Something is going on with alcids… During most winters, birders strain their scopes along the coast, hoping to catch a glimpse of one of these generally elusive birds. Alcids (short for Alcidae, the family that includes our Atlantic Puffin, Thick-billed and Common Murres, Razorbill, Dovekie, and Black Guillemot, plus other much rarer species for Maine) are a pelagic species, meaning they generally stay offshore and only come to land for nesting. While a few alcids nest in Maine and are easy to see in summer (Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills, Black Guillemots, and Common Murres) others, like the more northerly nesting Dovekie and Thick-billed Murre can only be seen in winter. Even then birders need lots of luck, an east wind to blow the birds close to shore, or a storm to cause a “wreck” where alcids are forced to shore (often injured or in bad environments).
Beginning around February 1st this winter, alcids have been especially numerous along the coast. Sites like The Nubble Lighthouse, the Cliff Walk in Oguinquit, Two Lights State Park, Hermit Island, and Schoodic Point have had people reporting multiple Dovekies (a high of 14 at the Nubble) and nearly as many Thick-billed Murres nearshore. For those of you that like eBird data for tracking these occurrences, check out this link for frequency of Dovekies increasing to of 5% and a similar increase in Thick-billed Murres. We do not know exactly what is causing this increase. I did get to examine two alcids (a Thick-billed Murre and a Razorbill) that were salvaged from Pine Point Beach at the end of February and brought to Gilsland Farm were both very emaciated – a sign that these birds are probably not finding enough food. With such a small sample size and having not performed an autopsy, I’ll stop there in speculating. For now, I recommend birders take advantage of this phenomenal opportunity to see these usually scarce birds.
March Nor’easters
With the recent nor’easters we are likely to see an increase in these alcids being reported as birds get blown in. Everyone should be on the lookout for these birds that may be showing up in undesired locations, like inland lakes, or unfortunately roads and yards. Wet roads from an alcid’s high-flying perspective can appear like a safe place to land but unfortunately strands those birds in areas that they usually cannot takeoff from. If you find one of these birds displaced by the weather it may just need help getting back to the ocean. Don’t put yourself at risk anywhere near the surf so it can get back into the water. Limit your time near stranded bird to reduce stressing the animal. Stranded birds may also be injured – in that case we recommend you contact a certified wildlife rehabilitator like the Center for Wildlife in Cape Neddick (207-361-1400) of Avian Haven in Freedom (207-382-6761).
Image credit:
Dovekie Alle alle
© Kevin Couture
York, Maine, United States 16 Feb 2018
Macaulay Library ML86201491 eBird S42843314
