Habitat Spring 2024 : simplebooklet.com

Updating the Maine Climate Council PlanThe Maine Climate Council released the Maine Won’t Wait plan in 2020. So much has changed since then, so the council and its subcommittees are again hard at work to review and update the various recommendations for an updated Maine Won’t Wait report due out in December 2024. Maine Audubon is playing a key role (serving on one committee and one working group), especially around climate impacts to biodiversity and conservation, and management of wildlife habitat and managed and natural lands. This past winter, the Natural and Working Lands group began discussing three key areas of focus: (1) enhancing carbon storage in our forests; (2) identifying key lands to conserve in order to meet the international and state goal of conserving 30% of all land and water by the year 2030; and (3) ensuring 30% of our food is produced locally by 2030. The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee released a list of highlights of new scientic research and information collected since its expansive 2020 report, including extensive new information on biodiversity gathered by Maine Audubon and others. Governor Mills also called a special meeting of the council to begin to address impacts from the devastating storms that rocked both inland and coastal communities in January. More: www.maine.gov/future/climate/council Every Season Counts!Though there’s really no slow season for wildlife in Maine, the conservation team is about to dive into its busiest time of the year. We’re looking forward to the 41st Annual Loon Count, another season placing articial loon rafts as part of the loon restoration program, helping roll out new lead tackle shing laws, and much more. We wanted to take a moment to reect on some of last year’s outcomes. Loon CountLast July, 1503 volunteer loon counters headed out to 374 lakes—the highest number of lakes since the Annual Loon Count began in 1983. Population estimates for the southern half of the state derived from the count show a slight decrease in adult numbers to 2,892 but a big jump in chick numbers to 411. While year-to-year uctuations are expected, the increase in loon chicks is an exciting outcome.There is not enough coverage north of the 45th Loons swim near an artiﬁcial raft placed by sta and volunteers on a lake in central Maine.NEWS & NOTESConservationLOONS2MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SPRING 2024

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parallel to condently provide an estimate of the loon population for that part of the state. On the 69 lakes counted north of the 45th parallel, some of which had never been counted, volunteers tallied 522 adults and 31 chicks. We hope the number of lakes counted in the north will keep growing. Maine Loon Restoration ProjectThe Maine Loon Restoration Project is about to enter its fourth year! In 2023, we launched 57 nesting rafts with the help of local participants: 27 redeployments from 2022 and 30 new rafts. A total of 17 downy chicks hatched from these rafts, many from parents that hadn’t hatched a chick in years. Ten of these chicks survived. Another 10 loon pairs we put out rafts for hatched 13 chicks from nests onshore, despite the high water levels last summer, and 10 chicks reared on natural nests survived. More than 330 volunteers tracked loon pairs on their lakes and watched over the rafts with the help of Maine Audubon, Lakes Environmental Association, and the Penobscot Nation. Another 44 local residents received training from Maine Lakes as part of the Look Out for Loons program, and conducted outreach that reached more than 1000 lake users with information on how to protect loons. A total of 39 nesting signs were posted to help steer people away from nests at risk of disturbance and 41 Look Out for Loons signs were posted at kiosks and lake access points to alert people to the presence of loons. Fish Lead FreeOther volunteers hosted 12 tackle exchange events, which provided more than 400 people with lead-free tackle samples and information about the threat of lead poisoning to loons, or put up lead tackle collection bins to help reduce lead poisoning in loons. Eighty people turned in lead tackle in exchange for a retailer voucher to purchase lead-free alternatives. All together, the Fish Lead Free Program collected about 75 lbs. of lead tackle and distributed more than 2600 pieces of lead-free tackle in 2023. Since the ban on unpainted lead jigs 10 years ago, and with the support of Maine Audubon’s outreach eorts, lead poisoning has now moved behind blunt trauma (usually from boat collisions) and fungal respiratory disease as the leading cause of adult loon mortality in Maine.The project continues to rely on collaboration with volunteers, whose involvement increases the reach of our conservation programs, as well as Maine’s capacity to meet threats loons face from increased boat strikes, nest washouts from boat wakes, lead toxicity from lead tackle, harassment, nest disturbance, and climate change. Contact loonrestoration@maineaudubon.org if you’d like to get involved! More: maineaudubon.org/loons UPCOMING EVENTSSpring Sportsman ShowsVisit our Fish Lead Free booth and bring your lead tackle to exchange for some lead-free alternatives! Eastern Maine Sportsmen’s ShowMarch 15–17, University of Maine Field House, OronoAroostook Spring Sportsman’s ShowMarch 23–24, The Forum, Presque IsleState of Maine Sportsman’s ShowApril 19–21, Civic Center, AugustaLoon Restoration Project EventsIntro to the Maine Loon Restoration ProjectTuesday, March 26, 12–1 pm and 5–6 pm, onlineWhat it’s all about and how to get involved in loon outreach, nesting rafts, nest protection, and ﬁsh lead free eortsSigns of the SeasonsFriday, April 5, 10:30 am–12:30 pm, Gilsland Farm Audubon CenterHosted by Maine Sea Grant, co-hosted by Maine AudutonHelp document the local eects of global climate change by observing and recording the phenology of common plants and animals in your communities.Introduction to the Look Out for Loons ProgramWednesday, April 10, 12–1 pm and 5–6 pm, onlineHosted by Maine Lakes3SPRING 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT

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NEWS & NOTESEducationJoin Maine Audubon for Maine Arbor WeekBack by popular demand and with new resources, Maine Audubon’s celebration of Maine Arbor Week will once again feature an exciting array of programs, activities, and web content throughout the third week of May. Je Tarling, our Urban Forestry Education Specialist and former longtime Portland city arborist, has curated a week of engagement around Maine’s special trees and forests. Jeff will call on his many professional contacts and Maine Audubon’s partners to share their expertise and perspective around how trees can help us tackle climate change, the biodiversity crisis, and other threats to our health and wellbeing. We also look forward to helping you purchase and plant some new trees and shrubs yourself and have plans for a special sale of woody plants in May, so stay tuned! Working Districtwide in Portland & BangorAs we have often reported here, one strategy Maine Audubon has pursued specically with equity in mind has been to develop districtwide programming, where every student in a particular grade level participates in the unit and associated eldwork. Much of this eort thus far has centered in Portland Public Schools—Maine’s largest and most diverse school district, and one of Maine Audubon’s longest standing partners. This spring, Maine Audubon will work with every student in kindergarten and grades 1 and 3, and we will also visit every public Pre-K classroom for nature-based activities. Every student in those grades, including those who need language, developmental, or other learning accommodations, will benet from our eld-based and wildlife-focused environmental literacy programs. Based on what is being learned and developed, Maine Audubon is also working to adapt and replicate these units for other districts in Maine including Bangor, where we have been working with the entire fth grade this school year.Photo: Dan Wilder4MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SPRING 2024

