The future of Maine's seabird nesting islands

Those living in the Gulf of Maine region may be interested in my cover story in the current issue of Down East magazine, "Nature's Refuge."

The piece describes the challenges facing a little-known federal entity -- the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge -- which has played a central role in helping puffins, terns, and other seabirds regain a foothold by protecting the islands they breed on. Much of the work is done on a shoestring budget and in collaboration with other charitable organizations.

Factoid of the Day: among the fifty island currently in the refuge's possession is Seal Island, a former military gunnery range still contaminated with unexploded bombs and artillery shells. Another, Machias Seal Island, is claimed and occupied by Canada.