Message from RALPH ELDRIDGE
MACHIAS-SEAL ISLAND is A unique place and seabird colonies are beyond the experience of most people. Even those who visit the island or work here don't have an opportunity to see some of the events. This is an attempt to share some of that.
This island hosts the southern-most colony of ATLANTIC PUFFINS in the WEST ATLANTIC. It also has a major regional colony of RAZORBILLS and a sizable colony of COMMON MURRES.
In addition to the ALCID SPECIES, it is the breeding home for some 2000 COMMON TERNS and 5000 ARCTIC TERNS, >200 COMMON EIDERS, several hundred LEACHES STORM PETRELS and a few SPOTTED SANDPIPERS and SAVANNAH SPARROWS.
The island is on the route of many migrating species; far enough from the mainland to minimize human disturbance; untreed, which facilitates observation; has an area of just under 15 acres, which concentrates the birds. It is also far enough from the mainland that pelagic birds, marine mammals, large sharks, bluefin tuna, and other species not usually seen from land, are frequently observed.
Other galleries depict my home region, the southwestern corner of New Brunswick, Canada.
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