The State of Maine’s Loons – with “The Birdist” Nick Lund – Tuesday, November 19th

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The Common Loon is an iconic denizen and for many epitomizes a Maine summer. But how well do you actually know the Common Loon?  Do they migrate?  What do they eat? How long do they live?  How many Common Loons are there? Why are loons important?

This program will start with an in-depth look at the physiology and habits of the Common Loon, including how its body is built to be an effective underwater hunter, and the timing of its arrival on Maine breeding lakes. We will also take a look at the threats faced by loons.

Nick Lund is Maine Audubon’s Network and Outreach Manager. A Maine native and well known birder, he writes for publications like Audubon, Slate, Down East, and National Geographic.  On the web many follow his entertaining posts about birds and birding at “The Birdist”.

Maine Audubon has worked for more than 35 years to count loons in the state, and to examine the causes of loon mortality. This information has helped inform policies necessary to protect loons and ensure that their calls echo across Maine lakes for years to come.

This program will be held in the Mather Auditorium of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. This program is free and open to the public, and starts at 7 p.m.  Come early for social time and refreshments.

Bird Sketching Workshop with Michael Boardman – Wednesday, October 30th

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Sketching birds is a great way to increase your appreciation of birds and your abilities to identify them.  This fun and low pressure workshop will allow you to explore sketching birds using mounted specimens. Michael Boardman is a wildlife artist and master naturalist who will introduce you to or help you develop further your ability to sketch birds and nature.

Open to both beginners and those with more experience, we will work to loosen up your artist hand to eye coordination through fun exercises, talk about and practice some sketching techniques for making visual notes when watching birds in the field, and work on details of anatomy and structure. There will also be a brief watercolor demo with the opportunity to experiment with some color. All materials will be provided but people are welcome to bring their own supplies.

Michael is known for his watercolor bird portraits and nature journal sketches. He has connected his art to wildlife science through artist residencies at Acadia National Park, Hog Island Audubon Camp, Glacier Bay National Park, and most recently Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska in June of 2019. He is also the owner and artist of Coyote Graphics, creating nature based garments from his artwork.

Group size is limited and advance registration is required.  To register, click on the link for this event in the Calendar column on the right side of this page, then scroll down and use the registration form. The price is $20/ person ($25/person for non-members), payable by cash or check at the workshop.

Rare Birds in Maine – A Workshop with Doug Hitchcox – Saturday, Nov 2nd

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Rare birds capture our imagination. They draw crowds, appear on headlines, and offer a unique opportunity to see something foreign to your area. Join Maine Audubon’s Staff Naturalist, Doug Hitchcox, for a workshop to learn how and why some birds appear out of their normal range, tools you can use to predict their occurrence, and tips on what to do if you find something unusual. During this, we will begin our day with a bird walk to check for any unusual sightings during “rarity season”, gather inside for a slideshow, then follow up with a second walk nearby.

Advance registration is required.  To register, click on the link for this event in the Calendar column on the right side of this page, then scroll down and use the registration form. The price is $20/ person ($25/person for non-members), payable by cash or check at the workshop.

We’ll meet at the Fire Station in Biddeford Pool at 7:30 a.m. and start with a little local birding with rarities (or at least uncommon birds) in mind.  Then we’ll have an indoor session in the second floor room of the FD building, then take another shot at some of the great local birding spots.

A Maine native, Doug Hitchcox grew up in Hollis and graduated from the University of Maine in 2011. The year he graduated, he traveled to every corner of the state trying to observe as many species as possible in what is known as a ‘Big Year.’ He ended the year having seen 314 species in the state, a new record for Maine. Throughout college Doug worked at the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center running their store and leading walks and tours. Doug was hired as Maine Audubon’s Staff Naturalist in the summer of 2013, a long time “dream job” for him. In his free time, Doug is one of Maine’s eBird reviewers, owner and moderator of the ‘Maine-birds’ listserv, York County Audubon board member, and voting member of the Maine Bird Records Committee.

Photos below are LeConte’s Sparrow and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, two birds that were found in Maine, well outside their normal range

Oaxaca Mexico: Rare Birds and Ancient Cultures – with Doug Hitchcox and Ken Janes – Tuesday, October 22nd

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In March 2019, Maine Audubon, in association with Field Guides Birding Tours, made a trip to south-western Mexico in search of rare species that are unique to the Sierra Madre mountains area. Based in the beautiful colonial city of Oaxaca, known for great birds, authentic food, and amazing human history, the group explored many habitats including the semi-arid deserts near Teotitltán and the pine forests of La Cumbre at altitudes of up to almost 10000 feet. 

