There's a two-panel door in my kitchen that leads to the basement. It's nothing fancy, but it's the first place family members look when they come into the house. Why? I painted the top panel with chalkboard paint and regularly embellish it for the latest family news or celebration. Adorned with …
News & Notes
A Fond Farewell to Amanda Ives, the 2022 Davis Intern at Fields Pond
Imagine a job where you start your day by filling feeders for wild birds, then help to plan an after-school lesson for fourth graders, then recommend some hiking trails for visitors to the Fields Pond Audubon Nature Center. Next, you take a canoe trip, paddling out on the pond to monitor a loon …
‘Seeing’ the Forest Through the Birds
We’ve probably all heard someone say ‘You can’t see the forest for the trees!’ to let someone know they are too caught up in the weeds to see the bigger picture. I’m happy to say that I’m seeing the forest through the trees AND the birds now after coordinating Maine Audubon’s Song Meter Project …
Last-minute Gifts for the Naturalist in Your Life
If you’re anything like me, you probably still have some gifts to buy for the nature-lovers in your life. Never fear; we’ve got lots of great gifts in stock in the Nature Store at Gilsland Farm. Here are some of my favorites! Bird feeders Feeding wild birds is one of the best ways to observe …
Maine Audubon’s 2022 Loon Count Brings in New Lakes, Counters!
Final results from Maine Audubon’s Annual Loon Count for 2022 estimate that adult loon numbers dipped slightly this year but chick numbers are up! Long-term trends continue to show a strong adult population that has grown steadily over the years, and a stable population of chicks over time. The …
Native Plants for Winter Finches
By planting or encouraging native woody plants in your yard, you can attract these winter visitors. The arrival of “winter finches” is one of the most anticipated events in winter birding. Several species, including Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins, and Common Redpolls, move southward in winter …
Shining Some Light on Three Exciting Solar Projects in Maine
With climate change posing the number one threat to birds and other wildlife in Maine, and the need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels as urgent as ever, Maine Audubon has cheered on the growth of local solar energy in recent years. We also recognize the potential impacts to wildlife and …
Raising Awareness About Neonics In Maine
Maine Audubon is working with experts and activists to find avenues to pesticide policy reform. Neonicotinoids, or neonics for short, are some of the most widely used and promoted pesticides on the planet. They kill insects, all of them, and are sprayed from planes, coated on seeds, and …
December is the perfect time for growing Maine native plants from seed
“Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.” —Henry David Thoreau Does it seem a little cold and early for sowing seeds? While that may be the case for …