York County Audubon

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.

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 for his science efforts.  His research has been featured in several television documentaries and he was profiled in the recently published WILDLIFE HEROES, as one of the 40 top wildlife conservationists of our time.   Location:  the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm.

Hog Island on midcoast Maine

YCAS will again be awarding a scholarship for the Educator’s Week program, July 19-24, 2015 on famed Hog Island. Check the Scholarship Programs link under the Community Involvement heading above for more information.  The application deadline is March 15th.

Early Bird Pricing through 10/31

Keep your feathered friends happy this winter by treating them to high quality bird food and help support two of your favorite environmental organizations at the same time.  Each fall, York County Audubon joins forces with the Wells Reserve at Laudholm to offer this sale.

The seed from Blue Seal is fresh from the 2014 crop.  There’s a broad selection of seed and suet, and great prices, especially if you order by 10/31.  There’s easy access pickup at the Wells Reserve November 13-15^th.

Please click on this link to access the order form:  Seed Sale 2014

Thanks for your support.  Your birds will thank you too!

• Program to be presented in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm
• Come early to socialize
• Come earlier to sit in on the Board Meeting
• Program is free and open to the public, and starts at 7 p.m.

This film was screened recently, at the joint meeting of the American Ornithologists’ Union and the Cooper Ornithological Society.  It has received outstanding reviews and in July, it won first place in the non-commercial film division and was named “Film of the Year” at the 30th annual Animal Behavior Film Festival in Boulder, Colorado. This amazing film captures the beauty of the bird while offering fascinating details on biology and natural history.  If you think the Junco is a common bird and you don’t give it a second thought -well you won’t make that mistake again!

Join us at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm every other Saturday this summer starting June 14th, 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 6/28, 7/12 and 7/26, 8/9 and 8/23.

YCAS will again be awarding a scholarship for the Educator’s Week program, July 20-25, 2014 on famed Hog Island. Check the Scholarship Programs link under the Community Involvement heading above for more information.  The application deadline is March 15th.