Doug and Ken will report on the successful search for rare endemic species like Dwarf Jay, Gray-barred Wren, Mountain Trogon and Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo in the mountains as well as the Oaxaca Sparrow, Boucard’s Wren, Gray-breasted Woodpecker, and Dusky Hummingbird in the desert areas. Many other species were added to the list including flocks of Gray Silky-flycatcher, rare Ocellated Thrasher, and the beautiful Red Warbler. 

The presentation will include a description of the city of Oaxaca and the surrounding area, home of the ancient pre-Columbian Zapotec culture. The group had a chance to explore the imposing ruins of Monte Albán and Mitla, learning about early indigenous people and their impressive engineering and architectural skills. We also had ample opportunity to watch local artisans weaving traditional tapestries and sample the world- famous cuisine. Where else can you watch Blue-throated Hummingbirds while enjoying a lunch of Aztec stew? 

Doug Hitchcox is the Staff Naturalist at Maine Audubon and was one of the guides. Ken Janes is a Kennebunk resident and enthusiastic birder. Both are members of York County Audubon and serve on the Board of Directors.

The program will be held in the Mather Auditorium of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. This program is free and open to the public, and starts at 7 p.m.  Come early for social time and refreshments.

Our 21st Annual 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 25th. 

Order pick up will be at the Wells Reserve on Friday, November 8th from 1 – 4 p.m., and Saturday, Nov 9th 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:

SeedSale2019Download

Photographing the Night Sky: Capturing the Stars, Milky Way, and Northern Lights with Mike Taylor – Tuesday, Sept 17th

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Photographing the Night Sky: Capturing the Stars, Milky Way, and Northern Lights with artist, astro-photographer, philosopher, musician, movie buff, and self-proclaimed connoisseur of beverages made from malted barley Mike Taylor.

Mike Taylor been interested in observing and photographing the features of the night sky since he was a child.  He says it is an awe-inspiring experience that too few people ever get to enjoy. Nature at night is so radically different from the day! Moonlight, unusual noises, or unfamiliar sights can awaken your inner child. We marvel at the world again.

Mike is a contributing member of the International Dark-Sky Association and he has been working in conjunction with their organization to help raise public awareness of artificial light pollution and its negative effects on human health, wildlife, safety and energy waste.

His landscape astrophotography and scenic/nature images articles have been featured in many places including Down East, Outdoor Photography, Astronomy, social media, and television news programs to name just a few.  Marvel at the sights of the night sky!

FMI: www.miketaylorphoto.com  or on Facebook: Taylor Photography

The program will be held in the Mather Auditorium of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. This program is free and open to the public, and starts at 7 p.m.  Come early for social time and refreshments.

The State of Maine’s Wildlife – with Judy Camuso, Commissioner of Maine IF&W – Tuesday, June 18th

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Judy Camuso’s career began at Maine Audubon and she has been engaging people with wildlife ever since. Knowing that people will conserve and protect the things they love, her mission became to share her passion for nature.

An important opportunity led her to become Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s first female regional biologist and later to become the Director of the Department and most recently Commissioner.  This amazing woman is a licensed bird bander and an avid birder, as well as a hunter, who canoes, hikes and bikes. Camuso is a leader in protecting Maine’s inland fish, and wildlife.

We hear that visitors to Maine annually contribute more than a billion dollars to our economy in their pursuit of wildlife-related activities.  Governor Mills’ appointment of Judy Camuso to become Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife gives her an incredible opportunity to spread her enthusiasm and passion.

Camuso is respected for her science-based management decisions regarding Maine’s inland fish, wildlife, and non-game habitats.  We look forward to hearing updates on endangered species as well as our iconic species like loons, moose and arctic char.

This program is free and open to the public, and will be held in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm.  Come early for social time and refreshments.  The program begins at 7 pm and will be preceded by a brief annual meeting starting at 6:45 pm.

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.  At the Annual Meeting on June 18th, the following slate of Officers shall be voted upon by the Membership:  Bill Grabin, President, Joyce Toth, Vice President, Kathy Donahue, Treasurer, and Monica Grabin, Secretary, as well as the following slate of Directors: Mary Bateman, David Doubleday, Doug Hitchcox, Ken Janes, Marion Sprague, Seth Davis, Eileen Willard, Marian Zimmerman

The Black Ghost: Understanding the Maine Black Bear – with Deborah Perkins – Tuesday, May 21st

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Wildlife ecologist Deborah Perkins brings us an engaging, informative, and visually dramatic show for all ages!  Deborah’s experience as a bear biologist included studying black bears and grizzly bears across North America.  In Maine, she worked with the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife’s black bear program.  Have you ever climbed into a bear’s den?  Well, Deb has!

In fact, Deb has worked on various other bird and mammal studies throughout North America including shorebirds in the Canadian Arctic, Canada Lynx in northern Maine, and seals and seabirds in Maine. In this program Deb will bring her Black Bear adventures to life with stories, science, and pictures.

