Author Archives: Bill

Global Big Day – Saturday, May 14th

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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 →

Warbler Workshop with Doug Hitchcox – Saturday, May 7th

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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 →

Why do We Need Carnivores Anyway? Tuesday, April 26th

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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 →

New film on Song Birds: “The Messenger” – Friday, March 18th

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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 →

Life Lessons from the Life of John James Audubon – Tuesday, March 15th

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Share an evening with Mark Jones, Sr. V.P. and Director Retail Lending at Saco & Biddeford Savings and lifelong outdoorsman/photographer as he shares his photography of our stunning natural surroundings and offers thoughts on four often overlooked steps to making a bigger impact on what is most important to you. York County Audubon programs are held at 7 p.m. in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve.  There’s no charge and all are welcome!  No reservations required.

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Saturday morning Summer Bird Walks

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Join us at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm every other Saturday this summer starting June 11th, 2016 for a guided bird walk around the Reserve property.  Beginners are welcome.  Please bring binoculars if you have them; if not, you can borrow some. These walks are free and open to the public.  We meet in the parking lot, and reservations not required.  The additional dates are 6/25, 7/9 and 7/23, 8/6 and 8/20.  Meet at the parking lot at 7:30 a.m.  Walks typically last about 2 hours. The photo below shows a male Eastern Towhee, a bird regularly seen and heard … Continue reading →

Gull ID Workshop with Derek Lovitch – Jan 30-31

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This two-part workshop, on Saturday afternoon, January 30th and Sunday morning, January 31st, 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. Part I – Saturday, Jan 30 will be indoors at the Mather Auditorium of the Wells Reserve at 342 Laudholm Farm Road in Wells will be divided into two sections (you … Continue reading →

Christmas Bird Counts Approaching! (2015)

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The 116th annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will take place around the world in December and early January.  Since the CBC began over a century ago, it has relied on the dedication and commitment of volunteer citizen scientists. We volunteers have replaced the hunters of old.  We count birds and you’re invited to join us to participate this year in the 116th Christmas Bird Counts (CBC), the longest running Wildlife census on the planet. Two Christmas Bird Counts are held in York County, the York County CBC on Monday, December 14th, 2015 and Biddeford/Kennebunkport CBC on Saturday, January 2nd. Each … Continue reading →

Saw-whet Owls and Veery Migration with Patrick Keenan – Tuesday, Nov 17th

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Saw-whet Owls and Veery Migration. Understanding the annual cycle and movements of species is critical for implementing effective conservation strategies.   Patrick Keenan, Outreach Program Director at the Biodiversity Research Institute in Portland, will present a program about Saw-whet Owl monitoring at coastal and island sites in Maine, and about some results of using low cost high tech geolocators to study where some of Maine’s Veery population spends the winter, and how that impacts conservation efforts for this beautiful Maine summer resident. York County Audubon programs are held at 7 p.m. in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve.  There’s no charge … Continue reading →

An Evening with a Few of Our Friends – Tuesday, October 20th

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           Over the years, York County Audubon has worked with and sponsored a number of outstanding organizations.  As a special treat, we’ll let these friends share their work with brief presentations in a program at the Wells Reserve at 7 pm on Tuesday, October 20th. This will include: The Center for Wildlife in Cape Neddick focuses on wildlife rehabilitation, treating over 1500 injured animals every year.   In this program, they will share “Hawk Eye,” with a special winged guest. The Natural Resources Council of Maine has been working to protect Maine’s environment for over 50 years. In … Continue reading →

Sparrow ID Workshop with Louis Bevier – Sunday, Oct 18th

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      Want to learn more about the many sparrow species that breed in and migrate through Maine? Want to know the difference between a sparrow and a finch? How can one bird be both a bunting and a sparrow? Why are longspurs no longer sparrows? Often skulking, elusive, and confusingly similar, sparrows can make any birder prefer fall wood-warblers. As part of this workshop, you will learn how to find and observe sparrows in their preferred habitat. We will learn through classroom and field time useful foraging behaviors, flight characteristics, and vocalizations helpful for identification and appreciation of … Continue reading →

Hawk ID Workshop – Sept 22nd on Mt. A! (rain date: Sept 29th)

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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 Tuesday, September 22nd (with a rain date of Tuesday, September 29th) in the Learning Lodge atop beautiful Mount Agamenticus, an excellent spot to see the Fall raptor migration. The workshop will run from 10:00 a.m. till noon.  Then we’ll eat our bag lunches and step outside and see what the winds bring in and if the Broad-wings are kettling. It should be an exciting day. The workshop leader is Katrina Felton, a biologist and … Continue reading →

Eyes Like a Hawk, a collaborative event with Mount Agamenticus Conservation Program (Mount A), Center for Wildlife (CFW) & York County Audubon (YCA) – Sunday, Sept 27th

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Join CFW, YCA, and Mount A for our popular raptor program to learn about different raptor species, their long migrations and why Mount A is a popular Hawk Watch site. Outdoor guided flyway viewing follows. Program 10-11am in the Learning Lodge: CFW’s Emily Calhoun will present live raptor ambassadors and will have hands-on displays to provide helpful tips for spotting migrating birds this season and advice for how to keep them safe. Emily Calhoun is the Education and Outreach Coordinator for Center for Wildlife. She is a certified ProjectWILD Growing Up Wild educator, and in 2014 attended Audubon’s Environmental Educator … Continue reading →

A Trip through Time with the Birds of Lake Umbagog – September 15th

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A Trip through Time with the Birds of Lake Umbagog by biologist Bob Quinn of Merlin Enterprises Eco-tours.    See the dramatic scenery of this remote area as Bob discusses some fascinating changes in Umbagog’s bird life over the last 140 years.  William Brewster, the paragon of 19th century field ornithologists, description of Umbagog  “…like many a precious stone, has beauty and charm due to the effectiveness of its perfect setting ….” is still fitting.  The program will include information on the Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge and efforts to protect this dazzling northern lake and the surrounding forests.  This program … Continue reading →

Scott Weidensaul, Bird Migration and Shade Grown Coffee – on Thursday, August 27th

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       York County Audubon and Freeport Wild Bird Supply welcome you to a free presentation by famed naturalist and author Scott Weidensaul on Thursday, August 27th.  He will explore the wonder and mechanics of bird migration, and the simple, effective ways we can help save birds, from what we plant in our gardens to what we pour into our morning cup of coffee. He’ll also talk about his latest passion: educating others about the importance of shade-grown coffee.  The event will feature free samplings of some of the finest shade grown coffee, provided by Birds & Beans® “Bird Friendly” … Continue reading →