As we enter into March we can see the signs that winter is starting to fade into the rearview mirror. Temperatures are feeling warmer and daylight hours are longer, giving us more reasons to get outside. Spring and the months just before it are pivotal times for many ecosystems and are often a …
News
Francesca Gundrum named Director of Advocacy at Maine Audubon
Maine Audubon is pleased to announce that Francesca “Ches” Gundrum has been promoted to Director of Advocacy. Gundrum holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College and a Masters in Wildlife Ecology (Human Dimensions of Wildlife Science) from the University of Maine. She started …
Amphibians are on the Move: Prepare for Big Night!
Things are starting to spring, and even sing! We often look to the skies as birds return to Maine in spring, and we start hearing bird songs. But let’s remember to look down as well as up, and listen for other sounds like the calls of Spring Peepers! Maine’s incredible reptiles and amphibians, or …
Announcing the Bringing Nature Home plant genus of the year!
Following on last year’s popular introduction of a Plant of the Year, this year we have expanded our choice to name a Plant Genus of the Year: Swida, or shrubby dogwoods! The botanical name for shrubby dogwoods is Swida, recently changed from Cornus. They are part of the Cornaceae family, which …
Preparing for the April Eclipse: What Does Wildlife Do in the Dark?
Hopefully you've heard by now, but there's a major astronomical event on the way. On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will occur over North America, and a big swath of Maine is in the "path of totality." It's going to be a big deal no matter where you are in Maine, so we wanted to make …
Backyard Bird of the month for March: Mourning Dove
The “mourning” song of the Mourning Dove is one of the first birdsongs many people learn, partly due to the abundance of this species. They are one of the most widespread species in North America, and have benefited greatly from human development. These habitat generalists are found everywhere …
Making beginner birding more accessible
This spring, we are increasing the accessibility of our birding programs with Accessible Beginner Birding at Gilsland Farm. If you’ve been unsure about joining a bird walk in the past, this is the one for you! Once a month, starting on March 9, from 10 am to noon, we will meet for an outing intended …
Summer Camp Registration opens March 5 & 6
It’s hard to believe we’re already gearing up for another season of summer camps! We wanted to share some important dates and frequently asked questions to help prepare for summer camp sign ups opening this spring! Online summer camp registration will fall on Tuesday, March 5 and Wednesday, March …
Sanctuary Spotlight: How Tagging Hinders Tree Health
Merriam-Webster defines wilderness as an area essentially undisturbed by human activity together with its naturally developed life community. For those of us that enjoy recreating outdoors, that definition can vary depending on our intended use and interest. But there is one overarching theme that …