The second session of the 132nd Maine Legislature has come to an end and our team is proud to report that we were able to secure several pro-wildlife policy victories in this short session! Once again, it’s you, our members and supporters, who achieve these victories. We thank you for emailing lawmakers, signing petitions, sharing […]
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Apply for our Vernal Pool Stewardship Award!
With spring comes melting snow, rainy days and nights, and amphibians making the journey to vernal pools that come alive with this spring weather. Vernal pools are ephemeral, meaning that they’re only temporarily filled with water in the spring and fall. The seasonal nature of these pools make them perfect breeding habitat and nurseries for […]
Become a Phenology Observer with Signs of the Season
Do you hear the Spring Peepers in your backyard? Are you watching for the first time you see a Monarch Butterfly or Ruby-throated Hummingbird this season? Do you notice when the leaves first start to turn in the fall? Your observations of seasonal changes (also known as phenology) could help scientists to better understand how […]
Small Wonders: Charismatic minifauna
Aquatic macroinvertebrates are not widely considered a “charismatic” group of animals. These are larva, nymphs, worms, and mollusks that happily blend in with the detritus of their watery habitats. The general morphology of most of them is “bug.” They’re large enough to see without a microscope, but they’re still pretty tiny—smaller than the scale of […]
Maine Audubon Names Judy Camuso as New President
After an extensive year-long search, Maine Audubon is pleased to announce the selection of Judy Camuso as its new president. Camuso will assume the role held by long-time leader Andy Beahm, who will retire next month. She will become the first woman to lead Maine Audubon since its founding more than 100 years ago. Camuso […]
Meet the Grassy Shrub Marsh Plant Community: Willows, Meadowsweet, and rushes!
The Grassy Shrub Marsh is a plant community that exists in wetlands all across Maine. It is often a transitional area that merges with other plant communities near lakes, ponds, or streams. After spring flooding, water levels go down but the soil stays saturated throughout the rest of the season. The soil is slightly acidic […]
“Being with the Seasons” Phenology Summit: Professional Development for Educators
Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth, Saturday, May 30 For teachers and other educators in Cumberland County and beyond Maine Audubon and Portland Arts & Technology High School (PATHS) will host a daylong, climate education professional development workshop funded by the Maine Department of Education for K-12 educators on Saturday, May 30, at Gilsland Farm […]
From Camp to Community
While I may be biased and think there is always something special happening at Fields Pond Audubon Center, this past spring has been especially exciting! Nestled on 230 acres of varied habitat, our center hosts day camp programs that are rooted in connecting local youth to the natural world through curiosity, exploration, and hands-on discovery. […]
Explore marshes and streams as a community scientist with us this spring!
The world of aquatic macroinvertebrates is a wild one. These creatures lack a backbone (think insects, snails, and crayfish), are “macro” because they’re big enough to see with the naked eye, and they are definitely worth a closer look! For starters, there’s the Water Scorpion, a predatory insect named for its long breathing tube that […]