Join us for Winter Wildlife Day, 10 am – 2 pm, on Thursday, February 18th, at the Wells Reserve.
YCAS announces the June Ficker Hog Island Scholarship for 2016
Hog Island on midcoast Maine
YCAS will again be awarding a scholarship for the Educator’s Week program, July 17-22, 2016 on famed Hog Island. Check the Scholarship Programs link under the Community Involvement heading above for more information. The application deadline is March 15th.
Gull ID Workshop with Derek Lovitch – Jan 30-31
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 need not be present for both):
1:00 pm-2:30 pm – Beginning Gull Identification. Using Powerpoint and book resources, we’ll start with the basics of gull identification, such as feather topography and aging. We’ll then focus on our most common species: Ring-billed, Herring, Great Black-backed, Laughing, and Bonaparte’s Gulls.
3:00 pm-4:30 pm – Advanced Gull Identification. Now comfortable with the basics, we’ll move on to the uncommon species: Lesser Black-backed, Iceland, Glaucous, and Black-legged Kittiwake. Next up will be the rarities: Little, Black-headed, and yes, even Thayer’s. We’ll touch upon “Megas” such as Mew, Slaty-backed, and Sabine’s, and we’ll discuss hybrids. Finally, we’ll apply what we have learned to tackle and understand some identification quandaries, such as the famous “Westbrook Gull” before we finish up with some photo quizzes to test our new-found knowledge.
Part II: Field Workshop: Sunday, Jan 31 (8:00am – 12:00pm) will meet in Portland.
We’ll meet in Portland (Back Cove parking lot on Preble Street Ext, opposite the Hannaford’s) to carpool around the area to apply what we have learned. We’ll spend some time with our most common species: Herring, Ring-billed, and Great Black-backed, and then seek out Iceland and Glaucous, and perhaps we’ll find something even better!
We hope that you will join Derek for this workshop to foster appreciation for this fascinating group of birds.
York County Audubon is sponsoring this Workshop. We are asking for a $10 fee to participate, payable by cash or check at the Saturday session. Space is limited. Please register by signing up on this website by clicking on the event link in the Calendar column to the right, and then scrolling down to the fields for making a reservation. Weather dates or Workshop updates will be posted on the York County Audubon website and Derek’s Web Page (freeportwildbirdsupply.com/birdingtoursinMaine.asp).
And for a review of our inaugural 2014 workshop, check out Derek’s blog, here:
http://mebirdingfieldnotes.wordpress.com/2014/02/10/gull-identification-workshop-wrap-up/
The Harlequin – Autumn 2015
Please click on this link to view the Autumn 2015 issue of our Harlequin newsletter (with photos in full color!)
Christmas Bird Counts Approaching! (2015)
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 count covers the area within a designated 15 mile diameter circle. Teams of birders search sections of the circle area tallying the total number of birds seen within the circle. The York County Count extends from Moody Beach to Fort Foster; last year we found 94 species. The Biddeford/Kennebunk Count extends from Parson’s Beach in Kennebunk to the Cascades in Saco; last year we counted 85 species. You do not have to brave the cold and wind to contribute. You can also participate while staying warm by tracking the activity at your bird feeders. There is no fee to participate and the annual published report, American Birds, is available on line.
Each circle is led by a Count Compiler. Therefore, if you are a beginning birder, you will be able to join a group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher. In addition, if your home is within the boundaries of a Count Circle, then you can stay home and report the birds that visit your feeders once you have arranged to do so with the Count Compiler. We have lots of fun in the field during the day followed by a gathering of the team members at the compilation where we tally the species seen in the count circle, swap stories from the day’s hunt, and enjoy our supper.
If you are interested in joining a count please contact a Count Compiler: Pat Moynahan at 207-284-5487 or pmmoynahan@maine.rr.com for the York County Count, and Marie Jordan at 207-799-1408 or mijord@maine.rr.com for the Biddeford/Kennebunkport Count. You are invited to our Christmas bird party.
Saw-whet Owls and Veery Migration with Patrick Keenan – Tuesday, Nov 17th
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 and all are welcome! No reservations required.
