Least Bittern Nesting Record in Maine
Wilson PU and Longcore JR. 2011. Least Bittern Nesting Record in Maine
"In June 2001, we located an active Ixobrychus exilis (Least Bittern) nest in Bass Harbor marsh on Mount Desert Island, Hancock County, ME. Only 2 other descriptions of Least Bittern nests exist for Maine, although based on other breeding evidence, the species is known to breed elsewhere in the state. We found the nest in a 0.7-ha Typha sp. (cattail)-dominated area within a larger (3.5 ha) freshwater wetland located ?120 m from an 88-ha estuary. During the breeding season, most Least Bitterns in Maine and elsewhere are found in wetlands of greater size, usually >10 ha." Research/Management Recommendations: “Affording small wetlands protection from disturbance and degradation may enhance conservation of Least Bittern populations in Maine. Our observation may justify greater protection of small wetlands from destruction and for inclusion of small wetlands in surveys for this species.” /STUDY LOCATIONS:/ /MOUNT DESERT ISLAND/Bass Harbor Marsh/
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Wilson, Paul; Longcore, Jerry
- Date of Issue
- 2011
- Units
- ACAD
- Keywords
- Bass Harbor Marsh , Birds, Birds (Aves), Breeding, Herons & Bitterns (Ardeidae), Inventory, Migration, Monitoring, Mount Desert Island, Nests & Nesting, Rare Species, Threatened & Endangered Species, Wetland