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Birding for AllSeveral Maine Audubon sta members attended a training in January focused on increasing access and inclusion for birders with disabilities. The workshop was led by Freya McGregor, a disabled birder and occupational therapist. McGregor runs a consulting and training business, Access Birding, and is completing the book A Field Guide to Accessible Birding in North America, to be published by Princeton University Press in 2026.The workshop focused on basic disability etiquette, broadening ideas of what birding is, and some practical, replicable strategies to make birding more accessible and to make bird-related programming more inclusive for people with disabilities. The workshop was organized by the Acadia Birding Festival, and sta from a variety of Maine environmental and conservation organizations were in attendance. We were excited to be part of this group and are looking forward to using McGregor’s suggestions to continue making our birding programs, both in the eld and online, more accessible and inclusive for Mainers.Winter Storms Impact Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center The back-to-back January storms are still fresh on the minds of many, and Maine Audubon offers our heartfelt condolences to everyone who lost property, business, or access to important places during these historic weather events. The Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center, which is owned by the State but has housed and been stewarded by our program sta for more than 50 years, found itself 24 inches below the tidal surge as waves lapped through the buildings and across Pine Point Road twice in four days. This has become a hard reality of working on the front lines of sea level rise, extreme weather, and other indicators of climate change. While we and our community, state, and federal partners explore longer term solutions, Maine Audubon remains committed to launching another season of helping thousands of people experience the wonder, resilience, and critical importance of Scarborough Marsh. Many thanks to the volunteers who came out during and after the storm to lend a hand. We plan to open, as always, on Memorial Day Weekend. More: maineaudubon.org/smac5SPRING 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT

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NEWS & NOTESSanctuariesPeter Baecher Wins Lifetime Achievement AwardAt the 2024 Grow Maine Green Expo this January, Maine Audubon’s beloved former director of properties, Peter Baecher, was awarded the “Al Black Award” for lifetime achievement by the Maine Landscape & Nursery Association (MELNA). By the time Peter joined Maine Audubon in 2014, he had been a nurseryman, a town arborist, and the Parks Director in Brunswick for decades. This background combined with Peter’s other strengths helped us launch the “Bringing Nature Home” native plants program, and Peter oversaw our early horticulture operations in addition to his many other responsibilities caring for our facilities and sanctuaries. Peter was a loyal and proud member and Left to Right: Lee Skillin, President of MELNA; Peter Baecher; Eric Topper, Maine Audubon Director of EducationPhoto: Sue Brown leader of MELNA throughout his career (including winning the “Young Nursery Person of the Year” in 1989!), and the fact that Maine Audubon was invited to bestow the commercial landscapers’ and nursery industry’s most prestigious award on their behalf is a testimony to Peter’s wonderful personality and broad skill set. We congratulate our friend!6MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SPRING 2024

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Taking to the TrailsThe trail systems at Maine Audubon’s eight sanctuaries are crucial to our work as a landholding conservation nonprofit; they allow visitors to experience these special places, learn about important ecosystems, and understand the value of maintaining conserved, undeveloped areas on the landscape. But after several years of increased visitorship, and an exceptionally wet summer in 2023, we recognize that many of these trails are well worn and in need of attention. To better understand current conditions, Maine Audubon’s new land steward, Liz Thibault, spent this winter and early spring starting to assess the trail network and planning a path forward. Liz comes to Maine Audubon with more than eight years of experience assessing and building trails, most recently as a trail planner at the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands. She’s put that experience to work as she evaluated how well our trails meet three core objectives—sustainability, access, and resilience.Even when thoughtfully designed and well-maintained, trails impact the landscape, but sustainable trails avoid or reduce negative impacts whenever possible. In practice, this might mean carefully placing new trails, rerouting existing trails, or installing structures that reduce the foot trac on sensitive sites. We are also committed to ensuring that everyone can experience the outdoors at Maine Audubon’s sanctuaries, which means we need to consider the ways that current trails inadvertently reduce accessibility. Finally, we recognize that as the climate changes, trails will experience increasingly severe weather events. How resilient are our trails to these stressors? What steps can we take to plan for the future? Though this assessment work is ongoing, we’ve already identied several pressing projects, and are planning trail maintenance volunteer days throughout 2024, starting in April at Hamilton Sanctuary in West Bath (pictured above). We hope you’ll join in this work. Look for details of this spring’s workdays on page 21-22, and a full list of dates this year at maineaudubon.org/events. 7SPRING 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT

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SPECIAL SECTIONLEGISLATIVE & ADVOCACYSecond Session of the 131st Maine Legislature2024 PrioritiesMAINE AUDUBON’S legislative priorities for the Second Session of the 131st Legislature demonstrate our commitment to existing campaigns while rising to meet emerging threats to wildlife and habitat. Some of our priority bills continue multi-year eorts to protect climate, support balanced renewable energy, and promote social equity. Others prioritize bills in dierent issue areas, including supporting smart growth, preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species, and protecting critical shoreland habitat. As always, we rely on our members and supporters to help urge their representatives to vote in support of the environment. Through our Action Alerts, we notify Maine Audubon members and supporters when there are opportunities to advocate for wildlife-positive legislation and provide easy ways to connect with key decision-makers. Sign up to receive Maine Audubon’s Action Alerts at maineaudubon.org/act. Keep your eye out for these emails and thanks in advance for your help this legislative session.Sincerely, SMART GROWTHCommunities in Maine and around the nation are working to address the urgent need for more housing. But we know that wildlife and wildlife habitat can suer if development occurs too quickly, or without proper considerations of unintended impacts. Growth and conservation can coexist—and they must—but we have to be smart about it. Several of our priority bills this session deal with growth, and we’re working hard to help make sure that wildlife and habitat are protected as Maine aims to get the housing its residents need. (Bills: LD 602, LD 1134, LD 1257, LD 1787, LD 1976, and more!)AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIESInvasive ﬂora and fauna are invading Maine’s lakes and rivers. Invasive ﬁsh species and plants—including milfoils, Curly-leaf pondweed, Parrot Feather, European naiad, and others—accidentally introduced to Maine waters disrupt habitat, displace native wildlife, harm quality, and reduce ﬁshing and recreational opportunities, among other impacts. State agencies and hundreds of volunteers across the state work tirelessly to stop the spread, but they need more help. We’re supporting a pair of bills this session that would increase funding for aquatic invasive species prevention and response. (Bills: LD 1342, LD 2141)PROTECTING SHORELINESState and municipal shoreland zoning rules are critical to protecting water quality and Common Loon habitat on Maine lakes, but these rules are not always enough. Some landowners violate shoreland zoning rules by cutting trees right up to or along the shoreline and pay any ﬁnes as the “cost of doing business,” before moving on to the next property. Several bills this session address shoreland zoning violators by denying or revoking permits, and placing liens on properties in violation. (Bills: LD 2101, LD 2059)Spotlight IssuesFRANCESCA “CHES” GUNDRUMPolicy Advocate8MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SPRING 20248MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SPRING 2024

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Additional Bills Many of our priorities this Second Session are “carry-over” bills, meaning that for various reasons they weren’t voted on or ﬁnalized during the First Session in 2023. We’re excited to work on these bills in 2024.LD 295: This legislation will prohibit the sale and distribution of certain plastics that have a deceptive or misleading claim about their recyclability. Commonly referred to as “truth in labeling” policies, this initiative will help keep non-recyclable plastics out of Maine’s recycling processing facilities.LD 1227: This bill funds an innovative dual-use solar/agriculture pilot program and creates a publicly accessible database of fully permitted or constructed energy facilities using renewable resources in order to help state agencies identify land use trends. It passed in 2023 and awaits funding from the Legislature’s appropriations committee.LD 1285: This bill to provide funding to Maine’s popular Land for Maine’s Future program passed in 2023 and begins the Second Session pending approval by the Legislature’s appropriations committee.LD 1642: This bill would reinstate a Wabanaki Studies Commission to help improve the implementation of a 2001 law requiring Wabanaki history and culture be taught in Maine schools, helping connect students to a broadened notion of ecology that is more inclusive of people and communities.LD 1648: We support this bill as it streamlines and expands opportunities for Maine landowners to receive the Open Space Tax Credit, an important tool to conserve wildlife habitat.LD 2007: For more than 40 years, the state of Maine has used legislation passed in 1980 to deny the Wabanaki Nations’ inherent tribal sovereignty. This has resulted in decades of social and economic barriers for Wabanaki citizens and surrounding communities. It’s long past time to advance self-determination for the Wabanaki Nations. Collaborative eorts to address this issue through legislation are ongoing.9SPRING 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT

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Spring is on its way and so are thousands of beautiful birds! We’re more focused on birds and birding than usual as spring migration warms up, and we’re all eager to get out and experience this season of renewal. In this issue, we’ve rounded up some facts and gures, bird news and festivals, and suggestions on best places to look for birds in the great state of Maine. BIRDING MAINEFACTS AND FIGURES: EBIRD REVIEWLaunched in 2002 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, eBird (ebird.org) has become a vital resource for birders and scientists alike. Here are some statistics from eBird data about birding in Maine.ONE MILLION complete checklists submitted459 dierent bird species sighted in MaineChecklists submitted by more than27,730 BIRDERSMonhegan Island315 SPECIESBiddeford Pool, East Point Audubon Sanctuary284 SPECIESWells Reserve at Laudholm279 SPECIESStratton Island278 SPECIESRachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, Timber Point Trail273 SPECIESTOP HOTSPOTS IN MAINE: NEW BIRDS FOR 2023:RED-FOOTED BOOBYMarlboro (Hancock County) on Jul. 8 by Carter MiddleswartHAMMOND’S FLYCATCHERMonhegan Island on Oct. 12 by Luke SeitzSPOTTED TOWHEEKittery on Nov. 19 by Derek LovitchHEPATIC TANAGERStockton Springs on Dec. 29 by Tom Aversa10MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SPRING 2024

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IN MY DECADE NOW as the Sta Naturalist, I’ve gotten to see every corner of the state and most of the avian spectacles available here. While this list could go on for pages, I wanted to give you a short list of birding experiences I think everyone should have in Maine. Some obvious omissions include seeing Atlantic Puns, or visiting Monhegan Island, because most people do those eventually, so here are ve experiences that I hope will change your perspective on Maine’s birds and grow your appreciation for them and the variety of habitats in Maine that they rely on.BICKNELL’S THRUSH in RangeleyThis is probably the most physically taxing bird to find in Maine, as it nests at high elevations, but new opportunities are coming up that make these birds much more accessible. At the Rangeley Birding Festival, you can get a ride up to the mid-mountain lodge, see the birds, and only need to hike down. BONAPARTE’S GULL FLOCKS in Head Harbor PassageThese small gulls that nest in trees across the boreal forest will stage in Head Harbor Passage off Eastport each August. Rarer species, like Little or Sabine’s gulls, are fun to pick out of the melee. Dedicated birding trips are available during the Cobscook Institute’s Downeast Birding Festival, or you can go on your own with Eastport Windjammers.SALTMARSH SPARROWS in Scarborough MarshSparrows don’t get enough love; their limited color palette makes them hard to ID and they are often overlooked. Saltmarsh Sparrows are amazingly unique and specially adapted for a harsh life in coastal marshes, and Scarborough Marsh is one of the best places to see these disappearing species. Added to the state’s endangered species list in 2023, their populations Birder’s Bucket Listare declining 11% annually. Join one of our Wednesday walks from the Scarborough Marsh Nature Center for a chance to see one. WATERFOWL in AroostookOur northern county hosts a huge variety of nesting ducks that are rare elsewhere in the state. Combine that with large fields that attract thousands of geese in the fall, and you’ve got the best waterfowling spots in the state. Mid-October is a phenomenal time to visit with more than 20 species of ducks and geese possible.WARBLERS at EvergreenDuring the peak of spring songbird migration, in May, you should go out birding anywhere, anyday. But Evergreen Cemetery in Portland acts like a funnel, a big green patch surrounded by a gray city, attracting any birds ying overhead. It is truly amazing to see the dozens of species that use this stopover en route to their breeding grounds, including the brightly colored warblers that look better suited for a tropical forest. Join us for two weeks of bird walks in the cemetery, beginning May 6! In the News: NEW NAMES FOR MAINE BIRDSIn November 2023, the American Ornithological Society announced that it would begin the process of changing the English names of bird species named after people, in North America. Maine Audubon is excited by the opportunity to consider new names for familiar species in Maine. Sta Naturalist Doug Hitchcox and Advocacy and Outreach Manager Nick Lund hosted a rollicking webinar in December where they came up with suggestions for new names for eponymic Maine birds. Learn more and watch the recording here: maineaudubon.org/birdnamesNaturalist HQDOUG HITCHCOX, STAFF NATURALISTPhoto: USFWS11SPRING 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT

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BIRDING MAPWe asked our chapter leaders to pick one great birding spot in their area. Here are some recommendations! YORK: Biddeford Pool, BiddefordExploring the nooks and crannies of this peninsula, including hotspots like East Point Audubon, South Point, Great Pond, Ocean Avenue, and the Pool itself is a sure way to ﬁ nd great birds, no matter what the season. MERRYMEETING: Green Point Wildlife Management Area, Dresden A great variety of habitats along the Eastern and Kennebec Rivers provide year-round birding opportunities. MID-COAST: Weskeag Marsh, South ThomastonThis marsh is a haven for migratory shorebirds, waders, and waterfowl, and is home to both Nelson’s and Saltmarsh Sparrows. DOWNEAST: Blue Hill Mountain, Blue HillThis is a great place for songbirds, and also soaring hawks and ravens. Birds may be found all along the trail to the summit, even if a birder only wants to hike part way. FUNDY: Lubec Flats, LubecThese extensive mudﬂ ats along the east side of the Lubec Channel are famous for their impressive shorebird migration, peaking in August and September. PENOBSCOT VALLEY: Caribou Bog Conservation Area, OronoA great mix of waterfowl and forest species—plus easy walking and plentiful parking—make this the go-to birding spot for the Penobscot Valley Chapter. WESTERN: Mount Blue State Park, WeldDozens of species can be found breeding in this 8,000 acre state park in the summer, including along the trail up Mt. Blue.Chapter Choices Maine Audubon has seven chapters—each covering a unique part of the state. Birding Festivals Maine’s spring birding festivals are all worth attending. Here are some brief tips if you need help picking which one is right for you; or attend them all! 1 WINGS, WAVES, AND WOODDeer Isle, Stonington | May 17–19Quiet coastal town during the peak of spring migration = perfect! Many walks and talks are available at low cost, a minimum recommended donation of $5.2 DOWNEAST BIRDING FESTIVALCobscook Bay, Whiting | May 24–27If you are looking for uncommon species like Spruce Grouse, or a chance to land on Machias Seal Island for pu ns, the Bold Coast where this festival takes place provides an amazing opportunity for these and more. 3 ACADIA BIRDING FESTIVALAcadia National Park | May 30–June 2Want lots of options and the beauty of a national park? Choose from more than 100 walks and trips.4 RANGELEY BIRDING FESTIVALRangeley | June 7–9Want to see birds on their breeding grounds, including high elevation targets like Bicknell’s Thrush? This festival gets you access to some of Maine’s tougher to ﬁ nd species.Hidden Gems Maine’s size and relatively small population mean that it is not birded as extensively as some other states. Here are a few underbirded areas where adventurous birders could make exciting discoveries.1 AROOSTOOK COUNTYThe largest county in the United States has just a few dedicated birders. Between the large lakes, tracts of boreal woodland, and open agricultural areas, lots of birds pass through The County unseen.2 THE DOWNEAST COASTMaine’s jagged coastline provides both great seawatching and endless migrant traps. Vagrant birds surely go undiscovered with so many places to land, especially along the underbirded coastline east of Frenchman Bay.3 MOOSEHEAD LAKEMaine’s largest lake has just a fraction of the eBird checklists submitted from lakes in southern and coastal Maine. There is great potential for migrant or vagrant waterfowl on Moosehead, but few birders are looking—especially on the northern and northeastern parts of the lake.YORKMERRYMEETINGMID-COASTDOWNEASTFUNDYPENOBSCOT VALLEYWESTERNChapters1234123

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ON A SUNNY DAY IN AUGUST , state wildlife biologist Charlie Todd’s determination to restore Maine’s Peregrine Falcons faced a daunting challenge at Borestone Mountain Preserve: the birds themselves. Caring for ve young Peregrines in a wooden box on the edge of a small cli overlooking the sanctuary’s Sunset Pond is never straightforward, but one was sickly from the onset with a Salmonella disease brought to Maine from a Peregrine breeding facility in Idaho. “I crawled into the hack box,” Todd explained, “a week before the young birds edged to collect fecal swabs and administer precautionary anti-virals. The birds were screaming throughout the process, and I forgot my ear plugs.” The sick bird was removed.Wildlife biologist and author Ron Joseph takes a look back at the reintroduction of Peregrine Falcons to Maine and the role played by Borestone Mountain.The rearing of a brood of young, captive-produced Peregrines in Borestone’s 4-foot by 5-foot ply-wood hack box—an artificial eyrie—with the goal of reintro-duction into the wild was adapted from a technique developed centu-ries ago by falconers as a means of building ight skills and strength prior to actual training.Resembling a miniature jail cell with vertical bars, hack boxes are placed on tops of ledges and clis in the kind of sites wild adult Peregrines often select as breeding sites. Ranging in age from three to four weeks, the young are fed dead Coturnix quail by hack attendants BORESTONE MOUNTAIN’S Peregrine FalconsBY RON JOSEPHPhoto: Kent Keller14MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SPRING 2024MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SPRING 2024