FMI:  https://www.firstlighthabitats.com/my-story

https://www.facebook.com/firstlighthabitats

The program will be held in the Mather Auditorium of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. It’s free and open to the public, and starts at 7 p.m. Come early for refreshments and social time.

Fighting Against the Rising Tides: A Biologist Looks at the Impact of Climate Change on Birds That Live in the Saltmarsh – with Logan Maxwell – Tuesday, April 16th

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Biologist Logan Maxwell recently completed her master’s work at UNH.  Her research focused on ways climate change affects birds along our coast. Our saltmarshes provide breeding habitat for a community of uniquely adapted birds that are threatened by the ongoing changes in vegetation, loss of habitat, and increased tidal flooding due to rising sea levels.

Logan’s aim was to figure out how saltmarsh birds might adapt to this changing environment.  Birds that live in our saltmarshes are seriously impacted by lunar high tides. These tides are the leading cause of nest failure.  Saltmarsh nesting birds are extremely vulnerable to even slight increases in sea level.  How might they survive?

Logan is an engaging speaker who relates well to a diverse audience.  You will leave this program with a better understanding of factors which concern the birder, motivate the biologist, and threaten our saltmarsh birds. This program is free and open to the public.  Come early for refreshments and social time.

The program will be at 7 p.m. in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm.  Free and open to the public.  Come early for social time and refreshments.

  

Bringing Nature Home with Eric Topper on Tuesday, March 19th

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Bringing Nature Home is Maine Audubon’s new community engagement and habitat stewardship initiative based on the bestselling book of that title by Doug Tallamy.  Join Maine Audubon’s Director of Education, Eric Topper, to explore the plants, practices and perks involved in restoring native food webs in our gardens, yards and communities.

Like many places, the landscape of coastal Maine has changed dramatically.  Today, gardens, yards, neighborhoods and towns are playing increasingly critical roles in supporting native food webs for birds, pollinators and other wildlife.  Our individual efforts to support wildlife can be both intimately rewarding and broadly beneficial.

With an overall focus on Maine birds and their habitats, Topper will introduce what individuals and groups can do, including what plants to choose and how to manage and maintain our gardens for their full ecological function and benefit.   He will also discuss the large selection of beautiful native flowers, shrubs and trees we can incorporate into our yards to attract and support a multitude of birds, butterflies and other interesting native wildlife.  YCA programs are free and open to the public.  Come early for social time and refreshments.

The program will be at 7 p.m. in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm.  Free and open to the public.  Come early for social time and refreshments.

  

The Maine Young Birders Club (MYBC) Announces Hog Island Scholarships for Teens

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MYBC, in conjunction with York County Audubon and Friends of Hog Island, is sponsoring two scholarships for Coastal Maine Bird Studies for Teens.  This intensive 6-day, 5-night program on Hog Island allows enthusiastic young birders to work with some of the country’s best-known birders and ornithologists on field identification, bird ecology and conservation. This program includes the unique opportunity to see Audubon’s seabird restoration work in action, and visit Eastern Egg Rock during the puffin breeding season (weather and sea conditions permitting). The program runs from June 16th to 21st.

The scholarships will pay 80% of the recipient’s cost for program tuition, room and board. Additional funds may be available if an applicant demonstrates financial need.  Applicants must be 14-17 years old to attend.

Scott Weidensaul photo

YCAS announces the June Ficker Hog Island Scholarship for Educators for 2019

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Hog lsland chickadee - Christine Caprio    A view of Hog Island

Hog Island on midcoast Maine

YCAS will again be awarding a scholarship for the Educator’s Week program, July 14-19, 2019 on famed Hog Island. Check the Scholarship Programs link under the Community Involvement pull down heading above for more information.  The application deadline is March 15th.

YCAS announces 2019 Hog Island Scholarship flyer

Gull ID Workshop with Derek Lovitch – Jan 26-27, 2019

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York County Audubon is very pleased to present again its popular Gull ID workshop, led by the very knowledgeable birder Derek Lovitch.  It’s a two-part workshop, indoors in Wells on Saturday afternoon, Jan 26th, and outdoors in greater Portland on Sunday morning, Jan 27th.  It will get you started on unraveling the mysteries of gull identification.

There is a registration fee of $20 for YCA (or Maine Audubon) members and $25 for non-members. Space is limited and advance registration is required.  To register, please click on this Event under What’s Coming Up on the right hand side of this webpage, and scroll down to find the form.

Actually, most gulls are not very difficult to tell apart, though adult and juveniles of most species look very different. We’re going to give ourselves confidence with identifying the easier plumage’s of our common species, and then tackle the more challenging intermediate plumage’s and the less-common species.

