Intro to Foraging – with Dan Gardoqui – Sunday, Oct 2nd

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Are you curious about wild foods and foraging during this season of abundance? Does uncertainty and concern stop you from sampling healthy, wild foods? Come spend a morning at the Wells Reserve with forager and expert naturalist Dan Gardoqui of Lead with Nature. On Sunday morning, Oct 2nd, from 9 till noon, YCA is pleased to co-host this program with the Wells Reserve.

We’ll stroll the fields, forests and shorelines, all the while connecting with the wild plants, trees, fungi and more with all of our senses. Participants should be prepared to walk a few miles, dress for the weather, and bring along a water bottle. Please note that foraging is NOT permitted at the Wells Reserve outside of this program. We encourage you to find legal places to forage near your home.

Dan Gardoqui has been studying naturalist skills, wildlife tracking, bird language, and mentoring for nearly 30 years. Dan has a M.S. in Natural Resources, is a Certified Wildlife Tracker, Registered Maine Guide, and served as Science Faculty at Granite State College. Through wildlife tracking, Dan has contributed to wildlife studies and served as science editor for the bird language book What the Robin Knows. Dan co-founded and led the nature connection nonprofit, White Pine Programs for 20 years. He currently runs Lead with Nature, where he helps leaders find success and meaning through nature-based consulting services & adventures.

The cost for the workshop is $25 for members (of YCA or the Wells Reserve), or $30 for non-members.  Space is limited.  To reserve a spot, please email suzanne@wellsnerr.org or call (207) 646-1555 x116.  Please note: Program fee does not include site admission fee. 

We hope you can join us!

A video of our September 2022 program: 11 Days in the Galapagos – with Laurie Pocher

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This program was presented on September 13, 2022 at the Wells Reserve. To watch the program, please click on the image below to watch it on this page, and you can also click on “Watch on Youtube.” (We also recommend clicking on the little white square in the bottom right corner of that viewing screen to convert the image to “full screen”). For a full description, you can scroll down to the original post for the program.

The audio quality on a few video clips did not reproduce well in the Zoom broadcast, so we’ve post those clips below so that they can be fully appreciated!

“11 Days in the Galapagos” with Laurie Pocher, Tuesday, September 13th – In-person and by Zoom

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On Tuesday, September 13th, at 7 p.m., York County Audubon is pleased to host Laurie Pocher who will present a program on the Galapagos.  This program will be held in-person in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve, and will also be available for viewing via Zoom. This will be our first in-person program in over two years, and we hope you can join us! The program will be held in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. The entrance to the Wells Reserve parking lot is off Skinner Mill Rd in Wells, and the auditorium is in the barn, directly up the path from the parking lot.

Giant Tortoise

Charles Darwin spent five weeks in the Galapagos Islands in 1835, and this visit helped inspire his theories of evolution and natural selection. In 1959, 97% of the Galapagos was declared a National Park. Thanks to the archipelago’s remote location, absence of predators, and conservation efforts, many Galapagos animals remain curious and unafraid of humans to this day. Visitors to the islands are often treated to close encounters with Blue-Footed Boobies, Waved Albatross, Giant Tortoises, Marine Iguanas, and Sea Lions.

The flora and fauna in this remote location are impacted by both equatorial sun and cool waters from the Humboldt and Cromwell currents, resulting in a mix of both tropical and temperate environments. As a result, there are many endemic species that can only be found in the Galapagos.

Laurie Pocher – a York County Audubon Board member and nature photographer – recently returned from the Galapagos, where she spent 11 days on a photography tour of the major islands. Over the last few weeks, she’s been combing through thousands of photos and videos, compiling a day-by-day recap of her “11 Days in the Galapagos.”

We’ll be attempting a hybrid approach by which this program will also be available live via Zoom.  To watch via Zoom, you need to pre-register.  To do so, please click on this link and enter your name and email address:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WDcwf75bQB-uxHAgTfFrYQ

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

The in-person program at the Wells Reserve will also feature a “bird book” sale.  Pat Moynahan, whom we honored with a memorial concert in June, donated her large collection of birding books to YCA, and we’ll be offering them at this September meeting, with the proceeds being used to support YCA programs and projects, and the Maine Young Birders Club.

