News & Notes: Conservation Issues

Since we are rained out of birding this morning here is a report from the other day. On Tuesday we withstood the light rain and mist (and a late down pour) to enjoy the range of habitat in this wonderful Freeport site. While the light made it hard to make some species there was a lot of activity to view and many other interesting sights. The light and height of the birds did not make for the best photography day but that’s only part of the fun anyway!

Full species list:

• Canada Goose
• Mallard
• Osprey
• Spotted Sandpiper
• Solitary Sandpiper
• Herring Gull
• Hairy Woodpecker
• Empidonax sp.
• Eastern Phoebe
• Great Crested Flycatcher
• Eastern Kingbird
• Blue-headed Vireo
• Tree Swallow
• Bank Swallow
• Barn Swallow
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Tufted Titmouse
• White-breasted Nuthatch
• Brown Creeper
• Gray Catbird
• Ovenbird
• Black-and-white Warbler
• Nashville Warbler
• Common Yellowthroat
• American Redstart
• Magnolia Warbler
• Yellow Warbler
• Chestnut-sided Warbler
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Prairie Warbler
• Black-throated Green Warbler
• Canada Warbler
• Song Sparrow
• Swamp Sparrow
• White-throated Sparrow
• White-crowned Sparrow
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak
• Bobolink
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Common Grackle
• American Goldfinch

Guest Judy Camuso, wildlife biologist with Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife joins us to talk wildlife habitat. We focus on vernal pools, New England cottontail, brook trout and other fish, birds, and more…

Reporting Period: May 7 – 13, 2013
Area: State of Maine
Compilers: Doug Hitchcox

Noteworthy Species Mentioned:

• Redhead
• Tricolored Heron
• White-faced Ibis+
• Black Vulture
• Lesser Black-backed Gull
• Caspian Tern
• Common Murre
• Red-headed Woodpecker
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
• Golden-winged Warbler
• Summer Tanager
• Orchard Oriole

Continue reading →

Reporting Period: April 29 – May 6, 2013
Area: State of Maine
Compilers: Doug Hitchcox

Noteworthy Species Mentioned:

• Redhead
• White-faced Ibis+
• Sandhill Crane
• Northern Lapwing+
• Iceland Gull
• Lesser Black-backed Gull
• Glaucous Gull
• Red-headed Woodpecker
• Louisiana Waterthrush

Continue reading →

In this episode we discuss financing Maine’s natural resources agencies and specifically funding the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Guest: Maine Senator Emily Cain, District 30, Chair Government Oversight Committee and member of the Appropriations Committee.

Representatives from each of Maine Audubon’s 7 regional chapters gathered in Lubec recently for a semi-annual exchange of information and ideas. Volunteer-run organizations, the chapters are a local presence for Maine Audubon’s work of conserving Maine’s wildlife and wildlife habitat, organizing programs, walks, and events.

If you belong to Maine Audubon and live in one of the areas highlighted on this map consider yourself a member of that local chapter too!

In this episode we talk moose and moose management policies with guest Ed Pineau, an avid hunter and co-founder of Pineau Policy Associates.

Join Maine Audubon and the Biodiversity Research Institute for a great opportunity to learn about bird conservation and how to educate others about bird conservation!

This customized version of Flying WILD includes a trip to a bird banding station where participants will be able to see the banding of migratory birds and learn of the research being performed by Biodiversity Reach Institute. The workshop also will include activities involving language arts, social science and math experiences, coupled with community outreach and service learning applications, Flying WILD offers a whole-school approach to environmental education using birds as the focus.

This workshop is for educators and people interested in spreading the word to the public about birds. Targeted for the middle-school audience, though widely adaptable to all grade levels, Flying WILD offers practical hands-on classroom and outdoor field investigation experiences connecting real-world experiences in bird biology, conservation and natural history.  For more information about Flying WILD go to http://www.flyingwild.org

• When: May 10, 2013, From 7am to 1pm
• Where: Maine Audubon and Riverpoint Sanctuary in Falmouth
• Cost: $35
• Register: Learn more and register here »
• Questions? Call Linda Woodard at 207-415-8331.

This past Thursday a large and enthusiastic group joined staff naturalist Mike Windsor for a walk around our Falmouth based sanctuary. Going on a bird walk with knowledgable birders and experts like Mike opens your eyes and ears to all that is around us. As we await full on warbler wildness there are many species to keep us occupied.

Note: The next two weeks for the greater Portland area (May 6-17) Mike will lead free Warbler Walks M-Th at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland, and Capisic Pond Fridays. And if you are in the greater Bangor area the Neighborhood Bird Walks begin on May 8.

Whether you are an avid birder or just wondering what’s out there beyond the everyday join us for a walk during bird migration!

Spring ephemeral wildflowers are wonderful, often smaller than a pencil eraser and exquisite. Staff Naturalist Mike Windsor led a group through the use of Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide (available in our Nature Store) as we walked the Gilsland Farm sanctuary trails in search of any signs of spring. Mike only suggests Newcomb’s guides as a good starting place. There are other different types of guides but this guide teaches you to really see the plant as you identify the flower type, plant type, and leaf type all before looking at the color of the flower.

Mike will be leading a wildflower walk each month at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center as the season unfolds. Join us for one »