Habitat Fall 2023 : simplebooklet.com

NEWS & NOTESConservationBat detectors near the summit of Borestone (top) and on a rock slide closer to the pond (bottom). The microphones sit about 10 feet high, atop poles that are pointed up to the sky to track bats as they ﬂy overhead, and can hear bats up to 30 meters away. They record for 14 continuous nights, then they are removed and the data is downloaded and run through a software program that can distinguish all eight species by their unique calls. Photos: Dan SimonsThis past summer, Maine Audubon worked with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) to place bat detectors at two of our sanctuaries—Borestone Mountain and Fields Pond. These are just two of 350 sites where MDIFW Small Mammal Biologist Cory Stearns will be doing long-term monitoring to track bat activity and population trends. The two sanctuaries were in geographic holes in the network and had not been in previous bat surveys. At Borestone, the detectors were erected in places where bats were most likely to be ying—including near the top of Borestone Mountain and near a rock slide adjacent to Sunset Pond. Of the eight bats that call Maine home during the breeding season, Stearns found four—Hoary, Silver-haired, Little Brown, and Big Brown Bats. Stearns says, “The amount of Silver-haired activity on the summit was exceptional, and is by far the most recordings of that species at any site that I’ve analyzed so far.” He suspects a roost may be nearby.Hoary and Silver-haired are tree bats, which spend the summer nesting in the forest and feeding along forest edges or over open water, but migrate south for the winter. Maine’s other bat species (Little Brown Bat, Big Brown Bat, Northern Long-eared Bat, Eastern Small-footed Bat, and Tri-colored Bat) hibernate in caves, tree cavities, or talus slopes. Most of these bats have suered dramatic declines (up to 90% in some species!) over the past 10 years from a fungus called White-nose Syndrome, that smothers and wakes them while they are hibernating in winter, raising their metabolism and draining their fat reserves so they starve to death before spring comes. According to Stearns, “The long-term monitoring program will allow us to evaluate the status and trends of each species’ distribution, relative abundance, and occupancy.” Look for updates in future on this exciting new survey! Bat Detectors Come to Two Maine Audubon SanctuariesPiping Plovers Nest in New Locations This spring, birder Tara Langford reached out to tell us that she saw two pairs of Piping Plovers engaging in nesting activity on Long Island in Casco Bay. We have long watched the island’s South Beach as a possible nesting site and try to visit once a summer, but have only heard vague reports of plovers using the beach during migration in the fall. In June, during the annual plover census, a crew from Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife went out to investigate Tara’s observations. Sure enough, they discovered a Piping Plover pair with a nest on Long Island and also found a nest on Indian Point on Chebeague Island. These two pairs are the rst ever Casco Bay nesters since we began monitoring in 1981! Thankfully, both island communities have embraced their newest residents. Chebeague and Cumberland Land Trust are keepers of an easement at the nesting site and they have been engaged stewards, keeping the birds safe. The town and residents of Long Island have gone above and beyond as well, moving their annual 4th of July lobster bake to a dierent beach in order to give the birds some peace. Spot the nest: The Chebeague nest with four eggs was camouﬂaged in the sand and easy to miss! Insect Samples Sent for StudyIf you visited Gilsland Farm, Hamilton, or Fields Pond over the last couple of months you may have noticed what looked like a white tent out in a eld at each of these Maine Audubon sanctuaries. These are “malaise traps” used to capture ying insects as part of a continent-wide effort to examine how climate change may be aecting insect abundance, and how to design future studies to answer basic questions about insect population change over time. We collected three samples, taken over three dierent time periods, from each location for the study. We won’t know the results until we’ve collected a few more samples and compared them with other samples across North America, and with samples taken over multiple years. With the bad weather this year, we did end up losing one sample at Hamilton when 60 mph wind gusts tore the trap down and spilled the sample. The other two samples will be helpful for that site, so it isn’t a complete loss! We’re excited to be a part of this study, and we look forward to continuing to contribute to this important work. We collect the insects from the trap jar, strain the sampling ﬂuid o through a coee ﬁlter, then send the samples o to the lead researcher in Oregon for weighing and sorting. 2 3MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • FALL 2023 FALL 2023 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT

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NEWS & NOTESEducationPlanting for Success this Summer! Rain and clouds did not deter hardy gardeners from coming, learning, shopping, and enjoying this year’s Native Plants Festival and Sale in June at Gilsland Farm. It was a huge success thanks to the incredible support of the Maine Audubon community! People came out in record numbers and purchased more than 3,000 herbaceous perennials, shrubs, and trees, bringing in more than $50,000 to support our ongoing habitat education and restoration eorts. The festival featured a variety of speakers in front of standing-room-only crowds as well as tabling from a range of community partners who joined us for the day to share their work with attendees. Thanks to Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District, Falmouth Land Trust, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Parker Hateld, Renewal by Andersen, UMaine Cooperative Extension, and Wild Seed Project for braving the weather! Thanks also go to our event sponsor, Renewal by Andersen, and to all our partners who made the day possible including Bissell Brothers, Portland Parks and Recreation, and Aceto Landscape Architects. We’ve had a busy spring and summer providing and installing plants around the state as well and wanted to update you on two of our most exciting projects. At Acadia National Park, where the Schoodic Institute is working on wetland restoration of Acadia’s Great Meadow, we advised them to plant Black Chokeberry, Highbush Blueberry, Pagoda Dogwood, Pussy Willow, Sheep Laurel, Speckled Alder, Striped Maple, Wild Conserving Pollinators and Indigenous Ecological KnowledgeMaine Audubon is collaborating with Wabanaki Youth in Science (WaYS) to create statewide educational programs on native pollinators which are grounded in Indigenous Ecological Knowledge. WaYS is a nonprot indigenous-directed