The Magic School Bus set me up for a lifetime of disappointment. In this excellent kids’ book and TV series, students set off on wild field trips in a bus that could transform into a spaceship or a submarine or . . . it could also shrink! In the real world, I can use binoculars […]
Birds
Birdability Week 2025! Events and a Fun Birding Volunteer Opportunity
Maine Audubon is committed to helping everyone get outside to enjoy wildlife, but it’s easier for some than others. Those with disabilities, health concerns, or other accessibility issues may have a much harder time. A lack of information about the relative accessibility of different outdoor sites is part of the problem. We’re working this October […]
Backyard Bird of the Month for October: American Redstart
Fall migration gives us a second chance to see trees full of normally secretive warblers, though some species have been fairly conspicuous all summer. American Redstarts are striking warblers that breed in Maine. Females and young birds have gray upperparts with a patch of yellow under each wing and yellow on the outer tail feathers. […]
Bird Mural Takes Flight in Bangor
What was just a worn cement retaining wall on Broadway in Bangor last month is now becoming a vibrant celebration of birds, native plants, and community spirit. The Maine Audubon Mural, the newest commission by Bangor Beautiful, can be seen on the highly visible stretch of wall near the Family Dollar on State Street. Passed […]
Backyard Bird of the Month for September: Fish Crow
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 […]
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 […]