Wildlife Track and Sign by the Sea – with Dan Gardoqui

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Many people think of “tracking” as something best done when snow is on the ground, but the sands of Laudholm Beach reveal the stories of a diverse array of birds, mammals and invertebrates. On Saturday morning, July 16th, from 7:30 – 10:30 a.m., YCA and the Wells Reserve are pleased to host a seaside workshop that will help to reveal such signs and tales. Join Certified Wildlife Tracker and Maine Guide Dan Gardoqui for an enlightening morning of decoding stories in the sand. Participants will need to walk about 3 miles and spend time on uneven surfaces. Please bring your own water and snacks.

Dan Gardoqui has been studying naturalist skills, wildlife tracking, bird language, and mentoring for nearly 30 years. Dan has a M.S. in Natural Resources, is a Certified Wildlife Tracker, Registered Maine Guide, and served as Science Faculty at Granite State College. Through wildlife tracking, Dan has contributed to wildlife studies and served as science editor for the bird language book What the Robin Knows. Dan co-founded and led the nature connection nonprofit, White Pine Programs for 20 years. He currently runs Lead with Nature, where he helps leaders find success and meaning through nature-based consulting services & adventures.

The cost for the workshop is $25 for members (of YCA or the Wells Reserve), or $30 for non-members.  Space is limited.  To reserve a spot, please email suzanne@wellsnerr.org or call (207) 646-1555 x116.

We hope you can join us!

Birding Backpacks are now at a library library near you!

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York County Audubon has established a Birding Backpack program that donates complete birding kits to local libraries.  After a successful trial at the Kennebunk Free Library, we are now engaged in an effort to make these available to libraries throughout York County.

This project is being done in memory of one of our dearest friends and colleagues, Pat Moynahan.  She was a treasure of the Maine birding community and so much more, as rare a bird as any she ever found in the field.  She served on the York County Audubon Board of Directors for 25 years.  We are honored to announce that the many donations that we have received in Pat’s memory (and any additional ones we receive) will be dedicated to supporting the Birding Backpack program.

Bird watching is for everyone, and people of all ages and abilities can enjoy looking at birds.  You can bird in your backyard, in the woods, at the beach or anywhere you see birds.   You can bird with your family, your friends or by yourself.  You can learn to identify the birds you see and keep a “Life List” or just enjoy watching bird behavior.

Each backpack contains everything you need to enjoy birding whether you are a beginner, an avid birder or just interested in the natural world.  The kit includes binoculars to get a close look at the birds; birding guides from beginner to expert to help you to identify the birds; birding checklists for children and adults to keep track of the birds you see; documentation on how to use binoculars, where to look for birds and get more information; plus maps of local land trusts and trails that are full of birds.

The following Libraries now have Birding Backpacks: McArthur Public Library in Biddeford, Kennebunk Free Library, D.A. Hurd Library in North Berwick, Dyer Library in Saco, Louis B. Goodall Memorial Library in Sanford, and Waterboro Public Library.  If you are a patron of these libraries or in their borrowing network, you can take advantage of this program.

A Video of our May 2022 Program: What’s that Bird I’m Hearing? with Doug Hitchcox

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This program was presented on May 17, 2022. Please click on the link below to watch the program. You can also scroll down to the original post on this program for a full description.Unfortunately, due to internet difficulties at Doug’s location, the program ended abruptly, though he did get through most of it. We may record and post an “epilogue” to complete it.

Bird Songs – a Zoom Program with Monica Grabin – Tuesday, June 21st

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Bird Songs? No, not the songs birds sing, the songs she sings about them. Monica Grabin, a folk singer from way back, has known many songs about birds for years, but it was Pat Moynahan who first got her started writing songs of her own about birds and those who love them. Some are funny, some are celebratory, but almost all are close parodies of songs many of you will be familiar with. Accompanying herself on guitar and banjo, Monica will share the stories behind the songs while also honoring the memory of Pat Moynahan and her endless enthusiasm for birds and the natural world.

On Tuesday, June 21st, at 7 p.m., York County Audubon is pleased to host YCA Board member Monica Grabin who will present this program on Bird Songs.

There’s no charge to participate, but you need to register in advance to watch this program. To do so, please click on this link and enter your name and email address:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_26QRDGCuTUK1zw-Ixtqrig

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

We hope you can join us!

