Our Smallest Raptor: the Northern Saw-whet Owl – with Zoe Korpi – Tuesday, March 22nd

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With a size comparable to a soda can, the Northern Saw-whet owl is the smallest raptor in eastern North America. Due to the secretive nature of this species, it wasn’t until the 1960’s that its migratory behavior was widely accepted. Much of what we know about this species today is thanks to extensive banding efforts. Project Owlnet is one such effort striving to better understand this illusive migrant through a growing network of banding stations using standardized methodologies across North America. While our knowledge of this species has grown, many mysteries remain. Zoe Korpi delves into the research unraveling the secrets of these owls and speaks on her own experience banding these birds at birding stations in Pennsylvania and Maine.

On Tuesday, March 22nd, at 7 p.m., York County Audubon is pleased to host this program presented by Zoe Korpi, a graduate student pursuing her master’s degree in the Environment and Natural Resources program at the Ohio State University with a focus in wildlife science. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in biology from the Pennsylvania State University and started her work with Project Owlnet and Northern Saw-whet Owls during her time at Penn State as an intern and then as a volunteer and bander through the years. Zoe has a strong interest in understanding how human activities impact and threaten the survival of bird species and how those threats can be mitigated. Her current research focuses on understanding the lake crossing behavior of small migratory songbirds using the Motus Wildlife Tracking System to evaluate the potential impact of offshore wind energy on their movements across Lake Erie.

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_tJ3jpuyeQJ6IANUn3fYclQ

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

We hope you can join us!

2022 Hog Island Scholarships Announced!

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YCA and MYBC are pleased to be offering scholarships for week long summer programs on famed Hog Island. Three scholarships are being offered: one for Educator’s Week (July 17-22), one for Coastal Maine Bird Studies (June 19th – 24th) and one for Mountains to Sea Birding for Teens (June 26th-July 1st).

Full details are available on the Scholarships page of our website. All applications are due by March 15th.

Winter Wildlife Tracking with Dan Gardoqui – Saturday, Feb 5th and Feb 19th

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Please note:  The Feb 5th date for this workshop has been fully booked, so we have added a second date on February 19th.

Can you tell the tracks of an otter from a fisher? Ever trailed a porcupine to its den? Join certified tracker and Maine Guide Dan Gardoqui of Lead with Nature for a winter wildlife tracking adventure. Dan has been sharing his skills and passion for wildlife and wild places for over 25 years. Open to all curious adults (& interested teens 14+). We’ll spend half a day seeking out, interpreting and following the tracks, trails and signs of our wild neighbors of the Wells Reserve. Bring your own food/snacks and dress warmly.

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: www.leadwithnature.com/

Group size is limited to 15 people, and advance registration is required.  This program is co-sponsored by YCA and the Wells Reserve.  The price is $20/person ($25/person for non-members).  Members of either YCA or the Wells Reserve qualify the members rate.  To reserve your space, please email suzanne@wellsnerr.org or call (207) 646-1555 x116.

Participants should be dressed to be outdoors for the entire 3 hours – regardless of temperature. Dress in layers. Bring snacks and a drink. Program runs regardless of snow cover. For adults & interested teens.

Tree Walk in Kennebunk’s Hope Cemetery with Eileen Willard, January 29th

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THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN FULLY BOOKED.  IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO ycas@yorkcountyaudubon.org WITH “TREE WALK WAITING LIST” AS THE SUBJECT. Please include the best phone # we can use to reach you.

NOTE: The date for this walk was originally the 22nd, but it has been changed to the 29th

Would you like to know more about our local trees, and improve your tree identification skills?  York County Audubon is pleased to sponsor a tree walk at Kennebunk’s Hope Cemetery led by Eileen Willard, an Instructor in Dendrology at the University of New Hampshire.

At 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 29th, we will investigate the native trees and shrubs along the trails and look at some of the older ornamental trees in the Cemetery.  How do they all survive the winter?  What are some of the ecological strategies?  Can you really identify trees without leaves?

