Author Archives: Bill

Land of the Prikichi: Birds of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao by Dr. Jeffrey Wells – Tuesday, June 26th

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**** PLEASE NOTE: The date for this program has been changed from June 19th to June 26th **** The sunny islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao lie just off the coast of Venezuela with a rich history steeped in both Caribbean and Dutch culture. They are well known as popular winter getaways for scuba divers and beach-loving families from the U.S., yet fewer people know of the fascinating mix of birds that can be enjoyed here at any time of year. North American birders will be intrigued by South American tropical landbirds like the vibrant green Prikichi (Brown-throated Parakeet), the bright orange “oriole on steroids” Troupial, or the … 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 26th, 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, Marion Sprague, Seth Davis, Eileen Willard, Marian Zimmerman

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Learning Bird Language – a Workshop with Dan Gardoqui on Saturday, June 23rd

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Slow down and listen to the birds…and they will tell you nature’s secrets. Local tracker, naturalist, and birder Dan Gardoqui of White Pine Programs will give us a peek into the world of Deep Bird Language including tips on how to “re-awaken” this hardwired skill set of awareness. This program will blend field observation and interpretation with some indoor lectures & lessons about the fundamentals and nuances of learning bird language. Participants should dress to be outdoors for a few hours at a time (be prepared for biting insects); bring something to sit on (if you don’t want to sit … Continue reading →

A Video of our March 2018 program: Of Mallards and Men: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 – with Dr Kurk Dorsey

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A video of our great March program entitled Of Mallards and Men: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, presented by UNH’s Dr Kurt Dorsey, is now available and can be watched by clicking on the link below. Our special thanks to the Wells Reserve for recording and editing the program, and making this video available (and for everything else they do!).

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Restoring the Great Fish Migrations of Atlantic Rivers with John Waldman – Thursday, May 24th

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Professor John Waldman is coming to the Wells Reserve Thursday evening, May 24th, at 7 p.m.. His program: “Restoring the Great Fish Migrations of Atlantic Rivers.” Highly recommended! Atlantic rivers once “ran silver” with great runs of migrating salmon, shad, alewives and sturgeon, but only a small fraction of these runs flourish today. John Waldman is an aquatic conservation biologist with a singular passion for diadromous fish – fish that spend a part of their lifecycle in fresh water and another part in salt water. He will draw on this most recent book, Running Silver: Restoring Atlantic Rivers and Their … Continue reading →

Birding Around the World – with Becky Marvil – Tuesday, May 15th

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Birding Around the World with one of Maine’s most experienced and enthusiastic birders, Becky Marvil.  In the summer of 2015, Becky, her husband Josh (the pilot), and two other couples spent 30 days traveling around the world in a private plane. Their route took them from the US to Newfoundland, the Azores, Turkey, Oman, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Taiwan, Russia, and Alaska. In addition to sightseeing and learning about different cultures, Becky’s background in biology and ornithology caused her to focus on the birds, photographing and videotaping many species, and learning about their regional family variations AND similarities from one stop to … Continue reading →

Web Feet and Slimy Skin – Maine’s Frogs with Kris Hoffman – Tuesday, April 17th

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Web Feet and Slimy Skin will be presented by Dr. Kris Hoffmann from the University of Maine,   Kris spoke to us in September about turtles.  Her return promises a fascinating, informative, and funny program – this time on Maine’s fabulous frogs. Anatomy meets ecology in this hour-long presentation. Join us as we learn why frogs are slimy, how metamorphosis affects more than their legs, where they go in the winter, how they use their eyes to help swallow, what you can do to help their populations, and more. She will describe the biology of these water-loving animals, introduce us to … Continue reading →

Of Mallards and Men: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 with Kurk Dorsey – Tuesday, March 27th

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Of Mallards and Men: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 by author, birder and UNH History Professor Dr. Kurk Dorsey.  This event will help us celebrate the 100th anniversary of passage of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act which is the basis for much of the protection afforded wild birds in the US and other nations, but is currently being weakened.  In December, the Interior Department issued a ruling that businesses which accidentally kill non-game migratory birds during their operations are not in violation of the MBTA. A popular speaker for Seacoast Audubon, Kurk’s expertise in environmental history blended with his … Continue reading →

The Harlequin – Winter 2018

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Please click on the link below to view the Winter 2018 issue of our Harlequin newsletter (with photos in full color!) Read the feature interview with new Maine Big Year record holder Josh Fecteau, describing some of his adventures and the birds he found, including this Painted Bunting in Palermo, Maine on May 18th. Harlequin Winter 2018   

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Winter Wildlife Tracking with Dan Gardoqui – Jan 20th, 2018

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The winter landscape is a fabulous time to connect with the lives of our local wildlife. Mammals, birds (even winter insects) leave behind tracks, trails and signs of their presence. Spend the morning with certified wildlife tracker Dan Gardoqui of White Pine Programs, learning to interpret the abundant clues of our wild neighbors. The workshop will run from 9 till noon on Saturday, January 20th (with Sunday as a fallback date if Saturday’s weather is too poor).  It will be held at the Wells Reserve at 342 Laudholm Farm Road in Wells Participants should be dressed to be outdoors for the … Continue reading →

Gull ID Workshop with Derek Lovitch – Feb 3rd-4th, 2018

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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 This two-part workshop, on Saturday afternoon, Feb 3rd and Sunday morning, Feb 4th, 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. Ring-billed Gull … Continue reading →

Feral Newfoundland with Deborah Gordon – Tuesday, November 14th

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Join artist, musician, and photographer Deborah Gordon as she reveals secrets and hidden natural wonders of Newfoundland and Labrador. Learn about the less frequented outposts, national and provincial parks, World Heritage Sites, and the infectious humor and uplifting spirit that comprises the culture and people of Canada’s most eastern province. Newfoundland and Labrador are surprisingly accessible, and you will learn the options and necessary preparations for travel and accommodations, seasonal activities, literature and history resources as Deborah is excited to share her expertise on this region. Her captivating, in-depth slide show of the wildlife, landscape, architecture, and mystery of this … Continue reading →

The Christmas Bird Counts Are Coming (2017)

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     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 … Continue reading →

Our 19th Annual Bird Seed Sale is coming!

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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 27th.  Order pick up will be at the Wells Reserve November 9th – 11th, … Continue reading →

The Art of Science: Building a Field Guide with Jonathan Alderfer – Tuesday, October 17th

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The National Geographic will publish the newest edition of the Field Guide to the Birds of North America this September. Join artist, co-author and co-illustrator Jonathan Alderfer for an inside look at how this latest edition was conceived and brought to press. Jonathan will also display a selection of his original field guide illustrations and discuss the painting process. Jonathan Alderfer has specialized in painting birds and natural history subjects for more than thirty years. For ten years he was National Geographic’s resident birding expert at their headquarters in Washington, D.C. While there, he authored, edited, or illustrated more than … Continue reading →

Turtles with Kris Hoffmann – Tuesday, September 19th

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University of Maine Postdoctoral Associate Kristine Hoffmann brings us a fun and fascinating night of turtle biology. How long can a Box turtle live? Why do Snapping turtles snap? Why are turtle populations declining, and what can the public do to help? Kris will explain the ecology of these water-loving animals and introduce us to all the turtles of Maine. She will discuss their natural history, behavior, unique values, and conservation, in an engaging presentation sure to be both instructive and entertaining.   This event is free and open to the public. Come early for refreshments and social time. The program will be at 7 p.m. … Continue reading →