Maine is in the midst of a new era of renewable energy development, spurred by legislation that requires 80% of Maine�s electricity come from renewable resources by 2030 and 100% by 2050. These targets are amongst the most ambitious in the country and are necessary to stave off the worst impacts from climate change. But […]
News & Notes
Poetry, Art, and Nature come together at Gilsland Farm
Words, art, and nature combined for a very special event last week, In the Shadow of a Pine: Black Poets from Maine Respond to David Driskell. On a warm summer evening, visitors to Gilsland Farm Audubon Center were treated to a selection of poetry as five poets gave readings at three locations around the sanctuary. […]
Why September is the best month for planting in Maine
Welcome to the best month for planting in Maine! September offers the perfect combination of cooler nights, high dew points, warm soil, and, typically, more rainfall. Plants that go in the ground this month will have a few weeks to settle, root out a little, and become dormant for winter. Plants planted in early fall […]
Stay connected this September at our sanctuaries
September always brings a tinge of sadness for those of us summer-loving sun seekers. All of a sudden, the nights are cool and the kids are back in school.� This September in particular threatens to lower my spirits. Summer gatherings brought so much joy, and just when we thought we could safely socialize, now there�s […]
Piping Plovers: Record-breaking numbers don�t tell the whole story
One possible headline for a story about the 2021 Piping Plover season could be �Endangered Birds Break Records on Maine Beaches in 2021.� That wouldn�t be wrong, and yes, there would be much to celebrate. More Piping Plover pairs than ever before fledged chicks. In 2020, 98 plover pairs fledged 199 chicks. This year, 125 […]
Celebrating 5 Years of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
WHEREAS, Katahdin Woods and Waters is an exceptional example of the rich and storied Maine Woods, enhanced by its location in a larger protected landscape, and thus would be a valuable addition to the Nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage conserved and enjoyed in the National Park System; WHEREAS, it is in the public interest […]
Nanotagging Monarch Butterflies — Very, Very Carefully — at Fields Pond
Once inside the front door of the Nature Center, summer visitors to the Fields Pond Audubon Center have been greeted by a display of Monarch Butterflies.� Beginning as either eggs or small caterpillars, we collected these from the plethora of milkweed plants that grow all around the Nature Center.� To date we�ve raised and fledged […]
Big Update on a Successful Piping Plover Season!
Somehow it�s August! The piping plover breeding season is beginning to wind down, birds are taking off from Maine beaches to migrate South for the winter, and Maine Audubon�s Coastal Bird Crew is breathing a little easier. 170 young birds fledged off of beaches from Georgetown to Ogunquit is no small feat for biologists from […]
Andy’s Note: Summer is flying
Wow, where did July go?� I guess it wasn�t just the rain that was evaporating.� I hope that you and your families enjoyed the month and are preparing for a fun filled August. At Maine Audubon, July brought continuing success with this year�s Piping Plovers fledglings (despite some very busy beaches) and the excitement of […]