Maine Audubon has been working to protect Common Loons for decades, so we know that the Fourth of July is one of the busiest periods on Maine lakes and ponds. The potential for conflict is high, especially since many loons have vulnerable chicks by their sides in July or may still be nesting. In …
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Backyard Bird of the Month for July: Song Sparrow
The song of the male Song Sparrow is one of the most frequently-heard vocalizations across the continent. The exact song varies by region and individual, and individuals will often sing multiple distinct songs, but they always follow a discernable pattern: two to four introductory notes, followed by …
Building Bridges at Mast Landing Audubon Sanctuary
In the spring of 2024, I was tasked with taking a closer look at the existing trail networks that weave through all Maine Audubon sanctuaries. As with most trails throughout the northeast, I observed wet, rooty, and rocky conditions that are often indicative of a trail experiencing erosion at an …
Scarborough Marsh Canoe Tours: Take tides into account
Our guided canoe tours are a great way to explore the Dunstan River from the water, offering a chance to see cormorants, egrets, and other birds up close, and experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the marsh. Because of the changes from storms this past winter and shifts we are experiencing in …
Happy Fourth of July: Loon Restoration Project Update
By Ethan Daly, Loon Restoration Team Technician I was recently checking in on one of our new loon nesting raft sites near Gray, Maine. As I stood on the shore, speaking with a volunteer about how to minimize human disturbances to the raft, we watched two paddle boarders weave in between our …
Wildlife in Maine’s “Queen City”
Experiencing wilderness is not always synonymous with urban dwelling. But groups of Bangor area residents joined Maine Audubon staff on Saturday, June 15, to experience their city in a new way. It all started at 9 am with a bird walk along the Penobscot River led by Maine Audubon Staff Naturalist …
Portland City Council Passes Bird-Friendly Buildings Ordinance
Bird-glass collisions kill up to one billion birds in the U.S. each year, and BirdSafe Maine has been working since 2020 to understand the problem in Maine. We’ve done a lot in that short time, including our recent awards, our statewide legislation, school curriculum, years of collision monitoring, …
Let’s Give Least Terns Some Love!
While we often focus on our Piping Plover friends, another endangered species we protect is Least Terns. Least Terns are small seabirds listed as endangered in Maine; they were the first species listed under Maine’s own Endangered Species Act. Least Terns and their more abundant cousins, Common …
A year of after-school programs brings wonder
In May, we finished up our school year with LearningWorks. The goal of LearningWorks AfterSchool (LWAS) is to provide “free, high-quality after-school and summer programs for students in grades Pre-K-5 who are academically performing below or partially below grade level and may not have the …