Sturdy hiking boots are recommended as the footing is somewhat uneven.  If there are icy conditions, please wear micro spikes on your boots or use hiking poles to avoid slipping. If it snows, snow shoes will be ideal.  Dress warmly for a 2 hour walk!

Park in the Kennebunk Free Library/Unitarian Church parking lot, which is where we will meet.  We will limit participants to 12 adults including students 12 and older.  This event is free of charge, but advance registration is required.  To register, please click on this event under Calendar/What’s Coming Up on the right-hand side of this page, then scroll down and fill in the form. Once your reservation has been approved, you’ll receive a confirmation email. In the event of a storm, the walk will be postponed to the following day, Sunday, January 30th.  Please check our website, yorkcountyaudubon.org for confirmation of a postponement.

FMI on the Cemetery:  https://hopecemeterykennebunk.com/

Snowy Owl: A Visual Natural History – with Paul Bannick – Tuesday, February 15th

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“If your average picture is worth a thousand words, a Paul Bannick wildlife photograph is worth 20,000. Having worked with wildlife photographers for articles in Audubon, Smithsonian, Sierra, National Wildlife and other magazines for 45 years, I have yet to encounter one who better captures the magic and beauty of the natural world.”  Ted Williams, former Editor of Audubon Magazine

Snowy Owls lay eggs over many days, usually with a day or more between each, resulting in youngsters of various ages, a hedge when food is unpredictable. Paul Bannick photo

On Tuesday, February 15th at 7 p.m., York County Audubon is honored to again host award winning author and photographer Paul Bannick. Please join Paul for an intimate visual exploration of the life history of the Snowy Owl, based upon his 2020 book, Snowy Owl: A Visual Natural History”. Through dozens of never-before-published images of the “Arctic Owl”, Paul will help us understand how they survive, breed and live alongside other wildlife on the Arctic tundra and in wintering areas further south. He will also look at how they compare to other North American Owls and what we can do to help them thrive. Paul’s startling photographs illustrate behaviors, such as courtship displays, that are heretofore only available as illustrations elsewhere. These images are complemented by decades of first-hand experience with these birds during all seasons of the year and reflect the latest science.

A Snowy Owl prepares to launch into flight from a piece of driftwood just after sunrise. Paul Bannick photo

Paul’s work can be found prominently in many bird guides, including those from Audubon, Peterson, and The Smithsonian, and has been featured in The New York Times, Audubon, Sunset, Nature’s Best Photography Magazine, and National Geographic online.  After a successful career in the software industry, he chose to pursue his passion for wildlife conservation, and now works with Conservation Northwest, a Seattle based non-profit dedicated to protecting, connecting and restoring wildlands and wildlife from the coast of Washington to the Rockies of British Columbia.   FMI:  http://paulbannick.com/ and on Facebook under Paul Bannick Photography.

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_dqvUlolbSfSdEEWAudBBgw

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

We hope you can join us!

Birding & Owling Parker River National Wildlife Refuge – Saturday, February 5th

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THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN FULLY BOOKED.  IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO ycas@yorkcountyaudubon.org WITH “PARKER RIVER WAITING LIST” AS THE SUBJECT. Please include the best phone # we can use to reach you.

Registration:  This trip will be limited to 5 cars for ease of movement while on the preserve. Attendance will be on a first come, first serve basis. To register, please click on this event under Calendar/What’s Coming Up on the right-hand side of this page, then scroll down and fill in the form. When registering below, please select “1” space per car.  Then please use the comments box to state the number of people you expect to have in your car. Once your reservation has been approved, you’ll receive a confirmation email.

Join us as we head to Newburyport, Massachusetts to explore Plum Island/ Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Feb 5 from 12-4pm. The sanctuary offers many habitats for native birds, from beaches and sand dunes to salt marshes and maritime forests. In the wintertime, you can expect to see a variety of ducks, cormorants, grebes, and  raptors including our target birds: Snowy and Short-Eared Owls. Check out some of the recent sightings: http://www.bartonstreet.com/tom/birds/guide/plumislandstatus2021.html.