organization focused on creating educational opportunities for Wabanaki youth which incorporate both Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science, or “a two-eyed seeing” perspective. We spent the summer working together and with Cultural Knowledge Sharers to explore exactly what such a project should look like in order to best support Wabanaki communities, Maine students as a whole, and native pollinators. Please stay tuned for more updates on this exciting partnership!More: wabanakiyouthinscience.orgWorking with Youth in Portland and LewistonThis summer, our Community-Based Education Program staff was excited to team up again with Portland Youth Corps and Maine Community Integration (MCI). Portland Youth Corps is managed by Portland Parks and Recreation, and focuses on environmental stewardship, and the personal and professional development of teens. Maine Community Integration is an organization that supports New Mainers in Lewiston. Together, through native planting projects and the removal of invasive species, Portland and Lewiston youth are restoring local wildlife habitat and ecological systems. Each group is also having the opportunity to learn from experts in their elds, including conservation ecologists, birders, native plant specialists, Wabanaki cultural advisors, environmental advocates, and more. Every day, teens who are part of Portland Youth Corps and MCI’s Sprout Lewiston program get a new adventure. Participants can be found building trails or planting native habitat patches; learning about Maine forests, coastlines, and wildlife; or taking eld trips to experience what the Maine outdoors has to oer in summer. No two days are the same! All the while, teens are building relationships with their peers, with adults in their community, and with the natural world around them.Leading Curriculum Development in BangorStarting this fall, the Bangor School District will be participating in a two-year watershed education program led by Maine Audubon sta and cooperating individuals and organizations thanks to a NOAA B-WET Education Grant. Entitled “Penobscot Classrooms,” the project will involve working with all fth-grade teachers and students in the Bangor School District to incorporate hands-on environmental education into their curriculum. “By working with all the fth-grade teachers in the district we have a unique opportunity to have a broad impact on students for many years to come,” says David Lamon, Maine Audubon’s Northern Operations and Programs Director, and the project’s principal investigator. The NOAA B-WET (Bay Watershed Education and Training) program is an environmental education program that provides locally relevant opportunities for youth and teachers to get out into the environment to investigate environmental issues that lead to informed action.Raisin, and Winterberry. We sourced and delivered 540 of these shrubs and trees which have been planted across a number of test plots scattered throughout the Great Meadow wetland. We’re also excited about our ongoing work with the City of South Portland, continuing to provide plants for the riparian restoration at Hinckley Park and as well as for heavily-tracked and highly visible Willard Beach, where the City recently planted hundreds of dune grass and Seaside Goldenrod plants. More: maineaudubon.org/plantsSprout Lewiston youth took a ﬁeld trip to Gilsland Farm Audubon Center and did some ponding. Showers brought smiles at the Native Plants Festival and Sale. 4 5MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • FALL 2023 FALL 2023 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT

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SanctuariesNEWS & NOTESWith the addition of Noah Gleason-Hart as our Land Steward this April, the Properties Department is excited to increase community engagement at our sanctuaries! As we move forward, our goal is to reimagine Maine Audubon’s stewardship in ways that focus on enhanced access while protecting ecological integrity, and that balance land preservation with active restoration of human-disturbed ecosystems.At Mast Landing Audubon Sanctuary in Freeport, our first steps have been to increase community involvement in stewardship work and consider how invasive plants impact the sanctuary.Like many places in Maine, the forest at Mast Landing is severely impacted by invasive plants that inhibit successional processes, provide limited habitat for wildlife, and reduce ecosystem resilience to the effects of climate change. To start addressing the problem, over the spring and summer, we’ve hosted a Engaging Community to Tackle Invasives at Mast Landing Volunteers from Stone Coast Fund Services in Portland pulled invasive plants at Mast Landing in June. It was hard and buggy work so we really appreciate their time and eort! Since May, volunteers have donated more than 180 hours of time at Mast Landing. number of corporate, school, and community volunteer groups who have tirelessly and enthusiastically pulled and cut non-native honeysuckle, buckthorn, multiora rose, and bittersweet to maintain trail access and prepare sites for native plantings in the future.Not only has this work allowed us to make progress on our stewardship goals, it has also introduced new opportunities for Maine Audubon to engage with the communities we serve. We’re always happy to include more community members in our work. You can find our monthly sanctuary stewardship volunteer opportunities listed on the Maine Audubon events calendar. Join us! If you have ideas about the sanctuaries or want to get involved in our work in other ways, please contact Noah at ngleason-hart@maineaudubon.org. More: maineaudubon.org/eventsAS THEIR NAME IMPLIES, Saltmarsh Sparrows are salt marsh specialists, taking advantage of a rich resource that is abundant along the eastern seaboard, breeding from Virginia to Maine. They can only raise their families in salt marshes that meet their needs. Salt marshes are rich and diverse ecosystems, but the regular inundation of saltwater makes it hard for most plants and animals to survive. The species that are able to cope with the saltwater and exposure to the elements can thrive, and Saltmarsh Sparrows are uniquely adapted to this life on the edge. However, due to various factors including high tides from rising seas and storm surges which wash over nests and nestlings, the population of Saltmarsh Sparrows is on the decline. This year, the Saltmarsh Sparrow was one of eight species added to the list of animals protected under Maine’s Endangered Species Act. With support from the Blake-Nuttall Fund and sales of the book Birds of Maine, Maine Audubon has teamed up with biologists at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge to survey nesting pairs, track nesting success, and test out the ecacy of enhancing nesting habitat at several tidal marshes in southern Maine, including the largest salt marsh in Maine—Scarborough Marsh. BY LAURA MINICH ZITSKEMaine Audubon Coastal Birds Project DirectorWhat makes them so special?This nest has been ﬂooded. If the three eggs don’t ﬂoat away but remain in the nest cup as the tide goes out, the female may still be able to return and warm them up. Photo: Bri Benvenuti/USFWSSALTMARSH SPARROWS6 7MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • FALL 2023 FALL 2023 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT

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SPRING HIGH TIDEMEAN HIGH TIDE (OR MEAN HIGH WATER)MEAN LOW TIDE (OR MEAN LOW WATER)HIGH MARSHLOW MARSHSPARROWSSALTMARSHThese charismatic, tough little birds are more than just fun to watch; they are indicators of the health of the marsh and need whatever help we can give them.SNEAKY SPARROWS One challenge in protecting Saltmarsh Sparrows is that they are secretive and can be surprisingly dicult to study. Unlike most of our familiar songbirds, like their ‘cousins’ the Song Sparrows, Saltmarsh Sparrow males don’t constantly sing a loud song to announce their breeding territory throughout the nesting season. Their songs are quiet and used to attract mates, but not to deﬁne a territory. This makes it hard for biologists to assess population size and potential productivity. We typically track numbers by doing “point counts” (recording birds by sight and sound from a single point over a standard time) but cannot use them in this case. THATCH Dead grass doesn’t seem very appealing tous, but it is one of the most important factors Saltmarsh Sparrows use to identify potential nesting areas. In an open habitat like a salt marsh, dead Spartina provides essential cover for nests and nestlings, as well as material for nests. In the same way that old growth forests provide essential habitat features that a young woodland cannot, dead vegetation from years past is crucial.FLOODING A hallmark of the species is that thesebirds have adapted to nesting along with the tidal cycles, timing their laying and chick-rearing to rhythms of the tide. Sadly, increased storm surge and sea level rise from climate change is interrupting this cycle and putting these birds at risk. In spite of the fact that these resilient birds can withstand having their nests ﬂooded, increased frequency and duration of these ﬂooding events is pushing them toward their demise.TIDES The water that can inundate nests is part ofwhat makes salt marshes so special and productive. Seawater coming in brings nutrients for plants and can replenish lost soil, keeping the salt marsh thriving. One of the challenges in managing these birds is that the salt marshes where they nest often need restoration eorts to keep the marsh healthy, but at times that restoration work can reduce bird productivity, thus furthering popu-lation declines. It’s essential that restoration workers and bird biologists work together to help keep the sparrows and salt marshes ﬂourishing!SPARTINA PATENSSPARTINA ALTERNIFLORASALICORNIA DEPRESSA9FALL 2023 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT

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HONESTTOGOODNESS democracy was taking place right there in the classroom: Students in Laura Seaver-Maley’s 5th grade classroom at Loranger Middle School in Old Orchard Beach were huddled together in small groups preparing to pitch their classmates on a new State Buttery for Maine.They had just seen a presentation of different candidate species from Commissioner Judy Camuso and wildlife biologist Phillip deMaynadier of Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The pair were visiting the classroom to support the students’ eorts to designate an ocial state buttery, and to gently steer them away from their original choice, the Hessel’s Hairstreak, a rare buttery known from only a few spots in York County. One by one, the groups got up to persuade their peers about the merits of dierent buttery species. The Monarch is famous, and makes an incredible 2500-mile migration between Maine and Mexico. The Mourning Cloak is often the rst buttery seen in spring, a welcome sign that winter is ending. The White Admiral has a statewide distribution and is already represented on the logo of the Maine Buttery Survey. Points and counterpoints were considered, and the students took a vote.The winner was a butterfly that impressed the students with its Maine roots: the Pink-edged Sulphur. Its caterpillars spend the spring feeding on the leaves of Maine’s ocial state berry, the wild blueberry, before emerging as lovely yellow-and-pink butteries that spend the summer uttering across shrubby openings in woods and bogs across the state. “We like that, because of the blueberries, the Pink-edged Sulphur seemed like it had the best connection to Maine,” said Tate Graham, one of the students leading the state buttery eort in the classroom. Though the classroom vote was over, the process was just getting started. The students then worked with Rep. Lori Gramlich to amend the Hessel's Hairstreak bill and move ahead with the Pink-edged Sulphur. In early April, Tate and a classmate, Oscar Stanton, traveled to Augusta to testify in support of the bill before the State and Local Government Committee of the Maine Legislature. Their testimony was well received, and though the State House didn’t quite match their expectations—“I thought it would be more like the courtrooms you see on TV, with people using gavels,” said Tate—their bill received bipartisan support and was passed in the Legislature. In mid-May, Tate and Oscar joined Maine Audubon Policy Advocate Ches Gundrum and other supporters for a formal ceremony where Governor Mills signed not just the bill to establish the Pink-edged Sulphur as Maine's ocial state buttery, but also the cast on Oscar’s wrist. To celebrate the achievement, Maine Audubon invited the Loranger students out to Kennebunk Plains Preserve at the end of the school year in June to try to spot the new state buttery in the wild. Though the Pink-edged Sulphur typically ies later in the summer, there is plenty of wild blueberry at Kennebunk Plains and the group hoped to get lucky with an early adult or a caterpillar. Though ultimately we were unsuccessful, Maine Audubon naturalists were able to point out dierent species of buttery, moth, and other pollinators. “One reason we’re really supportive of a new state buttery,” said Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologist Phillip deMaynadier, “is because of the attention it’ll bring to all of the state’s butteries, many of which need dedicated conservation eorts. They need all the help they can get.” Thanks to some hard-working students, help is on the way.Other Ocial Maine WildlifeState Animal MooseState Berry Wild BlueberryState Bird Chickadee State Crustacean American LobsterState Fish Landlocked Salmon State Flower White Pine Cone and TasselState Herb Wintergreen State Insect HoneybeeState Tree White Pine SULPHURMEET THE PINK-EDGEDMaine’s New State ButterﬂyOscar Stanton’s cast, signed by Governor MillsTate Graham scans Kennebunk Plains for wildlife on a Maine Audubon-led ﬁeld trip.Tate and Oscar with Rep. GramlichPhoto: Roger RittmasterPhoto: Roger RittmasterBY NICK LUNDMaine Audubon Advocacy and Outreach Manager11FALL 2023 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT

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homeowners about the benefits of adding these native plants to improve ecological resiliency to climate change. I also help land-scape designers working with large development projects such as solar arrays and highway projects that want to include native plants to improve pollinator, bird, and other wildlife habitats.Q: If we aren’t genuinely restoring Rare, Threatened, or Endangered plant species in our gardens and communities, why should we try to grow them?As plant species become rare or endangered, so do the many other organisms that rely on THERE ARE MANY RARE PLANT SPECIES in Maine. The Maine Natural Areas Program is currently tracking about 352 rare plant species in Maine; about 111 of those are listed as Endangered and 65 plants are considered extirpated. The reasons plants are listed vary, but habitat loss and climate change are commonly the top factors. Restoring a species can be as complex and intractable as eliminating those two threats and requires special skills. Maine State Horticulturist Gary Fish talks about whether and how our nurseries and gardens can play a role in conserving rare plants.HORTICULTUREQ and A with Gary Fish, Maine State Horticulturistthose plants for food or shelter. By growing as many of these threat-ened, endangered, or potentially extirpated plants in our yards, we can provide temporary relief until more comprehensive resto-ration eorts can be undertaken. Before the YardScaping Gardens at Back Cove had to be removed, the Butteryweed (milkweed) hosted Monarch caterpillars, we saw bumblebees wedging their bodies in and out of Great Blue Lobelia flowers, and the centers of each Sundial Lupine leaf teamed with tiny webs and critters. All three of these plants are listed as potentially extirpated in Maine, meaning con-nections like the ones we observed may be lost from the landscape.Q: What about buying and growing native plants from seed? Growing plants from seeds is an excellent way to grow native plants with all the genetic diversity needed for climate resiliency. However, the Department only regulates the labeling of seed packets, so we need to learn more about whether the seeds are collected sustainably or labeled appropriately. Q: Can planting native plants help replace invasive species?Replacing invasive plants with rare native plants is a good idea, but it is not easily accomplished. We think of native plants as well-adapted and low maintenance, but they often can’t compete with invasive plants in the same place. We must ensure these replacement plantings incorporate long-term monitoring and maintenance to mitigate the competition.& RARE PLANTSQ: What is “horticulture,” and what does the State Horticulturist do?Put broadly, horticulture is the cultivation and management of plant material. I work with greenhouses, nurseries, land-scapers, and agricultural crop growers to slow or prevent the movement of plant pests within the state or coming into or leav-ing the state. My role is to oversee nursery, arborist, beekeeper, hemp and ginseng grower licens-ing, write and manage import/export quarantine regulation, guide response to invasive spe-cies, manage the integrated pest management (IPM) program and provide education and outreach to lawmakers, professionals, and the general public.Q: How can horticulture play a role in restoring native plants?The Horticulture Program can help most immediately by elim-inating threats such as invasive species and providing IPM educa-tion to help minimize reliance on pesticides. My biggest challenge is finding adequate resources to address invasive species like emer-ald ash borer or barberry. I also try to foster increased awareness about native plants and the need for local growers to add them to their inventory. At the same time, we must educate landscapers and Recommended PlantsHere are a few plants Gary recommends that are low-maintenance, easy to grow, and beneﬁcial to wildlife. SUNDIAL LUPINE – Lupinus perennis (potentially extirpated)Potentially all of the lupines you see growing wild are NOT Lupinus perennis. That is a dierent species, L. polyphyllus, which is an exotic that was brought heremany years ago. Our native lupine can be grownhere for the wildlife that still depends on it, like theendangered Karner Blue butterﬂy, thanks to seedsfrom healthy populations elsewhere.BEACH PLUM – Prunus maritimaAs with Butterﬂyweed, we are on the northern edge of Beach Plum’s range. These are species well adapted to a warmer, drier climate and are rugged enough to withstand the stresses of city life and salt spray.NORTHERN SPICEBUSH – Lindera benzoinI’d like to see more of these beautiful native shrubs in shady foundation plantings, on lake shores, and in courtyard plantings with good moisture. The Spicebush Swallowtail is a lovely butterﬂy that needs this speciﬁc host plant.GREAT BLUE LOBELIA – Lobelia siphiliticaThe State has downgraded this beautiful, blue-ﬂowered cousin of the abundant Cardinal Flower from endangered to potentially extirpated since Maine Audubon has been growing and selling it. This species is a little more tolerant of some shade and slightly drier soils than L. cardinalis. BUTTERFLYWEED – Asclepias tuberosaA naturally-occurring wild population of Butterﬂyweed hasn’t been observed in Maine since the 1990s. Still, Maine gardeners have been growing and hosting Monarch butterﬂies on it for as long as I can remember. There are cultivated varieties now, but the wild type performs great in the right spot.GARY FISH is the State Horticulturist at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry. He is a past coordinator of the Maine YardScaping Partnership and Manager of Pesticide Programs at the Maine Board of Pesticides Control. He has a B.S. in forest and wildlife management from the University of Maine, College of Forest Resources, and a Master’s in policy, planning, and management from the Muskie School at USM. He has been a licensed professional forester since 1985.Art: Jada Fitch, Michael Boardman12MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • FALL 2023

