Correspondence: Cory’s College Fund

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Dear Ms. Zimmerman,

I would like to thank you and the York County Audubon Society for the June Ficker Memorial College Fund. So far school has been going well for me, and in particular I have found a lot of interest for my terrestrial wildlife and wetland conservation classes. My professor, Dr. Perlut, is very interested in birds himself, and has been banding Savannah Sparrows in Vermont for the last nine years. I hope to work with him this summer conducting bird count surveys along the Saco River. I am also looking forward to taking a class on bird banding, which will be offered in the fall. I am very grateful for the financial aid you have provided for my educational pursuits. I also appreciate the skills and knowledge I have received through working alongside June Ficker last summer. I wish you all the best.

Sincerely, Cory French

Quest for 300 Gets Tougher

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Last time I wrote that in 2010, birders using eBird had reported seeing 298 species in York County. Since then, I’ve discovered a quirk in that data: In eBird, “species” is more than species. The tally is not as close to 300 as I thought!

Most birders have spotted birds that they couldn’t nail down to species, but many still make note of them. Rare is the field notebook without any “accipiter sp.” or “empidonax sp.” to account for those hawks or flycatchers that just didn’t reveal enough for a positive identification. Those entries and many similar ones are still acceptable, though, to eBird. For example, the York County list contains five scoter and three scaup “species.”

Hybrids are allowed on the list, too. Brewster’s Warbler, that handsome combination of Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warblers, gets its own line, as does the Mallard/American Black Duck mix.

Altogether, the latest count for 2010 shows 21 non-species, leaving just 278 true species on the list. Is 300 even attainable? It’s still worth a try. So far, eBirders have reported 116 species in 2011.

If you haven’t checked out ebird.org already, now is a good time to browse around. Registering lets you record the birds you see, keep track of your bird lists, explore dynamic maps and graphs, share your sightings, join the eBird community, and contribute to science and conservation. If you have previously registered for any BirdSource project, you can use your existing account on eBird.

But if you’re not quite ready to create an account, you can still use eBird to view graphs, charts, and maps showing the distribution and abundance of birds reported by thousands of other participants.

Wonder where to get started? Try this: visit ebird.org, follow the “About eBird” tab, and look near the bottom of the list of links in the right column for “Occurrence Maps.” Click to see how scientists have used the eBird data to create fascinating animated maps for many species. It’s amazing to watch the yearly ebb and flow of migratory populations on a base map of the United States, and a wonderful demonstration of the power of cooperative science.

AOU Changes & ABA Area Birds

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The American Ornithologists’ Union published the 51st supplement to its check-list of North American Birds in July of 2010. Here is a brief summary of the changes of interest to ABA birders. The updated AOU checklist, now with 2070 species, can be found at www.aou.org/checklist/north. The following splits affected ABA area birds: Black Scoter (Melanitta nigra) was split into American and Eurasian Species. The American species retains the common name Black Scoter (M. americana) and the Eurasian Scoter becomes Common Scoter (M. nigra). The Eurasian species has not yet been reported in the ABA Area.

Whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus) was split into two species: Eastern Whip-poor-will (C. vociferus) and Mexican Whip-poor-will (C. arizonae). Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) was split into three species: Eurasian Wren (T. tryglodytes), Winter Wren (T. hiemalis), and Pacific Wren (T. pacificus).

Pictures and texts comparing all of these splits can be found in Sibley’s Guide to Birds and the National Geographic Field Guide to North America. Songs can be found in the Stokes’ Field Guide to Bird Songs as well as on www.xeno-canto.org. Draft range maps for all species may be seen at www.sibleyguides.com.

Individual Landowners’ Role in the Bobolink Summertime Drama

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Bobolink in the hand

Male Bobolink in the hand. Photo by Noah Perlut.

Each summer aerial dramas help define the sights and sounds of New England’s agricultural landscape. Male bobolinks, jet black with a bright yellow nape and white tuxedo-like markings on their backs, soar into the air singing so wildly they almost seem confused and then land like butterflies on the tall grass. Female bobolinks, golden and bronze, sleek, with delicate stripes on top of their heads, like to test their mates and neighbors, making a whine-like call and rocketing into the sky to see which male can keep pace.

