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InsideYOUTH IN ACTIONFEATURED SUMMER EVENTSBIRDSAFE MAINE AWARDSSUMMER 2024
BIRDSAFEMaineNEWS & NOTESAs many as one billion birds die each year in the U.S. after colliding with glass windows, and the nation is just starting to take action. BirdSafe Maine is a collaboration between Maine Audubon, the Portland Society for Architecture, and the University of Southern Maine. We’ve worked for more than three years to raise awareness of the problem and its solutions in Maine. BirdSafe Maine’s message has spread far and wide in those few years, and we’re grateful for all the help we’ve received from volunteers across the state. We wanted to give some special recognition to the companies and individuals who’ve gone above and beyond. Here below are the recipients of our rst ever BirdSafe Maine Awards!FIRST EVERBirdSafe Maine Awards!Awards for Corporate ExcellenceThere are no laws requiring companies to build or retrofit their buildings to make them safe for birds, but some Maine companies have taken it upon themselves to invest in bird safety. We’re especially grateful for these trailblazing companies.L.L. BeanThe company installedthousands of square feet ofbird-safe decals at its newheadquarters in Freeport.MEMICThe MEMIC building was once among the most dangerous on our Portland survey route, but the company installed window decals and was able to reduce strikes by more than 80%.Saddleback Mountain BirdSafe Maine worked closely with Saddleback to design innovative, removable screens for its new mid-mountain restaurant, The Nest.Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean ScienceEmployees initiated an eort to treat glass windows at the Lab’s headquarters in East Boothbay. Awards for Educational ExcellenceMaine schools and universities can help educate students about bird strikes and work to treat windows on campus.University of New England Dr. Noah PerlutDr. Perlut and his students helped encourage the University of New England to invest in bird-safe glass for the new Ripich Commons building in 2018.Yarmouth Elementary SchoolStudents at Yarmouth Elementary School have been running a BirdSafe curriculum for two years, and wrote letters to school administrators asking them to take action on school windows, culminating in a bank of bird-safe curtains being installed in early 2024.Award for Residential ExcellenceDerek & Jeannette LovitchThe owners of Freeport Wild Bird Supply worked with Matt Maiello of Simons Architects to design and build “Maine’s first bird-safe residential building” in Durham.2MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SUMMER 2024
Awards for Excellence in the Design CommunitySeveral representatives from Maine’s architecture and design community have played lead roles in adapting to the new and rapidly-evolving field of bird-safe architecture. Austin Smith Simons ArchitectsJulia Tate Simons ArchitectsEd Parker Alisberg Parker Architect LLCJonathan Toews Davies Toews ArchitectureCatherine Culley Redfern PropertiesDanielle Foisey Juniper Design + BuildTim Lock GOLogicChampion for Bird Safe PolicyRep. Sophia WarrenRepresentative Warren of Scarborough sponsored LD 670, An Act to Protect Birds in the Construction, Renovation and Maintenance of Public Buildings.Bluebird Award for BirdSafe AchievementAddy Smith-ReimanAddy co-founded BirdSafe Maine during her tenure as Executive Director of the Portland Society for Architecture. Her dedication to the cause and connections in the architecture and design community were invaluable to the success of the program.More: birdsafemaine.orgDangerous Mine near Katahdin Woods and Waters RejectedThanks to overwhelming opposition from Wabanaki Tribes, local businesses, Maine Audubon, and other conservation groups, Maine’s Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) voted to reject a metal mine in northern Maine. The proposal to develop a mine at Pickett Mountain, just miles from Baxter State Park and Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument, was made by an inexperienced, underfunded company named Wolfden Resources that claimed it would meet environmental standards that even large, experienced, and well-funded mining companies have never met. In rejecting Wolfden’s rezoning request, LUPC Commissioners agreed with evidence presented by water resource specialists, mining experts, and others that showed mining pollution would endanger the region’s clean streams and lakes. The chorus of opposition also made clear the proposed mine would undermine Maine’s robust outdoor recreation economy and the jobs it supports.Wolfden Resources chose not to appeal the recent decision by the Land Use Planning Commission to reject the mining proposal, meaning the project is ocially dead. Gundrum Named Director of AdvocacyMaine Audubon is pleased to announce that Francesca “Ches” Gundrum has been promoted to Director of Advocacy. Gundrum holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College and a Masters in Wildlife Ecology (Human Dimensions of Wildlife Science) from the University of Maine. She started her career at Maine Audubon in 2020 as a Seasonal Biologist & Outreach Specialist. She then served for two years as Communications Manager at Maine Conservation Voters/Alliance, and returned in 2022 to serve as Maine Audubon’s Policy Advocate. Her wildlife background has proven particularly valuable as she engages policymakers on wildlife and conservation issues. Executive Director Andy Beahm says, “With this promotion, I’m very condent that Ches can build upon her success and amplify Maine Audubon’s voice on behalf of wildlife and wildlife habitat.” 3SUMMER 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT
NEWS & NOTESVolunteers Needed for HANDS-ON CONSERVATIONThere are so many ways you can help Maine wildlife! Volunteer your time with our conservation team this summer, counting loons, hosting a lead tackle exchange, surveying streams, walking the beaches, and more. Count LoonsFor four decades, Maine Audubon has been engaging volunteers across Maine in conservation eorts to help Common Loons. One of the most popular components of this is the Annual Loon Count, scheduled this year for Saturday, July 20, from 7 to 7:30 am. Last year, more than 1500 volunteers of all ages counted loons on 374 lakes. There’s always the need for more counters and no experience is necessary (though access to a lake/boat is helpful!). More: maineaudubon.org/loonsContact: hyoung@maineaudubon.org Join the Maine Loon Restoration Raft ProgramThe loon raft program is part of a ve-year project aimed at increasing loon reproductive success and decreasing the number of loon deaths caused by boat strikes, lead poisoning from lead tackle, and other threats. Maine Audubon and our project partners work with volunteers from 11 counties to place nesting rafts in areas where loon breeding pairs struggle to hatch chicks year after year. If you have a loon breeding pair on your lake that continually loses its eggs to nest ooding, terrestrial predators, or loss of nesting habitat, email us. If the loons meet our criteria, volunteers help deploy and maintain a raft and conduct weekly surveys during the breeding season.More: maineaudubon.org/loonrestorationContact: loonrestoration@maineaudubon.orgLook Out for LoonsPart of the Maine Loon Restoration Program, the Look Out for Loons program focuses on nest protection and outreach. Volunteers help spread the word about how we can better co-exist with loons, distribute educational materials, place and monitor nesting signs in appropriate locations, and undergo training to conduct presentations or talk to lake users. Contact: loons@lakes.me Photo: Rob True4MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SUMMER 2024
