The first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970, the brainchild of Gaylord Nelson, a senator from Wisconsin. He wanted to “get the nation to wake up and pay attention to the most important challenge the human species faces on the planet.” Designed as a day to sponsor “teach-ins” at college campuses across the […]
News & Notes
Musings on Trees: Loss but also hope
I had never spent much time thinking about trees until recently. I’ve always been drawn to the less charismatic, mosses, ferns, grasses, and other flora under the canopy. Like any nature lover, I’ve always appreciated trees, but as a part of the larger forest rather than a community in and of themselves. I knew very […]
Support Maine Native Plants
Welcome to the 2026 growing season! This year is a big one for Maine Audubon and for all our Maine native plants enthusiasts. In May, we will open the brand new Ann and Jim Hancock Native Plants Education Center (NPEC) at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth. This new building and space has been years in the making, […]
Teens: Join us to be Environmental Education Assistants this summer!
Are you a high school student who wants to explore outdoors, play games, and create art with campers this summer? Do you want to build skills, gain experience, and have fun while volunteering? If so, we hope you’ll apply to be an Environmental Education Assistant (EEA) with Maine Audubon’s summer day camps for children ages […]
Small Wonders: How to Be a Spring Peeper
So you want to be a Spring Peeper, an amphibious, one-inch long, beloved herald of spring? I get it! Why wouldn’t you want to be a tiny tree-dwelling frog singing your heart out on a warm spring evening? In honor of Maine “Big Nights,” (warm, rainy spring nights during which frogs and salamanders migrate from […]
No fooling! Phenomenal Storytelling in Bangor on April 1
We’re taking the show on the road! Since we launched Phenomenal: Seasonal Stories from Your Wildlife Community, a biannual live storytelling event, back in 2024, it’s been a wonderful experience hosted at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth. People gather to listen to Maine scientists, writers, naturalists, activists, and community members share stories that connect […]
March Is Here: It’s Time to Get Excited for Spring Programs at Maine Audubon
It may not look or feel like spring outside this year yet, but March 1 always marks the beginning of our busy spring programs season at Maine Audubon. In 2026, we are thrilled to announce a robust slate of events and programs for people of all ages all around the state. Our offerings feature the […]
Call it a Big Night!
In a few short weeks the Earth will mark its journey around the sun with equal sunlight for both its southern and northern hemispheres, also known as the vernal equinox or “spring” in our northern hemisphere. You may have been noticing that the sun sits higher on the horizon these days (called the “solar altitude […]
Your gift now qualifies for a tax deduction, even if you don’t itemize!
A recent change to federal tax policy could make it easier to support Maine Audubon this year. Starting in the 2026 tax year, if you take the standard deduction, you can now also deduct up to $1,000 (single filers) or $2,000 (married couples filing jointly) for cash gifts to qualified operating charities, with inflation adjustments […]