Wading Birds

Volunteer Adventures

Wading Birds

Stratton Island in Casco Bay is home to the largest mixed heronry in Maine. Owned by Maine Audubon and managed by Project Puffin, the island boasts nesting for four species of terns and five species of wading birds.

Herons are highly susceptable to disturbance and access is restricted to research staff who make very limited visits to establish numbers and productivity. The following photos - with one exception as noted - were taken in 2006 during a brief check of a small number of nests being monitored for productivity. Click on Photo to Enlarge.

Island Supervisor Checking Nest Content

Egret Chicks

Snowy Egret Chick with "Golden Slippers"

Five species of wading birds currently nest on Stratton Island: Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Glossy Ibis and Black-crowned Night Heron.

Not known to nest in Maine, three Yellow-crowned night herons visited Stratton Island following the breeding season in 2005. A photo taken through a spotting scope is featured to the right.

Adult Great Egrets

Glossy Ibis Chicks with 1 Infertile Egg

Older Egret and Ibis Chicks "Branched Out"

Yellow-crowned Night Heron, 2005 Visitor