An Evening with a Few of Our Friends – Tuesday, October 20th
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 this program, Executive Director Lisa Pohlman will discuss the proposed Northern Maine National Park and Recreation Area.
Hog Island Audubon Camp. Each year, YCA sponsors a local educator to spend a week at this famed camp. One of the recipients of this year’s June Ficker Hog Island Scholarship will present “Implementing Nature Lessons in Our Schools.”
The Stratton Island Audubon Sanctuary in Saco Bay, is a key nesting refuge for a variety of threatened seabirds, and has the highest diversity of nesting waterbirds of any Maine island. Two hundred and forty species of birds have been seen on and around the island. We’ll get an update on this summer’s activities there.
This diversity will make for an interesting evening. The program will be held in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve, starting at 7 pm. There’s no charge and all are welcome!
Sparrow ID Workshop with Louis Bevier – Sunday, Oct 18th
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 Maine’s sparrows. The workshop will feature some of the rare species that have turned up in Maine, and some that might yet so you’ll be prepared! The marsh sparrows, Le Conte’s versus Grasshopper, who was Henslow, and the tricky Spizella are some of the featured sparrows.
This workshop will be led by well known (and well liked!) Maine birder Louis Bevier. Since the 1960s, birds have drawn him to explore most of North and South America, leading to months at sea off Alaska and California, backcountry surveys in the high Sierra, plant and bird expeditions to several countries, and many other adventures. He has worked as a tour guide for Field Guides, as an editor for The Birds of North America series, as Associate Editor for the journal North American Birds, and is past Chair of the Maine Bird Records Committee.
The workshop will be held on Sunday, October 18th at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. We’ll meet at 8 a.m. and take a short walk. Then we’ll move to the Mather Auditorium for a talk on “all things sparrow.” We’ll break for lunch (you’ll need to bring your own), after which we’ll head to Mile Rd. to try for Saltmarsh or Nelson’s Sparrows, or anything else, at high tide, and then continue on to Beach Plum Farm and possibly Ogunquit Beach. At least that’s the plan!
This workshop is proudly sponsored by York County Audubon. The cost is $10/person, payable by check or cash at the workshop. But space is limited and advance reservations are required via this website! Please register by going to the “event” page, which you can reach by clicking on the link for this event in the Calendar box on the right side of this page. Please bring lunch and snacks. Hope you can join us.
Hawk ID Workshop – Sept 22nd on Mt. A! (rain date: Sept 29th)
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 naturalist who has worked as a counter for raptor migration projects in Maine and New Hampshire. She will teach us about hawk migration and identification, as well as current ebird and hawk data.
Space is limited and advance registration is required. There is a $10 registration fee, payable at the door. Please register by going to the “event” page, which you can reach by clicking on the link for this event in the Calendar box on the right side of this page. Please bring lunch and snacks.
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
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 training at the famed Hog Island. Emily also serves as a member of the “Gateway to Maine: Outside” Coalition, Friends of Mount Agamenticus Advisory Group, and is a Speaking for Wildlife volunteer with the UNH Cooperative Extension.
Outdoor flyway viewing 11am-1pm: Katrina Felton, sponsored by York County Audubon will be on hand to help spot any migrating raptors, offer tips for identification, and will have extra binoculars and spotting scopes to share.
Katrina Felton is a seasonal biologist/interpretive naturalist based out of northern New England. She has worked as the official counter for three raptor migration projects, covering spring migration in Maine and fall migration in New Hampshire. Katrina has also been trip leader for various birding groups, a naturalist on a Windjammer, and is a coordinator for New Hampshire’s young birder’s club, The Harriers. YCA is sponsoring Katrina.
Open to all ages w/$7 suggested donation. Space is limited for the indoor portion and advance registration is required. FMI or to register, visit: www.yorkcenterforwildlife.org/news.htm.
A Trip through Time with the Birds of Lake Umbagog – September 15th
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 is perfect for the wildlife enthusiast, birders, and anyone wanting to explore a little known corner of New England. The program will be held in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve at 7 p.m. Pictured below: Black-backed woodpecker, Gray Jay and Lake Umbagog.
Scott Weidensaul, Bird Migration and Shade Grown Coffee – on Thursday, August 27th
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” coffee.