Iceland Gull in South Portland. Photo by Marie Jordan

Part I of the Workshop on Saturday January 26th will be at the Mather Auditorium of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm, and will be divided into two sections (you need not be present for both):

1:00 pm-2:30 pm – Beginning Gull Identification. Using Powerpoint and book resources, we’ll start with the basics of gull identification, such as feather topography and aging. We’ll then focus on our most common species: Ring-billed, Herring, Great Black-backed, Laughing, and Bonaparte’s Gulls.

3:00 pm-4:30 pm – Advanced Gull Identification. Now comfortable with the basics, we’ll move on to the uncommon species: Lesser Black-backed, Iceland, Glaucous, and Black-legged Kittiwake. Next up will be the rarities: Little, Black-headed, and yes, even “Thayer’s.” We’ll touch upon “Megas” such as Mew, Slaty-backed, and Sabine’s, and we’ll discuss hybrids. Finally, we’ll apply what we have learned to tackle and understand some identification quandaries, such as the famous “Westbrook Gull” before we finish up with some photo quizzes to test our new-found knowledge.

For Part II on Sunday, January 27th, we’ll be in the greater Portland area from 8:00am – noon.  We’ll meet at the Back Cove parking lot on Preble Street Ext. (opposite the Hannaford’s)  to carpool around the area to apply what we have learned. We’ll spend some time with our most common species: Herring, Ring-billed, and Great Black-backed, and then seek out Iceland and Glaucous, and perhaps we’ll find something even better!

We hope that you will join Derek for this workshop to foster appreciation for this fascinating group of birds. Derek (with his wife Jeannette) owns and operates Wild Bird Supply in Freeport. He’s the author of “How to Be a Better Birder” and “Birdwatching in Maine, A Site Guide,” the most comprehensive guide to where to bird in Maine.

 

The Christmas Bird Counts Are Coming (2018)

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    Harlequins DH 5196837123_369eef562e_z crop

Beginning on Christmas Day in 1900, the   Audubon Society has been sponsoring Christmas Bird Counts (CBC’s) to help monitor the health and status of bird populations throughout North America.  In that first year, there were 25 count circles with a total of 27 birders.  Now, there are over 2300 count circles each year with over 70,000 birders participating, with the locations stretching from Alaska to South America.

Each year, York County Audubon sponsors two counts.  The Southern York County circle extends from Kittery to Ogunquit, while the Biddeford/Kennebunkport count circle reaches from Kennebunk to Saco.  Each count territory is a geographic circle, carved out into six or more territories.  Each territory has a team that scours it during “count day” looking for all bird species, and recording the numbers seen of each.  It can, at times, be a bit more art than science, as we attempt to count – but not double count – the birds we find. We also have supporters who monitor their home feeders during the day and contribute their totals.  To avoid double counting, we ask them only to report the greatest number of each species that they see at any one time during the day.

At the end of the day (at 5 p.m.), we meet to compile the counts and share highlights.  Once compiled, the counts are forwarded to National Audubon for their master compilation.  Both locally and nationally, the totals are reviewed to assess trends in the populations of all species.  While the totals can vary fairly dramatically year to year due to the weather that happens to grace us on count day, the bigger picture over time can be very informative.

This year, the Southern York County CBC will be held on Monday, December 17th, 2018 while the Biddeford/Kennebunkport CBC will be on Saturday, December 29th.   The Southern YC compilation will be held in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve, while the Bidd/Kport compilation will held at the Church on the Cape in Cape Porpoise.  If you might like to find out about participating in one or both, please contact Monica Grabin at 207-985-3342 or grabin@roadrunner.com for the Southern York County CBC, or Kathy Donahue at 207-967-4102 or kadona11@roadrunner.com for the Biddeford/Kennebunkport CBC.

The Outlook in Augusta: a Legislative Update with Eliza Donoghue on Tuesday, November 13th

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What will be happening in the Maine Legislature after the November election?  How will environmental concerns fare in Augusta next year with a new governor and new legislature?  What’s the outlook for advancing solar and other alternative energy sources in Maine, and for protecting Maine’s forests, waterways and wildlife?

Eliza Donoghue is Maine Audubon’s Senior Policy and Advocacy Specialist, and spends much of her time advocating for these concerns in Augusta.  She joined Maine Audubon in July, 2017, bringing with her extensive experience and familiarity with the Maine State House, the Land Use Planning Commission, the Land for Maine’s Future program, and the extended network of legislators and stakeholders involved with environmental policy in Maine.

A graduate of Vermont Law School, Eliza has also worked with the Conservation Law Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and the Office of the Maine Attorney General. She is a native Mainer and lives in Brunswick with her family.

The program will be at 7 p.m. in the Mather Auditorium at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm.  Free and open to the public.  Come early for social time and refreshments.