June Phenology Report: Ecological Traps By Jocelyn LaClair, Seasonal Horticulture & Sales Assistant In the modern horticultural world, native species often take a backseat to non-native species selected for aesthetics and fast growth. But these choices can have devastating impacts on wildlife that often go unnoticed. Insects rely on specific host plants to develop due […]
News & Notes
Maine Legislature Passes Bill to Increase Protections for Vernal Pools
Maine Audubon is pleased to announce the passage of LD 497, An Act Regarding the Regulation of Significant Vernal Pools Under the Natural Resources Protection Act in the Maine Legislature. Formerly worked within LD 1882 in the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, this effort seeks to better protect state-recognized “Significant Vernal Pools,” essential breeding habitat […]
Maine Audubon Celebrates Passage of Neonicotinoid Pesticide Legislation
Maine Audubon is pleased to announce the passage of LD 1323, Resolve: Directing the Board of Pesticides Control to Evaluate the Impacts of Neonicotinoids on Pollinators, Humans and the Environment in the Maine Legislature. The bill requires the state to further evaluate impacts of neonicotinoid pesticides (“neonics”) on pollinators and people. LD 1323 secured bipartisan […]
Bangor Fifth Graders Build Bat Boxes to Protect Endangered Species
With guidance from Maine Audubon’s Curious by Nature online education program, Mr. Hobbs and Mr. Coburn’s 5th grade classes at Fairmount School in Bangor took a deep dive into the world of bats—and emerged as true wildlife advocates. The students had the opportunity to connect with Kelby Houtz, a biologist with the Maine Department of […]
Bangor Fifth Graders Take Action for Birds
Fifth-grade students in Ms. Mullin’s class at Mary Snow School in Bangor have been soaring with purpose—by tackling the issue of habitat loss for cavity-nesting birds in their local watershed. After learning how urbanization and landscape changes have impacted bird species like bluebirds, chickadees, and wrens, the students decided to take action. Their goal: build […]
Maine Audubon comments on passage of seawall bill
Statement on the Passage of LD 228, “An Act to Allow Coastal Seawalls to Be Raised by up to 2 Feet in Order to Accommodate Predicted Sea Level Rise” On May 29, 2025, Governor Mills signed LD 228, “An Act to Allow Coastal Seawalls to Be Raised by up to 2 Feet in Order to […]
BirdSafe Maine – Spring 2025 Season Recap
May 31 marked the end of BirdSafe Maine’s Spring 2025 bird monitoring season. It was, sadly, another eventful effort in Portland and around Maine, though there are signs of significant progress. Read on to learn about how it went. On the Portland Route We recorded 43 total birds dead or injured on the streets of […]
Backyard Bird of the Month for June: Eastern Phoebe
“FEE-BEE!!” Many Mainers look forward to this raspy song each spring. Eastern Phoebes spend the winter in the southern United States and Mexico, and are early migrants back to the Northeast. These large flycatchers are dark gray with nearly black heads and light undersides that often show a faint yellow wash. Their large eyes—typical of […]
Input needed on State Wildlife Action Plan
May 28 update from Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: We invite you to provide input on identifying significant Threats and what conservation actions are needed to address those Threats. Step 1: Review the list of Threats and Conservation Actions Step 2: Share your input! Based on your personal understanding of and familiarity with […]