In the same way that blossoms started to unfurl and migratory birds began to appear, so too did restless Maine Audubon staffers, tentative at first, and then all at once in a glorious riot of activity. May was the busiest month we’ve seen in ages, in terms of our interaction with the public. …
Community Science
Snapshots from Christmas Bird Count Weekend 2020
Not even a pandemic and a fresh 19 inches of snow stopped Maine birders from taking part in the Christmas Bird Count this weekend. The official season for the 121st annual Count, or CBC, runs between December 14, 2020 and January 4, 2021, though many of the regions held their event this Saturday, …
Stream Explorers . . . explore streams!
Kick net? Check. Ice cube tray? Check. Tiny paintbrush to help pick up tiny water bugs? Check! Armed with these tools, volunteers embarked on treasure hunts as part of the Maine Stream Explorers, a community science project that Maine Audubon launched in partnership with the Maine Department of …
Notes on the 2020 Loon Count!
This year marked the thirty-seventh straight year that Maine Audubon has engaged volunteers, early in the morning on the third Saturday of July, to count loons on lakes across the state. The 2020 Maine Annual Loon Count stands out in this long-running tradition for a few reasons. Falling this …
Swap Your Lead for New Fishing Tackle!
Since we all have a bit more time at home these days, why not get the lead out of your tackle boxes? Beginning April 1, Maine Audubon and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are partnering with local retailers to provide $10 store vouchers to anglers who turn in at least one ounce …
Results of the 2019 Loon Count
For the 36th year in a row, community scientists all over Maine ventured onto their local lakes and ponds on the third Saturday in July this year to count Common Loons. In total, 1, 414 people participated in the count this year (up from 1,350 in 2018), covering 292 lakes. Click here to see …
2019 Loon Count Roundup! Images, Video, and Headlines from the Big Day!
The 36th Annual Maine Loon Count was conducted this past Saturday, July 20. It was a hot, steamy morning ... perfect for cruising around a Maine lake looking for loons! Each year the loon count attracts more than 1,000 volunteers counting on more than 500 lakes. Maine Audubon biologists will be …
Andy’s Note: “Camp” is a surefire shortcut to a smile
Camp. If you live in Maine, or spend at least part of your summertime in this magnificent state, the word “camp” is a surefire shortcut to a smile. Furthermore, that smile likely has roots back to some of the finest memories of your childhood. In Maine, the word camp has two distinct meanings. …
Science Is in Full Bloom! “American Spring LIVE” & Maine Audubon
“Please pick up your binoculars, everyone,” Margaret Reimann says to the assembled group of fifth graders. She holds her own pair aloft. “Do you know what you call these if you're a cool birder? You call them ‘bins.'” After a brief training and the inevitable …