The Great Black Hawk which found its way during the winter of 2018-19 from Central America to Portland, and then into the hearts of thousands of admirers, is now a permanent resident. A bronze statue of the wayward raptor was unveiled in its favorite haunt, Deering Oaks Park, on Friday, July …
rare bird alert
Why Are Rare Birds Coming to Maine?
The national birding community is still in the grips of Great Black Hawk fever. Those of us who get excited about seeing rare birds are still abuzz about this one, so far outside of the tropical range of this species and surviving the start of a cold Maine winter. After a few days' absence, the …
Rare Bird Alert: GREAT BLACK HAWK [UPDATE: 11/29/18]
[UPDATE Nov. 29, 2018] This just keeps getting wilder. The Great Black Hawk, not seen since Oct. 30, was refound this morning in Deering Oaks Park in Portland. Unlike last month's appearance which was seen by just a single birder, dozens have enjoyed the bird today, and it continues as of …
Rare Bird Alert: Slaty-backed Gull
On Friday, February 23rd, I had the pleasure of meeting with folks from the City of Augusta to talk about improving birder access to the Hatch Hill Landfill. This site, a large municipal active landfill, has become increasingly popular for birders because of the large number of gulls attracted by …
Rare Bird Alert: Fork-tailed Flycatcher
Fall is upon us and birds are migrating. While many of us think of birds leaving for the winter, this also means the potential for vagrancy and rare birds showing up almost anywhere. Hotspots, like Monhegan Island, have already seen rarities like Say's Phoebe, Painted Bunting, and Red-headed …