Ragged Island (Harpswell, Maine) facts for kids
Ragged Island (Harpswell, Maine) is a beautiful, privately owned island located in Harpswell, Maine. It's part of Cumberland County, Maine, and sits inside Casco Bay, which is a large bay in the Gulf of Maine. You can find it on a map at these coordinates: 43°43′39″N 69°56′13″W / 43.72750°N 69.93694°W.
The Island's Past: A Poet's Home
Ragged Island has an interesting history. It was once the summer home of a famous poet named Edna St. Vincent Millay. She lived there with her husband, Eugen Jan Boissevain, from 1933 until she passed away in 1950. Today, the island is still a private home.
Protecting Ragged Island's Wildlife
Ragged Island is a very important place for many different kinds of seabirds. These birds use the island to build their nests and raise their young. Some of the birds you might find nesting here include the eider duck, the black guillemot, the greater black-backed gull, the herring gull, and the osprey.
To help protect these birds and their homes, the Maine Coast Heritage Trust worked to save the island. In 2008, they received a special grant of $323,000 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This money helped them buy a "conservation easement" on the property. This easement means that the 76.6-acre (310,000 m2) natural area on Ragged Island will be protected forever. It ensures the seabirds will always have a safe place to nest.
Images for kids
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Ragged Island, shoreline
