Author Archives: Bill

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 →

Teddy Roosevelt Days at the Seashore Trolley Museum, Saturday and Sunday, August 1st and 2nd

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Did you know that TR was a dedicated birder?  Did you know that in 1914, he visited Maine and rode in a rail car named the Narcissus, which is now being restored at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport? On August 1st and 2nd, a special weekend series of events will be exploring and celebrating these two realms. York County Audubon is one of many organizations that will be partnering with the Seashore Trolley Museum for this event. Please check back soon for more details.  Preliminary information can be found here:  http://www.trolleymuseum.org/events/teddyrooseveltday  and here:  http://narcissus1912.blogspot.com/

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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 13th, 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.  Future dates are 6/27, 7/11 and 7/25, 8/8 and 8/22.  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 at the … Continue reading →

Birding in the Land of the Midnight Sun – preceded by (brief!) Annual Meeting

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June 16, 2015 – Brief annual meeting followed by: Birding in the Land of Midnight Sun.  Iceland abounds in natural splendor: Waterfalls and glaciers, panoramic views and otherworldly landscapes. It is a land of Northern Lights and midnight sun. And it is the realm of one of the world’s most charming and iconic birds: the Atlantic Puffin. During the summer months, Iceland’s round-the-clock sunlight allows us to see a panoply of birds which accompany the puffins in nesting frenzy. Come along with Shawn Carey, one of New England’s leading wildlife photographers, as he shares images and stories from his recent journey … Continue reading →

Annual Election of Officers and Directors

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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 16th, the following slate of Officers shall be voted upon by the Membership:  Bill Grabin, President, Anne Watson, Vice President, Kathy Donahue, Treasurer, and Monica Grabin, Secretary, as well as the following slate of Directors:  David Doubleday, Ellen Doubleday, Doug Hitchcox, Ken Janes, Pat Moynihan, Bob Watson, Eileen Willard, Marian Zimmerman

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Photography Through A Positive Lens with Steve Morello – May 19th

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May 19 2015, – Photography Through A Positive Lens.  Steve Morello has been a professional nature photographer for over 30 years and has photographed for many prestigious publications including National Geographic, The New York Times, and World Wildlife Fund. Steve is a photo instructor for Lindblad / National Geographic Expeditions and teaches at the National Audubon Society’s Camp at Hog Island in Maine.  Come share his images from around the world and learn how having the right attitude about your photography is just as important as knowing about F-stops and shutter speeds. Some of the topics you will explore are … Continue reading →

Birds, “Birdsongs” and Mr. Barry – May 5th

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William Edward Barry, who lived from 1846 to 1932, was a man of many interests. Among them were natural history and ornithology. Although an amateur, he kept careful notebooks with beautiful line drawings of the things he saw.  He also collected and stuffed bird specimens which he found around Kennebunk.  The Brick Store Museum has, among its collections, cases of Barry’s mounted birds, many of which have never been exhibited, nor identified.  A current small exhibit of William Barry’s work will be ending in early May.  As a closing celebration, the Museum, with the help of York County Audubon, will … Continue reading →

Warbler Workshop with Doug Hitchcox, April 24th

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SORRY, THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT. Just in time for their spring arrival, Maine Audubon’s Staff Naturalist Doug Hitchcox will hold a two hour 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 to the next level.  The workshop will be held in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve on Friday, April 24th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  The Friday evening workshop will be followed … Continue reading →

Whale Conservation Research in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, April 21

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Come join us for our April program meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday the 21st – Whale Conservation Research in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.   Dr. David Wiley is the Research Coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency’s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and leader of the Office of National Marine Sanctuary’s Center of Excellence for Acoustic Research and Marine Mammal Conservation.  Currently he is leading a multi-organizational study using advanced telemetry and novel visualization software to explore the underwater behavior of endangered whales.  His results have appeared in numerous scientific journals and he has received many awards … Continue reading →

Japan in Winter: a Crane and Sea-Eagle Spectacle

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Tuesday, March 17, 7:00pm in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve:  Japan in Winter: a Crane and Sea-Eagle Spectacle! Presented by Marie Jordan.   Japan has several claims to fame as a travel destination, but relatively few people think of the country as a wildlife destination-in winter!  Highlights of Marie’s trip included thousands of Hooded and White-naped Cranes found on the fabulous island of Kyushu, third largest of Japan’s four islands, and the dancing Red-crowned Cranes and majestic Steller’s Eagles on the larger island of Hokkaido.   She will include other bird species, interesting places and sights seen as she traveled through … Continue reading →