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SPECIAL SECTIONLEGISLATIVE & ADVOCACYFirst Session of the 131st Maine Legislature2023 SummaryDear Maine Audubon members and supporters, The First Session of the 131st Maine Legislature was one of the busiest and most successful we’ve ever had. Super-powered by the addition of our new Policy Advocate, Ches Gundrum, Maine Audubon was able to work on—and help pass—more legislation that beneﬁts wildlife and habitat than any session in recent memory! It was a whirlwind, with many successes to celebrate but also some issues to continue working on in future sessions. We look forward, as always, to your continued support. We can’t do it without you.Yours in conservation,ELIZA DONOGHUE, ESQ.Director of Advocacy and Sta AttorneyBill Number Description Priority PositionSubmitted Testimony ResultENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICELD 1621This bill requires fair and equitable access to Dept. of Environmental Protection decision-making processes.EPC✔Carried over to next sessionLD 2004The 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act is amended under this bill so that the Wabanaki Nations can beneﬁt from most existing and future federal laws that apply to the other 570 federally recognized tribes.✔VetoedLD 2007This bill advances self-determination for the Wabanaki Nations and recognizes the inherent sovereignty of the tribes in Maine.MA EPCNo public hearingCarried over to next sessionHABITATLD 392This bill adopts rules to support beach nourishment and planting native sand dune vegetation in the name of climate resiliency. ✔Signed into law!LD 425This bill would have ended the ban on single-use plastic shopping bags. ✔Did not pass!LD 572This bill would have removed the 5 cent fee for bags in retail stores.✔Did not pass! LD 649This bill arms the right of Mainers to plant native plants and other "low impact" landscaping.MA✔Became law!LD 1156This "Maine Trails Bond" invests $30 million toward the design, development, and maintenance of non-motorized, motorized, and multi-use trails statewide.EPC✔Carried over to next sessionLD 1246Expands the circumstances in which state agencies consult on strategies to avoid and minimize impacts to endangered and threatened species habitat from new development.MA EPC✔Signed into law!LD 1285Funding for the popular land protection program, Land for Maine’s Future, would be extended through 2025. ✔Carried over to next sessionLD 1363This bill directs the Dept. of Environmental Protection to develop rules to allow for safer regulation of future spodumene mining in Maine.✔Signed into law!LD 1919This bill establishes a wildlife sanctuary at Blue Hill Falls in Hancock County. MANo public hearingCarried over to next sessionLD 1934This bill directs the creation of recommendations to improve technical assistance to municipalities, including land use planning.✔Signed into law!LD 1969A Land for Maine’s Future Trust Fund to better advance land conservation eorts in the state is established under this bill.✔Signed into law!First Session of the 131st Maine LegislatureMA Maine Audubon Priority BillEPC Environmental Priorities Coalition* Priority BillIN THE NEWSEnvironmental groups highlight bill to protect habitat for endangered Maine species"Incremental habitat loss, one poorly sited driveway or septic system at a time, can have a big impact on vulnera-ble species, species that are really on the brink, where every population and often every individual really counts."Maine Audubon Advocacy Director Eliza Donoghue, on Maine Public RadioJANUARY 27, 2023Maine Voices: What Would Fishing in Maine be Without the Wildlife?"Fishing in Maine just wouldn’t be the same without the other wildlife, like loons, that go with it, and we owe it to ourselves and to the creatures we ﬁsh alongside to ensure that our activities aren’t harmful. We’re four generations of Maine ﬁshermen, but there are many more to come." Jon Lund, Will Lund, Maine Audubon's Nick Lund, and Elliott Lund, writing in the Portland Press HeraldAPRIL 23, 2023Students Who Proposed State Butterﬂy Visit Preserve"And it’s been a really cool process, ﬁg-uring out how laws get made…it started with just a letter that got sent out and turned into this."Laura Seaver, Loranger Memorial School teacher, on NewsCenter MaineJUNE 8, 2023More than 3,600 messages were sent to legislators by Maine Audubon members and supportersWe had 1,084 signatures on our Loon Lead Tackle petition, our largest petition everMaine Audubon submitted testimony on 56 billsLegislature By the NumbersJoin our Action Network: maineaudubon.org/act* Maine Audubon is a proud member of the Environmental Priorities Coalition, a partnership of 37 environmental, conservation, and public health organizations. 15FALL 2023 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT

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Bill NumberDescriptionPriority PositionSubmitted Testimony ResultRENEWABLE ENERGYLD 1227This bill funds dual-use agriculture/solar pilot projects—one strategy among many to responsibly site solar energy projects.✔Carried over to next sessionLD 1591This bill encourages the siting of renewable energy projects on lands contaminated by PFAS and away from non-contaminated farm and forest land.✔Signed into law!LD 1881A compensation fee program to account for impacts to high-value farms and forests from new renewable energy development is created by this bill.MA✔Signed into law!LD 1895This bill sets an energy purchase schedule, as well as other commitments to help ensure responsible oshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine that beneﬁts Maine people & helps protect wildlife.MA EPC✔Signed into law!WATERLD 10This bill adds certain plants to the Maine list of aquatic invasive species, making it illegal to sell, import, or transport them.✔Signed into law!LD 92This "Clean, Drain, Dry" bill requires boats to be cleaned before transport between water bodies, preventing invasive plants from hitching a ride.✔Signed into law!LD 164This bill provides funding to protect water quality and employ other measures to keep Maine lakes clean.✔Signed into law!LD 379After initially opposing it, Maine Audubon helped to improve this bill to study the impacts of wake boats.✔Signed into law!WILDLIFELD 57Eight species of bird, bat, and insects were added to the Maine Endangered Species Act list under this bill, which will expand available resources for their conservation.MA ✔Signed into law!LD 239This bill establishes the Pink-edged Sulphur as Maine's ocial State Butterﬂy.✔Signed into law!LD 258The State’s annual budget includes $7.5 million for culverts that help allow for the safe passage of wildlife.✔Signed into law!LD 670Guidelines will be developed to decrease bird strike risk in publicly-funded buildings, thanks to this bill.MA✔Became law! LD 958Lead poisoning is a leading cause of loon mortality; this bill phases out the sale and use of small-size painted lead tackle.MA✔Signed into law!LD 1648This bill will establish a new method for the valuation of land under the farm and open space tax law, to encourage a wide array of conservation practices.✔Carried over to next sessionLD 1845This bill aims to reduce the impacts on outdoor lighting on wildlife and Maine’s dark skies.