On Nov. 16, Maine Audubon’s Advocacy Team traveled to Harvard Law School as invitees to a conference called The Endangered Species Act: The Next 50 Years. The event was billed as a place to “bring together scholars, policymakers, and conservationists who will collaborate to assess lessons learned and propose innovative strategies for the next 50 […]
BirdSafe Maine – Fall 2024 Season Recap!
BirdSafe Maine‘s Fall 2024 migration season concluded on Oct. 31, our fifth fall on the streets. In that time we’ve made some amazing progress in that time—highlighted by a new bird safe architecture ordinance in Portland and a new law to create statewide guidelines—but this fall we enjoyed a very satisfying realization of the effectiveness […]
Voting Resources – 2024
Maine Audubon wants every eligible voter to have the opportunity to cast their ballot this November. Planning ahead can help ensure your participation in this essential aspect of our democracy. ⭐ Election Day 2024 is Tuesday, November 5 ⭐ Below are tools you can use to prepare for the upcoming election, including information on registering to vote […]
What the Supreme Court’s Chevron Deference Ruling Means for Our Work
In late June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on a case with the potential for outsized impacts on the work that Maine Audubon does. The majority decision for Loper Bright Enterprises et al. v. Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce, et al. overturned a longstanding doctrine giving federal agencies the “benefit of the doubt” when executing […]
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, and numerous pre- and post-construction consultations. We’ve […]
BirdSafe Maine Announces Winners of Inaugural Bird Safe Awards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 28, 2024 MAINE AUDUBON media@maineaudubon.org BirdSafe Maine Announces Winners of Inaugural Bird Safe Awards BirdSafe Maine–a partnership between Maine Audubon, the University of Southern Maine, and the Portland Society for Architecture–honors companies, schools, and individuals working to protect birds from window strikes FALMOUTH, ME — As many as 988 million birds […]
Planting Staghorn Sumac
Spring snowstorms can be a challenge for everyone. For humans ready to put away shovels and snowblowers, storms can be a real annoyance. For early migrant birds looking to feed on insects, blizzards can be a real threat. In the thick of a snowstorm in late March 2024 I witnessed a large flock of American […]
Maine Legislature Passes Suite of Bills to Protect Maine�s Lakes
The Maine Legislature this week finalized a set of bills intended to protect and enhance water quality on freshwater lakes and ponds. The bills, each passing with bipartisan support, tackle a variety of emerging freshwater issues, including aquatic invasive species, shoreland zoning, and wake boats. “Our freshwater lakes and ponds are a core part of […]
Preparing for the April Eclipse: What Does Wildlife Do in the Dark?
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 […]