Monitor Beach-nesting BirdsMaine Audubon has been monitoring the Piping Plover and Least Tern population on Maine’s beaches since the 1980s, and we’ve seen the Piping Plover population go from a mere dozen pairs to a record high of 157 breeding pairs in 2023. The key to this success is 140-plus volunteers who spend April through August safeguarding the plovers and terns. Volunteer programs are active in Ogunquit, Wells, Kennebunkport, Saco, Old Orchard, Scarborough, and Cape Elizabeth (pictured above).Contact: plovertern@maineaudubon.org Lead poisoning is a leading cause of death for loons in Maine, and swapping out lead shing tackle for lead-free alternatives can help. You or your lake association can host tackle exchanges in your communities and we’ll provide all the support you need! Follow in the footsteps of four already-established volunteer groups throughout the state—China Lakes Region, Bridgton, Tacoma Lakes Association, and Ripley—and set up an exchange of your own!Contact: conserve@maineaudubon.org Get the Lead Out—Fish Lead FreeShare Shorebird StoriesMaine’s beaches are resting and refueling spots for more than a dozen species of shorebirds, including Ruddy Turnstones, Black-bellied Plovers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, and federally threatened Red Knots. Maine Audubon’s Shorebird Ambassador program trains volunteers to help share these incredible migration stories, disseminating outreach materials and asking beachgoers to walk far around ocks and leash dogs. Become an ambassador in time for fall migration which starts in mid July.Contact: shorebird@maineaudubon.org Explore StreamsJoin the Stream Explorers program and become a community scientist surveying for large aquatic insects (macroinvertebrates) in streams in Maine! All you need to do is attend an in-person training OR watch two online training sessions on how to nd and identify approximately 40 “Least and Most Wanted” aquatic insects that are indicators of stream health, and then visit one to three streams between May and October. We provide training, equipment, maps of the survey streams, and data forms and instructions. Contact: hyoung@maineaudubon.org Spot Golden EaglesMaine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in collaboration with the Eastern Golden Eagle Working Group and Conservation Science Global is working to better understand Golden Eagles in Maine, and they need your help! Spotting Golden Eagles can be tricky, but trail cams can help! Baited camera traps are motion-activated trail cameras set up to photograph visitors to a supplied food source. They are an eective way to detect Golden Eagles that often would not otherwise be observed. With strong participation in the central part of the state, we need volunteers to survey sites north of Greenville and south of Lewiston.More: mefishwildlife.com/goldeneaglestudy Contact: hyoung@maineaudubon.org5SUMMER 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT
NEWS & NOTESExpanding Early Childhood Education Programs & EventsThanks to the interest and expertise of sta at both Gilsland Farm and Fields Pond, Maine Audubon has renewed our focus and increased our oerings for Maine’s youngest students and their families. We are pleased to introduce Emma Ottenheimer as our new manager of Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs, charged with leading and supporting seasonal family programs at both sanctuaries, outreach to preschools and Pre-K classrooms, and statewide network leadership alongside Maine Early Childhood Outdoors, which advocates for outdoor learning for early learners. In her rst months in the role, Emma has visited every Pre-K classroom in Portland Public Schools, conducted record numbers of other outreach visits, and helped integrate Wabanaki indigenous knowledge and storytelling into ECE programs.Emma Ottenheimer leading a Pajama Story Time this springFrom Documenting Breeding Birds to Fledging More BirdersSta Naturalist Doug Hitchcox has been a busy birder, especially during the last seven years of the Maine Bird Atlas (MBA) project—a statewide census of breeding bird activity led by Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, which wrapped up last season. As the MBA team nishes writing and editing hundreds of individual species accounts, Doug and other Maine Audubon sta are now able to turn their attention to developing new programs aimed at attracting and supporting birders in previously underserved regions of the state. Experienced birders in places such as Aroostook County and Eastern Washington County, whom we relied on to help with the Maine Bird Atlas, are now helping us identify program partners, supporters, and destinations to engage more locals in the diverse birding opportunities that abound in these beautiful landscapes. We hope to both provide new engagement opportunities for locals and to bring in more birders and their business from away. Join us!Doug Hitchcox leads a bird walk in Aroostook County; more such walks are planned for the future. Photo: Doug Hitchcox6MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SUMMER 2024
EMERALD ASH BORERAn Invasive Threat to Our Communities and CultureHopefully by now you have heard about the Emerald Ash Borer and the threat it poses to all three native species of ash trees in Maine. Our native Brown Ash, Fraxinus nigra, is the species central to Wabanaki origin stories and is still used by indigenous artisans to make baskets, while White Ash and Green Ash, F. americana and F. pennsylvanica, remain abundant in cities and towns as important landscape and street trees, many of which are already becoming infected and potentially unsafe. Together, the Fraxinus genus hosts more than 125 species of butteries and moths as a critical source of food for their caterpillars. Given the ecological, economic, and cultural signicance of these trees, Maine Audubon is working across communities and nations to utilize our education, property, and network resources to help raise awareness, host research, and support solutions. Our Urban Forestry Education Specialist, Je Tarling, has been busy meeting with state and federal ocials and city arborists in Portland, Lewiston, and Bangor, as well as our friends at Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabanakik, to better understand the challenge and chart our response. Please stay tuned for programs and resources related to this unprecedented and intersectional challenge.Maine Ash with blonding, a sign of damage done by the Emerald Ash BorerPhoto: Maine Forest Service - Division of Forest Health & MonitoringPenobscot Classrooms Fifth-grade classrooms in the Bangor School District Zoomed in for a one-on-one chat with Maine Big Night Founder and Director, Greg LeClair, as part of the “Penobscot Classrooms” program, a Maine Audubon two-year initiative working with all of Bangor’s fth-grade teachers and students on watershed education. The students were full of questions for Greg, who inspired some budding herpetologists with his tales of wrangling Snapping Turtles and Spotted Salamanders! Maine Big Night is a nonprofit community science project established to confront the issue of amphibians becoming roadkill en masse. The Penobscot Classrooms program is supported by a NOAA BWET education grant.Homeschool NaturalistsSince 2020, the homeschooling pop-ulation in Maine has increased by 50%, and homeschool families are looking for opportunities to enrich their children’s science curriculum and connect with others in the com-munity. The Fields Pond Audubon Center has launched a new seasonal series for homeschoolers (ages 8 to 12) to engage students in hands-on environmental investigations related to phenology. Students make observa-tions, record data, and ask questions related to the cyclical patterns in the natural world.A Spotted Salamander crossing the roadPhoto courtesy of Greg LeClair7SUMMER 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT
