This World Migratory Bird Day, we’re really embracing the theme “Every Bird Counts: Your Observations Matter.” This message that community science plays a critical role in conservation is one that feels especially close to home for us at Maine Audubon!
Community science is a big part of what we do, and honestly, it’s one of the most fun and rewarding ways to connect with nature. From our school vacation and summer camps, to our Homeschool Naturalists program and school field trips to Fields Pond Audubon Center, we love helping young people (and adults, too!) learn how to observe and collect data. Through initiatives like Project FeederWatch and backyard bird counts, the observations that are made during our programs contribute to real research and conservation work. Even our weekly bird walks at the Nature Center and the greater Bangor Region that are logged in eBird are part of that bigger picture.
If you’ve ever been curious about how to get involved, World Migratory Bird Day is a great place to start. We’ve got a full day planned on Saturday May 9, with guided bird walks, an introductory workshop on how to use the eBird app, and a Forestry for Maine Birds and Fish workshop with Maine Audubon’s Sarah Haggerty. There are lots of opportunities to jump in, ask questions, and learn something new, and it’s all free to participate!
Birds typically take the spotlight this time of year, but we’ve actually been participating in a ton of community science initiatives lately. This spring, you might have seen us out collecting data on rainy nights for the Maine Big Night Project, which helps track amphibians like frogs and salamanders as they make their migrations. If you’ve visited the Fields Pond center lately, you’ve probably seen the tank where we are raising endangered Atlantic salmon through the Maine Fish Friends program. Watching them grow from eggs to fry (tiny baby fish) and then releasing them into the nearby stream is always a highlight of the spring for me! You can hear more about other community science projects and how to participate through our Intro to iNaturalist webinar on May 12 and in-person follow-up session at Fields Pond on May 15 as well!
At the end of the day, it really does come back to the World Migratory Bird Day theme: every observation matters. Whether you’re spotting birds at your feeder, joining a walk, or helping track amphibians on a rainy night, you’re contributing to something bigger.
We hope you’ll join us on World Migratory Bird Day, Saturday, May 9, from 8 am–2 pm, and get involved in community science initiatives wherever you happen to be!
Schedule of events:
8-9:30 am: Bird Walk with Penobscot Valley Chapter members. Help us log as many species as possible at peak activity time!
10 am-12:30 pm: Forestry for Maine Fish Workshop, for landowners or foresters curious about managing bird habitat
1-2 pm: E-Bird Workshop with Nathaniel Austin. Learn how your observations can have an impact on bird conservation.
2 pm: Beginner Family Bird Walk
