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 sure you’re prepared. We’ve collected some resources here, including blogs from Maine Audubon, fun and useful links, and a way to share your experiences with us.
Start here > Preparing for the April Eclipse . Our blog post covers the what, where, what you can do, and what wildlife might be doing.
Join us > Maine Audubon will host two Eclipse Watch parties, at Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden and at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth. Feel free to drop in between 3 and 4 pm to join our naturalists, birders, and educators as we observe wildlife at our sanctuaries. At Gilsland Farm, Falmouth peak coverage is 3:31 pm. At Fields Pond, Holden peak coverage is 3:32 pm.
Be prepared > Our Nature Store has eclipse glasses for sale in the Nature Store and children’s books about eclipses too. Get the glasses while supplies last! Shop online for pick-up at Gilsland Farm.
Read more > Julia Bayly, writing in the Bangor Daily News, reports on what animal behavior we might expect. “Birds, animals and reptiles, some of which likely will become confused or unsettled when they are plunged into a mid-day darkness. . . This will be most noticeable among animals that are nocturnal or have their daily activities scheduled by the sun, according to animal and eclipse experts.” Read the article here >
Share > We encourage the Maine Audubon community to watch their local wildlife carefully, and report interesting behavior on eBird or iNaturalist, and send your experiences, anecdotes, and photos to eclipse@maineaudubon.org.