It’s that sweet time of year again: Maine Maple Sunday weekend is coming right up on March 22-23. During that weekend you have a chance to visit maple producers to learn more about how maple syrup and other maple treats are made. You’ll also have a chance to learn more about how these sugarbushes are managed—especially those that are Bird-Friendly.
New this year, Maine Audubon has teamed up with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) to work with a handful of private maple producers to adopt forest management practices that enhance habitat for our breeding birds while tapping maple trees, such as increasing tree species diversity and understory vegetation to increase resilience and growth of the next generation. These producers are then awarded with Produced in Bird-Friendly Habitat stickers for their products, and are given counter cards and posters to display at their sugar shacks.
You can find bird-friendly maple syrup at Dunham Farm and Velvet Hollow Sugar Works, in Greenwood; Gray Jay Mapleworks, in Moose River, outside of Jackman; Black Owl Maple in Jefferson; and A&B Maple Syrup in Newry. If you don’t see a sign at the sugarbush you visit, ask the producer if they might be interested in joining the program. They can visit our Bird-Friendly Maple web page, or email conserve@maineaudubon.org for more information.
Maine Audubon and MOFGA will be hosting events and workshops in March and May of 2025.
March 15: Tapping into Maples
Maine Audubon will join MOFGA for a Maine Maple Sunday preview with tree tours and training on sugarbush management topics, at MOFGA’s campus in Unity. Maine Audubon Conservation Director Sally Stockwell will lead walks focused on how to manage sugarbushes to benefit birds.
Register here >
May 9: Introduction to Sugarbush Management
Join Sally and others for a deep dive into sugarbush management! This crash course will cover an overview of maple in Maine, habitat assessment (including Bird Friendly Maple!), production, and financial incentives. You’ll leave this workshop with resources and knowledge to increase the biodiversity of your sugarbush while accessing financial resources, forestry technical assistance, and a couple different certifications.
This workshop is cohosted with Maine Audubon, University of Maine Extension, Maine Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and MOFGA Certification Services.
Register here >