✔Did not passConserving Maine’s Threatened and Endangered SpeciesA pair of priority bills helped improve protections for Maine’s most vulnerable wildlife species. LD 57 added eight new species to the Maine Endangered Species Act list, including Bicknell’s Thrush and Saltmarsh Sparrow. LD 1246 increased the circumstances in which state natural resource agencies consider and mitigate impacts to listed species from new development.Bringing Nature HomeWith the passage of LD 649, Maine armed the rights of landowners to pursue native plantings and other low-impact landscaping techniques.Protections for LoonsWe were successful in helping to close a loophole in existing law that permitted dangerous lead tackle to be used on Maine lakes (LD 958), and are now part of a stakeholder group to study a new threat: Wake boats, which threaten loon nests and cause other damage by producing larger waves than typical boats (LD 379).Building Bird SafeIn what might be one of the most pleasant surprises of the session, Maine is now one of just a few states to begin to address—through legislation—the issue of bird-glass collisions, which kill as many as one billion birds around the country each year (LD 670).Oshore WindWith the passage of LD 1895, Maine jumpstarts the development of a homegrown oshore wind industry, which will deliver the clean energy we need to meet our climate goals and stabilize energy prices. Moreover, LD 1895 secured investments in research, monitoring, and conservation of wildlife species and habitats that may be impacted by oshore wind energy development, as well as required plans for avoiding and minimizing wildlife impacts. Floating oshore wind in the Gulf of Maine is one of our best tools to combat climate change. We’re proud to have played a big role in making this bill as strong as it is.Highlights from the First Session of the 131st LegislatureLEGISLATIVE & ADVOCACY 2023 SummaryWork to DoThough we were successful in helping pass a large number of bills, there is still plenty of work to be done with the 131st Maine Legislature. Next session, we’ll continue our shared work to secure a just and equitable future for the Wabanaki Nations by recognizing the sovereignty of the Wabanaki Tribes. A bill to establish a wildlife sanctuary at Blue Hill Falls has also been "carried over" to the next legislative session for more work, as well as a bill to fund the Land for Maine’s Future program. We’ll also be looking closely at legislative strategies to provide technical assistance to municipalities, speciﬁcally in land use planning. Be sure you receive our alerts. Sign up at maineaudubon.org/act. Blackpoll Warblers were added to the Maine Endangered Species Act list.17FALL 2023 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT

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Gilsland FarmFALMOUTH/GREATER PORTLANDAutumn Equinox at Maine AudubonThursday, September 21, 4–7 pmA special fundraiser hosted by Portside Real Estate Group, with live band, food trucks, children’s activities, adult beverages, auctions, and more! Fall FrolicSaturday, September 30, 10 am–2 pmCelebrate the change of seasons with us at our annual family festival! We will welcome fall and learn about some of the ways people can help wildlife this time of year with fun activities for all ages including: Use our seed ball slingshot; play and create with colorful fall leaves; tackle the Monarch migration obstacle course; pretend to drive our tractor and learn how we use it for habitat restoration; explore seed science & plant part art; plus face-painting, music, and much more!This event is made possible by L.L.Bean.Family FunWednesdays, 9:30–10:30 am OR 10:45–11:45 am September 20–November 15 (9 weeks)Young children and their grown-ups are invited to spend an hour exploring nature together through stories, songs, art, and play. Advanced registration is encouraged! Drop-ins are welcome if space is available.Edible Plant WalksFridays, September 8, October 27, 4–6 pmSundays, November 5 & 19, 2–4 pmCome learn to identify and responsibly harvest edible wild plants at Gilsland Farm. Fall Plant WalksSaturdays, September 9, October 14, November 4 & 18, 10 am–12 pmTuesday, October 24, 4–6 pmJoin us for a free plant walk for all levels to learn about the local plant species at Gilsland Farm.Beginner Bird WalksSundays, September 10, November 5 & 19 10 am–12 pmWednesday, October 25, 4–6 pmFor those new to birding or those wishing to deepen their understanding of backyard birds; we’ll have extra binoculars and pointers on how to use them. Big SitSaturday, October 7, dawn to duskWe sit inside a 17-foot circle, counting all the bird species we see or hear, from dawn to dusk. Drop in, and come for as long as you want! Everyone is welcome, regardless of your birding expertise.Mushroom Walk with North SporeFriday, October 13, 4:30–6:30 pmLouis Giller of North Spore will lead a walk with our Field Naturalist, Andy Kapinos, to identify mushrooms at Gilsland Farm, and learn how to responsibly harvest edible species.Accessible Beginner Bird OutingSunday, October 15, 10 am–12 pmThis outing is inclusive and accessible for all, especially those new to birding. We will bird the ﬂat walkways around our buildings at Gilsland Farm. We’ll have extra binoculars and pointers on how to use them. Clear Day Thunder: Restoring the American Chestnut Sunday, October 15, 3–6 pmFilm Screening presented by The American Chestnut Foundation.Member Double Discount and Fall Bird Seed SaleNovember 10-12, 10 am–4 pmMembers get 10% o optics and 20% o on all in-store items. If you are not a member yet, this is a great time to join! Visit the store and check out our new products and holiday gift items.OCT7OCT13OCT15OCT15NOV10-12Featured EventsFall EventsFull event listings, prices, and registration: maineaudubon.org/eventsBORESTONEBorestone Naturalists WeekendSeptember 22–24Join this weekend retreat to Borestone Mountain Audubon Sanctuary, located just 20 miles south of Moosehead Lake. There we will stay in the sanctuary’s historic Adirondack style lodges, which are accessible only by boat or on foot, lending an extra sense of remoteness and tranquility to this special place. All levels of ability are welcome; optional activities include moderate hikes, swimming, canoeing, or just relaxing at the lodges. FIELDS PONDPackrafting & Hiking Adventure! w/ PackRaft MaineSaturday, September 30, 12:30–4:30 pmRather than valuing remoteness, danger, and challenge, the focus of packrafting is on ﬁnding delight, connection with others, and wildness close to home. Alejandro Strong from Packrafting Maine and Maine Audubon sta will co-lead this evening of quiet connection with nature that includes hiking to the shore, inﬂating rafts, and exploring the pond. GILSLAND FARMEyes on OwlsSaturday, November 11 Join naturalist Marcia Wilson and photographer Mark Wilson in person for Maine Audubon’s annual live owl show. Each show includes a hooting lesson, an entertaining slideshow, and a close-up look at several dierent owl species. There will be three shows: At 10:30-11:15 am, the shorter show is geared to a younger audience, and includes a story read-along and the live owl show. At 12:30-1:45 pm and 2:30-3:45 pm there will be all-ages shows, which include a slide presentation called “Owls Up Close” plus the live owl show.The program will be outdoors under a tent and no walk-in tickets will be oered.NOV11SEPT30SEPT21SEPT30WEEKLYBI- WEEKLYMONTHLYMONTHLYSEPT6WEEKLYOnlineBeing Sure About ShorebirdsWednesday, September 6, 6:30–8:30 pmCelebrate World Shorebird Day with a webinar to learn about the shorebirds that live in and migrate through Maine.Our Forests, Our Climate, Our Communities Wednesdays in October, 6–7 pmA webinar series curated by longtime Portland City Arborist Je Tarling, featuring forestry experts working on the front lines of climate change and the biodiversity crisis. Full Event Listings, Prices, and Registration MAINEAUDUBON.ORG/EVENTSSEPT22-2418 19MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • FALL 2023 FALL 2023 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT

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Sanford Lagoons Bird Walk Gavel Road, SanfordTuesday, October 24, 8:30–10:30 amJoin us at a unique habitat (a water treatment facility) to look for late shorebirds and lots of migrating waterfowl.Our Maine: Book Talk/LaunchFriday, October 6, 6 pm, in-person with online optionAram Calhoun and Mac Hunter will talk about Our Maine: Exploring Its Rich Natural Heritage, a new book celebrating Maine's landscapes and waters.Fall Foliage 5K Trail Run Saturday, October 7, 9 amJoin us for our annual trail running event. This challenging course will take you up through our beautiful, wooded trails, onto the adjoining Holden Land Trust trail system. Free kids fun run at 10:30 am. This event is made possible by L.L.Bean.Owl ProwlFriday, October 27, 5–6:15 pm This family-friendly program will start indoors to introduce you to the fascinating world of owls and how their unique adaptations allow them to be such capable hunters in the dark. We’ll then venture out into the night to “prowl" for owls.The 3 W’s of Wildlife Rehabilitation Saturday, October 28, 12 pmCome learn about the Ws of Wildlife Rehabilitation with Ann Rivers from Acadia Wildlife Center: What is it, Who does it, Why do we do it? Featuring a presentation with a live education owl!Fall Native Plants WalkSunday, October 29, 12–2 pmThis naturalist-led walk will focus on seeds and dierent ways they are dispersed, and how we can help native plant populations thrive. Gourd and Pine Rim Basket WorkshopThursday, November 2, 5–8 pm Join Jessica Steele to make a holiday gift or decorative piece for your home. Gourds are pre-cut; students will clean, sand, drill, and stain gourds, then sew pine to the rim. Black Terns and Other Marsh RaritiesThursday, November 16, 6 pm, in-person with online optionDanielle D’Auria, Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, will give a presentation about the black tern (Chlidonias niger), Maine’s rarest tern which nests in just a handful of freshwater marshes.OCT7OCT27OCT28OCT29NOV2NOV16StatewideStage Island Beach Cleanup Workday Friday, September 15, 9:30 am–3:30 pmJoin us for a day of beach cleanup o the coast of Biddeford Pool. Our co-sponsor, Maine Island Trail Association, will transport volunteers to and from the island by boat. Bar Harbor Pelagic Boat TripSaturday, September 16, 6 am–1:30 pmMaine Audubon’s annual trip—great sightings of birds and marine mammals! Mast Landing Work DayTuesday, September 19, 9 am–12 pmHelp beautify the sanctuary in Freeport by assisting in the removal of several small, unused outbuildings. Josephine Newman Sanctuary Trail Maintenance Work DaySaturday, October 7, 9 am–12 pmHelp us disassemble and remove an unused footbridge from the trail system at our sanctuary in Georgetown. Hamilton Sanctuary Work DaySaturday, October 14, 9 am–12 pmJoin sanctuary caretakers for a morning of trail maintenance, memorial garden maintenance, cleaning bird boxes, and cutting and pulling invasive plants at our sanctuary in West Bath.SEPT15SEPT16SEPT19OCT7Fields PondHOLDEN/GREATER BANGORForaging: Finding Wild Edible and Medicinal PlantsSaturday, September 2, 11 am–1 pmDavid Spahr, author of Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms of New England and Eastern Canada, will show us what you can ﬁnd, how to dierentiate the safe from the toxic, and dierent ways to use what you forage.Family Fun Wednesdays, 9:30–10:30 am September 13–November 15Young children (ages 2-5) and their grown-ups are invited to spend an hour exploring nature together through stories, songs, art, and play. Advanced registration is encouraged; drop-ins are welcome if space is available. Fall Bird WalksFridays, 9–10 am, September 15–October 20Fall migration provides an excellent opportunity to see birds you may not otherwise get a chance to see. Add to that the challenge of identifying birds that have molted from their breeding plumage. Fall Stewardship DaySaturday, September 16, 9 am–12 pmJoin us for a morning focused on improving our trails, Nature Center, and other public use spaces. Bring work gloves and sturdy footwear. Snacks provided!Mushrooms of MaineSaturday, September 23, 11 am–1 pmJoin local favorite David Spahr as he takes you on a journey both indoors and outdoors learning about mushroom identiﬁcation, folklore, collecting, and cooking. Guide Pack Baskets WorkshopSaturday, September 30, 9 am–5 pmWeave a 17” tall basket with instructor Jessica Steele. These baskets are great for ice ﬁshing, day hiking, going to music festivals, or to the local co-op. WEEKLYWEEKLYSEPT16SEPT23SEPT30SEPT2OCT14Chapter EventsMID-COAST: Pine Point and Environs, ScarboroughSaturday, September 9, 7:30 am–2 pm More fall events: midcoast.maineaudubon.org/eventsWESTERN: Owls of Maine and the Maine Owl Pellet Project with Zach OlsonWednesday, September 13, 7 pm, UMaine FarmingtonMore fall events: western.maineaudubon.orgYORK: How the Personalities of Small Mammals Shape the Growth of ForestsTuesday, October 24, 7 pm, Wells Reserve More: yorkcountyaudubon.orgSEPT9SEPT13OCT24Josephine Newman Audubon Sanctuary, GeorgetownThursday, October 26, 4–6 pmHamilton Audubon Sanctuary, West BathSaturday, November 4, 2–4 pmMast Landing Audubon Sanctuary, FreeportSaturday, November 18, 2–4 pmOCT26NOV4NOV18Full Event Listings, Prices, and Registration MAINEAUDUBON.ORG/EVENTSOCT6OCT24Fall Native Plants WalksThese naturalist-led walks will focus on seeds and dierent ways they are dispersed, and how we can help native plant populations thrive.20MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • FALL 2023

