Maine is the most forested state in the nation (with almost 90 percent of forest land) so we might be forgiven for taking trees for granted. But many of the tree species in Maine are or have been under threat. Fungal diseases have attacked chestnut and elm trees and invasive insects are threatening hemlocks, oaks, […]
The Forecast? Loons Won’t Nest in Cloudy Waters
As the field season comes to a close, the loons are beginning to make their way back to the ocean and Loon Restoration Project interns are wrapping up their field seasons with Maine Audubon. Earlier in the season, after reading a study focused on loons and their reactions to poor water clarity, intern Anne Heissenbuttel […]
Honoring trees at Gilsland Farm
How do you know when a tree has reached its natural life expectancy, or when it has become decayed and presents a public safety issue? And how do you balance that with the joy it brings to humans who enjoy its beauty and appreciate the shade it offers? What about the wildlife it supports? Those […]
Feeling the impact: End of season thoughts from the Loon Restoration Crew
Above photo: The 2024 Loon Restoration Crew. Top Row (left to right): Tracy Hart, Brooke Adam, Autumn Dorr, Anne Heissenbuttel. Bottom Row (left to right): Marley Cloutier, Oskar Mattes, Ethan Daly. © Oskar Mattes By Ethan Daly, Loon Restoration Team Technician The total impact of conservation work is rarely seen by those who make it happen. […]
Coastal Birds Crew: A Bittersweet Farewell
By Thea Kastelic, Coastal Birds Crew Field Technician The summer is drawing to a close, and with it, the work of the Maine Audubon Coastal Birds Crew comes to an end. After spending months lugging heavy equipment, surveying, and managing shorebirds up and down Maine’s brutal and beautiful sandy coast, the crew is excited for […]
Help Loons on the Fourth of July
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 many […]
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 the tides, […]
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 strategically placed raft […]
Coastal Birds Project given The Wildlife Society�s 2024 Award of Recognition
Maine Audubon is pleased to announce that Maine Audubon�s Coastal Birds Project has received the Maine Chapter of The Wildlife Society�s 2024 Award of Recognition. This award recognizes individuals, groups, organizations, businesses, or industries in Maine who have made noteworthy contributions to wildlife management or conservation, or to education of the public about wildlife. The […]