This winter has been incredible for rare birds in Maine. From a Harris's Sparrow in Turner, to the Sage Thrasher at Gilsland Farm, and sprinkle in Northern Lapwings (5 in Hodgdon, and one each in Thomaston and Kennebunkport, a couple Townsend's Solitaires, and the first New England record of …
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Come mingle with wildlife this winter!
We are thrilled to announce another installment of our popular Winter Wildlife Mingle with our friends at Center For Wildlife, a wildlife rehabilitation and environmental education organization located in Cape Neddick, Maine. We started what has become an annual event as a way to provide adults some …
Backyard Bird of the Month for February: American Tree Sparrow
Is that a Chipping Sparrow hopping around under your feeder in the middle of winter? Not quite! It is most likely an American Tree Sparrow. These lookalikes were in the same genus until recently (Spizella), along with several other small, rufous-capped sparrows. American Tree Sparrows are the …
Boosting Fish Lead Free efforts this winter
Winter is the perfect time to clean out your tackle box of any unwanted or illegal lead tackle. You might start by cleaning out the illegal tackle: Maine bans the use and sale of lead sinkers and unpainted lead jig heads weighing 1 ounce or less and measuring 2.5 inches long or less. But since this …
Use these tools to make a master plan for your landscape
It’s February in Maine, and there’s nothing like a good snowfall to remind us of our connection to nature. Whether you’re ready for spring or pining for more snow, all gardeners can relate to the warmth that comes from dreaming of the coming growing season. While we’re still a few months away from …
Maine Audubon Joins Coalition of Offshore Wind Supporters to Announce Critical Legislation
The state of Maine is closer than ever to generating clean, renewable energy from winds in the Gulf of Maine. A single test turbine is scheduled for testing a few miles off of Monhegan Island. An array of 10-12 turbines in federal waters about 45 miles off of Portland has received the green light …
RARE BIRD ALERT: SAGE THRASHER
We tend to save most 'rare bird alerts' on this blog to national rarities like the Redwing in Portland or the famous Steller's Sea-Eagle, but last week a bird considered rare anywhere along the east coast was found at Gilsland Farm, a Sage Thrasher! This Sage Thrasher was found during our weekly …
2022: My Words of the Year
There's a two-panel door in my kitchen that leads to the basement. It's nothing fancy, but it's the first place family members look when they come into the house. Why? I painted the top panel with chalkboard paint and regularly embellish it for the latest family news or celebration. Adorned with …
A Fond Farewell to Amanda Ives, the 2022 Davis Intern at Fields Pond
Imagine a job where you start your day by filling feeders for wild birds, then help to plan an after-school lesson for fourth graders, then recommend some hiking trails for visitors to the Fields Pond Audubon Nature Center. Next, you take a canoe trip, paddling out on the pond to monitor a loon …