This program was presented on January 21, 2025 at the Wells Reserve and via Zoom. For a description of the program, you can scroll down to the original post for the program.
To access the recording, please click on the image below to watch it on this page, or you can click on “Watch on Youtube” at the bottom of that image. (We also recommend clicking on the little white square in the bottom right corner of that viewing screen to convert the image to “full screen”).
The shorebirds – sandpipers, plovers, and their kin – are beautiful, but telling the many species apart can be a confusing challenge for birders. However, the level of confusion was much greater in the early 1800s, when naturalists were struggling to classify all these birds for the first time. Some species were described to science over and over, under different names, while some other species were overlooked completely for decades. And for many years, everyone underestimated the amazing migrations of these long-distance travelers. In this program, based on a chapter from his most recent book, Kenn Kaufman will describe the misadventures of early shorebird-watchers, and how those events are reflected in our experience of birding today.
Kenn Kaufman is the author of more than a dozen books, including Kingbird Highway, his memoir about traveling the country searching for birds as a teenager in the early 1970s. His other titles include The Birds that Audubon Missed, A Season on the Wind, Flights Against the Sunset, and the Kaufman Field Guide series, covering birds, mammals, insects, butterflies, and other subjects.
This program is being presented by Maine Audubon in conjunction with all the MA chapters. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We hope you can join us!
The Maine landscape remains widely covered by forests but our current forests are very young compared to the pre-European landscape, when large, old trees were dominant. These old forests may be treasure troves of hidden biodiversity. Why this matters and what we should do about it will be discussed by Malcolm Hunter, Professor Emeritus of Wildlife Ecology from the University of Maine.
Dr. Hunter’s research experience covers a variety of ecosystems and organisms – birds, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, insects, vascular plants, rivers, lakes, wetlands, grasslands, and more – but his major focus is on forest ecosystems and the maintenance of their biological diversity. He is a member of a team that has studied one forest and the evolving interactions among its vascular plants, amphibians, birds, and small mammals through nearly 40 years. Dr. Hunter’s interests are geographically broad; he has worked in 30 countries on every continent except Antarctica. As a researcher and advisor, he interacts with a broad spectrum of organizations such as the Society for Conservation Biology, The Nature Conservancy, and the U.S. Forest Service. This year, he received the Honorary Membership Award from The Society of American Foresters, an award that “recognizes individuals whose contributions to forestry are viewed as outstanding by their peers.”
This program was presented on November 19, 2024 at the Wells Reserve, but we had difficulty with the video feed for our Zoom link. Michael was gracious enough to present it again for us via Zoom on December 3rd, and a recording of that encore presentation is available below. For a description of the program, you can scroll down to the original post for the November program.
To access the recording, please click on the image below to watch it on this page, or you can click on “Watch on Youtube” at the bottom of that image. (We also recommend clicking on the little white square in the bottom right corner of that viewing screen to convert the image to “full screen”).
Note: Michael Boardman presented this program for us on November 19th at the Wells Reserve. However there were technical problems and the zoom video feed didn’t work. It was a great program, and he has graciously volunteered to re-present it by Zoom only on December 3rd. Thanks Michael!
In 2019, North Yarmouth wildlife artist Michael Boardman was selected to be the artist-in-residence for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Northern Alaska. The landscape has become embedded in Michael’s focus and artwork, and he has returned several times to explore the natural history of the Refuge, recording his experiences through sketching.
In May, 2019, Michael had planned to make a presentation for us on his residency, but we had to cancel it due to Covid. The following month, he did our first Zoom program. Since then, he has returned to the Arctic several times, and we’re delighted to host him in person this time (and also on Zoom!). He’ll share his latest adventures in the arctic, telling stories of animals, geology, human history and why we should care about this endangered landscape.
Michael is known for his watercolor bird portraits and nature journal sketches. He has connected his art to wildlife science through artist residencies at Acadia National Park, Hog Island Audubon Camp, Glacier Bay National Park, in addition to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. He is also the owner and artist of Coyote Graphics, creating nature based garments from his artwork.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We hope you can join us either in person or via Zoom!