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Naturalist HQDOUG HITCHCOX, STAFF NATURALISTSeptember3Watch for migrating MONARCH BUTTERFLIES feeding on the nectar of goldenrods and asters in meadows and other open habitats. Monarchs that migrate along the coast are especially reliant on Seaside Goldenrod, often the most abundant wildﬂower still in bloom.8SNAPPING TURTLE eggs may be hatching now, depending on the weather. Earlier in the summer, female Snapping Turtles laid eggs in sandy or gravelly areas, often near roads or other human development. All the eggs hatch at approximately the same time, and the tiny turtles dig their way out and begin crawling to ﬁnd a water body where they will spend the winter. 17Now is usually when the fall WARBLER migration peaks, though identifying them in their nonbreeding plumages can be a challenge! Look for these active birds wherever there is an abundance of insects: the canopy of native trees like oaks, pines, and maples, thickets of shrubs like viburnums and blackberries, or meadows of goldenrod. October3The MOOSE rut is generally occurring around this time, depending on local conditions. This period, when the females (cows) are in estrus (heat), lasts approximately 7-12 days and is usually synchronized among most females in a given area. 14A partial SOLAR ECLIPSE may be viewable in Maine this evening. This will be an annular eclipse, where the Moon is too far away to completely eclipse the Sun, resulting in a bright ring around the dark shape of the Moon.21Oak species have ripe ACORNS by now, an important source of food for many animals, including Blue Jays, Wild Turkeys, and White-tailed Deer. Blue Jays are the most eective seed dispersal mechanism for oak species; they will sometimes carry acorns miles from the parent tree and bury them whole, providing ideal conditions for some acorns to germinate and grow into new oak trees.27HARLEQUIN DUCKS, state-listed as Threatened, have begun to return to wintering grounds in coastal Maine. These extraordinary ducks breed on fast-moving rivers in Labrador and Quebec, diving for insect larvae and other arthropods. In Maine, you can ﬁnd them diving among the equally-turbulent water of our rocky coastline.November13The cones of ATLANTIC WHITE CEDAR (state-listed Special Concern) are ripe now in a few bogs and swamps in coastal Maine. These habitats are especially vulnerable to disturbance from development, and host multiple rare, threatened, or endangered species. Hessel’s Hairstreak larvae only feed on Atlantic White Cedar foliage.18This is an ideal time to spot BALTIMORE ORIOLE nests hanging in the canopy of bare trees, especially maples, elms, or oaks near water bodies. Though the orioles are long gone, their pendulous, gourd-shaped nests can remain in trees into the winter.25Maine’s endangered and threatened BAT species, Little Brown Bat, Northern Long-eared Bat, and Eastern Small-footed Bat, are inside hibernacula for the winter. These crevices in caves or talus slopes are rocky and moist enough to stay relatively warm throughout the winter. The Naturalist’sFall AlmanacBy Andy Kapinos, Field NaturalistI SHOULD BEGIN WITH AN APOLOGY to anyone who spent time with me this summer, because within ten minutes of any conversation I probably switched topics to talking about rare tiger beetles and how I was determined to nd them. Tiger Beetles (Cicindelidae) are a family of fast-moving predators with unique markings on their wing casings. While I usually spend summers looking up in trees for birds, it has been really fun to spend the last couple of months looking down at patches of dirt trying to spot these interesting insects.There are 14 species of tiger beetles in Maine, with two of them now on the state’s endangered species list. Margined Tiger Beetle was just added this year. A species that only lives around coastal mudflat and salt marsh edges, it is imperiled by rising sea levels. Like the Piping Plovers we work to protect in Maine, these beetles can be found near sandy beaches from Phippsburg to Wells. So while you’re out looking for plovers and terns, keep an eye on the sand for these fast beetles and their more abundant cousin, the Hairy-necked Tiger Beetle.Looking Down on Endangered SpeciesMy goal this summer, alongside all my travels to programs and events, was to sneak in detours and see as many of the state’s tiger beetles as I could nd. As I write this, I need to wait a few more weeks for Cobblestone Tiger Beetles to be emerging as adults before I can go looking for them, but it has been a successful attempt so far! Appalachian Tiger Beetle, a “species of great-est conservation need” was one of the most reward-ing so far. Like the rarer (endangered) Cobblestone, Appalachians are restricted to a few rivers in Maine with very specific habitat requirements; much of their habitat has been lost due to human disturbance and damming rivers. It took a couple of tries, but I eventually found a small group along the Sandy River in Farmington.I hope this sheds a little light on a few of Maine’s unique and endangered inver-tebrates. Many of the rare species we work to conserve are seldom seen by the majority of people living right around them, but they are important bioindicators, and we must do everything we can to preserve Maine’s biodiversity.22MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • FALL 2023

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20 Gilsland Farm RoadFalmouth, ME 04105 Penmor Indicia% PCW or FSC logo Maine Audubon Headquarters20 Gilsland Farm Road Falmouth, ME 04105(207) 781-2330maineaudubon.orgVolume 39, Issue 3The journal of Maine Audubon, ISSN 0739-2052, is published quarterly.habitat@maineaudubon.orgVisit Maine Audubon’s Centers and Sanctuaries which are free and open to the public from dawn to dusk.Magazine StaffMelissa Kim, EDITORNick Lund, ASSISTANT EDITORJenn Schmitt, EVENTS EDITOR PELLE Graphic Design, DESIGNStaff DirectorsAndy Beahm, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOREliza Donoghue, ADVOCACYErin Evans, FINANCEPeter Grebowski, PROPERTIESMelissa Kim, COMMUNICATIONSDavid Lamon, NORTHERN OPERATIONS & PROGRAMSKate Lewis, DEVELOPMENTSally Stockwell, CONSERVATIONEric Topper, EDUCATIONOfficers, Board of TrusteesJohn R. Dolloff, CHAIRMichael Catania, VICE CHAIRAlyssa Hemingway, TREASURERSean Trahan, SECRETARYEast Point, Biddeford PoolScarborough Marsh, ScarboroughGilsland Farm, FalmouthMast Landing, FreeportHamilton, West BathJosephine Newman, GeorgetownFields Pond, HoldenBorestone, ElliotsvilleSanctuariesPINK-EDGED SULPHURCOVER PHOTO BY ROGER RITTMASTEROctober 6 to November 13This summer we invited 29 Maine artists and creators to be inspired by nature at our sanctuaries, to create art outdoors, and to engage visitors in the artistic process. These 29 artists represent painting, mixed media, drawing, photography, recycled materials, and other media.The special works of art created this summer will be on display both online and at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center from October 5 to November 13, and on sale beginning October 6. We invite you to view the new works and consider supporting Maine’s wildlife through art. Proceeds from the sales from Brush with Nature 2023 beneﬁt Maine Audubon’s education, conservation, and advocacy programs. More: maineaudubon.org/brushwithnatureArt Exhibition & Sale