ShrubbySPECIES SPOTLIGHTTHOUGH IT ELICITED protests from fans of Onoclea ferns and Potamogeton pondweeds, Maine Audubon has chosen Swida dogwoods as our 2024 Bringing Nature Home Plant Genus of the Year. Congratulations!Five species of these beautiful native trees can be found in Maine: Red-osier Dogwood (Swida sericea); Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Swida alternifolia); Silky Dogwood (Swida amomum); Gray Dogwood (Swida racemosa); and Round-leaved Dogwood (Swida rugosa). The most eye-catching aspect of the trees in this genus is their large white owers, which not only burnish their reputation as an ornamental but provide food for a host of native insects. In fact, Swida dogwoods are the host plants for around 120 species of caterpillars in Maine, including the DogwoodsDogwood Sawy, whose larvae are known to only feed on dogwood.These trees may be even more important to birds, who feed on the genus’ ample berries throughout the summer and fall, and who nest among the dense branches in spring. Yellow Warblers, American Goldfinches, and Gray Catbirds frequently choose Swida dogwoods for nesting, as do both Alder and Willow Flycatchers. Two of the Swida species, Alternate-leaved and Round-leaved, grow a bit larger than the others, and are favored nest sites of bird species that prefer to be a little higher up, like American Robins, Wood Thrushes, Red-eyed Vireos, and Scarlet Tanagers.Best of all, Swida dogwoods are easy to grow. They take root in a variety of conditions—including wet, shady, or marginal areas—making them a great choice for a diversity of landscapes. Their resiliency makes them a popular choice for ecological restoration projects including erosion control, invasive plants suppression, and wildlife habitat. With all these strengths it’s no wonder that Swida dogwoods are worthy of celebration. Pick up your own award-winning trees at Maine Audubon’s native plants sales this summer. More: maineaudubon.org/plantsNative Plants Festival & SaleJune 8, 9 am – 3 pmGilsland Farm Audubon CenterSwida alternifolia; Photo: Dan Wilder8MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SUMMER 2024
Science from Northeastern University. In the fall, she will pursue an MSc in Nature, Society, and Environmental Governance at the University of Oxford, fully funded as a British Marshall Scholar.Q: How did you get started in this field?“In high school, I conducted environmental science research, which spurred my love for plants and fungi. I aimed to understand how this symbiosis could help remove heavy metal pollutants from stormwater. Along with my research, I founded a community science club at my high school where my peers and I sampled the Penobscot River watershed to ensure its health. At the time, I did not know I was leading environmental education initiatives. However, I applied for a fellowship with the Maine Environmental Education Association, where I currently work, and explored my role as an environmental educator and the eld as a whole, which has been critical to shaping my environmental work four years later.”Is it a gift or a burden to place the future of the earth into a young person’s hands? To tell them that we are relying on them to bring about change? Yes, young people are the “architects of a better world” and “the hope of our future.” But as adults, we bear this burden too and must do all we can to make the planet healthy for coming generations. In this special “Youth in Action” section, we asked young people to talk about their work in conservation and environmental action, what motivates them, and what they would say to other young people. We also asked them to tell us how we, as adults, can support them. I hope you will listen—and be moved to act. MELISSA KIM, EDITOR, HABITAT MAGAZINEactionyouthINSPECIAL SECTIONAmara Ifeji is a National Geographic Young Explorer and internationally awarded nonprofit leader in climate and environmental justice. As the Director of Policy with the Maine Environmental Education Association, she leverages grassroots advocacy and participatory justice to advance local, state, and federal policy solutions. She served as the lead coordinator for Maine’s first Climate Education Summit, mobilized a youth-led movement that spearheaded Maine’s $2+ million climate education program, and serves on the Maine Climate Council as the governor-appointed Youth Representative. She holds a B.A. with honors in Political “Youth are equal thought partners in environmental solution-making; thus, our unique and diverse experiences should be valued.”AMARA IFEJI INTERVIEW CONTINUED ON PAGE 109SUMMER 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT
Q: What advice would you give to young people who want to get involved in similar work?“Begin with your community! Environmental crises can be overwhelming because they are complex, global phenomena. Still, no one knows your community better than you, so you are best equipped to understand the environmental impacts your community faces. Whether it is conducting environmental research, drawing a cli-mate mural, or joining your school’s environmental club, starting local with your community is an incredible way to contribute to environmental solutions.”Q: How can adults support youth in a meaningful way? “Youth are equal thought partners in environmental solution-making; thus, our unique and diverse experiences should be valued. Valuing youth voices can mean trusting youth to lead meetings, stipending their participation, scheduling meetings in the late afternoon when many youth are more flexible, or eliminating inequitable unpaid internships. Youth engagement means ensuring youth can equitably participate, share their invaluable insights, and see themselves contributing to envisioning a more sustainable future.” Fifth-graders Make their School Bird-safeIn 2022, Yarmouth Elementary School teacher Nicole Colfer pioneered a curriculum, developed by Maine Audubon and BirdSafe Maine, celebrating migration and teaching students about the challenges birds face on their journeys, including habitat loss and glass collisions. The students loved the lessons, and began to look at how migratory birds interacted with the windows at their own school. Sure enough, they found dead birds at the base of some school windows. It was time to act.Over the next year, the students tried to secure a grant from the Yarmouth Education Foundation to cover the costs of treating windows to protect birds. The foundation was receptive, but deferred making a commitment due to cost and other concerns. The students persisted, sending letters to Dr. Andrew Dollo, Yarmouth’s Superintendent of Schools, asking for action. It worked. In early 2024, workers installed a type of exterior curtain treatment called Acopian BirdSavers on a large bank of windows at the school. “We were so happy to see the bird saver cords being installed just in time for spring migration,” said fifth-graders Hazel, Evan, and Easton, who helped lead the eort. “There haven’t been any bird collisions since they were installed.”In 2022, the students decorated school windows to prevent birds from colliding with the glass.10MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SUMMER 2024