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:  Bill Grabin, President, Laurie Pocher, Vice President, Kathy Donahue, Treasurer, and Monica Grabin, Secretary, as well as the following slate of Directors: Dan Gardoqui, David Doubleday, Doug Hitchcox, Joyce Toth, Marian Zimmerman, Marion Sprague, Mary Bateman, Seth Davis

Birding by Ear Workshop – with Dan Gardoqui – Sunday, April 24, 2022

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Expert bird mimic Dan Gardoqui will help you connect with birds you can’t see by getting to know their songs and calls (as well as what they’re saying). In this workshop, we’ll do a little exploring on foot, but a lot more listening with our ears. Dan can help you learn the calls by mimicking them for the group as you hear and see the actual birds in the field. If you’re experienced with visual bird identification, this course will be a good next step in building your birding skills.

Dan Gardoqui has been studying naturalist skills, wildlife tracking, bird language, and mentoring for nearly 30 years. Dan has a M.S. in Natural Resources, is a Certified Wildlife Tracker, Registered Maine Guide, and served as Science Faculty at Granite State College. Through wildlife tracking, Dan has contributed to wildlife studies and served as science editor for the bird language book What the Robin Knows. Dan co-founded and led the nature connection nonprofit, White Pine Programs for 20 years. He currently runs Lead with Nature, where he helps leaders find success and meaning through nature-based consulting services & adventures. FMI, visit:  www.leadwithnature.com   or    www.youtube.com/c/LeadwithNature

YCA is co-hosting this workshop with and at the Wells Reserve. It will run from 7:30 am to 10:30 am.  Advance registration is required, and the cost is $25 for members (of either YCA/Maine Audubon or the Wells Reserve).  To register, please email suzanne@wellsnerr.org or call Suzanne at (207) 646-1555 x116.

What’s That Bird I’m Hearing? – a Zoom program with Doug Hitchcox on Tuesday, May 17th

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Take your birding to a new dimension, literally! Learning to identify birds by their songs or calls will help you find more birds, and aurally read the landscape.

Magnolia Warbler

In this program we’ll focus on the skills to identify and recognize different vocalization, rather than just playing hundreds of recordings, but there will be plenty of examples!

Indigo Bunting

On Tuesday, May 17th, at 7 p.m., York County Audubon is pleased to host YCA Board member Doug Hitchcox who will present this program on “birding by ear.”   Doug is the Outreach Coordinator for the Maine Bird Atlas and Staff Naturalist for Maine Audubon.

There’s no charge to participate, but you need to register in advance to watch this program. To do so, please click on this link and enter your name and email address:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VVVtffGATYOnlkrGtibT0Q

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

We hope you can join us!

Hummingbirds – Recent Research and Spectacular Species We Have Met – a Zoom program with Dana and Bob Fox – Tuesday, April 19th

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Lifelong birders Dana and Bob Fox, who have traveled extensively on 6 continents and visited more than 40 countries, will present this program which focuses on a magnificent group of birds: the hummingbirds.

A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird at the Fox’s NH cabin – photo by Steve Whitebread

Studies have given us insights into the wonders of hummingbirds. This talk will provide information including: what is a hummingbird, how they did they evolve, how do their nectar gathering and pollination activities compare with bees and butterflies, what do they eat besides nectar, what are their feeding techniques, what is torpor, how is their iridescence produced, and what is unusual about their courtship behaviors?

Bob and Dana will share their adventures with 10 different, remarkable species they have seen on their journeys in the Americas. Many spectacular pictures and videos will be included. Join us to marvel at these little feathered gems.

Green Violetears in Colombia – photos by Dan Fox

There’s no charge to participate, but you need to register in advance to watch this program. To do so, please click on this link and enter your name and email address:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_k3SR8mbVT8atn_RGa3FqWg

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

We hope you can join us!

Become a Native Plant Volunteer! March 16th deadline.

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As you probably know, our native plants are threatened by various trends including human encroachment, the spread of non-native species, and climate change. The Native Plant Trust, located at Garden In the Woods in Framingham, Massachusetts, has an opportunity for volunteers all over New England, including here in Maine, to document and preserve our native vegetation.

Attached is a flyer describing the program run by the Native Plant Trust, and a brief description of what volunteering entails. If you have a passion for plants, you might want to consider applying for this program. The deadline is March 16, and you can find all the information you should need through the flyer, websites, and informational sheet below.