Author Archives: Bill

A Nature Journaling Workshop – with Rebekah Lowell & Lindsay Strout – Sunday, September 15th at 4 p.m.

York County Audubon Posted on by

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 … Continue reading →

Falkland Islands – The Penguin Adventure – with Shawn Carey – – Tuesday, September 17th at 7 pm – in-person and via Zoom

York County Audubon Posted on by

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’ … Continue reading →

A Video of our June 2024 program – A Seal’s Journey – with Marine Mammals of Maine

York County Audubon Posted on by

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”).

Continue reading →

Wildlife Track and Sign by the Sea Workshop – with Dan Gardoqui – Sunday, July 14th

York County Audubon Posted on by

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 … Continue reading →

A Seal’s Journey – with Jessica Woodend – Tuesday, June 18th at 7 pm – in-person and via Zoom

York County Audubon Posted on by

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 … Continue reading →

Saturday Morning Bird Walks at the Wells Reserve (Every Other Week from May 11th to August 3rd)

York County Audubon Posted on by

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 … Continue reading →

Serendipitous Travels – Birding Without Blinders – with Sue Keefer & Steve Norris -Tuesday, May 21st at 7 pm – in person and via Zoom

York County Audubon Posted on by

Sue and Steve like exploring. 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 … Continue reading →

A Video of our April 2024 program – Maine’s Champion Big Trees – with Jan Santerre

York County Audubon Posted on by

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.

Continue reading →

Maine’s Champion Big Trees – with Jan Santerre – Tuesday, April 16th at 7 pm – in person and via Zoom

York County Audubon Posted on by

The 2020 edition of the Maine Register of Big Trees lists 146 champions located throughout the state.  Join us to learn about these trees, and how they and other big trees play a significant role in our environment.  State champion big trees capture people’s imagination for their size and strength, but there is more to a champion than just its size — they are symbols of all the good work trees do for the quality of the environment and our quality of life. Jan Santerre is the Project Canopy director for the Maine Forest Service where she focuses on all … Continue reading →

A Video of our March 2024 program – Baby Birds: An Artist Looks Into the Nest – with Julie Zickefoose

York County Audubon Posted on by

This wonderful program was presented on March 12, 2024 via Zoom. To watch it, 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.

Continue reading →

Baby Birds: An Artist Looks Into the Nest – with Julie Zickefoose – Tuesday, March 12th at 7 p.m.- by Zoom only

York County Audubon Posted on by

Why and how do baby songbirds develop so quickly, some launching into flight only 11 days after hatching? In 2002, Julie Zickefoose began to draw and paint wild nestlings day by day, bearing witness to their swift growth. Over the next 13 years, Julie would document the daily changes in 17 bird species from hatching to fledging. Her book, Baby Birds, is the enchanting result, with more than 500 life studies that hop, crawl and flutter through its pages. In this talk, Julie shares her influences as well as her artistic process, a must-see for the aspiring natural history artist. … Continue reading →

Conserving African forest elephants through bioacoustic methods – with Bobbi Estabrook – Tuesday, February 20th – By Zoom Only

York County Audubon Posted on by

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is world famous for its work with birds, but did you know that it also has an Elephant Listening Project? In recent decades, forest elephant populations have dramatically declined largely due to poaching, habitat fragmentation, and habitat loss. To help conserve west and central Africa’s tropical forests and forest elephants, the Elephant Listening Project (ELP) utilizes passive acoustic monitoring (PAM). PAM is a non-invasive method that enables evidence-based conservation strategies through large-scale monitoring of elusive, acoustically active species, as well as human disturbance, such as illegal gun hunting and logging. Research Analyst Bobbi Estabrook explains … Continue reading →

Winter Wildlife Tracking workshop – with Dan Gardoqui – Sunday, February 4th

York County Audubon Posted on by

Can you tell the tracks of a fox from a fisher? Ever trailed a porcupine to its den? Join Certified Wildlife Tracker and Registered Maine Guide Dan Gardoqui for an outdoor adventure. Open to all curious adults (& interested teens). We’ll spend the morning seeking out, interpreting and following the tracks, trails and signs of our wild neighbors living on the Wells Reserve. Bring your own food/snacks and dress warmly. Dan Gardoqui has been learning and sharing naturalist skills, wildlife tracking, bird language, and mentoring for over 30 years. Dan has a M.S. in Natural Resources, is a Certified Wildlife Tracker, … Continue reading →

Beyond Birdseed: Making your backyard a haven for birds – Saturday, January 27th

York County Audubon Posted on by

Backyard birders who want to attract birds and help them thrive will learn what it takes at a get-together from 2-4:30pm on Saturday, January 27, at Kennebunk Town Hall. Backyard birding is becoming more and more popular, with many people interested in attracting more birds year-round.  Several local environmental organizations are hosting an environmental event to provide inspiration and ideas on this topic. Two noted naturalists – Doug Hitchcox and Andrew Tufts – will provide lively talks on how to make your backyard safe and attractive for birds twelve months a year. Prior to their presentations, artist Rebekah Lowell will … Continue reading →

A Video of our November 2023 program – Conserving Broad-winged Hawks from Canada to Colombia

York County Audubon Posted on by

As noted in our post below, we had a last minute change in our presenter for November, with Dr. Laurie Goodrich filling in for Phil Brown. Dr. Laurie Goodrich is the Director of Conservation Science at famed Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania. In 1984, Dr. Goodrich was the first full-time research biologist hired at Hawk Mountain, and she’s been there ever since, involved with every aspect of the work that goes on there. Her program was presented on November 14, 2023:

Continue reading →

A Last Minute Program Change!

York County Audubon Posted on by

Phil Brown was scheduled to present a Zoom program tonight on Nest Monitoring, Tagging and Migration of Broad-winged Hawks, but he has been called away to Belize to fill in as a trip leader. We’re delighted to share that he lined up a wonderful replacement: Dr. Laurie Goodrich, the Director of Conservation Science at famed Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania. In 1984, Dr. Goodrich was the first full-time research biologist hired at Hawk Mountain, and she’s been there ever since, involved with every aspect of the work that goes on there. The title of her talk will be: Conserving Broad-winged … Continue reading →

A Video of our October 2023 Program – How the Personalities of Small Mammals Shape the Growth of Forests

York County Audubon Posted on by

This program was presented on October 24, 2023 in-person at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm and via Zoom. To watch it, 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. Note that the mammals program is preceded by a short description … Continue reading →

Nest Monitoring, Tagging and Migration of Broad-winged Hawks – with Phil Brown – Tuesday, November 14th – via Zoom only

York County Audubon Posted on by

Fall Migration is considered to be one of the birding wonders of the world.  Well known birder Phil Brown is the Bird Conservation Director of the The Harris Center for Conservation Education in Hancock, NH.  Under his guidance, Harris Center biologists collect hawk migration data as part of an international effort to monitor raptor population trends. The center has been partnering with Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania to better understand Broad-winged Hawk ecology.  Phil will explain what has been learned to date about the migration of Broad-winged hawks breeding in New England that travel to their wintering grounds in South … Continue reading →