At Maine Audubon, we feel like every day is Earth Day! But of course, we still do honor the official day, which falls on April 22 this year. We’ve got a week packed full of special events designed to have fun while doing our best for the planet. Please join us! APRIL 18 Gilsland Farm, […]
Plovers & Terns
Federal Updates from Maine Audubon
Maine Audubon is concerned by the breadth and speed of attempts to weaken the federal laws and agencies that have helped protect Maine wildlife and habitat for decades. Maine Audubon’s science-based approach to environmental policy has helped us weather all manner of political situations, though what we’re witnessing now has little precedent. Still, we will […]
State Sand Dune Restoration Fund Now Taking Applications!
Coastal sand dunes are one of the rarest habitats in Maine, making up just about 2% of the state’s coastline. Built over time by the actions of wind and waves, dunes and associated beaches and salt marshes provide invaluable ecosystem services and economic benefits. The importance of coastal dunes is increasing as climate change causes […]
One Bird’s Winter is Another Bird’s Summer
As the colder weather starts to roll in and snow begins to fly, it makes me envious of the warmer climates where many shorebirds are spending their winters. We all love to watch the Piping Plovers, Spotted Sandpipers, and Willets nest and raise their young over the summer, but have you ever wondered where they […]
Plover Season Wrap-up: Breeding Pairs Down but Productivity Back on Track
Despite severe winter storm damage on the beaches, Piping Plovers arrived in Maine right on schedule, starting to arrive in mid March with many in time for the early April snowstorm and solar eclipse. Hardy little birds, the Piping Plovers weathered the storm and started staking out their nesting territories by mid April. Although some […]
Coastal Birds Crew: A Bittersweet Farewell
By Thea Kastelic, Coastal Birds Crew Field Technician The summer is drawing to a close, and with it, the work of the Maine Audubon Coastal Birds Crew comes to an end. After spending months lugging heavy equipment, surveying, and managing shorebirds up and down Maine’s brutal and beautiful sandy coast, the crew is excited for […]
Let’s Give Least Terns Some Love!
While we often focus on our Piping Plover friends, another endangered species we protect is Least Terns. Least Terns are small seabirds listed as endangered in Maine; they were the first species listed under Maine’s own Endangered Species Act. Least Terns and their more abundant cousins, Common Tern, can often be seen flying gracefully over […]
Chicks on the beach!
Exciting update from the coastal birds crew: On Monday, May 27, we saw the first Piping Plover chicks on one of our Maine beaches! Though no one was able to capture any photos from that day–the chicks are quite small, move around a lot, and are super fast–we are delighted at the prospect of chicks […]
The Piping Plovers’ Favorite Habitat
By Erin Campbell, Coastal Birds Biologist The Coastal Birds Crew is about to head into its fourth week of the season! Not only have we learned how to spot the Piping Plovers, but also track and complete the ultimate egg hunt. That’s right! Nests are back on Maine’s southern beaches. While some plovers are still […]