Hobbies And Interests
Humpback Whale
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are large black whales with wart-like bumps along their backs. They are migratory and found in the Gulf of Maine mostly in April and May, although some stay throughout the summer until as late as September. When they frequent the Gulf, humpback whales are commonly sought out by North Atlantic whale watchers. Due to commercial hunting, mainly between 1905 and 1965, the humpback whale population dropped enough to place it under protection on the Federal Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the International Whaling Commission.
Roseate Terns
Roseate terns (Sterna dougallii) are filed under both the Federal Endangered Species Act and the Maine Endangered Species Act. They are coastal birds that makes nests in marine environments on islands, salt marshes and barrier beaches. These nests are protected as significant wildlife habitats under the Maine Natural Resource Protection Act. Roseate terns feed on small fish, including sand lance, white hake, four bearded rockling, herring and pollock. Commercial fishermen compete for their food, which is a cause for their dwindling population.
American Burying Beetle
The American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) is the only endangered beetle in Maine and is protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act. They get their name by their feeding and breeding habits. Adult beetles feed off the carcasses of birds and mammals. The males fight over these carcasses to win female affection. The winner and the female with whom he is to mate carry away the carcass, bury it, and lay their eggs in an underground chamber next to the carcass, which is then used to feed the beetle larvae when they hatch. They were first labeled as endangered in 1989.
Leatherback Turtle
Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) are the world's largest marine turtle. Adults reach up to 11 feet long and can weigh as much as 1,500 pounds. They can be found off the coast of Maine, where adults and their eggs are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. They were first put on the list in 1970. Leatherback turtles are nomadic, but they tend to nest in tropical and subtropical waters. They can stand the colder waters in the Gulf of Maine due to their unique ability to regulate their body temperature.