Unfortunately, these dramas are acted out less and less each summer. According to the Breeding Bird Survey, if Maine had 100,000 breeding Bobolinks in 1966, by 2007 there were slightly less than 60,000 (-1.25% annual decline). Two factors explain these declines. First, the total amount of grassland habitat has declined. In 2007 Maine had 197,757 acres of managed grassland (14,432 acres in York Country), a 50% decline from 1987.

Despite this decline, the state still has suitable, albeit reduced, habitat for grassland songbirds, mainly those lands owned by private individuals. The second cause of decline is linked to increasing intensity of management, where farmers cut hay earlier and more frequently through the season. Such increase is advantageous because forage harvested earlier in the season has greater nutrition, which leads to greater milk production in dairy cows.

I have studied the effects of increased management intensity on Bobolinks, Savannah Sparrows and Eastern Meadowlarks in Vermont for the last nine years. The big picture of this work is clear: as intensity of management increases, birds’ reproductive success and their probability of surviving to the next year decreases. For example, a female Bobolink breeding on a hayfield cut in late-May and again in early-July has zero reproductive success. Meanwhile a female breeding in a field cut on August 1 will successfully produce at least three young.

Can both intensive hay-farmers and birds co-exist? Yes! Vermont’s National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) recently created an incentive payment for intensively managed hayfields. Farmers are encouraged to cut as early as possible (must be before 31 May) and then delay their second harvest for 65 days (compared to the typical 35-40 day delay). In return farmers receive $135 per acre. This modest change in the timing of haying increased the average Bobolink reproductive success from zero to three offspring per year.

An open dialog between farmers, conservationists, agencies and researchers developed a mutually satisfying management plan in Vermont, and a Maine-specific model can be created too. The Bobolink’s future in Maine will indeed be determined by the management decisions of each individual landowner.

Noah Perlut is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Studies at the University of New England

Read an article about Dr. Perlut’s work in the Burlington Free Press.


Birding Challenge 2011: Announcement

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Did you know that the majority of the York County Audubon financial outreach is supported by our Birding Challenge Fund Raiser. We support great relationships with The Center for Wildlife, The Puffin Project, the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust, and other York County conservation organizations.

Because of these relationships we can offer exciting community based programs like our “Winter Wildlife Day,” our Piping Plover Educational Program, and we can enjoy a beautiful spot for our Annual Dinner.

The 2011 Birding Challenge will happen on the 13th & 14th of May. We search for birds from 5:00pm on May 13th and complete our 24 hour effort in the auditorium of Laudholm Farm at the Wells Reserve doing a compilation and eating pizza.

You can join us! Bird with us! Raise funds and contribute to our support of the York County Conservation effort. Call Pat Moynahan for additional information (284-5487).

For the Sake of the Birds

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Change is in the air! The days are getting longer, the snow is leaving for another year, and the temperature is rising. Best of all, early arrivals signal the coming of spring and the beginning of migration. It’s the time of the year for which we have been eagerly waiting.

As we enjoy another season of being out delighting in the sights and sounds of spring and the beauty of Maine, we are encouraged to take stock of our accomplishments and the challenges that face us. During school vacation week, YCAS co-sponsored a Winter Wildlife Day with the Wells Reserve and the Center for Wildlife at Laudholm Farm. A capacity crowd of children, parents, and grandparents learned about birds and wildlife in a shared family experience that was engaging and fun as well as educational. This event was a collaborative effort of the three sponsor organizations and their volunteers and demonstrated the kinds of things we can accomplish when we pool our energy, creativity, and resources.

Looking ahead, we have our Birding Challenge scheduled for May 13-14. For the last ten years the Birding Challenge has been the primary fund raiser that enables YCAS to offer educational experiences, support seabird restoration efforts at Stratton Island, and contribute to conservation efforts and preservation of habitat through local land trusts in York County. As we view the political landscape both in Maine and nationally, it becomes clear that much still needs to be done in order to conserve the natural resources we treasure. Increasingly, they are under development pressure which could compromise or destroy them.

