The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) kicks off tomorrow, Friday, February 16, and runs through Monday, February 19. This annual contributory science project run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is easy to join and your sightings are a valuable piece to this snapshot of bird populations. It is as simple as reporting what birds […]
News & Notes
Big News! Pickett Mountain Mine Proposal Rejected!
PICKETT MOUNTAIN MINING PROPOSAL REJECTED Decision comes after overwhelming opposition from Wabanaki Tribes, local businesses, and conservation groups February 14, 2024 (Augusta, ME) � The Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) has firmly rejected a mining proposal in Maine�s Katahdin region that was vehemently opposed by the Penobscot Nation, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, conservation groups, […]
Announcing the Fields Pond Winter Photo Contest Winner
Highlights and shadows cast by winter light captured water, snow, flora, and fauna in all the photographs submitted for the first ever Fields Pond Winter Photo Contest. Fifteen photographers submitted photos taken this winter at the center. Online voting took place between February 3 and February 10, and more than 375 votes were cast for […]
Exploring outside in winter with students
SNOW! It�s great for snowballs and sledding. It also presents a whole other way for exploring the outdoors and learning about Maine wildlife in the winter. While it may feel challenging to observe wildlife in winter, leafless trees and snow provide ample opportunities for spotting birds, evidence of wildlife, and active critters skittering amongst the […]
Andy’s note: Suddenly it’s February
Suddenly it’s February. Tomorrow we’ll be hearing about Punxsutawney Phil and his prediction about the timing of spring’s arrival. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t had my fix of winter activities yet. Even our northernmost county, my native Aroostook, has less than a foot of snow on the ground as I write. However, […]
Backyard bird of the month for February: Golden-crowned Kinglet
If you�ve got a quarter nearby, hold it in your hand for a moment. That quarter, at approximately 6 grams, is the same weight as Maine�s smallest winter resident bird, the Golden-crowned Kinglet. These tiny, lively birds can survive temperatures as low as -40?, in part by roosting in small groups, huddled together near the […]
What the trails can teach us in winter
Maine Audubon sanctuaries are the heart of the organization, which makes the trail networks found within them the veins. Trails connect people with nature and allow them to experience all that an area has to offer in a respectful way. In order to minimize impact on the land and keep access open, Maine Audubon’s Properties […]
A Loony Winter
To say we’ve had crazy weather this winter in Maine would be an understatement. Many lakes remained unfrozen as we headed into the winter, then finally iced over, only to unthaw in a warm spell, and freeze again with the next cold snap. These conditions have made it tricky for all of us planning on […]
Reflections on Fall Preschool Outreach
It was a fun-filled fall for Maine Audubon�s Gilsland Farm based education team as we traveled as far north as Brunswick and as far south as Saco to deliver nature-based and developmentally appropriate programs for early learners ages 2-5. Between the months of September and December, we delivered 33 individual preschool programs, and reached about […]