Natalie Waloven is a lifelong Maine resident. She will graduate from Yarmouth High School in June and attend Dartmouth College in the fall, with the intention to double major in linguistics and another eld, in order to continue her eorts to learn and preserve her indigenous language. This year, she was the rst Native American Intern for Royal River Conservation Trust (RRCT), where she researched and wrote about a new RRCT property named for Wabanaki mythology, led a series of anity hikes in the spring, and wrote the organization’s land acknowledgment to be used on their information panels. As a member of the indigenous sector for the Yarmouth Community Alliance on Racial Equity (YCARE), she has taken large responsibility in spearheading greater indigenous awareness eorts in the local community. She is doing work in the renaming eort for a waterfall in Yarmouth, studying meanings with language experts, submitting forms to the United States Geological Survey, and sending letters to the Town Council. She has also been doing work with the Yarmouth History Center to increase awareness and education of this history.Q: What inspired you to do this kind of work?“My earliest interest in my indigenous heritage originated from my grandmother. When the Canadian government sent her to a residential school, they forced her to reject her traditional language and beliefs. Although she passed some years ago, her legacy still lives on, and she continues to be my greatest inspiration. Through school, I was able to start an extended learning opportunity to learn about my language, via which I was able to reconnect with family on the reservation, particularly with my “Qey, ntoliwis Mahqan naka Wolastoqew nil Neqotkukew. Hello, my name is Natalie, or Mahqan, and I am a Maliseet Native American of Tobique First Nation.” elder and mentor, Dr. Imelda Perley. Dr. Perley taught me how deeply our language runs within our culture, and how important our culture is to our identity. The more I learned, the more I’ve come to understand both the beauty of and the risks facing my Maliseet culture, and subsequently, the need for activism. I’ve found that oftentimes, cultural preservation is quite intertwined with land preservation, and this relationship is what drove me to work in conservation.“I am passionate about recognizing the indigenous heritage of this land. It is my belief that if we cannot change a gruesome past, we must at least recognize and educate ourselves on it. In this same way, we must acknowledge the present issues, which often are under-represented.”Q: What advice would you give to young people who want to get involved in conservation? “The best thing any individual can do to get involved, in my experience, is to pursue every opportunity placed before them. Often, we overestimate the work required to just start getting involved in initiatives, when in reality, all it takes is open eyes and a willingness to put in the eort. Every project is always looking for increased participation—people can only make initiatives stronger—so don’t hesitate to put yourself out there!”Q: How can adults support youth in a meaningful way? “The most impactful way is to be an active proponent and participant in their work. For adults already involved in environmental activism, consider incorporating new outlets for youth to get involved, as younger generations are not only invigorating and passionate, but they also provide a dierent outlook. By working with youth, adults get both the personal values of helping conservation, as well as the opportunity to pave the way for the next generation of strong activists. And ultimately, protecting the future is everyone’s responsibility and goal.”ONLINE EXTRAThis has been shortened for space. For the full version, visit maineaudubon.org/youthinaction 11SUMMER 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT
Anna Siegel (she/her) is starting her undergraduate studies at Cornell University this fall with the aim of going into conservation ornithology. She has been engaged in climate activism since middle school with Maine Youth for Climate Justice, Maine Youth Action, municipal environmental committees, and Sierra Club Maine. She is the Co-founder and Advocacy Director of Maine Youth Action, an organization ghting for bold and equitable climate policy through direct lobbying, crafting legislation, and conducting grassroots advocacy. Outside of climate work, Anna is a member of the Maine Young Birders Club. She was chosen by the Maine Space Grant Consortium to participate in the 2023 MERITS program. Through this program she conducted nest surveys and banded chicks for a Herring Gull rooftop nesting project run by the Perlut Lab at the University of New England. She also was the Outreach Lead for the 30-Year Bird Project, an ecology study around forestry, climate, and birds. Anna is also an avid rock climber, poet, and hiker.Q: What helped you the most to get involved in the work that you do?“Mentors have been essential to sparking my passion for both birds and the environment. These passions have always been intertwined—I would not have become a climate activist if I wasn’t a birder, and vice-versa. It is my parents, the owner of the local bird supply store, the Maine Young Birders Club leaders, and teachers who have taught me and also encouraged me to teach myself and follow my interests. Because of the people who had the patience to answer my questions, I slowly shifted my ecological anxiety and fear into ways to take action. I have also learned from these mentors to enjoy nature in a more recreational way, treating the outdoors not only as layered ecological systems but a place for rejuvenation. And as I continue building my own personal toolbox of tangible ways to make change, tools provided by older mentors, peers, and through my self-directed learning, I can share these tools with other youth. This skill-sharing is one of the best parts of Maine’s youth climate movement, in my opinion. There is so much power in shared learnings from both successful models and case studies that need improvements.”Q: What do you tell other young people who want to get involved?“It is incredibly important for everyone to understand that they have something valuable to contribute to the climate movement and conservation efforts. There is no ideal activist, or someone you have to become, before getting started. Enthusiasm is the only necessary trait. Politics and grassroots organizing can seem daunting but I always say that one should start with their passions. Say you are a musician—host a benet concert! If you love art—plenty of organizations need assistance with graphic design! Encyclopedic knowledge of environmental issues is both impossible to have and not needed. The climate movement needs you, however you are.”Q: What can older people do to support youth?“Older people and adult allies can support youth by joining them. While youth passion and voice is a factor that must be preserved and listened to in environmentalist spaces, that does not mean adults should step back and let go of responsibility. Adults hold the vast majority of political, financial, and institutional power today. That means that every generation is needed to work toward a livable and equitable future. Intergenerational activism, in my experience, is the most eective to drive forward initiatives and is very rewarding for all involved.”“It is incredibly important for everyone to understand that they have something valuable to contribute to the climate movement and conservation eorts. There is no ideal activist, or someone you have to become, before getting started. Enthusiasm is the only necessary trait.”12MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SUMMER 2024
