Hog Island on midcoast Maine YCAS will again be awarding a scholarship for the Educator’s Week program, July 16-21, 2017 on famed Hog Island. Check the Scholarship Programs link under the Community Involvement pull down heading above for more information. The application deadline is March 15th.
Continue reading →THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN FULLY BOOKED. IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO ycas@yorkcountyaudubon.org WITH “WORKSHOP WAITING LIST” AS THE SUBJECT This two-part workshop, on Saturday afternoon, Jan 28th and Sunday morning, Jan 29th, will get you started on unraveling the mysteries of gull identification. Actually, most gulls are not very difficult to tell apart, though adult and juveniles of most species look very different. We’re going to give ourselves confidence with identifying the easier plumage’s of our common species, and then tackle the more challenging intermediate plumage’s and the less-common species. (Please note … Continue reading →
For anyone who missed Lena Moser’s wonderful YCA October presentation on her trip to Lake Baikal, it’s now available for your viewing! Special thanks to Saco River Community Television for recording it and making it available in such high quality. And special thanks to Lena for such an exceptional presentation. Just click this link: https://vimeo.com/189813500
Continue reading →For anyone who missed Doug Tallamy’s great program “Bringing Nature Home” at the Ogunquit Playhouse in June, a video of it can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/174067253 Special thanks to Saco River Community Television for recording it and making it available in such high quality.
Continue reading →What will be happening in the Maine Legislature after the November election? How will environmental concerns fare in Augusta next year? What’s the outlook for advancing solar and other alternative energy sources in Maine, and for protecting Maine’s forests, waterways and wildlife? Jennifer Burns Gray has been Maine Audubon’s staff attorney and advocate since 1997 where she has served on an assortment of commissions and committees. She has been extensively involved in the legislative process. She will talk about the upcoming 128th Maine Legislative session and what’s likely to be high on Maine Audubon’s priority list of issues. Jenn holds … Continue reading →
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 at the same time. Profits from our annual sale support the educational 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. Early bird pricing is available if you place your order by 4 p.m. on October 28th. Order pick up will be at the Wells Reserve November 10th – 12th, … Continue reading →
Beginning on Christmas Day in 1900, the Audubon Society has been sponsoring Christmas Bird Counts (CBC’s) to help monitor the health and status of bird populations throughout North America. In that first year, there were 25 count circles with a total of 27 birders. Now, there are over 2300 count circles each year with over 70,000 birders participating, with the locations stretching from Alaska to South America. Each year, York County Audubon sponsors two counts. The Southern York County circle extends from Kittery to Ogunquit, while the Biddeford/Kennebunkport count circle reaches from Kennebunk to Saco. Each count territory is a … Continue reading →
Lake Baikal, also called the “pearl of Siberia,” is a truly astonishing place. It is Earth’s deepest lake, holding a fifth of the world’s fresh water. At 25-30 million years old, it is also one of the most ancient geographical features on the planet. Perhaps this is why the lake’s water alone is home to 1,500 plant and animal species, 80% of which are found nowhere else on Earth! Diverse habitats around Lake Baikal—from expansive shorelines and mountain ranges to taiga forests and steppe meadows—attract numerous birds. Some sought-after species include Siberian Blue Robin, Daurian Jackdaw, Amur Falcon, Siberian Thrush, … Continue reading →
Please click on the link below to view the Autumn 2016 issue of our Harlequin newsletter (with photos in full color!) harlequin-autumn-2016
Continue reading →There are more than 1,300 known species of bats, comprising nearly a quarter of all mammal species on earth. These unique creatures are at the center of some of today’s most pressing ecological issues, yet are still held in fear by some, and misunderstood by many. Old wives’ tales and folklore, such as that bats suck blood, get into your hair, or they are blind, are in need of an update. Our September program: Myths and Truths about Bats – Bat Conservation and Biology presented by David Bates. David Yates is the Mammal Program Director at the Biodiversity Research Institute in … Continue reading →
SORRY, BUT THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN FULLY BOOKED. IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO ycas@yorkcountyaudubon.org WITH “WORKSHOP WAITING LIST” AS THE SUBJECT Late September is the time to be looking for migrating hawks! YCA is collaborating with the Mount Agamenticus Conservation Region to present a workshop on Sunday, September 25th (with a rain date of Monday, September 26th) in the Learning Lodge atop beautiful Mount Agamenticus, an excellent spot to see the Fall raptor migration. The workshop will run from 9:00 a.m. till 11. Then we’ll eat our bag lunches and step … Continue reading →
THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN FULLY BOOKED. IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO ycas@yorkcountyaudubon.org WITH “WORKSHOP WAITING LIST” AS THE SUBJECT York County Audubon continues our Workshop series by offering a Shorebird Identification Workshop presented by noted Maine Birder, Louis Bevier. Shorebirds herald the changing seasons by staging and feeding in mixed flocks on our beaches and resting on historical roosting area. Fortunes Rock Beach and Hills Beach are two of these noted areas. Louis will discuss the beautiful plumage variation of these long-distance migrant flocks. We will begin to identify specific species within … Continue reading →
Birding can be whole lot more than feeding, watching, photographing, keeping life lists, or chasing rarities. It can also involve knowing what birds are saying. Deep Bird Language requires slowing down and truly listening to the birds. Dan says “It’s more about quality than quantity.” For the vast majority of human existence, this was a skill we could not afford to ignore. Once critical to our survival it is now, nearly gone. Local tracker, naturalist, and birder Dan Gardoqui will give us a peek into the world of Deep Bird Language including tips on how to “re-awaken” this hardwired skill set … Continue reading →
The Nominating Committee has presented a slate of Officers and Directors to the YCA Board, and that slate has been approved by the Directors. At the Annual Meeting on June 21st, the following slate of Officers shall be voted upon by the Membership: Bill Grabin, President, Joyce Toth, Vice President, Kathy Donahue, Treasurer, and Monica Grabin, Secretary, as well as the following slate of Directors: Mary Bateman, David Doubleday, Doug Hitchcox, Ken Janes, Lena Moser, Pat Moynahan, Eileen Willard, Marian Zimmerman
Continue reading →Michael Milicia is a gifted photographer and teacher. He will present a selection of bird images along with understandable commentary intended to inform, entertain and inspire. This program will be of interest to both general audiences and photographers of all abilities. Using example photos, Mike will demonstrate the importance of things like head angle, catch lights, in-camera composition, knowing your subject, and being proactive in the field. There will also be a review of a few key camera settings that enable Mike to be more productive and get better results in the field along with a brief discussion of his … Continue reading →
York County Audubon joins the Global Big Day – And so can you! For years, YCA has held an annual Birding Challenge in mid-May. It’s been a fund-raiser for our wildlife protection efforts and a day for birders to join together and have fun. This year, we’re changing things up a bit, by joining with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in a citizen-science project called “The Global Big Day 2016.” The idea is simple: people all over the world will go birding on May 14, 2016, and record what they see. Then they’ll enter that data into eBird, where it … Continue reading →
THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN FULLY BOOKED. IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO ycas@yorkcountyaudubon.org WITH “WORKSHOP WAITING LIST” AS THE SUBJECT Just in time for their spring arrival, Maine Audubon’s Staff Naturalist Doug Hitchcox will hold a workshop to teach you various techniques for identifying the gems of our forest: warblers. We will look at the diversity of the family, keys for identifying each species, and even spend time learning the songs and auditory cues to take your birding tothe next level. The workshop will be held at the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust on Saturday, … Continue reading →
Please click on the link below to view the Spring 2016 issue of our Harlequin newsletter (with photos in full color!) Harlequin Spring 2016
Continue reading →Geri Vistein is a conservation biologist whose work focuses on Maine carnivores and our relationship with them. She is a terrific speaker whose informative program will better educate us on the role carnivores play in our ecosystem and help us become more knowledgeable about their ecology. You will discover connections that will leave you in awe. We should take away with a better understanding of the value of carnivores in the Maine landscape and gain in our ability to practice coexistence skills. FMI: http://www.coyotelivesinmaine.com/coyote/meet-the-scientist/ York County Audubon programs are held at 7 p.m. in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells … Continue reading →
York County Audubon is pleased to co-sponsor with the Sierra Club a showing of this important new film. Su Rynard’s documentary THE MESSENGER explores our deep-seated connection to birds and warns that the uncertain fate of songbirds might mirror our own. Moving from the northern reaches of the Boreal Forest to the base of Mount Ararat in Turkey to the streets of New York, THE MESSENGER brings us face-to-face with a remarkable variety of human-made perils that have devastated thrushes, warblers, orioles, tanagers, grosbeaks and many other airborne music-makers. You can view the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjQtRr4CKcc The event is part of the Sierra … Continue reading →