Scott Weidensaul is the author of more than two dozen books on natural history, including the Pulitzer Prize finalist Living on the Wind, about bird migration, and Of a Feather: A Brief History of American Birding. Copies of some of Scott’s books will be available for purchase and signing by the author.
Weidensaul is a contributing editor for Audubon magazine and writes for a variety of other publications; he lives in the mountains of eastern Pennsylvania, where he studies the migration of hawks, owls and hummingbirds. Scott is a frequent visitor to Maine and is the Director of Ornithology at Audubon’s Hog Island camp in Bremen, Maine.
The program will be held in the Wells Reserve’s Alheim Commons, located at 100 Laudholm Farm Road, which is the road that leads from Route 1 to the Reserve. (Note that this event was originally slated for the Mather Auditorium, but has been moved to the Alheim Commons.) The doors will open at 4:30 for coffee sampling. The program will run from 5:15 till 6:00, followed by Q&A and additional coffee sampling. AND ONE FINAL NOTE: WHILE PRE-REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED AND LAST MINUTE ATTENDEES ARE MORE THAN WELCOME, WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR PRE-REGISTRATION TO HELP US GET A GOOD IDEA OF HOW MANY PEOPLE TO EXPECT. TO PRE-REGISTER, PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK FOR THIS EVENT UNDER “WHAT’S COMING UP” IN THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN OF THIS PAGE. THEN SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT PAGE TO FIND THE REGISTRATION FIELDS. THANK YOU!
FMI: http://www.scottweidensaul.com/ http://www.birdsandbeans.com/
Teddy Roosevelt Days at the Seashore Trolley Museum, Saturday and Sunday, August 1st and 2nd
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/
Saturday morning Summer Bird Walks
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 Wells Reserve.
Birding in the Land of the Midnight Sun – preceded by (brief!) Annual Meeting
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 across Iceland. Along the way, we’ll meet Black-tailed Godwits, Arctic Terns, Red-necked Phalaropes, Razorbills, and Black Guillemots. We’ll visit fjords, mountains, grasslands, and lava fields. Join us as we explore the wildlife and wonder of Iceland and discover why it’s a place no birder should miss.
The Annual Meeting and Midnight Sun program will be held in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve at 7 p.m.
Annual Election of Officers and Directors
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
The Harlequin, Spring 2015
Photography Through A Positive Lens with Steve Morello – May 19th
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 telling a story with your images, and making your images a reflection of your vision. This program is designed to give participants a new way of looking at photography. It is geared to all levels of photographers whether you are a seasoned photographer or just a beginner. The program will be held in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve at 7 p.m.
Birds, “Birdsongs” and Mr. Barry – May 5th
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 have a public viewing of all of Barry’s birds, a quiz on bird identification, and a concert by Monica Grabin called “Birdsongs.”
Before Tuesday’s event, Maine Audubon staff naturalist and York County Audubon Board member Doug Hitchcox will ID the birds, and then all you local bird watchers will have a chance to test your skills. It can be tricky, since some of the specimens are faded with time. Cynthia Walker will give a brief talk about William Barry’s life and the Museum’s collection, and then Monica Grabin will finish the evening with “Birdsongs.” The concert is a look at songs we sing about birds, and some songs she has written which poke a little fun at our efforts to get to know them better. It’s entertaining, and informational, too.
This is the first time York County Audubon has partnered with the Brick Store Museum in an event, and we’re delighted to be able to do so. We hope you’ll come join us! The program will start at 7 p.m. and will be held in the Museum’s Program Center at 4 Dane Street in Kennebunk. Tickets are $8 per person, or $4 for members of the Museum or York County Audubon.
Warbler Workshop with Doug Hitchcox, April 24th
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 by an ID walk and review on Sunday morning, April 26th from 7 a.m. till 10 a.m., also at the Wells Reserve.
An enthusiastic birder, Doug set the Big Year record for Maine birds with 314 species in 2011. In his spare time, he also runs the Maine-birds listserv, serves as Secretary of the Maine Bird Records Committee and is one of Maine’s eBird reviewers.
Space is limited and advance registration (via this website) is required. Fee of $10 is payable by cash or check at the Friday evening workshop.