Wesley Hutchins is a senior wildlife ecology major at the University of Maine at Orono. For the past couple of summers, he has conducted research on Monarch Buttery migration. By placing minute tracking devices on adult monarchs, he was able to observe how long it took these adult butteries to disperse away from the areas where they lived as caterpillars. These ndings inform decisions about conserving monarch habitat.Q: What or who helped you the most to get into this kind of work?“I have always been fascinated with wildlife, and by insects especially. Upon applying to the University of Maine, I was awarded a scholarship that came with research funding. I reached out to Dr. Amber Roth, who was doing research involving tagging birds and monarchs, and I just asked if there was room for me to be involved. That’s where it all began! With support from the Maine Entomological Society and from Dr. Roth as my mentor, I tagged Monarch Butteries for two summers.”Q: What advice would you give to young people who want to do environmental work?“My message is this: be bold and ask people if there is room to be involved in whatever they are doing. If someone is doing work or a project that you think is interesting, reach out to them and ask if you can help them in any way. People tend to like it when younger folks nd their work interesting, so do not be afraid to ask out of the blue if there is any way to be involved! I have always been happy to talk about my research and experiences to anyone who has ever been interested, including both people younger and older than myself.” Q: How can adults be supportive of younger people?“I think it is very important for adults to recognize passion when they see it in younger people. If adults can point younger folks with a passion for nature in the direction of an outlet for this passion, then great things can happen. Many institutions and experienced people are often very happy to talk to younger people about what they do. I wouldn’t be who I am today if older people in my life hadn’t focused me and my passion in the right direction when I was younger.”Wesley says, “The bear is just tranquilized! We took measurements from it for one of my classes.”“My message is this: be bold and ask people if there is room to be involved in whatever they are doing. If someone is doing work or a project that you think is interesting, reach out to them and ask if you can help them in any way.” Wesley demonstrates tagging a Monarch Butterfly with a nanotag transmitter at the Fields Pond Audubon Center annual butterfly festival. The butterflies are tagged and tracked using Motus antenna towers across the region. 13SUMMER 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT
Virginia Grace May is nishing up her senior year at the University of New England with a major in Environmental Science and a minor in Climate Change Studies. Since 2020, she has worked in Dr. Thomas Klak’s American Chestnut Restoration lab researching the functionally extinct species. Her work on our beloved tree is carrying over into her master’s degree that she will nish in 2025. In her free time she enjoys hiking, crocheting, nature journaling, and community organizing for climate change.Q: What got you started along this path? “I always wanted to go into some form of natural science since I was really young. I grew up with the privilege of a protected forest near my home, where I spent the majority of my time exploring and observing. I credit my local PBS station, WBGH, and Ranger Rick magazines for fueling my love of learning and giving me a broader awareness of the world. I wanted to try research as a rst year in college and dove in head rst. Luckily, I have great faculty mentors who have helped me, but most importantly just trying something new can open you up to a lot of possibilities.”Q: What advice would you give to young people who want to get involved in environmental or conservation work?“Try it! I am not going to lie and say it isn’t scary, but going out of your comfort zone is so worth it. I am naturally a very anxious person and can get overwhelmed with the state of the world, but getting involved and seeing other peoples’ drive and passion inspires me to continue to work and learn. Any way to get involved is a good way, and it is less intimidating if you bring a friend!”Q: What support makes the most dierence or has the most impact? “The power of stories and lived experience is something so impactful that we can share intergenerationally. Sharing our commonalities and celebrating dierences between generations lets us know we are not alone. We need to share the stories that will continue to serve, guide, and inspire us and our future generations. I have volunteered time with the Portland Youth Corps to educate them on species conservation and share my perspective on higher education in the environmental eld. I look forward to working with them every summer.”Ysebella Mitchell is an eighth-grader at Sanford Middle School. Last year, she took part in an investigation with teachers and students from around the state, studying rivers and oceans to look for evidence of plastic pollution and water quality by looking at soil, water, and macroinvertebrates. Sanford Middle School students studied the Mousam River watershed. Bella got involved in “The power of stories and lived experience is something so impactful that we can share intergenerationally. Sharing our commonalities and celebrating dierences between generations lets us know we are not alone.” 14MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SUMMER 2024MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SUMMER 2024
PORTLAND SCHOOLYARDS We are excited to partner with the Maine Association of New Americans (MANA) in Portland this summer to work with teen participants who will help with habitat restoration projects throughout various Portland Public School elementary schoolyards. The primary goal is to plant native plants that benefit wildlife, while also providing elementary school students with access to the plants learned about in Wabanaki Studies and Science curriculum. In addition to stewarding schoolyards, we are excited to explore outdoor spaces together in and around Portland. PORTLAND YOUTH CORPSMaine Audubon continues to support Portland Youth Corps (PYC), a summer program run by the city of Portland that facilitates environmental stewardship opportunities for youth in parks throughout the city. PYC runs two four-week sessions with a maximum of 15 teens per session. To accompany the teens’ service work, Maine Audubon supports environmental literacy through native plant and bird walks, workshops with Indigenous cultural sharer, Mihku Paul, and visits to a beach to help with our coastal birds conservation program.Sowing Seeds with Teensall aspects of the project, studying the harm to wildlife from plastic pollution, making art from found trash, and creating a slideshow of the data and ndings, which she presented to other students at the school and to the school board. She and Life/Environmental Science teacher Diana Allen are planning to present ndings this summer at a statewide conference. Bella got inspired by this project because she walks from the school to the nearby YMCA along