You may have noticed that the fields at Gilsland Farm received their annual mowing with the tractor over the past few weeks, but did you know that the fields at Josephine Newman and Mast Landing Audubon Sanctuaries have also seen some love? The Properties Department recently purchased a small BCS tractor with the intent of […]
News & Notes
Three Insects Added to Maine Species of Special Concern List – Have You Seen Them?
Maine’s Department of Inland Fish & Wildlife (DIFW) recently completed an update of its Species of Special Concern list, and added three rare and unusual insects known as flower flies. The state maintains a list of Species of Special Concern, which it defines as “any species of fish or wildlife that does not meet the […]
Ask Maine Audubon: Christmas Bird Count helps identify trends in bird population
This winter marks the 125th anniversary of the Christmas Bird Count. We tend to get a range of questions each year, ranging from “What is it?” to “How can I take part?” to “Is it even necessary in the modern digital era with projects like Cornell’s eBird?” So this week I wanted to cover the […]
Peru Trip Report
We’re back! In November, Maine Audubon partnered with Fields Guides Inc. to run a tour to Peru to look for birds of Abra Malaga and the Sacred Valley, as well as taking in the culture and history at Machu Picchu and around Cusco. This trip brought us from subtropical forests to the high puna grasses […]
Maine Audubon’s 41st Annual Loon Count Results Show Healthy Loon Population
Above photo: Loons on Fields Pond, Photo by Wayne Foote It was a very good year—for Maine loons! When every single number associated with the Annual Loon Count goes up, scientists at Maine Audubon say it’s a great indication that the Common Loon population is healthy. All the numbers of adult loons, loon chicks, lakes […]
Backyard bird of the month for December: Northern Cardinal
The vibrant red plumage of Northern Cardinals is always a welcome sight on a cold day. Northern Cardinals molt their feathers once per year, usually in August or September, after nesting and before winter. To regrow their bright red feathers, they must eat fruits (and insects) high in carotenoids, pigments that give many plants and […]
Tackling Lead, One Retailer at a Time: It Adds Up!
Earlier this fall, an ad playing on the radio caught Dana Jenkins’ attention. “Calling all fishing tackle stores in Maine,” the announcer’s voice said. “Maine Audubon wants to pay your store for its lead tackle. A new law makes it illegal to sell painted lead jigs weighing 1 ounce or less or measuring 2.5 inches […]
Maine Climate Action Plan 2.0 Released
After years of work from stakeholders across the state, including Maine Audubon’s Ania Wright, Ches Gundrum, and Sally Stockwell, the state’s updated landmark climate action plan, Maine Won’t Wait 2.0, has been released. The plan updates the original blueprint for statewide climate action, released in 2020, with new-and-improved strategies to help modernize Maine’s buildings, transition […]
BirdSafe Maine – Fall 2024 Season Recap!
BirdSafe Maine‘s Fall 2024 migration season concluded on Oct. 31, our fifth fall on the streets. In that time we’ve made some amazing progress in that time—highlighted by a new bird safe architecture ordinance in Portland and a new law to create statewide guidelines—but this fall we enjoyed a very satisfying realization of the effectiveness […]