Maine might add 2 birds to its endangered list

By PATRICK WHITTLE, Associated Press

Updated 6:28 pm, Friday, August 1, 2014

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine environmental officials are proposing to add two bird species to the state's list of endangered animals.

The species, the black-crowned night heron and great cormorant, could be upgraded from threatened to endangered, State Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife spokesman Mark Latti said. The change is subject to public hearings and approval by the state Legislature.

The cormorants' population has declined to about 50 pairs in the state, down from about 250 pairs in the late 1990s, said Brad Allen, a state wildlife biologist. The herons have dwindled to about 200 pairs in the state, down from about 400 pairs in the state 1980s, he said.

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