a path right near the Mousam River.Q: What drove you to do all this extra work? “When I walked to the YMCA I would notice there was a lot of trash. Kids are so very careless and just throw away gum wrappers and stuff. When I heard that we could take the trash and do something with it, and tell other people about it, I got excited. Our school is 200 feet away from the [Mousam] river, and I tell you we found everything—tires, doors, plastic bottles—and 90% of it was plastic. Plastic is deadly to animals. We have deer there, squirrels, birds. We made poster boards to show how the trash goes in the river and how it takes millions of years to decompose.” Q: How would you get other young people inspired? “I’d like to show my presentation to this year’s seventh-graders. I want to organize another trash cleanup so they can see how bad it is, and go from there. I loved science class, where I was hands-on all the time, looking for microplastics or down by the river looking for little bugs. I wish everyone could have that hands-on experience.” Q: What’s the best thing adults can do to help? “Just be there for us and support us in all we want to do! And give us a place. As soon as we started the project, just having a room to do all our work in made a big dierence. It created a ripple eect. Now, we are working toward getting the town to put more trash cans along the trails.”“Be there for us and support us in all we want to do! And give us a place. As soon as we started the project, just having a room to do all our work in made a big dierence. It created a ripple eect.”SPROUT LEWISTONThis summer, Maine Audubon will run its third year of Sprout Lewiston, a teen stewardship program done in collaboration with Maine Community Integration (MCI) in Lewiston. MCI’s mission is to empower New Mainer girls and women to make a positive impact in their community. Over the course of four weeks, 12 teen participants learn about local ecology and professional pathways in conservation, as well as partner with Lewiston Public Works to enhance green spaces in their city. Sprout Lewiston reconvened over February school vacation week to learn about wildlife and native plants in the winter. Together we sowed seeds that we hope to plant in Lewiston this summer!15SUMMER 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT
OceanView at Falmouth OceanView at Falmouth has been a Maine Audubon Corporate Partner for nearly 20 years. Many of the residents are Maine Audubon members, and others attend walks, programs, and events. Maine Audubon has hosted residents at Gilsland Farm for activities such as Breakfast with Birds, and sta have presented programs at OceanView as well. John B. Wasileski, Founder of OceanView at Falmouth and Cumberland Crossing by OceanView, says, “OceanView residents become very connected to the Falmouth community and many take advantage of the wonderful offerings at Maine Audubon. Our residents appreciate the relationships we build with organizations they find compelling. We’re delighted to be Corporate Partners because our commitment to sustainable living feels so connected to Maine Audubon’s mission. It’s a win-win for all of us.” Thanks to OceanView for its loyal support. Bangor Savings Bank Bangor Savings Bank and the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation have been supporters of Maine Audubon since 1997 when it invested in the establishment of the Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden. Over the years, Bangor Savings Bank has supported many programs at Fields Pond including the local launch of the Maine Lakes Stewardship Program. More recently, Bangor Savings Bank has expanded its involvement with Maine Audubon by providing nancial support from the Portland branch and sending teams from the Manager Training Program to volunteer for stewardship projects at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth. Diana Grandoni, Assistant Vice President, Community Relations Supervisor, says, “Maine Audubon plays a critical role in protecting our state’s ecosystems, wildlife, and natural beauty. Bangor Savings Bank proudly supports this important work as a Corporate Partner and through volunteerism.”We appreciate every nancial donation, gift of products and materials, and the volunteer time donated by these organizations. We use one hundred percent of the Corporate Partner gifts for Maine Audubon education, conservation, and advocacy work right here in Maine.Corporate PartnersMaine Audubon is grateful for our Corporate Partners and their investment in our work to protect iconic Maine wildlife species and wildlife habitat in the state. OceanView residents enjoyed a native plants walk with Bringing Nature Home manager Andrew Tufts (at far left).Diana Grandoni, Assistant Vice President, Community Relations Supervisor, volunteering at an April workshop to build artificial nesting platforms for the Loon Restoration ProgramSPOTLIGHTS16MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SUMMER 2024
*New Corporate Partner: Thank you and welcome!LOON ($500+)Bangor Savings BankBelfast Veterinary HospitalCornerstone Financial Planning, LLCCRPC Group, LLCFun and Sun RentalsGreen Clean MaineIntegral Charitable Foundation *Jade Integrated HealthKennebec Savings Bank *Kittery Trading PostKyocera *Mast Landing Brewing CompanyMorong Falmouth Volkswagen Mazda Porsche AudiNortheast Delta DentalNorway Savings BankOakhurst DairyRenewal By AndersenThe Resurgam Group *Wild Oats Bakery & CafeCARDINAL ($250+)Albin, Randall & Bennett, CPAsAxis Natural FoodsBlue Lobster Urban WineryCianbroCoastal ACE HardwareDarling’s Ice Cream for a Cause *Doyle Enterprises, Inc.East Brown Cow Management, Inc.Gideon Asen LLCGnome LandscapesThe Green Store *Inn by the SeaKennebunk SavingsLafayette Hotels/Lafayette Oceanfront ResortMaine Mixologists *Mainely TubsThe Maine SportsmanMindful EmployerNaturalist Journeys *On the Vine MarketplaceOsteopathic Healthcare of MainePat’s Pizza (Scarborough)Peak Dental HealthPrint: A Bookstore, LLC *Saco & Biddeford Savings InstitutionScarborough GroundsSimons Architects, LLCTown & Country Federal Credit UnionWellTree Inc.Maine businesses that have made a demonstrated commitment to Maine’s wildlife and habitat by investing in Maine AudubonFor information on how to become a Maine Audubon Corporate PartnerCONTACT development@maineaudubon.org or call 207.781.2330, EXT. 230 For a list of Corporate Partnership levels and benefitsVISIT maineaudubon.org/corporateEAGLE ($10,000+)L.L.BeanMartin’s Point Health CarePortside Real Estate GroupFALCON ($5,000+)Allagash Brewing CompanyKaplan Thompson ArchitectsMaine Beer Company, LLCPoland SpringOSPREY ($2,500+)Boston Trust WaldenHighland GreenOceanView at FalmouthPeter Renney’s FashionsOWL ($1,000+)angela adams *AnonymousBack Cove FinancialBaker Newman NoyesBath Savings InstitutionBernstein ShurBrann & IsaacsonDow Capital ManagementFirst National Bank *Gorham Savings BankH.M. Payson and Co.Indisco Kitchen & BathsLee Auto MallsM&T BankMEMICMoody’s Co-Worker OwnedOwen Haskell, Inc.Perkins Thompson, P.A.Platz AssociatesReVision EnergySpinnaker TrustTerrence DeWan AssociatesMaine Audubon Corporate Partners are investors in Maine’s environmental health and future. Depending on the giving level chosen, businesses are eligible for a variety of benefits from half-price individual and household memberships for employees, use of meeting space at our Visitor Centers at Gilsland Farm (Falmouth/Greater Portland) and Fields Pond (Holden/Greater Bangor), and employee walks, talks, or presentations with our naturalists and biologists.