So it is important that each and every one of us consider how we can take part in the vital work of conserving the environment. Participating in the Birding Challenge as part of a field team or feeder watcher, making a financial contribution, or soliciting contributions from others are all ways to make a difference. Or maybe your passion is working with children and giving them an opportunity to learn about the birds, wildlife, and

plants of southern Maine. Perhaps you know of a recreation program or summer camp that would benefit from a Piping Plover Program made by one of our volunteers or a civic organization that would like a presentation about local birds. People love and value the things that they know and understand. That is why we put such emphasis on educating citizens about the habitats and species that depend on the beautiful place that we call home: York County.

We are doing important work. We would like to do more. But to do more we need you. Will you help?

Bill Case receiving Birding Challenge check from Pat Moynahan for the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust bird feeders.

Full House for Winter Wildlife Day

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On February 24th the auditorium at the Wells Reserve was filled with the sounds of joyful kids and thankful parents, Yes, it was our Winter Wildlife Day! We cosponsored this event with the Center for Wildlife and the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. A total of 106 individuals of which over half were children attended the morning session for the Center for Wildlife presentation. This well received live animal show included a Red-tailed Hawk, a Barred Owl, and Edna the albino porcupine. Kids and parents were delighted with these guests, as confirmed by their many pertinent questions and their quiet, respectful enthusiasm.

After this about 40 individuals went snowshoeing and tracking with Tim Spahr of the Maine Warden Service and Bill Grabin of YCAS. Those remaining in the auditorium made binoculars with Bob Watson of YCAS and/or tracks with Suzanne Eder of the Wells Reserve. Later all joined in hot chocolate served by Monica Grabin of YCAS.

A total of 58 folks, including 31 children, attended our afternoon session which repeated the presentation and activities. It was very rewarding to see grandparents and parents fully engaged with their little ones in the Wildlife Day, making and wearing binoculars, tracking, and listening to an educational presentation.

This community event was greatly appreciated and praised by many parents, “Thank you for this free school vacation event.” It took a lot of coordination and cooperation to pull it together. It does take a village to raise a child. Thanks to all who made it work.

Please consider how you might work with us to make a gift of birding and conservation available to our communities.

Who did you introduce to birding today?

York County Audubon Posted on by
Barred Owl

Barred Owl. Photo by Marie Jordan.

I had a call at at 8:30 this morning. It was my 7-year-old granddaughter excitedly telling me that they had a Barred Owl in their yard (Maine woods)… right then! She wanted me to bring her little Peterson bird book over that I started for her, so she could put a Barred Owl in it. I did, and gave her a little notebook to write in, since she is now learning to read and write. I was nearly 50 before I was introduced to birding, thanks to the Beaver Lake Nature Center near me in central New York. So, here comes another generation of bird watchers!

YCAS Annual Meeting

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Our annual meeting will be held at the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust, 7 Gravelly Brook Road, Kennebunkport.

  • 6:45pm: Annual Business Meeting
  • 7:00pm: Social Time & Refreshments
  • 7:30pm: Program — Songbird Migration in the Gulf of Maine: Past, Present, and Future

For our program, Rebecca Holberton and Adrienne Leppold from the University of Maine Laboratory of Avian Biology will help us to see how what happens in the Gulf of Maine affects us, our birds, and other wildlife.

One of the nation’s leading bird biologists, Rebecca Holberton, and her graduate student Adrienne Leppold have discovered a ton of new information about Maine’s songbird migration. Information gathered by a cooperative of Canadian and U.S. nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and university researchers have been shedding light on the routes our birds use. Tonight we will learn the amazing story of the discovery of a superhighway for songbirds migrating between Canada and South America and what it implies for the future.

The meeting and program are free, but reservations are required before June 1. Please call 207-967-4486 or email davidd@roadrunner.com to reserve your spot.

Photographing Birds and Natural History

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Phippsburg writer, gardener and natural history photographer Robin Robinson will entertain us with beautiful photos and video of birds, beasts, wildflowers and natural history she has taken in Maine. The program will include a smattering of hints and techniques for those who would like to get better photos. Robin’s photographs have been in numerous publications. On Open Salon.com, her combined work has earned Editor’s Pick several times and has been selected three times for the prestigious Maine Photography Show. Select photographic prints will be available for sale after the program.

robins-chaos.blogspot.com