Maine Seabird Biology and Conservation

Census nesting gulls/help seabirds in a hands-on program with Audubon

Service-learning program offered through Road Scholar May 29-June 3 and Sept 4-9, 2016

Take an active part in helping to restore Maine seabirds by joining pioneering researcher Dr. Stephen Kress, and other Project Puffin biologists with National Audubon Society's internationally renowned Seabird Restoration Program. Work alongside Audubon biologists to census a nesting colony of Herring Gulls, Great Black-backed Gulls, and Common Eiders. This session provides an opportunity to land on islands that are usually off limits and a chance to learn about seabird identification, bird banding, adaptations, migration, ecology and seabird conservation.

During this program you will help researchers conduct a detailed census of hundreds of gull eggs, chicks and eider nests to measure the health of nesting seabird colonies and assist with the removal of marine debris that can entangle seabirds. You will see puffins and terns at Eastern Egg Rock and the Great Blue Heron nesting colony on Wreck Island. Due to the large numbers of breeding birds on Eastern Egg Rock at this time, we will not land on Eastern Egg Rock. Weather permitting, we will land on Wreck Island to see the Great Blue Heron colony.

"I feel honored and proud about being able to help restore tern habitat. I'm grateful that I discovered this interesting and stimulating program and look forward to coming back!" - Sheila, New Jersey

This popular program is presented in association with Road Scholar (Elderhostel, Inc.). Participants should be able to disembark onto small landing boats and walk easily over uneven terrain and wet rocks.

Register for the program after by calling Road Scholar (toll-free) 1-800-454-5768, or register online. This popular program is presented in association with Road Scholar (Elderhostel, Inc.) and is open to adults 50+ years old. If you are under 50 years of age, please contact us directly at (843) 340-8673. Participants should be able to disembark onto small landing boats and walk easily over uneven terrain. Scholarships cannot be given to Road Scholar programs.

Price: $969 for shared housing; $1269 for single rooms. Call (843) 340-8673, or email hogisland@audubon.org for availability of the Helm private cabin (2 person occupancy, private bathroom, queen bed, porch, ocean view, $500 surcharge per person), the Puffin room in the Crow's Nest (2 person occupancy, private half-bath, $100 surcharge per person), and the Osprey Room (2 person occupancy, private bath, double bed, ocean view, $250 surcharge per person). To register for the Puffin room, Helm cabin, or Osprey room, first register for shared housing with Road Scholar for shared housing ($969) and then call (843) 340-8673 to arrange payment of surcharge.

Questions: For registration questions call Road Scholar; for questions regarding the program, lodging or meals, contact the Audubon Camp program manger at hogisland@audubon.org or (843) 340-8673. Additional information about accommodations can be found on the lodging and frequently asked questions pages.

Please note that for these programs, there are NO prerequisites, and less experienced/enthusiastic spouses/friends are more than welcome to enroll in all sessions!

Director
Stephen Kress, Director, Seabird Restoration Program

2016 Instructors
Pete Salmansohn, Education Coordinator, Seabird Restoration Program
Barbara Sullivan-Watts, Senior Marine Res. Scientist, Emerita, Unversity of Rhode Island