It is that time of the year again, when a combination of factors can cause a decreased detection of birds, especially at bird feeders. Some years this is more noticeable than others, and based on the number of phone calls and messages we’ve been getting recently, there are a lot of people asking “where are […]
Warbler Walks at Evergreen Cemetery – Week 1
Each spring, Maine Audubon offers free bird walks (“warbler walks”) at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland, and we’ve just completed our first of two weeks there. The quick summary is that this week was incredible! Of the nine years I’ve been leading these walks, the last three days (10-12 May) have ranked in the Top 10 […]
RARE BIRD ALERT: STELLER’S SEA-EAGLE IS BACK (2023)
We’ve waited, we’ve debated, and now we know: The Steller’s Sea-Eagle is back! You’re probably well aware of the Amazing Saga of the Steller’s Sea-Eagle (video link) but if not, this is an incredibly rare eagle from Eastern Siberia that after moving across North America in 2021, spent the winter from 30 Dec 2021 – […]
RARE BIRD ALERT: COMMON RINGED PLOVER
This winter has been incredible for rare birds in Maine. From a Harris’s Sparrow in Turner, to the Sage Thrasher at Gilsland Farm, and sprinkle in Northern Lapwings (5 in Hodgdon, and one each in Thomaston�and Kennebunkport, a couple Townsend’s Solitaires, and the first New England record of Broad-tailed Hummingbird, there seems to be something […]
RARE BIRD ALERT: SAGE THRASHER
We tend to save most ‘rare bird alerts’ on this blog to national rarities like the Redwing in Portland or the famous Steller’s Sea-Eagle, but last week a bird considered rare anywhere along the east coast was found at Gilsland Farm, a Sage Thrasher! This Sage Thrasher was found during our weekly bird walk (held […]
Banding a rare Rufous Hummingbird
Here at Maine Audubon, each fall we encourage you to keep hummingbird feeders up. We write blog posts and newspaper articles and that is because while we all know Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are in Maine from the beginning of May, through the end of September, it is later in the fall that hummingbirds from western portions […]
Backyard Bird of the Month for October: House Sparrow
House Sparrows are a common sight in many backyards. Their constant presence and invasive designation makes them easy to overlook, but they can be an entertaining study, especially going into the fall as they change their appearance. Most of our native species need to molt (or replace) their feathers twice a year: once in the […]
2022 Bar Harbor Pelagic Trip Report
It was great to be back on the water for our annual pelagic trip out of Bar Harbor, after not running this trip since 2019. The offshore passage of Hurricane Earl sent some swells towards the Gulf of Maine, and some concerning forecasts leading up to the trip, but the day was absolutely incredible! Long […]
Backyard Bird of the Month for September: Hermit Thrush
As fall migration ramps up, birders should expect to see summer residents packing up and getting ready to move to their wintering ranges. The Hermit Thrush is one such migrant, a visually unassuming bird that has a recognizable and flute-like song often heard throughout northeastern woods. They are not typical visitors to feeders but as […]