study on several national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Learn more about national wildlife refuge islands in recent months, more than 5,500 songbirds representing 75 species were captured, far exceeding the numbers of songbirds similarly captured at long-running banding stations elsewhere, said Dr. Rebecca Holberton, a professor from the University of Maine who collaborated on the study. The researchers estimate that up to one-half million or more songbirds could be using the Metinic area on their way from the Canadian Maritimes to the southern Maine mainland as they make their way to the wintering grounds.
"It remains to be seen if this region acts as a reliable corridor every year but it is clear that large numbers of songbirds are crossing the Gulf of Maine and using our coastal islands as important stopover sites to rest and feed," said Dr. Holberton.
For the past two years, researchers with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge, National Audubon Society, and the University of Maine have banded songbirds on Seal Island, a 65-acre national wildlife refuge located 10 miles south of Vinalhaven. This effort was expanded this past season (mid-August to mid-October) include banding stations at two other refuge islands – Petit Manan (2.5 miles south of Petit Manan Point in Steuben) and Metinic (seven miles southeast of Port Clyde in Matinicus Isle). Petit Manan and the northern half of Metinic are both part of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
Although all three islands were busy with birds, Metinic stood out, having the greatest number of birds captured and observed flying overhead.While many banding stations operate up to 50 mist nests to capture and band birds, the researchers on Metinic were able to capture over 3,100 birds, and banded almost 2,700 of them while only operating up to 10 nets.The number of birds migrating over Metinic was fairly constant during this part of the migration period, with most birds arriving from the north and east in large flocks, and departing to the south or west to the mainland.Monhegan Island, located nearby, has long been known as birding hotspot during spring and fall migrations.
Researchers on Seal banded 680 birds and those on Petit Manan banded 625 birds. While those islands had a lower success capture rate than Metinic Island, the data will still be very valuable to the biologists monitoring bird migration along our coastline. This years find illustrates that Maines offshore islands are an important resource not only for the many seabirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl that are closely monitored throughout most of the year, but also to species that may otherwise go undetected.
Biologists apply uniquely numbered metal bands to birds’ legs to study dispersal and migration patterns, life-span and survival rates, reproductive success, and population growth over time.
Coastal areas and islands are important flyways for migratory songbird species, many of which are experiencing severe population declines.Additional work is needed to document patterns of bird migration in the Gulf so that we can minimize potential impacts of coastal development, including those associated with the growth of ocean energy initiatives needed to combat global climate change climate change
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While many bird populations are experiencing a comeback in New England, reports of migratory bird populations have been dominated by dramatic declines spanning several decades.The Gulf of Maine region serves as a major thoroughfare for many species of shorebirds, waterfowl, and seabirds on their way to and from their breeding and wintering areas.Not only are these birds relatively large and easy to see, they tend to concentrate along shorelines, lakes, and rivers where the resources they need can be found and people can watch them.In contrast, songbirds such as thrushes, warblers, and orioles, are much less conspicuous. These birds generally migrate at night in order to avoid predators such as hawks and falcons, and to take advantage of calmer air conditions.Plus, migrating at night frees up more time to feed during the day.When flying over land, songbirds can spread out over large areas and use a diversity of habitats. They form smaller flocks during the daytime to rest and refuel.Rarely do we hear of big congregations of songbirds that remain in one place long enough for us to document what species are using the area and how many birds are present.
Although most songbirds dont have to fly over large bodies of water to reach their destinations, many birds traveling between their breeding grounds in northern New England and eastern Canada and their wintering grounds in the southern United States and beyond can take short cuts across the Gulf of Maine.Radar studies done 20-30 years ago in the region indicated that many songbirds fly offshore during spring and fall but little work has been done to document the actual flyways that these birds use along the Maine coast.
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