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via a long PVC pipe entering the top of the hack box. Food appears magically on the gravel base of the box, akin to DoorDash deliveries, minus the doorbell. Peregrines are prevented from seeing their human caretakers to ensure they don’t imprint on people. Food deliveries continue after the raptors edge, until they all disperse—a process lasting nearly two months.This human intervention was necessary because of widespread use of DDT—a highly toxic, persistent pesticide—from the 1940s to 1972. DDT was finally banned in 1972 by the EPA. The raptor’s ingestion of this chemical via its prey rendered its eggshell too thin to survive the weight of incubating females. Robbed of their ability to raise young, populations of the world’s fastest ying bird (with speeds clocked at up to 200mph in a stoop) entered a death spiral in Maine and elsewhere in the eastern U.S. By the mid-1960s, Peregrines had vanished from the skies and clis east of the Mississippi River. “Reintroducing a species that’s been extirpated,” said Dr. Tom Cade, former Director of The Peregrine Fund, Inc., and architect of its hacking program, “is among the most daunting tasks biologists will ever face.” Beginning in the early 1970s, Cade and his cohorts perfected the art of inducing Peregrines to reproduce at the “Hawk Barn” at Cornell University. According to Todd, Peregrines released at Borestone Mountain were derived from breeding stock in the Pacic Northwest, Alaska, New Zealand, and Chile.Maine conducted its rst Peregrine hack site in 1984, four years before Borestone was selected as a Peregrine reintroduction site. Locations are selected to optimize the survival of young Peregrines in the absence of the care given by adult falcons. “Ironically, we have to shift hack locations if an older Peregrine returns. When a new territorial pair arrived in Acadia Biologist Charlie Todd and Borestone hack site attendant Jim Zelenak, circa 1988. Photo: Charlie Todd 15SPRING 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT

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“Borestone became a favored, reliable hack site,” said Todd, “on par with New Hampshire’s renowned Owls Head hack site.” Both sites functioned as great release sites, in part, because adult Peregrines did not return to them as breeding adult birds. Had they done so, they likely would have killed hack site edglings. “Borestone became the primary conduit for our Peregrine reintroductions,” Todd said. “More than 23% of 154 Peregrines hacked at 7 dierent locations rst tested their wings there.” The arrival of an adult Peregrine in 1993 at nearby Barren Mountain caused Todd to forgo releasing young Peregrines at Borestone for a couple of years; the hacking program ended in 1997. National Park in 1988, we moved hacking operations to Borestone,” said Todd.In 1988, as the state’s regional wildlife biologist in Greenville, I visited the Borestone hack site several times with Todd and the hacking team. Back then, Borestone was a 1,639-acre sanctuary owned by National Audubon (it became a Maine Audubon sanctuary in 2000). Jack and Ruth Anne Dunstan, the sanctuary’s year-round caretakers at the time, lived in a cabin atop the mountain from spring until snowfall. The couple wintered in nearby Monson. The Dunstans were surrogate grandparents to the falcons as well as the human caretakers, most of whom were natural science majors in college. Shortly before the birds edged at 35 to 40 days of age, the bars on the side of the box facing Sunrise, Midday, and Sunset Ponds were opened. From a blind, I watched as young Peregrines ventured outside for the rst time. While rmly gripping a horizontal pole they apped their wings awkwardly, tipping forward then over-correcting by leaning backwards. It was comical, like watching a toddler learn to walk. On day two, a dragony buzzed two Peregrines perched on the pole. One bird instinctively reached to grab the dragony with a foot, missed, fell over backwards and was airborne. Its maiden ight was unsteady, ending in a crash landing on the hack box. By day three, though, the bird had mastered ight, returning to the pole clutching a dragony.Top: Peregrine Hack Box. Bottom: Peregrine young are fed dead quail via a chute into the hack box. Photos courtesy of National Park ServiceFirst Peregrines at Borestone, 1988. Photo: Charlie Todd16MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SPRING 2024

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Peregrine restoration activities eventually involved more than 35 nations. Since 1976, The Peregrine Fund and collaborating states and provinces have reintroduced to the wild more 6,000 Peregrine Falcons in 37 states and every Canadian province. Todd’s knowledge of Maine’s Peregrines is unsurpassed. “In the 1990s,” he said, “a Borestone-raised Peregrine decided she preferred Boston’s city life to the wilds of Maine.” Living in the city required her to kill a resident adult female Peregrine nesting on a Customs Building’s ledge. The Boston Globe ran a feature story of the Maa-style hit in a piece titled “A Coup at the Coop.”In 1989, Todd retrieved a dead banded Peregrine near the Piscataquis River in Dover-Foxcroft. “I presumed it was from the nearby Borestone Mountain hack station,” Todd said. “But that assumption was way o. It was a juvenile Peregrine wearing a Danish bird band, which it had received in western Greenland seven weeks earlier.” The species’ Latin name, Falco per-egrinus, means wandering falcon. Biologists have tracked juvenile Peregrines banded in the Arctic circle by re-capturing them in South America, as far south as the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago.As we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act in 2023, the restoration of Peregrines stands out as a remarkable achievement of the Act. In hindsight, it seems criminal that we allowed our collective use of toxic pesticides to drive this remarkable species—and others—so perilously close to extinction. But because of the foresight and dedication of the late Dr. Tom Cade, more than 1,600 pairs of Peregrines now nest in the United States. Although the species was removed from the federal Endangered Species List in August 1999, it remains on Maine’s Endangered Species List because their numbers here remain relatively low. In 2022, according to Dr. Erynn Call, Maine state raptor specialist, Peregrines had slowly climbed to 40 nesting pairs across the state. Now, the Maine Peregrine Falcon Program continues to work to promote a self-sustaining population, conducting surveys, data management, outreach, and taking other conservation actions to ensure a future for this species. The success of the species’ recovery in Maine is a direct result of Todd’s leadership and dedication. But he’s quick to share the praise. “We wouldn’t have been able to achieve our goals without the support of The Peregrine Fund, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Maine Bureau of Parks, and the support of countless others,” Todd added. “Of all the former Maine hack sites, none were used as many years or achieved greater success than the Borestone Mountain hacking site.”Ron Joseph is the author of Bald Eagles, Bear Cubs, and Hermit Bill: Memories of a Maine Wildlife Biologist.Photo: Kent Keller17SPRING 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT

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Spring EventsFull event listings, prices, and registration: maineaudubon.org/eventsGilsland Farm Audubon CenterFALMOUTH/GREATER PORTLANDFamily Fun at Gilsland Farm Wednesdays, 9:30–10:30 am OR 10:45–11:45 amFebruary 28–April 10 (7 week session)Young children and their grown-ups are invited to spend an hour exploring nature together. Gilsland Farm Stewardship Fridays, 2–4 pm, starting April 5Join a volunteer group that meets weekly to help manage invasive species and assists our properties department. More info: properties@maineaudubon.orgAccessible Beginner Birding Saturdays, March 9, April 6, May 18, 10 am–12 pmThese outings are inclusive and accessible. We will bird the ﬂat walkways around the buildings at Gilsland Farm, will not walk more than a half-mile, and will only stop where there are places to sit. Spring Plant Walks Sundays, March 10, April 7, May 19, 10 am–12 pm & Tuesdays, March 26, April 23, May 7, 4-6 pmBeginner Bird Walks Mondays, March 25, April 22, May 6, 4–6 pmPAJAMA STORYTIME Spring Equinox Tuesday, March 19, 5:30–6:30 pmWear your pajamas and your boots to our evening program with indoor play and an outdoor storytime.WEEKLYWEEKLYMONTHLYMONTHLYUpcycled T-Shirt Yarn Basket Workshop Saturdays, March 23 and 30, 9 am–1 pmMaine artist Kimberly Harding will show you how to turn old T-shirts into yarn and make a basket.HYBRID Humanity for HabitatWednesday, March 27, 6 pmSusannah Lerman, Ph.D., US Forest Service Research Ecologist, will talk about ways to manage residential yards as opportunities for biodiversity conservation.Climate, Carbon, and Forest Ecology in Maine, New England, and Beyond Thursday, April 4, 7 pmPeter Ellis, Global Director of Natural Science for The Nature Conservancy, will talk about current projects and strategies to reduce carbon and improve climate. Gear Up for Migration WeekendSaturday and Sunday, April 6 and 7, 10 am–4 pmSpring Birdseed and Optics Sale with member double discount on birdseed and in-store items, and 10% member discount on optics. Solar Eclipse Watch Party Monday, April 8, 3–4 pmThough Gilsland Farm is not in the path of totality, we’ll still be able to experience the eclipse as the moon passes in front of the sun. We’ll have eclipse glasses for sale in the Nature Store.Live Wildlife Presentation with Center for Wildlife Friday, April 19, 10:30–11:30amWith assistance from Center for Wildlife’s live animal ambassadors, we will learn about regional wildlife and their adaptations. For school-aged children and older. APRIL6 & 7BI- WEEKLYMARCH19MARCH23 & 30MARCH27APRIL4APRIL8APRIL1918MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SPRING 2024

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Full Event Listings, Prices, and Registration MAINEAUDUBON.ORG/EVENTSEarth Day Play Me a Story with Portland Stage Saturday, April 20, 10:30 am–12 pmEnjoy a performance of specially-curated Earth Day themed children’s stories followed by an interactive acting workshop with Portland Stage’s Education Artists and Maine Audubon educators.Picnic at the Pond Friday, May 3, 5–7 pmPicnic time followed by songs with music therapist Marie Miller, then pond-related activities and exploration!Pollinator Parade Saturday, May 11, 10 am–1 pmHelp us call attention to the vital importance of our pollinators by dressing up as a bee, butterﬂy, or other favorite woodland friend for this family festival and parade! Family Bird Outing Saturday, May 18, 1–3 pmCo-hosted by a Maine Audubon naturalist and an Early Childhood Educator.MAY11MAY18Fields Pond Audubon CenterHOLDEN/GREATER BANGORPreschool Nature Hour Wednesdays, March 13 to May 1 (8 week session, no class April 17), 9:30–10:30 amYoung children (ages 2-5) and their grown-ups are invited to explore nature together. Moonlight Hike Saturday, March 23, 6–7 pmJoin us as we experience sights and sounds of nature that only take place under the quiet moonlight. Family friendly; we will hike slowly for about a half a mile along uneven trail surfaces. Reservations required. HYBRID Roads, Rain, and a Couple Thousand Amphibians: Call it a Big Night!Monday, March 25, 6:30 pmWith spring rain and warming temperatures, frogs and salamanders move to their breeding grounds on “big nights” but these miniature migrations often put them in harm’s way. Greg LeClair, the creator of the “Maine Big Night” project, will talk about how we can assist and protect these amphibians. Volunteer kits will be available to check out.Spring Bird Walks Fridays, March 29–May 3, 8–9:30 amMigratory birds are returning from their wintering grounds, and migrants and year-round residents alike don their most vibrant plumage and begin to sing and call. Prepare for wet or muddy trail conditions; binoculars will be available.Volunteer Training Saturday, April 6Session 1: 9–10:30 am, Educational GuideSession 2: 11 am–12 pm, Visitor ServicesRegistration required.Solar Eclipse Watch Party Monday, April 8, 3–4 pmThough Fields Pond is not in the path of totality, we’ll still be able to experience the eclipse as the moon passes in front of the sun. We’ll have eclipse glasses for sale in the nature store. WEEKLYMARCH23MARCH25WEEKLYAPRIL6APRIL8April Vacation Preschool CampMonday–Friday, April 15–19, 9 am–1 pmFor ages 3-5 Join us as we explore and enjoy nature through hands-on exploration, art, stories, and songs. Partial scholarships available!April Vacation CampMonday–Friday, April 15–19, 9 am–3 pmFor children currently enrolled in grades K–3 From returning migratory birds to the newly awakening creatures in the pond, each new sign of spring brings more to discover as we learn about wildlife through games, science, art, and teambuilding. Partial scholarships available!APRIL20APRIL15-19Gilsland Farm Audubon CenterMAY319SPRING 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT

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Woodcock Watch! Thursday, April 11, 6:15 pmErik Blomberg, chair of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology at the University of Maine, will talk about the biology of woodcock breeding and migration, and then we’ll look for displaying male woodcock at twilight on the Fields Pond property.Homeschool Naturalists Thursdays, April 11, 25, May 2, 16, 10 am–12 pmParents, this program can be an integral part of your child’s science curriculum! Space is limited, registration required. Story Time with Cassie Sano Saturday, April 13, 10–11 amAuthor and illustrator Cassie Sano will bring her picture story book, Baxter the Moose, to life. APRIL13 APRIL20APRIL25BI- WEEKLYSpring Stewardship Day Saturday, April 27, 9 am–12 pmJoin us for a morning of stewardship activities focused on improving our public spaces.Foraging for Pigment Saturday, May 4, 9 am–12 pmLearn about the history of pigments from artist Nathan Allard and make your own from natural material. World Migratory Bird Day Saturday, May 11We’ll start with a bird walk at 8 am, followed by a day of optics programs and other activities. HYBRID Browntail Moth Management Thursday, May 16, 6 pmAngela Mech, Assistant Professor of Forest Entomology at the University of Maine, will discuss the history, biology, and ecology of the Browntail Moth, and highlight some of the research being done to monitor and manage this pest.Small Wonders Guided Nature Walk Saturday, May 18, 10 am–12 pmAislinn Sarnacki, outdoor journalist and registered Maine guide, will lead an easy hike, stopping to discuss small wonders of nature like salamander eggs and early wildﬂowers.Spring Phenology Walk at Fields Pond Wednesday, May 22, 4 pmJoin us on our Phenology Trail to foster a deeper connection with nature and engage in active observation.Birch Bark Basket Making Wednesday, May 29, 5–8 pmInstructor Jes Steele will take you into the woods to identify the trees, show you how to collect and process the bark, and how to make a basket. Fiddlehead Basket Workshop Friday, May 31, 4–9:30 pmLed by instructor Jes Steele, in this workshop you will create a basket to collect ﬁddleheads, mushrooms, or herbs. MAY4 MAY11 MAY16 MAY18 MAY22 MAY29MAY31APRIL11 APRIL15-19Fields Pond Audubon CenterApril Vacation Camp Monday–Friday, April 15–19, 9 am–3 pm For children currently enrolled in grades K-3Each day will include exploration of dierent habitats at Fields Pond as we learn about wildlife through games, science, art, and teambuilding. Partial scholarships available!APRIL27Earth Day Celebration at Fields Pond Saturday, April 20, 9 am–12:30 pm This celebration will be full of family friendly activities including beginner bird hikes, native plant seed bomb making, bird box building, and more!HYBRID Book Talk with Noah CharneyThursday, April 25, 5–6:30 pmJoin award-winning author Noah Charney, assistant professor of conservation biology at the University of Maine, as he shares from his new book, These Trees Tell a Story.Full Event Listings, Prices, and Registration MAINEAUDUBON.ORG/EVENTS20MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SPRING 2024

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Scarborough Marsh Audubon CenterEarth Day Cleanup Saturday, April 20, 9 am–12 pmJoin us for this Earth Day tradition to clean up the marsh and beaches. Meet at the nature center; registration is helpful but not required. Co-sponsored by Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Scarborough community.Bird Walks Wednesdays, starting May 15, 8 amJoin Noah Gibb to search for birds in this unique habitat. Whether you are looking for sparrows, wading birds, or maybe that new rare bird, this walk is for you. All levels are welcome. Binoculars are available to borrow. Opening Weekend Celebration Saturday to Monday, May 25–27, 9 am–5:30 pmCanoe and kayak rentals, family events, book sale, crafts, exhibits, and more!OnlineCurious by NatureThursdays, March 7, 21, April 4, 18, May 2, 23, 6:30–7:30 pmEach session will cover one Maine species in depth, exploring everything from ecology and biology, behaviors and adaptations, as well as Q&A. COASTAL RESILIENCE Using Native Plants to Protect Maine’s Shoreline Tuesday, March 5, 5–6:30 pmLearn about the roles that native plants play in shoreline resiliency. “HERP” TALES Lessons from Maine’s Reptiles and Amphibians Thursday, March 28, 6 pmPrepare for Big Night and beyond with this chance to learn about reptile and amphibian ecology and human impacts on “herps” from Center for Wildlife sta and some of the animals in their care, who will share the screen!APRIL16 APRIL20 MAY25-27MARCH5 MARCH28MAINE’S MAGNIFICENT TREES Their Role In Ecosystems Wednesday, May 22, 5–6:30pmLearn about some of Maine’s most iconic as well as lesser known native trees.Mast Landing Audubon SanctuaryFREEPORTSpring Plant Walk Tuesday, April 2, 4–6 pmJoin us for a plant walk for all skill levels, focused on identiﬁcation of native, naturalized, and invasive species. Mast Landing Shed Demo & Debris Removal Friday, April 12, 8–11 amJoin Maine Audubon’s Properties Department for a productive morning of stewardship work to help restore the area’s natural beauty! MAY22 APRIL2APRIL12WEEKLYBI- WEEKLYPollinator Specialists & Host Plant Relationships Tuesday, April 16, 5–6:30 pmThere’s a lot of buzz around pollinators these days, but what’s the connection to native plants? Learn about specialist pollinators and their host plant relationships.21SPRING 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT

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Spring Bird Walk Tuesday, April 30, 4–6 pmJoin Field Naturalist Andy Kapinos for a bird walk for all levels. The walk typically covers between 1 to 2 miles (1.5 – 3 km). Mast Landing Spring Clean Up Volunteer Workday Saturday, May 4, 8–11 amJoin Maine Audubon’s Properties Department for a constructive morning of stewardship work. We will work together to revitalize the parking lot. Mast Landing Trail Maintenance Volunteer Workday Friday, May 24, 8–11 amJoin Maine Audubon’s Properties Department for a lively morning of stewardship work on the trails.Hamilton Audubon SanctuaryWEST BATHSpring Plant Walk Tuesday, March 19, 4–6 pmJoin us for a plant walk for all skill levels, focused on identiﬁcation of native, naturalized, and invasive species. We will walk a slow loop with frequent stops. Hamilton Trail Maintenance Volunteer Workday Saturday, April 27, 9–12 amJoin Maine Audubon’s Properties Department for a fun, productive morning of trail work; we will be doing some minor tread work in sections that are experiencing drainage and/or erosion issues.Spring Bird Walk Tuesday, May 14, 4–6 pmJoin Field Naturalist Andy Kapinos for a bird walk for all levels. We’ll meet in the parking lot and take a slow walk around the property. The walk typically covers between 1 to 2 miles (1.5 – 3 km). MARCH19 APRIL27 MAY14Josephine Newman Audubon SanctuaryGEORGETOWNSpring Plant Walk Tuesday, April 16, 4–6 pmJoin us for a plant walk for all skill levels, focused on identiﬁcation of native, naturalized, and invasive species. We will walk a slow loop, usually less than 1 mile, with frequent stops to talk about the plants we encounter. Spring Bird Walk Tuesday, May 28, 4–6 pmJoin Field Naturalist Andy Kapinos for a bird walk for all levels. We’ll meet in the parking lot and take a slow walk around the property. The walk typically covers between 1 to 2 miles (1.5 – 3 km). ChaptersWESTERN MAINE AUDUBONwestern.maineaudubon.orgAPRIL16 MAY28 MAY4 “Big Night” with Greg LeClairMARCH13APRIL10MAY8All talks are hybrid, in person at Thomas Auditorium at UMaine Farmington, Wednesdays, 7 pm and live on Zoom (links will be on the webpage on the day of the talk). Talks are also recorded for future viewing.MAY24APRIL30Full Event Listings, Prices, and Registration MAINEAUDUBON.ORG/EVENTSTurtles with Matt ChatﬁeldWildlife Experiences with Ron Joseph22MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SPRING 2024

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March3The endangered breeding population of PEREGRINE FALCONS returns to nest sites, called eyries, throughout March and April. They nest only on clis, inaccessible to mammalian predators, or on human structures that mimic clis. 12PUSSY WILLOWS begin to bloom around now, often while there is still snow on the ground. These ﬂuy blooms provide a meal from some of the earliest pollinating insects, though they are mostly wind-pollinated.19 COYOTE pups are born beginning in late March. A single litter of ﬁve to nine pups is hidden in a den in a hollow log, cave, or old fox burrow. 31The ﬁrst wave of returning WARBLERS begins to trickle back into Maine now. Look in the tops of pine trees for Pine Warblers and listen for their buzzy, trilled song; slightly lower are Yellow-rumped Warblers and their conspicuous “butter-butts”. Palm Warblers are often the easiest to see, usually near ground level and constantly ﬂicking their tails.April8A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE occurs today, and the path of totality crosses northern Maine. For about three minutes, the Moon will pass between the Sun and the Earth, turning the daytime sky dark. Watch for the roosting behaviors of confused birds, and remember not to look at the sun without eye protection!13Most of Maine’s TURTLES are emerging from brumation around this time, depending on the temperature. 25Keep any eye out in the leafy du of deciduous woods for blooming TROUT LILIES. These perennial plants regrow from underground corms every year, forming colonies that can sometimes be hundreds of years old.May8MARSH MARIGOLD is beginning to bloom, one of the earliest native wildﬂowers. It prefers wet soils, and can be found at the edges of swamps or streams. Their bright yellow ﬂowers attract a variety of insect pollinators, but they are most frequently pollinated by hoverﬂies. 15TERNS are arriving back at breeding sites, most having spent the winter on the north coast of South America, including the endangered Least, Roseate, and Black Terns. Arctic Terns ﬂy nearly 10,000 miles to get back to Maine.31BLACKBERRIES, like Allegheny Blackberry, are blooming now. Take a moment to witness the dizzying array of pollinators that are attracted to the large, white ﬂowers: this is one of the best opportunities to see many native bee species up close. Listen carefully, too, and you might hear a pair of Common Yellowthroats calling to each other. Blackberry thickets are favored nest sites for them and other warblers, with their dense foliage and abundant insect life.The Naturalist’sSpring AlmanacBy Field Naturalist Andy KapinosARCTIC TERN23SPRING 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT

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20 Gilsland Farm RoadFalmouth, ME 04105 Your wildlife communityPenmor Indicia% PCW or FSC logo Maine Audubon Headquarters20 Gilsland Farm Road Falmouth, ME 04105(207) 781-2330maineaudubon.orgVolume 40, Issue 1The 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 DIRECTORErin Evans, FINANCENoah Gleason-Hart, PROPERTIESMelissa Kim, COMMUNICATIONSDavid Lamon, NORTHERN PROGRAMS & OPERATIONSKate 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, ElliotsvilleSanctuariesTREE SWALLOW COVER PHOTO BY NICK LEADLEY, TOUCHTHEWILDPHOTOS.COMMeet a Frequent FlyerLESLIE HUDSON is one of our longest-standing Frequent Flyers! She has been supporting Maine Audubon via the Frequent Flyer program since 2015, “because of the work [Maine Audubon] does.” In particular, she loves the convenience of it. Hudson was Maine Audubon’s Director of Education from 1982 to 1988, which she describes as “the best job in environmental education in Maine.” She says, “I met and worked with so many amazing colleagues at Gilsland Farm, statewide, throughout New England, and far beyond. A handful of them are among my closest friends even today.” During her tenure, she and her colleagues met with the Penobscot Valley chapter of Maine Audubon and created the Secrets of the Forest program on the University of Maine’s campus. This ultimately led, in part, to the founding of Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden.In her retirement, Leslie enjoys all things outdoors—whether it’s hiking, biking, canoeing, gardening, or snowshoeing. The Maine landscape is not only an important backdrop for fun activities like these, but it’s home to native habitats and wildlife that we aim to conserve. Our Frequent Flyers bring us closer to achieving our conservation, education, and advocacy goals every month! For more information about this program contactSARAH HOWE, ANNUAL GIVING MANAGER (207) 781-2330 x221 | showe@maineaudubon.orgOr you can visit maineaudubon.org/ﬂyer.DID YOU KNOW THAT MAINE AUDUBON OFFERS A FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAM? Through this program, supporters can sign up for automatic recurring monthly payments with a credit or debit card, and feel good knowing that they are supporting Maine Audubon with a reliable source of income to help fund our mission. FREOUENT FLYEROOU