Short-eared Owl – photo by Laurie Pocher

LOGISTICS: Plum Island is about 8 miles long and we’ll be driving from one end to the other, making several stops to bird different habitats along the way. Due to ongoing COVID concerns, you’ll be driving in your own car from location to location. Dress in WARM layers and wear comfortable WARM/WATERPROOF walking shoes. It can get very windy and there will likely be snow or ice on the ground. Be sure to bring a hat, gloves, and toe/hand warmers if necessary. Don’t forget your binoculars, camera, spotting scope, notebook and/or field guide. There are restrooms throughout the refuge, but no food or water available for purchase, so bring a thermos or water bottle and some snacks. Masks/face coverings will be required for the entirety of the outing.

MEET UP DETAILS: We will meet inside the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Lot #1, the first parking lot on the left after the entrance gate. Enter the lot and turn left, look for us near the rest rooms. See map here:  https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Region_5/NWRS/North_Zone/Parker_River_Complex/Parker_River/ParkerRiverMap.pdf

SNOW DATE: In the event of inclement weather, or if PRNWR limits access due to unsafe road conditions, we will inform all attendees the morning of the event by 9am. The snow date for this event is Sunday Feb 13.

COST: While there is no cost to attend the outing, PRNWR does charge an entrance fee of $5 for motor vehicles. Entry is free for annual pass holders, holders of a Federal Duck Stamp, or any of three Department of Interior passes (America the Beautiful, Senior, and Access passes).

DIRECTIONS FROM MAINE: Route 95 South to MA-113 E/Storey Ave in Newburyport (Exit 86). Continue on Rt 113 for approximately 7 miles. Along the way you will pass the Parker River NWR Visitor Center on your right and the Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education center on your left, both of which are ~2.4 miles before the refuge. Keep going past these two centers and turn right onto Sunset Drive (just before the Plum Island Grille). Continue straight through the entrance gate and turn left into Lot #1.

For GPS navigation, please use Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Refuge Road, Newbury MA or navigate to the Visitor Center at 6 Plum Island Turnpike and continue 2.4 miles past it to Sunset Drive as described above.

GPS coordinates: 42.79080, -70.80996

Birding Backpacks

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York County Audubon is very pleased to announce that it has donated two birding backpacks to the Kennebunk Free Library. They are available for borrowing by KFL cardholders, as well as by cardholders of the Wells, Kennebunkport and Arundel libraries. Please read the KFL press release below for additional information.

Partnering With Beavers to Heal the Planet – with Ben Goldfarb – Tuesday, November 16th

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The consequences of losing beavers were profound: streams eroded, wetlands dried up, and species from salmon to swans and other birds lost vital habitat. Today, a growing coalition of “Beaver Believers”—including scientists, ranchers, and passionate citizens—recognizes that ecosystems with beavers are far healthier, for humans and non-humans than those without them.

Ben Goldfarb is an award-winning environmental journalist and an excellent speaker. His recent book Eager: The Surprising Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter reveals that our modern idea of what a healthy landscape looks like and how it functions is wrong, distorted by the fur trade that once trapped out millions of beavers from North America’s lakes and rivers.

In this very enjoyable talk, Ben will illustrate the history of this world-changing species and demonstrate how beavers can help us fight drought, flooding, wildfire, and climate change. His discussion will reveal the benefits to birds and wildlife that are possible when we coexist with this important if sometimes challenging species.

Goldfarb is the winner of the 2019 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award and Eager was named one of the best books of 2018 by the Washington Post.  His writing has appeared in numerous publications including The Atlantic, Science, National Geographic, The New York Times, Audubon Magazine and many others.

The program will begin at 7 p.m.  There’s no charge to participate, but advance registration is required. To do so, please click on this link and enter your name and email address:

LINK TO REGISTER

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We hope you can join us!

The 2022 Maine Birds Desk Calendar is now available!

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For many years, our former Board member, Marie Jordan, an avid birder and photographer, has produced a calendar and offered it for sale, graciously donating the calendars to YCA to support our educational programs. We’ve always presented them at our fall program meetings, but again this year, that’s not possible, so we’re making them available by mail. 

