Happy May, friends.
Just like the pollinators that have recently arrived at Gilsland Farm, Maine Audubon has been buzzing lately! Here’s a primer of some of the great and engaging happenings we’ve seen in recent days:
- A spate of remarkable rare bird alerts — including for a Vermilion Flycatcher and a Fieldfare — that sent staff naturalist Doug Hitchcox sprinting around the state.
- Subsequent media coverage of these rarities that gave Doug a chance to educate us all about their significance.
- An Earth Day celebration that included a fantastic Scarborough Marsh Clean-Up and a presence at the March for Science.
- A successful April vacation camp session and another engaging live wildlife show.
- The Maine Outdoor Film Festival on April 20 brought in so many folks that some actually had to be turned away!
- A happy 232nd birthday for John James Audubon, whose prints we perused and whose storied, oft-doubted report of finding a Tufted Puffin in Maine we recounted.
- A productive meeting of our Chapter leaders in a beautiful location.
Now we’ve caught our breath — and just in time for May. If you haven’t locked down your plans for this month, be sure you’ve checked our Events page (or the listings in the eNews email that probably sent you to this note).
When you do, you’ll see something for everyone, across the state: Fields Pond Audubon Center’s Springfest celebration on May 13; our upcoming family-focused Pollinator Parade & Festival on May 20; National Audubon’s Dr. Steve Kress discussing seabird restoration at L.L. Bean as part of our Speaker Series on May 25; and Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center’s Memorial Day Snowy Egret 5k race. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
I hope to see you at a few of these great events. In the meantime, we have big plans in the works for an action-packed Maine Audubon summer of connecting people to wildlife. We want you with us each step of the way.
Until next time,
Andy Beahm