In 2019, North Yarmouth wildlife artist Michael Boardman was selected to be the artist-in-residence for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Northern Alaska. The landscape has become embedded in Michael’s focus and artwork, and he has returned several times to explore the natural history of the Refuge, recording his experiences through sketching.
In May, 2019, Michael had planned to make a presentation for us on his residency, but we had to cancel it due to Covid. The following month, he did our first Zoom program. Since then, he has returned to the Arctic several times, and we’re delighted to host him in person this time (and also on Zoom!). He’ll share his latest adventures in the arctic, telling stories of animals, geology, human history and why we should care about this endangered landscape.
Michael is known for his watercolor bird portraits and nature journal sketches. He has connected his art to wildlife science through artist residencies at Acadia National Park, Hog Island Audubon Camp, Glacier Bay National Park, in addition to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. He is also the owner and artist of Coyote Graphics, creating nature based garments from his artwork.
This program will be presented in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. It will be free and open to all ages, and no registration is required for attending the program in person. It will also be live-streamed via Zoom. To view it via Zoom, you’ll need to register in advance. To do so, please click on this link and enter your name and email address: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_p-K3cUi1ReioDtcdPMZvzA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We hope you can join us either in person or via Zoom!
This program was presented on October 15, 2024 at the Wells Reserve and via Zoom. For a description of the program, you can scroll down to the original post for the program.
To access the recording, please click on the image below to watch it on this page, or you can click on “Watch on Youtube” at the bottom of that image. (We also recommend clicking on the little white square in the bottom right corner of that viewing screen to convert the image to “full screen”).
Please note that Chris stepped out of the camera view at the beginning of the program, but that was corrected a few minutes later.
For many years, our former Board member, Marie Jordan, an avid birder and photographer, has produced a calendar and offered it for sale, graciously donating the calendars to YCA to support our educational programs. As many of our programs are now presented via Zoom, we’re making the calendars available by mail.
It’s a desk calendar in a 4” by 6” plastic case that opens into a stand to display each month. Each page features a great photo she took of a Maine bird. The cost is $10 plus mailing costs. They’re wonderful anywhere in the house, and also make great gifts! And York County Audubon tremendously appreciates your support for our programs.
To place an order, please make out a check payable to York County Audubon, write Calendar in the memo line, and mail it to Marie Jordan, 32 Crestview Drive, South Portland, ME 04106. Be sure to include the address or addresses that the calendar(s) should be sent to. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Marie at wooddk5555@gmail.com.
Note that the calendars will be available November 1st.
The costs including postage and handling are:
1 calendar – $10 plus $5.50 postage and handling
2 calendars (mailed to one address) – $20 plus $6 postage and handling
3 calendars (mailed to one address) – $30 plus $11 postage and handling
4 calendars (mailed to one address) – $35 plus $11 postage and handling
(Note: these rates reflect the latest USPS increases.) Thank you!
This program was presented on September 17, 2024 at the Wells Reserve and via Zoom. For a description of the program, you can scroll down to the original post for the program.
To access the recording, please click on the image below to watch it on this page, or you can click on “Watch on Youtube” at the bottom of that image. (We also recommend clicking on the little white square in the bottom right corner of that viewing screen to convert the image to “full screen”).
Keep your feathered friends happy this winter by treating them to tasty and fresh premium-quality bird food and help support two of your favorite environmental organizations. Proceeds from our annual sale support programs of both York County Audubon and the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve. A wide variety of types of seed and suet is available, with great pricing, especially if you order early.
Additional items this year include feeders, mealworm suet and Feather Friendly window markers to keep your birds safe. Early bird pricing is available if you place your order by 4 p.m. on October 25th. Order pick-up will be at the Wells Reserve on Friday, November 1st from 1-4 and Saturday, November 2nd from 10-1, with easy access and volunteers on hand to help load your car.
