The Fish Crow is a bird you have most likely seen, but may have never noticed. It is a distinct species of crow, yet it often associates with the ubiquitous American Crow, and the two species are almost indistinguishable in appearance. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the two next to one another and might notice […]
Birds
The Coastal Birds Crew has Fledged!
The 2025 Coastal Birds Project season has officially reached its end. As of Friday, August 22, all of the Piping Plover chicks have fledged and many are already flying south to their wintering grounds—with some flying as far as the Caribbean! This year, Maine fledged 251 chicks, which is just one bird shy of the […]
August Phenology Report: Hummingbird Pollination Syndrome
Last week, I saw a couple of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds whizzing around the nursery and perching in nearby trees. I love spotting these tiny and shiny birds—the only hummingbird native to New England. Even though this is the only species we typically see on the East Coast, they really pull their weight as pollinators; many native […]
State Releases Guidelines for Bird Safe Architecture
Compliance with Voluntary Guidelines Will Help Reduce Bird / Glass Collisions in Maine On Tuesday, August 5, the State of Maine’s Bureau of General Services (BGS) released final guidelines for incorporating bird-safe principles in publicly-funded buildings in Maine. The result of a law passed in 2023, the guidelines were developed in collaboration with Maine Audubon, […]
Backyard Bird of the Month for August: Red-bellied Woodpecker
If you don’t know any better, you might mistake the Red-bellied Woodpecker’s call for that of a frog, or perhaps a clown lost in the woods. This isn’t a bird you would have heard often if you grew up in Maine, but now their loud, rolling “kwurr” can be heard commonly in the southern part […]
Become a Shorebird Ambassador with Maine Audubon
Looking for a way to enjoy Maine’s beautiful coastline, engage with other people, and help our migrating shorebirds at the same time? Become a Shorebird Ambassador with Maine Audubon! Shorebird Ambassadors walk the Maine shoreline during migratory shorebird season (July-October) to both monitor the birds and to share the birds’ stories with the general public. […]
Backyard bird of the month for July: Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroats could be referred to as “gateway warblers.” They’re widespread and easy to spot (for a warbler). It’s quite an arresting sight when a male, all yellow throat and black eye mask, flits into the open, singing at eye level only a few yards away. Common Yellowthroats prefer brushy edge habitats, making them one […]
Coastal Birds Update: Storms and successes
Greetings from the Coastal Birds Crew! It’s hard to believe that we are already halfway through the survey season. So far, it’s been full of surprises, both good and challenging. We faced our first big challenge in May when a rare, spring nor’easter washed out 30 Piping Plover nests. Once the storm passed, our team […]
Trip Report: Arizona recap, join us in Ecuador!
In May, just before the spring migration really picked up in Maine, we led a tour to one of the birdiest places in the U.S.: Southeast Arizona! On this private tour with Field Guides Inc, we spent the trip with Cory Gregory (who we also traveled with to Oaxaca, MX, with in 2019) and targeted […]