It’s a desk calendar in a 4” by 6” plastic case that opens into a stand to display each month.  Each page features a great photo she took this year of a Maine bird.  The cost is $10 plus mailing costs.  They’re wonderful anywhere in the house, and also make great gifts!   And York County Audubon tremendously appreciates your support for our programs. 

To place an order, please make out a check payable to York County Audubon, write Calendar in the memo line, and mail it to Marie Jordan, 32 Crestview Drive, South Portland, ME 04106.  Be sure to include the address or addresses that the calendar(s) should be sent to.   If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Marie at wooddk5555@gmail.com.

The costs including postage and handling are:

1 calendar – $10 plus $4.50 postage and handling

2 calendars (mailed to one address) – $20 plus $6.75 postage and handling

3 calendars (mailed to one address) – $30 plus $9.50 postage and handling

4 calendars (mailed to one address) – $35 plus 9.50 postage and handling

(Note: these postage rates reflect the latest USPS increases.)

Thank you!

Our 2021 Bird Seed Sale is Coming!

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Keep your feathered friends happy this winter by treating them to tasty and fresh, premium quality bird food and help support two of your favorite environmental organizations at the same time. Profits from our annual sale support the educational programs of both York County Audubon and the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve. A wide variety of types of seed and suet is available, with great pricing, especially if you order early.

Early bird pricing is available if you place your order by 4 p.m. on Friday, October 30th.  The instructions for ordering are on the order form which you can access via the link below.

Order pick up (and additional opportunity for purchases) will be at the Wells Reserve on Friday, November 12th from 1 – 4 p.m., and Saturday, Nov 13th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with easy access and volunteers on hand to help load your car. 

For more information, please access the order form via this link: https://www.wellsreserve.org/writable/files/2021-order-form.pdf

Peregrine Falcon Restoration in Acadia National Park – with Patrick Kark – Tuesday, September 21st

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The Peregrine Falcon is thought to be the fastest animal on earth. Want to learn more?  On Tuesday, September 21st, York County Audubon will present a Zoom program entitled:  Peregrine Falcon Restoration in Acadia National Park with Park Ranger Patrick Kark.

Peregrine Falcon – photo courtesy of Maine IFW

The Peregrine Falcon was one of the first species to be listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, and the species’ recovery is one of the Act’s greatest success stories. Acadia National Park has a storied history in the Peregrine Project.  Join Ranger Patrick Kark as he discusses this success story and tells of the interesting places Acadia’s falcons have impacted far outside the park’s borders. 

Peregrine Falcon chicks back in their scrape after being banded

Acadia also hosts the Cadillac Mountain Hawkwatch which is in its 27th counting season this fall.  Find out how Cadillac fits into the larger network of raptor migration monitoring sites across the continent.  Unlike other watch sites, Cadillac Mountain usually gives viewers unusual perspectives of birds that might include face-to-face photos of raptors that cross the highest mountain on the eastern seaboard. 

Patrick Kark came to Maine in 2014 as Acadia’s raptor intern. He has worked eight seasons at the park as an ornithology park ranger and is currently working as a visual information specialist for the park.

The program will begin at 7 p.m.  There’s no charge to participate, but advance registration is required. To do so, please click on this link and enter your name and email address:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_M1dJkSsYSVqLTKweZpvVQA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We hope you can join us!

To show our appreciation for raptors, YCA is making a contribution to The Peregrine Fund.  You can find out more and make a donation if you wish by visiting www.peregrinefund.org

Birds of SE Asia: a focus on Cambodian Natural History – with Howie Nielsen – Tuesday, June 15th

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Ever wondered what birds might be found in Cambodia?  On Tuesday, June 15th, York County Audubon will present a Zoom program entitled: Birds of SE Asia: a focus on Cambodian Natural History with Howie Nielsen.

Doctor Howie Nielsen is a world class birder who lives in Lincoln County, Maine. Getting hooked on birds when he was in graduate school, Howie’s birding adventures have allowed him to be involved in studying flora and fauna while traveling in multiple countries. He’s now a retired dentist who has volunteered his services in six different countries.