Please click on this link to view and print the order form:
There are profound connections between humanity and our natural world, offering a refreshing perspective that can resonate deeply. We can connect with Nature on many different levels. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “What signifies knowing the names, if you know not the nature of things?”
We make connections with scientific facts and spiritual relationships that open us to different perspectives and increase the awareness of the sacred all around us. Nature Absorption brings about physical, mental, and spiritual transformations.
The Science of Watching, The Art of Seeing, and the Power of Nature Absorption was written by Chris Lewey, Sharon Fisher and Jane Lounsbury. It opens our eyes to new ways to appreciate the nature that surrounds us. Far beyond naming, this book is about discovering familiar features of the natural world such as wildlife, weather, wind, clouds, and night. The approach is simple, a compass pointing toward an enhanced awareness that can be experienced by everyone. It is a useful tool for birders, nature enthusiasts, travelers, and anyone seeking to increase their knowledge, experience, and insight, going beyond identification.
Chris Lewey is the founder of RAVEN Interpretive Programs, and holds a master’s in environmental studies from Antioch University. He has taught biology, ecology and ornithology, and was director of Joy of Birding for the National Audubon Society at Hog Island. Sharon Fisher, an early childhood and elementary educator, and Jane Lounsbury have worked for RAVEN Interpretive Programs in a number of capacities.
On Tuesday, October 15th, York County Audubon is pleased to present these three authors for a captivating exploration of Nature Absorption, delving into its profound impact on our lives and the extraordinary connections we share with the natural world.
This program will be presented in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. It will be free and open to all ages, and no registration is required for attending the program in person. It will also be live-streamed via Zoom. To view it via Zoom, you’ll need to register in advance. To do so, please click on this link and enter your name and email address: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_91_AWxQkTOyPGP21IkODMQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We hope you can join us either in person or via Zoom!
Nature Journaling can be anything you want it to be, ranging from personal to scientific, from facts & realistic images to scenes and stories you’ve imagined or dreamed. Journaling should NEVER be a “chore”, or something you have to complete and that must be perfect. You do not need to be an expert at identifying plants, animals, fungus or even be a professional artist. Remember that the goal is “observations,” not a pretty picture. This is a practice that you will build upon and, in time, your ability to observe, draw and write will improve. Your attention to detail and appreciation of the world around you will also increase as you journal.
Atlantic Puffin – by Lindsay Strout
In this workshop we will explore nature and our power of observation. We will investigate using our senses, practicing awareness and understand how to take that information and put it into a nature journal. We will use words & sketches. ***You do not have to have any artistic skills.*** This is not about creating pretty pictures, it’s about observing and recording data and observations. We will start indoors for an introduction and then head outside to nature journal with prompts that we’ll give to you and work beside you on!
Rebekah Lowell is an award-winning author, illustrator, surface pattern designer, and educator who helps others connect with nature through art. A homeschooling mother of two and survivor of domestic abuse, she is passionate about resiliency, freedom, and hope. Inspired by the wonder of the natural world, she writes books for kids, and is now a certified nature journal educator through the Wild Wonder Foundation. She serves on the Board of York County Audubon, transports birds for Avian Haven, and rescues monarchs from local hayfields. Learn more at www.rebekahlowell.com
Maple leaf – by Lindsay Strout
Lindsay Strout is a high school biology and wildlife science teacher in southern Maine. She has been nature journaling for a few years and, in her free time, she’s outdoors with her journal taking little adventures. She was the winner of YCA’s 2022 June Ficker Hog Island Scholarship for Educators. Lindsay is very passionate about the outdoors and excited to share this opportunity with you!
This workshop will be held in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. Advance registration is required. To register, please click on this event in the What’s Coming Up column on the right hand side at the top of this page, then scroll down to the registration form. The price is $20/person ($25/person for non-members), payable by cash or check at the workshop.
