This story first appeared in Island Journal , published by Island Institute.

On a warm July afternoon, Steve Smith sat outside a fish house in Otter Creek on Mount Desert Island, telling stories. There was the time it was “Blowin’ like a bastard from the north,” and his skiff capsized. A pair of park visitors heard Smith calling for help, hopped in a nearby rowboat and rescued him.

While Smith regaled me with this tale, a large gull landed gracelessly on a nearby piling, evidence that there was once a functioning dock here, now buried by debris from the 2024 winter storms.

“Jonathan!” Steve interrupted himself, calling to the gull. “No food today! Sorry,” and threw up his hands to reveal empty palms. The bird turned mechanically towards us and gave no indication it would accept no

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