Summary of 2008 Field Season on Machias Seal Island, NB
Captain Andy Patterson and his boat, Barbara Frost landed the Machias Seal Island set-up crew on
a sunny and calm 15 May. Travis Clarke (ACWERN MSc), Kelly Boadway (ACWERN MSc
candidate), Marie-Paule Godin (UNB Forestry Technician), and Liam Paull (UNB Engineering PhD
candidate) were kind enough to help the 2008 field crew, Anne Kirsten Bowser (ACWERN MSc
candidate) and field assistant, Manuel Ballesteros (MSc University of La Rochelle, France) with the
set-up. A third person was not hired this year based on the assumption that the tern colony would
abandon and the workload would be decreased. As a result, there were a few extremely busy weeks
where the help of Tony Diamond, Dorothy Diamond, Liam Paull, and Travis Clarke was needed.
For the first time in 14 years, Machias Seal Island’s long-term seabird research program was
supervised by a rookie graduate student. Historically, graduate students spent a minimum of two
years on MSI which allowed the senior, experienced student to direct the research and train a new
leader for the following year. The 2008 season, therefore, offered a unique opportunity to test the
island protocol and to critically evaluate data recording methods that have been in place for many
years. There were several key changes in datasheet layout, database organization, and data entry.
Ultimately, the changes should allow easier comparison of yearly data and quicker year-end
analysis and report writing. Additionally, two new tasks were implemented in 2008: the twice-daily
gull count, used to asses gull activity on the island throughout the season, and the “Week in
Review” report, which allowed principal investigator, Tony Diamond, to stay apprised of
developments on the island.
Notwithstanding the potential benefits of “fresh eyes” on the research protocol, the disadvantage of
having inexperienced personnel on the island was realized in their lack of appreciation for the
absence of the tern colony. MSI experienced its fourth successive breeding failure of Arctic and
Common Terns despite encouraging early signs. The first landing occurred on 18 May, the first egg
was found on 28 May, and the last landing occurred on 17 June. Often the birds did not stay longer
than several hours during the daytime, although they were often heard late at night and early
morning. Island attendance was sporadic at best and nest depredation was severe. No tern bands
were read or applied. Of almost 100 tern eggs recorded, none hatched.
Notwithstanding the potential benefits of “fresh eyes” on the research protocol, the disadvantage of
having inexperienced personnel on the island was realized in their lack of appreciation for the
absence of the tern colony. MSI experienced its fourth successive breeding failure of Arctic and
Common Terns despite encouraging early signs. The first landing occurred on 18 May, the first egg
was found on 28 May, and the last landing occurred on 17 June. Often the birds did not stay longer
than several hours during the daytime, although they were often heard late at night and early
morning. Island attendance was sporadic at best and nest depredation was severe. No tern bands
were read or applied. Of almost 100 tern eggs recorded, none hatched.
Common Murres, Common Eiders, and Leach’s Storm Petrels continued to share the island with the
acids. On several occasions, eider ducklings were found in freshwater ponds – lending credibility to
a theory about marine ducklings benefitting from fresh water. Storm-petrels seemed to fall out of
the sky like raindrops this season. Many hours were spent grubbing petrel burrows and many nights
spent scooping the birds off the lawn for banding. A total of 114 petels were handled. This effort
was driven by keen and experienced field researcher, Manuel. Manuel also observed a Black
Guillemot adult with fish in its bill. He then successfully triangulated the nest and located the chick.
This is the first ever confirmed breeding of Black Guillemot on MSI.
In addition to the daily data collection and the long-term research, the field crew conducted some
sampling for burrow density on the island using a new tool, the burrowscope. 2m2 plots were
chosen randomly throughout the island and the number of suspected puffin burrows was recorded.
The crew noticed a somewhat obvious trend where increased surface guano was found in higher
burrow density plots. The burrowscope was also very useful for checking the status of monitored
puffin burrows.