The Falkland Islands are located off the southern coast of Argentina and almost to the tip of Tierra Del Fuego. With one flight a week entering and departing the Falklands, and a total of three days travel each way you have to really want to go there. We’re delighted to be hosting Shawn Carey on Tuesday, September 17th, to take us there.
The Falklands are a very remote South Atlantic archipelago with two main islands, East and West Falkland, plus an additional 776 smaller islands, most of which are not inhabited. However, several that are host some of the islands’ amazing wildlife, including five species of penguins, which on certain islands have thousands of birds during the nesting season.
For bird watchers and wildlife photographers with an interest in the birds found here you can see 63 nesting species including 14 endemic subspecies and two endemic species, the Falkland Steamer Duck and the Cobb’s Wren. In addition to the bird life there are also both Southern Elephant Seals and Southern Sea Lions which can be seen in large numbers on a few islands.
For this program we will explore two locations on Saunders Islands, The Neck, which has three nesting penguin species plus nesting Black-browed Albatross. Then onto The Rookery with its impressive colony of Southern Rockhopper Penguins and a staggering number of Black-browed Albatross. After that we will explore Sea Lion Island and our first look at Elephant Seals, Sea Lions and the Killer Whales that prowl the waters looking to feast on them. Next up is Bleaker Island with its beautiful mile long beach where you can watch Gentoo and Magellanic Penguins as they ride the waves onto the sandy shores. Finally, we will end our photographic adventure at Volunteer Point which has the largest nesting King Penguin population in the Falklands.
All of this plus a look at the lodges one can stay at, the food and some of the people you will meet along the way. Shawn will share his advice on traveling to this fantastic location plus many tips to help you plan your own Penguin adventure to the Falkland Islands.
Shawn Carey (Migration Productions) produces bird and wildlife related multi-media presentations, videos and photo workshops that have been presented all over the United States. Shawn moved from his home in Pennsylvania to Massachusetts in 1986 and started watching birds in 1988. His avid interest in photography was joined with a newfound passion for birding and he began to combine the two in 1991. By 1994, he and good friend Jim Grady started Migration Productions as a way to present their multi-image slide presentations to a live audience.
Migration Productions offers the finest quality bird and wildlife programs with stunning photographs, video, and soundtracks. Shawn’s photos have been published in the Boston Globe, New York Times, Science magazine, and many others over the last 20 years. FMI: www.MigrationProductions.com
This program will be presented in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. It will be free and open to all ages, and no registration is required for attending the program in person. It will also be live-streamed via Zoom. To view it via Zoom, you’ll need to register in advance. To do so, please click on this link and enter your name and email address: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kqG7w-IZS9OZfxfW5ntBOQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.We hope you can join us either in person or via Zoom!
This program was presented on June 18, 2024 via Zoom. For a description of the program, you can scroll down to the original post for the program.
To access the recording, please click on the image below to watch it on this page, or you can click on “Watch on Youtube” at the bottom of that image. (We also recommend clicking on the little white square in the bottom right corner of that viewing screen to convert the image to “full screen”).
The sands of Laudholm Beach in Wells reveal the stories of a diverse array of birds, mammals and invertebrates. Join Certified Wildlife Tracker and Maine Guide Dan Gardoqui for an enlightening morning of decoding stories in the sand. Participants will need to walk about 3 miles and spend time on uneven surfaces. Please bring your own water and snacks. This program is co-sponsored by York County Audubon and Wells Reserve, with members of either organization (and Maine Audubon) receiving the discounted program pricing.
About the Presenter
Dan Gardoqui has been studying naturalist skills, wildlife tracking, bird language, and mentoring for nearly 30 years. Dan has a M.S. in Natural Resources, is a Certified Wildlife Tracker, Registered Maine Guide, and served as Science Faculty at Granite State College. Through wildlife tracking, Dan has contributed to wildlife studies and served as science editor for the bird language book What the Robin Knows. Dan co-founded and led the nature connection nonprofit, White Pine Programs for 20 years. He currently runs Lead with Nature, where he helps leaders find success and meaning through nature-based consulting services & adventures.
