2024 Coastal Splendor: Puffins, Warblers, Lobster and Lodging by the Edge of the Sea

Description

Petit Manan Island is home to an active seabird breeding colony. Schoodic Institute staff will take you there on a boat trip to observe nesting Atlantic Puffin, Common Eider, Razorbill, and Arctic and Common terns. We will also search coastal waters and ledges for Gray and Harbor seals, Bald Eagle, and Peregrine Falcon. Back at Schoodic Institute, we will enjoy locally-sourced foods, including fresh-caught lobster. Birding highlights include nesting warblers, bobolinks, and a field trip to nearby Blueberry Barrens in search of Upland Sandpiper. Participant lodging is nestled within earshot of pulsing ocean waves on the campus of Schoodic Institute. This promises to be an exciting 3-day experience! Acadia National Park and the Downeast Maine region feature world class glacially-sculpted volcanic mountain-top balds, as well as nearshore ledges bathed by impressive tidal fluctuations. Treeless offshore islands are home to iconic breeding birds as are the spruce-dominated peninsulas that reach out into the cold coastal waters of the Gulf of Maine. Join us for a brief and exciting journey through this scenic landscape in search of its fascinating birdlife. Day 1: Begins on the campus of Schoodic Institute with check-in at 3:00pm. We’ll gather at 4:00pm for introductions and an introduction to the ecology of the Gulf of Maine from the vantage of Schoodic Point. We’ll enjoy an opening reception prior to dinner, and evening presentation on puffin restoration efforts and preparation for the upcoming puffin cruise. Day 2: An optional morning bird walk on campus – think warblers – before breakfast! Breakfast is served from 7:00am to 8:00am in Schooner Commons. We’ll then pack for a day afield and travel 40 minutes or so to the boat launch in Steuben for a 2-hour cruise to Petit Manan Island. This is our best chance to see Atlantic puffin, razorbill, common murre, and several tern species as we circumnavigate the island, one of just 5 islands in Maine inhabited by Atlantic puffin, thanks to restoration efforts. Seals and other wildlife are also possible. After lunch, which will be a field lunch at a bird-rich picnic spot, we’ll then inspect some nearby blueberry barrens to look for an assortment of birds, including upland sandpiper, vesper sparrow, and American kestrel. Of course, there will be other birds to see along the way. An evening discussion on the day’s experience, identification tips and review, and how to get the most out of eBird use will follow a scrumptious lobster dinner (6:00pm – 7:00pm). Day 3: Optional before-breakfast bird walk. After breakfast, we’ll have the option of a culminating stroll to Schoodic Point. Checkout is at 10:00am. Price of $785.00 is based upon double occupancy. Lodging upgrade options possible while available. To register, visit https://schoodicinstitute.org/event/2024-coastal-splendor-puffins-warblers-lobster-and-lodging-by-the-edge-of-the-sea/