For 10 years Howie was in and out of Cambodia, where he was Training Adviser for the Sam Veasna Center for Wildlife Conservation, a local affiliate of Wildlife Conservation Society. During his time in Cambodia he participated in bird surveys, developed a cohort of Cambodian bird guides, guided bird tours, and sampled bird populations for dangerous strains of avian influenza virus.  His program will give an overview of Cambodia ecosystems and their associated bird life. He will share some of his exciting experiences doing field work in the SE Asian bush such as the discovery of a bird previously unknown to science.

York County Audubon will be presenting this program online on Tuesday, June 15th at 7 p.m.  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_mBLhXFYTQG2Z2qUXrzjBnQ

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

We hope you can join us!

Ravens, Wolves and People – with John Marzluff – Tuesday, May 18th

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On May 18th, Wildlife professor John Marzluff will bring us an exciting program on recent work in Yellowstone National Park which looked at interactions between ravens, wolves, and people.  Ravens are known to scavenge food from wolves and people but the relationship has not been well studied.

In 2019 Matthias Loretto and presenter John Marzluff began tagging ravens in Yellowstone with radio transmitters that are similar to the transmitter in your mobile device.  After tagging and following many ravens they were able to relate raven’s movements to the activities of people and wolves. From this the scientists gained a better understanding of the degree to which ravens rely on people and wolves.  Ravens have extensive knowledge of the greater Yellowstone ecosystem.  You will be surprised at the diverse ways they take advantage of human activities within this 6500 square mile area.

For decades, John has done research on corvids- a family of birds that includes ravens, crows, jays, and magpies. His work has benefited birds all over the world, from pinyon jays in Arizona, ravens in Greenland and golden eagles and prairie falcons in Idaho to Washington State’s goshawks and the endangered Hawaiian hawk, one of the rarest birds in the world.

John Marzloff PhD is a professor in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences at the University of Washington. He is the author of several books including, In the Company of Crows and Ravens; Gifts of the Crow: How Perception, Emotion, and Thought Allow Smart Birds to Behave Like Humans; and Welcome to Subirdia: Sharing Our Neighborhoods with Wrens, Robins, Woodpeckers, and Other Wildlife.

York County Audubon will be presenting this program online on Tuesday, May 18th at 7 p.m.  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_vSf9GtzyRKeP6iijpd_qvg

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

We hope you can join us!

Decades of Change in Maine’s Birds – with Doug Hitchcox – Tuesday, April 20th

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If you’ve lived in Maine for a while, you’ve probably noticed that bird populations have changed and continue to do so.  Just a few decades ago, birds such as the Northern Cardinal, the Tufted Titmouse, the Red-Bellied Woodpecker and the Carolina Wren were uncommon sightings here, if seen at all.  Birds such as the Eastern Bluebird were much fewer in number.  In 1949, Robert Palmer’s then definitive Maine Birds described the “Eastern” Cardinal as “a very rare visitant,” with most sightings being “escaped captives.” As for the Tufted Titmouse, he noted there was one specimen in the University of Maine collection from 1890, but no records since.

Bird Atlases are an essential tool for cataloging birds, and have been created for every U.S. state. From 1978-1983, birders created Maine’s first Breeding Bird Atlas, but it is now significantly out of date. Intensive work to create an updated second one is underway. 2021 marks the fourth year (of five) for this second Maine Bird Atlas, a project by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to document the breeding and winter ranges of Maine’s birds.

Northern Parula building a nest – Doug Hitchcox photo

On Tuesday, April 20th at 7 p.m., York County Audubon is pleased to present a zoom program entitled “Decades of Change in Maine’s Birds.”  Presenter Doug Hitchcox is the Outreach Coordinator for the Maine Bird Atlas and Staff Naturalist for Maine Audubon.  He will share an update on the project, focusing on what the goals are for the last two years and especially how you can help! Data collected as part of this project will be invaluable in guiding future species status assessments, priority species’ needs, and identifying and conserving high value wildlife habitats. In order for it to be successful, we need the help of community scientists, like yourselves, to help fill in the gaps before this survey is over.

York County Audubon will be presenting this program online. 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_XGQxm2LyQkOX9PfYsGvkmw

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

We hope you can join us!