Registration
YCA is co-hosting this program with partner the Wells Reserve. It will run from 7 am to 10 am. Advance registration is required, and the cost is $32 for members (of either YCA/Maine Audubon or the Wells Reserve), or $40 for non-members. To register, please email suzanne@wellsnerr.org or call Suzanne at (207) 646-1555 x116.
Please note: Program fee does not include site admission fee.
Join Marine Mammals of Maine (MMoME) as they take you through a seal’s journey from stranding to release, and all of the obstacles in between. Starting with seal basics such as: whether it’s normal for them to be out of the water and why you might see a baby on its own, and then dive into when and why seals need our help. You will learn what MMoME is, what they do,the animals they care for, and how you can help.
Marine Mammals of Maine is dedicated to marine mammal and sea turtle response, rescue, care, research and education. With a small staff and a dedicated volunteer team, MMoME provides expert stranding response across roughly 2,500 miles of Maine’s coastline (including islands), covering the geographic area of Kittery to Rockland.
Jessica Woodend has been a volunteer with MMoME since 2017, after attending the 2nd annual Ocean Commotion 5k (MMoME’s biggest fundraiser held every October) and learning more about the organization. She started out helping with educational opportunities and events, and now is also part of the response team and animal care team. Jessica started her career in the field of wildlife education and animal care in 2007 and has worked all over the country.
This program will be presented in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. It will be free and open to all ages, and no registration is required for attending the program in person.
This photo shows a male Eastern Towhee, a bird regularly seen and heard at the Wells Reserve.
Join us at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm every other Saturday this summer starting May 11th for a guided bird walk around the Reserve property. Beginners are welcome. Please bring binoculars. These walks are free and open to the public. However, space will be limited and reservations are required. Please email suzanne@wellsnerr.org or call Suzanne at (207) 646-1555 x116 to reserve your space.
The additional dates are 5/25, 6/8, 6/22, 7/8, 7/22 and 8/3. We meet in the parking lot at 7:30 a.m, and walks typically last about 2 hours.
Winters, when not experiencing new places, they volunteer at the World Birding Center / Estero Llano Grande State Park in Texas – guiding, assisting with programs and habitat improvement. Summers find them hunkered down in Mid-Coast Maine, exploring, spending time with grandkids and bird-guiding for the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Many of you may know them from their many summers working for the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge at Timber Point, or for the very entertaining program they presented for YCA in 2018 on their travels to the Galapagos Islands.They are avid seekers of all things natural. They mostly avoid urban areas. They like to search out opportunities for learning wherever they are.
They are trying a multi-faceted approach to avoid getting old. Mostly succeeding (except for the darn clock and calendar).
Change is good. They believe that we cannot avoid change so should embrace it.
They will be presenting a new program based on a few of their travels and adventures on planet Earth. It will include Antidotes, Anecdotes & Art:
* Antidotes to unexpected change – going with the flow
* Anecdotes of journeys – near & far
* The Art of turning lemons into lemonade
The program is a multi-media presentation; photographic, audiographic, videographic and, god forbid, storytelling-graphic! And … hopefully entertaining. Come join us as we venture off the beaten path.
This program will be presented in-person in the Mather Auditorium of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm, and will also be viewable via Zoom. To view via Zoom, you’ll need to register in advance. To do so, please click on this link and enter your name and email address:https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Vd6W30tMTuu8GuOUSD7qoA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
We hope you can join us in-person, or, if not, via Zoom!
This program was presented on April 16, 2024 via Zoom. Our apologies that the audio quality is not great, as we were having some technical difficulties.
To access the recording, please click on the image below to watch it on this page, or you can click on “Watch on Youtube” at the bottom of that image. (We also recommend clicking on the little white square in the bottom right corner of that viewing screen to convert the image to “full screen”).
For a description of the program, you can scroll down to the original post for the program.