Join Doug Hitchcox for a shorebird extravaganza. Meet and park at Buffleheads restaurant at 122 Hills Beach Road in Biddeford
Contact: Doug 207-671-0185.
Program: Monitoring Maine’s Great Blue Herons
- Meeting to be held at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm
- Come early to socialize
- Come earlier to sit in on the board meeting
The great blue heron is often touted as one of the most widespread and adaptable birds in North America. Here in Maine they are certainly widespread, but recent data has suggested a decline in their breeding population especially along the coast. Concerns over a population decline prompted the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to conduct a comprehensive survey of breeding colonies in 2009, and to begin a statewide adopt-a-colony program called the Heron Observation Network. Join Danielle D’Auria, a wildlife biologist with MDIFW’s Bird Group, to learn more about Maine’s largest colonial wading bird as well its close relatives.
Program: The Holy Grail of North American Birding
- Meeting to be held at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm
- Come early to socialize
- Come earlier to sit in on the board meeting
In 2012 five YCAS members ventured off to Attu…an Island birding mecca 1500 miles from mainland Alaska which some may recall from the movie The Big Year. Robert and Anne Watson, Pat Moynahan. Marian Zimmerman and Doug Hitchcox will share their adventure into the Eastern Hemisphere for rare birds. They saw colonies of over 2 million birds, Song Sparrows the size of robins, 20+ foot seas en route, and a bird recently back from the edge of extinction. Come hear the story of how these birders went from making a day trip to see a bird in New Jersey to traveling across the world together.
Program: Birds Do the Darndest Things
Meeting to be held at Kennebunkport Conservation Trust
Birds Do the Darndest Things
One of the great pleasures of birding is observing the intimate snippets of birds’ lives. Usually the birds we see are either perched, flying, or feeding. But every so often, we glimpse less obvious behaviors, which hold us spellbound—a meadowlark fleeing a falcon, an oriole constructing a complex nest, or a jay surreptitiously stashing away seeds.
Observing bird behavior carefully often leads us to ponder some puzzling questions: Why do Yellow Warblers naively devote themselves to feeding cowbird fledglings twice their size? How do Black-capped Chickadees remember where they have stored thousands of seed-caches? Do birds play for the fun of it or do they play to develop certain skills necessary for survival?
Join naturalist and birding tour guide Lena Senko as she explores a slew of intriguing bird behaviors and the insights of biologists who devote their lives to studying them.
A great description of Lena can be found here: http://www.fieldguides.com/guides/lena-senko
Kennebunk Plains, July 6, 2013
Nine of us took a tour of Kennebunk Plains. It was a very hot and humid day, 75 degrees at 7:00 turning to 85 by 10:00 am. We still saw a wide variety of birds. Excellent looks and clear songs of the Upland sandpiper, Grasshopper sparrow, and Eastern meadowlarks. One of the group reported that he added 4 “life birds” to his list. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning.
1 Mile, 150 Minutes
Observers: 9
- 1 Turkey Vulture
- 2 Red-tailed Hawk
- 6 Upland Sandpiper
- 4 Mourning Dove
- 1 American Kestrel
- 1 Eastern Phoebe
- 2 Eastern Kingbird
- 2 Red-eyed Vireo
- 2 Common Raven
- X Tree Swallow
- 1 American Robin
- 1 Gray Catbird
- 2 Northern Mockingbird
- 1 Brown Thrasher
- 12 Cedar Waxwing
- 2 Common Yellowthroat
- 1 American Redstart
- 1 Chestnut-sided Warbler
- 3 Prairie Warbler
- 2 warbler sp. (unidentified)
- 1 Eastern Towhee
- 8 Field Sparrow
- 4 Vesper Sparrow
- 4 Grasshopper Sparrow
- 1 Song Sparrow
- 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- 8 Eastern Meadowlark
- 1 Purple Finch
Bird Walk at Laudholm Farm
Join a guided, relaxed Bird Walk at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm. The diverse habitat allows for many possible sightings from shorebirds to warblers. Summer residents include Brown Thrasher, Bobolinks, Eastern Towhee and many others. All skill levels welcome. Meet in the Parking Lot at 7:30 a.m.
YCAS OFFICERS & DIRECTORS SLATE ANNOUNCED
Officers:
President: Bill Grabin
Vice-President: Anne Watson
Treasurer: Linda Eastman
Secretary: Monica Grabin
Directors:
David Doubleday
Ellen Doubleday
June Ficker
Pat Moynahan
Marian Zimmerman
Joanne Stevens
Bob Watson
Scott Richardson
Doug Hitchcox
Ken Janes
At the June 18th Annual Meeting, the chair of the Nominating Committee will present the slate, ask for any nominations from the floor, and request a vote of the membership.
The Harlequin, Spring 2013
2013 BIRDING CHALLENGE
May 10-11, 2013 marks our 13th annual Birding Challenge fund-raiser. We began very humbly in 2001 by raising a grand total of $262 and peaked in 2007 with a total of $5,038 in donations from individuals and businesses.
Throughout many generous donors have supported us with contributions. Also the Birding Challenge has benefited from the dedication of YCAS members who have reached out to invite the community for its support.
Our purpose in raising funds is to reinvest them in environmental education, conservation, and research projects in York County. The National Audubon’s Seabird Restoration Project on Stratton Island has been a major recipient of our efforts and has helped to bolster populations of Arctic, Roseate, and Common Terns in Southern Maine. The Center for Wildlife in York, which offers educational programs throughout the county, has been another important recipient of our Birding Challenge funds. Other projects funded by the Birding Challenge have included The Nature Conservancy’s restoration of the boardwalk at the Saco Heath, the solar project at Kennebunk Middle School, and many land trusts throughout the county.
