Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids

Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge is a special place in Maine that protects nature. It's made up of over 50 islands off the coast and four areas on the mainland. All together, it covers more than 8,100 acres! This refuge stretches along over 250 miles of Maine's beautiful coastline.

It includes five smaller national wildlife refuges: Petit Manan, Cross Island, Franklin Island, Seal Island, and Pond Island. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service looks after this entire refuge system.

The main goal at Maine Coastal Islands Refuge is to help seabirds that nest there. They work to bring back and protect birds like common, Arctic, and endangered roseate terns, Atlantic puffins, razorbills, black guillemots, and many types of gulls and cormorants. They also protect common eiders. For over 25 years, the Service has worked hard to help these bird populations grow. Because of their efforts, many birds have returned to islands where they used to nest a long time ago.

Besides seabirds, other birds like wading birds and bald eagles also nest on the refuge islands. The areas on the mainland are home to songbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl. These mainland spots are also great places for people to go bird watching and hiking.

Amazing Wildlife and Habitats

The Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge has four mainland areas (about 4,277 acres) and 50 islands (about 3,895 acres). The islands spread out over 250 miles of the Maine coast. They are home to a huge variety of animals. Most of the islands in the refuge are very important for nesting birds. They provide homes for endangered and threatened species, seabirds that nest in large groups, wading birds, and waterfowl.

The types of habitats on the islands are very different. Some islands have thick forests of red spruce and balsam fir trees. These are perfect for nesting bald eagles and wading birds. Other islands have wide-open areas with mixed grasses and raspberries. These spots are great for nesting terns, common eiders, and many birds that migrate from warmer places.

The rocky ledges around the islands are perfect nesting spots for Atlantic puffins, razorbills, and black guillemots. The areas between the tides around the islands and mainland provide lots of small creatures for migrating and wintering waterfowl and shorebirds to eat. The mix of different land habitats and the large tidal areas create feeding, breeding, and migration spots for over 320 different kinds of birds!

Seabird Restoration Projects

Eight of the islands in the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge are part of special seabird restoration projects. The main goal of these projects is to help common, Arctic, and roseate terns, Atlantic puffins, and razorbills start breeding again on islands where they used to nest. The refuge and its conservation partners have worked together, and their efforts have been very successful. All five of these bird species have seen their populations grow a lot because of this work.

Mainland Habitats

The four mainland parts of the refuge are located in the towns of Corea, Gouldsboro, Steuben, and Milbridge, Maine. These areas also offer different kinds of habitats for many species. Most of the land on these four areas is covered by old forests. However, the refuge also protects several salt marshes, a mix of different freshwater wetlands, and some grassland and blueberry fields. Thousands of migrating waterfowl use the freshwater wetlands on Petit Manan Point during the fall months.

Refuges Within the Complex

The Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge includes these five smaller refuges:

• Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge
• Franklin Island National Wildlife Refuge
• Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge
• Pond Island National Wildlife Refuge
• Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge

Lighthouses

Several islands with lighthouses have been given to the Maine Coastal Islands NWR from the U.S. Coast Guard. This happened because these islands are important nesting places for seabirds.

• Egg Rock Light (Maine)
• Libby Island Light
• Matinicus Rock Light
• Petit Manan Light
• Pond Island Light
• Two Bush Island Light