Never in a million years would I consider myself an artist. But I came home from the Borestone Mountain Monson Arts nature journaling workshop, this June, having discovered a new way to communicate artistically through immersion in the natural world. This, in a nutshell, is the goal of this collaboration. For the fourth year in […]
Maine's Naturalist
Spreading our wings: Let’s explore a new Downeast area together
The work we do on behalf of Maine wildlife is often made more impactful when it’s done in collaboration with others. This summer Maine Audubon is embarking on a new partnership with Frenchman Bay Conservancy (FBC), a nonprofit land conservation organization in Downeast Maine. Since the late 1980s, FBC has conserved more than 25,000 acres […]
Small Wonders: Why nest on the ground?
Last week I found a large, speckled egg in the West Meadow at Gilsland Farm. It was an empty Wild Turkey egg, and its location in the middle of a meadow, rather than in the woods at the base of a tree, where turkeys nest, suggested that it had been someone’s dinner. To any bird, […]
Profile: Early Successional Forest Plant Communities
The Early Successional Forest is a familiar plant community that springs up in disturbed areas around Maine. This community represents an in-between stage from directly after disturbance to an established forest. They form on slopes, hills, and flats after natural occurrences like fire, or unnatural occurrences due to human activity. Although this habitat is often […]
Become an (i)Naturalist
Continuing our series highlighting different community science programs, May is a great time to learn about using iNaturalist. This is a database where you can submit sightings of any living things! iNaturalist is “an online social network of people sharing biodiversity information to help each other learn about nature.” You can contribute via the web […]
Your observations matter!
This World Migratory Bird Day, we’re really embracing the theme “Every Bird Counts: Your Observations Matter.” This message that community science plays a critical role in conservation is one that feels especially close to home for us at Maine Audubon! Community science is a big part of what we do, and honestly, it’s one of […]
Pollinator Spotlight: Flower Flies
Each year, Maine Audubon and Birth Roots partner to host the Pollinator Parade & Picnic for families with young children. Leading up to this special event, we like to highlight some of our favorite pollinators! If you have tickets to the parade, consider this some extra costume inspiration. And even if you can’t attend, we […]
Optimism in the Face of Development: Birds & Cities
When you’re thinking about birding, the first places that come to mind are probably remote nature preserves, large expanses of marsh, or maybe even national parks like Acadia. You might not spend your time watching the pigeons that nest in the eaves of your neighbor’s house or the Chipping Sparrows that sing from that lone […]
Apply for our Vernal Pool Stewardship Award!
With spring comes melting snow, rainy days and nights, and amphibians making the journey to vernal pools that come alive with this spring weather. Vernal pools are ephemeral, meaning that they’re only temporarily filled with water in the spring and fall. The seasonal nature of these pools make them perfect breeding habitat and nurseries for […]