We will be carrying on our tradition again this May 10, 5pm – May 11, 5pm, and hope you’ll join us. We need team members, team captains, and fund raisers. The more eyes and ears out there, the better! The more birds we see, the more funds we raise, the more money we will have to disperse to York County conservation efforts. So consider how you can join in this important effort.
Please contact Linda Eastman at 286-9586 for more information.
Special Program: The Making of Winged Migration
YCAS is pleased to sponsor a film in the “York Reads” series, held at the York Public Library. Monica Grabin will introduce “The Making of Winged Migration” and will facilitate the discussion afterward. York Public Library is located at 15 Long Sands Road (363-2818).
Field Trip CANCELED
The field trip to Thornhurst Farm has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Targets: Geese and more
Thornhurst Farm on Route 115 in North Yarmouth is just over the Yarmouth line and known as an annual stopover for hundreds of migrating geese. Here’s a story on it from the Press Herald: http://www.pressherald.com/archive/rare-geese-draw-crowds-to-maine_2009-11-03.html
Field Trip: Fall Rarity Roundup
This fast-paced trip is for those seeking the unexpected in as many spots as possible.
Contact: Pat Moynahan 284-5487
Please join Derek Lovitch for this annual, fun-filled field trip to seek and search for rarities in York County at the peak of “Rarity Season.” We’ll ply various nooks and crannies looking for lingering and pioneering migrants, while searching for rarities. If none have been reported, we’ll try to find our own. This is a more fast-paced outing than many of our usual field trips. We will stop for lunch, and likely return to our starting point by mid-to-late afternoon. Meet at the Kennebunk Rest Area off of Rt 95 Southbound at 7:30am. Carpooling from the meeting point will be required. Contact Pat Moynahan 284-5487.
Field Trip: Highland Farm Preserve
Offered in cooperation with York Land Trust.
Leader: Lyman Page
We will be looking for returning migrants and breeding birds.
Directions: Take the York exit from Turnpike, Go to Rte 1 at the Stonewall Kitchen’s Light. From this light travel ~ 1 mile south on US Rt.1 to the Route 91. Turn right onto Route 91 and travel ~ 3 miles west to reach the Highland Farm Preserve Parking Lot.
Contact: Lyman Page 967-2391
Annual Meeting: Golden Wings and Hairy Toes
Annual business meeting at 6:45pm, Social time and refreshments at 7pm with program to follow.
Golden-winged Warbler photo by Robert Royce
Natural history writer and popular entertaining speaker Todd McLeish will illustrate an important message about rare flora and fauna. He will tell about the people he has worked with who devote their lives to undoing years of damage to lovely old New England. This outstanding program will conclude with an introduction to some exciting work on the Narwhal. It would be appropriate for adults and children 8+. Todd will bring books to sign or you can get yours autographed.
Held at the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust headquarters.
Program: Birding Kennebunk Beach, the Mousam River and nearby locations
Longtime summer resident Ken Janes retired here a year ago and has now combined his lifelong interest in birding and photography with daily walks in our membership area. Ken has a knack of capturing some stunning images of butterflies, dragonflies, mammals and many birds including a rarity that brought birders from far and wide to Kennebunk.
Held at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. directions
Please Note: All are welcome to attend the YCAS board meeting, which will begin at 5pm before the member program.
Program: Snowy Owls to Saw-whet Owls
Since 1981, naturalist Norman Smith has spent countless days and nights, in every imaginable weather condition, observing, capturing, banding and color marking Snowy Owls at Logan International Airport. Data has been collected on roosting, hunting and behavior while the owls are on their wintering grounds. Most recently satellite transmitters have been attached to owls to learn more about their movements. Find out what has been learned to date, what questions remain and how this project developed to include research on Saw-whet Owls.
Held at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. directions
Please Note: All are welcome to attend the YCAS board meeting, which will begin at 5pm before the member program.
Program… Cuba: Old Havana, Classic Cars and Endemic Birds
Originally scheduled for March 19; postponed due to weather.
YCAS member, traveler, and birder Marie Jordan will help us vicariously experience Cuba and its birdlife. While her emphasis is on birds, we will also learn about the beautiful locations these unique birds are found, and get fascinating glimpses of the old city, American relic cars and the Cuban countryside.
Held at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. directions
Please Note: All are welcome to attend the YCAS board meeting, which will begin at 5pm before the member program.
Field Trip: Sanford Sewer Ponds
Leader: Andy Aldrich
Target: Early Fall migrants
The Sanford Sewer Ponds are one of the most productive sites in Southern Maine for viewing all types of waterfowl and other birds attracted to the surrounding habitat. Over 200 bird species have been seen here.
Please sign in at the headquarters building when you arrive.
Contact: Joanne Stevens 883-6475
Field Trip: Kennebunk Plains
Leader: Bob and Anne Watson
Target: Upland Sandpiper, sparrows.
As described by Bob Duchesne in The Maine Birding Trail, “This remnant is home to breeding grassland species found almost nowhere else in the state, including Grasshopper and Vesper Sparrows, Upland Sandpiper, Prairie Warblers, Eastern Towhees, Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlarks and Brown Thrashers.”
Meet: Parking area along Route 99
Contact: Bob and Anne 251-1135
Field Trip: Bejeweled and Bedazzled at Savage Preserve
Leader: Sue Bickford
Target: Butterflies, Dragonflies, Damselflies, and birds
Contact: Julie Suchecki 510-1323