One of my favorite autumn traditions is to paddle my kayak on Casco Bay to watch the sun set and the full moon rise. This week, I did exactly that to celebrate the Harvest Moon. Low in the sky and about 180 degrees apart, the sun and moon sent shimmering beams on the nearly flat bay in the direction of my kayak. (The above photo by Linda Woodard, however, is from a full moon paddle at Scarborough Marsh!)
As the nights grow cooler, I note the increasing number of migrating waterfowl in the bay. A couple of crisp mornings prior, I had a Black Guillemot slowly swim toward the bow of my kayak as I was distracted by a curious seal just behind my stern. A loon called off in the distance.
Moments like these make me grateful to live in a state with an amazing assortment of wildlife and wildlife habitat. I’ve traveled enough to realize the preciousness of our natural resources, and to never take them for granted.
We just posted a new blog piece about Doug Hitchcox and Ches Gundrum’s trip to Capitol Hill to celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of our bedrock wildlife and habitat protection acts, the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Like the wildlife experience that I described above, we don’t take the ESA for granted, and we’re pleased that our congressional delegation also embraces its value.
As described in Maine Public’s excellent new multimedia program, Borealis, we do a substantial amount of our work via our community science programs. Watch as host Aislinn Sarnacki profiles the Annual Loon Count.
Maine Audubon programs rely on your support to conduct our highly regarded education, conservation, and advocacy programs, as well as maintain our beautiful centers and sanctuaries. Please support us by renewing your membership and by responding generously to our Fall Appeal, which will be arriving in your mail boxes soon. You can also support us by attending our events and programs; we have some terrific ones lined up this fall, both online and in person around the state. Please invite your family and friends; this helps us broaden our community.
Also, thank you to the hundreds of you who joined us for the recent Portside Real Estate Group’s outstanding Autumn Equinox event at Gilsland Farm. What a way to kick off autumn! We’re grateful to the Portside team and other generous corporate partners for their strong support of our important work. Our work depends on a broad and diverse community and our team works hard to craft programs that make everyone feel welcome. It takes all of us to keep Maine’s wildlife and wildlife habitat thriving. That’s the inspiration for Maine Audubon’s new tagline: Your Wildlife Community.
Here’s to autumn, wildlife, and community!
