Hello, all! My name is Adrianna, one of the seabird technicians living and working on Metinic Island during summer 2023. I arrived here nearly three weeks ago, and if these first weeks are any indicator of the rest of the season, then I bet it will be a great one. My time here has already been full of birds, birds, and more birds. Did I mention that there’s lots of birds here?
The first week was jam packed with birding, interspersed, of course, among the various tasks necessary to get the island in working order. Morning walks in the forest proved very productive. One day in particular resulted in 17 species of warbler in addition to Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a Wood Thrush, and flycatchers (see the full list of birds here). Only a few weeks in, we’ve already documented around 120 species. I’ve had a lot of personal firsts since coming here. Many of the seabirds nesting here, like Arctic Tern and Black Guillemot, are new for me and I am thrilled to get to work closely with these species. I had an up-close encounter with my first Leach’s Storm-Petrel that we found while searching for their burrows. Just this morning I saw my first ever Razorbill.
We’ve already encountered plenty of birds beginning their breeding season. The Gray Catbirds and Common Yellowthroats sing constantly, and we have seen several species carrying nesting material. A few days ago, I found a Savannah Sparrow nest of five speckled eggs neatly hidden in a tuft of grass. My personal favorite breeding bird encounter came from a strange yet intriguing species – the American Woodcock. Ever since the first night we arrived, the woodcocks, sometimes called “timberdoodles”, have been calling and displaying, strutting their stuff for the ladies. After the sun sets, they spring into action. The males utter buzzy “peent” calls from the ground. Shortly after, they burst upwards into flight, their wings emitting an odd twittering sound as they traverse the dusk sky. After which, they drop back down to the ground and begin the cycle all over again. All of this activity made me suspect that they were breeding on Metinic. The next week, I was walking through the forest as we corralled the resident sheep to the south end of the island. While pushing through the thick understory, a woodcock flushed at my feet. Nearby, a lemon-sized chick sat motionless on the ground. It was a shock to find since they are masters of camouflage. Seeing the yellow-and-black, down-covered chick was a treat!
Speaking of treats, we were also pleasantly surprised to get a care package last week with our latest food delivery. Friends of Maine Coastal Islands NWR member Carol sent us homemade vegan granola and muffins. Thank you, Carol! This was a welcomed surprise. As someone who cooks 99% of her meals in the microwave (and who is currently living on an island that is dreadfully devoid of any microwaves), a delicious, crunchy treat was exactly what I needed.
Birds aren’t the only critters I’ve been pursuing since I’ve been here. As a moth fanatic, I was eager to see what species are present on the island. The MCINWR staff have been very gracious in allowing me to conduct a moth survey on Metinic this summer. Surveys are a breeze. Each moth that comes to the trap at night is photographed then released to go about its nocturnal business per usual. One of my favorite finds is a three-inch-long apple sphinx moth. So far, moth numbers have been low, but I suspect that will change as the weather warms. Along with the warming temperatures comes the butterflies. American Coppers, a penny-sized butterfly with slaty gray hindwings and orange forewings, frequently sun themselves along the ATV trail, adding a bit of color to our daily walks.
I’m excited to see what plants and animals pop up in the next few weeks. More updates to come!
Happy birding,
Adrianna
Summer with the seabirds 