SUMMER SOLSTICE Pajama Story TimeThursday, June 20, 5:30–6:30 pmWear your pajamas and hiking books for outdoor free play, storytime, and crafts to celebrate the longest day of the year.Accessible Beginner BirdingSundays, June 23, July 28, August 25, 10 am–12 pmThis outing is inclusive and accessible, intended for those new to birding. We will bird the flat walkways around our buildings, will not walk more than a half-mile and we will only stop where there are places to sit. Firefly WatchThursday, June 27, 8–9 pmCome observe this seasonal spectacle. We will focus on the eects of temperature and habitat on these insects, and learn to identify common species. Brush with Nature Family Maker DaySaturday, August 24, 10 am–2 pmCome create! We’ll have basic materials on hand, and all are invited to drop in and bring whatever you need to make art inspired by wildlife and habitat. MONTHLYJUNE27AUGUST24OnlinePreparing for Baby Bird Season with Center for WildlifeTuesday, June 4, 6 pmGet a behind-the-scenes look at Center for Wildlife’s baby bird room, get some helpful tips on bird rescue, and learn about the many regional species you can find right in your backyard.The Secret Lives of FirefliesTuesday, June 18, 6 pm This talk by Don Salvatore, a longtime science educator at the Museum of Science in Boston and a co-founder of the Firefly Watch Citizen Science project, will shed a little light on these magical insects.Summer EventsFull event listings, prices, and registration: maineaudubon.org/eventsGilsland Farm Audubon CenterFALMOUTH/GREATER PORTLANDBeginner Bird WalksTuesdays, June 11, July 9, August 13, 4–6 pmThis bird walk is for those new to birding, or those looking to broaden their birding skills.Summer Plant WalksMondays, June 10, July 8, August 12, 4–6 pmSaturdays, June 22, July 28, August 24, 10 am–12 pmJoin us for a plant walk for all skill levels, focused on identification of native, naturalized, and invasive species at Gilsland Farm. Gilsland Farm Stewardship TeamFirst and Third Fridays, 2–4 pmThis volunteer group meets bi-weekly to help manage invasive species and assist our properties department in achieving landscape and facility goals. More info: properties@mainaudubon.org.MONTHLYBI- WEEKLYBI- WEEKLYJUNE4JUNE18AUGUST9Summer Wildlife MingleFriday, August 9, 6 pmMeet live wildlife ambassadors and the experts at the Center for Wildlife who rehabilitate and care for them! Learn about these incredible animals, the important work of Maine wildlife rescuers and rehabilitators, and what we can do to protect wildlife. Outdoor and indoor components; 21+ only (beer, wine, and snacks provided)JUNE2018MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SUMMER 2024
Fields Pond Audubon CenterHOLDEN/GREATER BANGORSummer CampFields Pond oers six weeks of day camps for ages 5-9, as well as a new day camp for ages 4-5 called Saplings, oered July 1-3. Visit maineaudubon.org/camps for weekly themes and full details. Bobolink Brunch with Hart FarmSaturday, June 8, 8–10 amA true farm to table experience: A bird hike from Fields Pond to Hart Farm will be followed by a meal crafted by Hart Farm chef and farmer Andrew Toothacker. Birds-n-Brew at Geaghan’s PubSaturday, June 15, 9 am–12 pmA collaboration between Maine Audubon and Geaghan Brothers Brewing Company. Sta Naturalist Doug Hitchcox will lead a scenic walk along the Bangor Waterfront Park ending at Geaghan’s Pub.SUMMERJUNE8JUNE15MONTHLYFull Event Listings, Prices, and Registration MAINEAUDUBON.ORG/EVENTSBRINGING NATURE HOME Native Plant Sale & Walk June 28, July 20, August 24, 10 am–2 pm“Bringing Nature Home” Manager Andrew Tufts will be available to help you choose native plants that support wildlife habitat in your landscape, and will lead a plant walk (pre-registration required). PLUS Family Scavenger Hunt on July 20Butterfly FestivalSaturday, August 24, 10 am–2 pmWith more than 60 species of butterflies recorded, Fields Pond Audubon Center is the perfect setting to celebrate the beauty and diversity of butterflies. Ongoing events will include Monarch tagging, Insect BioBlitz, butterfly crafts, and more, and native plants will be on sale as well.11 am: Native Plants Walk with Andrew Tufts12 pm: Butterfly Parade. Come dressed as your favorite insect!1 pm: Butterflies of Maine talk and walk with Herb Wilson, co-author of the newly published Butterflies of Maine and the Canadian Maritime Provinces 2–4:30 pm: Finding Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants workshop with David SpahrAUGUST24Naturalist SeriesExpand your naturalist knowledge with these guided explorations. June 13, 4:30–6 pm: Pond ecology with Maine Audubon’s David Lamon June 27, 4:30–5:30 pm: Wildflower walk with Maine Master Naturalist Karen Johnson July 6, 2-3:30 pm: What’s the buzz on native bees with State Apiarist Jennifer LundAugust 8, 4:30–6 pm: Summer tree identification with Maine Audubon Urban Forestry Education Specialist Je TarlingAugust 22, 4:30–6 pm: Evening bird walk with Maine Audubon’s David Lamon Paddle SeriesJoin us every other Friday for a themed guided paddle on Fields Pond.June 14, 9–10:30 am: Birding by boat June 21, 7–8:30 pm: Sunset paddleJuly 12, 6–7:30 pm: Look out for loons!July 26, 4–5:30 pm: Aquatic plant ID August 16, 6–7:30 pm: Sunset paddle August 30, 9–10:30 am: Birding by boatSummer Series at Fields Pond Artist SeriesConnect with nature and wildlife through art in this summer series. June 22, 10 am–12 pm: Painting wildflowers in watercolor with artist Cassie SanoJuly 20, 9 am–5 pm: Fishing creel basket making with Jessica Steele August 10, 10 am–12 pm: Flower arranging workshop with artist and farmer Becky ToothackerAugust 17, 9–10 am: Maine through the seasons photography workshop with naturalist and photographer Sandra Mitchell19SUMMER 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT
Bird Monitoring Volunteer OpportunitySaturday, July 20 & Sunday, August 18, 6:30 amJoin us for a marsh-wide bird survey. Data collected helps researchers determine the health of the marsh.Snowy Egret DaySaturday, August 10, 9 am–4 pmA day of family fun, including an early morning bird walk, a boat parade, nature crafts, used book sale, and more. Create a Seashell WreathWednesday, August 21, 5:30–7 pmJoin a master crafter for a fun evening of making wreaths out of Maine mussels! CHILDREN’S AND FAMILY PROGRAMSFamily Nature Walk: Mummichugs and Marsh MuckWednesdays, June 19–August 28, 10:30 am–12 pmExplore the marsh through discovery-oriented activities that use all five senses.Exploring Nature Through ArtTuesdays, July 9, August 6; 10:30 am–12 pmThrough various art projects children (5–10 yrs) will discover the wonders of the salt marsh.Cat Tales Story Hour Thursdays, July 18, August 15; 10:30 am–12 pmBring your preschooler (3–5 years with adult) to our fun and exciting story hour.Tiny Tot Tour Thursdays, July 25 and August 22; 10:30–11:30 amIntroduce your wee folk (3–5 years with adult) to this unique habitat through hands-on activities.Nature Pottery Tuesdays, July 23 and August 20; 10:30 am–12 pmExplorers (8–11 years) search the marsh for natural artifacts and incorporate these into handmade pottery. AUGUST10AUGUST21MONTHLYMONTHLYMONTHLYMONTHLYScarborough Marsh Audubon CenterMany programs are free and open to drop-ins. For information, prices, and registration, visit maineaudubon.org/events, email smac@maineaudubon.org, or call 207-883-5100. BOAT RENTALS AND TRIPSCanoe/Kayak RentalsDaily, 9 am–4 pmGuided Canoe ToursJune 26–August 25, 10–11:30 amFull Moon Canoe ToursJune 20, 21; 7:30–9 pmJuly 19, 20, 21; 8–9:30 pmAugust 17, 18, 19; 7–8:30 pmGuided Kayak TourJuly 12, August 10, 1–2:30 pmFollow a guide and enjoy the sights and sounds of the marsh.Nature Sketching by CanoeJuly 27, 2–3:30 pmSunset Canoe ToursJuly 26, 7:30–9 pmAugust 12, 7:30–9 pmAugust 26, 7–8:30 pmEarly Morning Canoe TourAugust 24, 6–7:30 amEarly Morning Bird WalksWednesdays, 7 am No registration or fee; donations are cheerfully accepted. DAILYMONTHLYMONTHLYJULY27MONTHLYAUGUST24WEEKLYFull Event Listings, Prices, and Registration MAINEAUDUBON.ORG/EVENTSWEEKLYMONTHLY20MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SUMMER 2024
StatewideKennebunk Plains Bird WalkWednesday, June 12, 7–10 amJoin Sta Naturalist Doug Hitchcox for the chance to see a variety of grassland birds, including the endangered Grasshopper Sparrow and threatened Upland Sandpiper, in a very unique habitat. Brownfield Bog Bird WalkTuesday, June 18, 7–10 amMajor Gregory Sanborn Wildlife Management AreaThis is a major birding hotspot thanks to the diversity of birds that breed here. Targets include Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Yellow-throated Vireos, and Yellow-billed Cuckoos, as well as a wide variety of warblers and waterbirds.Head Harbor Passage Boat Trip, Eastport Sunday, August 24The narrow waterways of Head Harbor Passage pair with extreme tides to create upwellings and the famous “Old Sow” whirlpool that drives food to the surface for birds to feed on. Beneath the surface, seals, porpoises, and whales chase after these and larger prey items. Our big target for this trip is to pick out a Little Gull among the thousands of Bonaparte’s Gulls.SAVE THE DATE Bar Harbor Pelagic Trip, September 15JUNE12JUNE18AUGUST24Borestone Audubon SanctuaryELLIOTSVILLEBorestone/Monson Arts RetreatJune 16–19Explore Borestone’s mountains, ponds, and old growth forests through nature journaling, storytelling, and artistic expression with artist Melissa Sweet and Maine Audubon Conservation Director Sally Stockwell. Borestone Naturalist WeekendJuly 12–14The sanctuary is a 1600-acre North Woods preserve with outstanding natural features centered around rock-topped Borestone Mountain. At this weekend retreat, you’ll stay in historic Adirondack style lodges, accessible only by boat or on foot. Optional activities will include hiking, swimming, and canoeing, or just relaxing on the lodge porch!SAVE THE DATE Fall Naturalist Weekend, September 27–29Borestone Naturalist SeriesNEW! Join us for this special series of guided walks to explore the natural and ecological features at Borestone.June 21: Botany at Borestone with Arthur HainesJuly 5: Small Wonders Walk with Aislinn SarnackiJuly 19: Breeding Behavior of Borestone’s Birds with Doug HitchcoxAugust 2: Old Growth Forests with Sally StockwellAugust 16: A Geologic Story with Lauren Madsen & Cemil ArkulaAugust 30: Late Summer Morning Ramble with Sandi and Bob DuchesneJUNE16–19JULY12–14BI- WEEKLYBetween the late breeding activity and early migrants heading south, early August can have some of the most productive birding days of the year. Join Doug Hitchcox and Bill Sheehan for a full morning visiting a variety of Aroostook County hotspots tracking down as many species as we can.Presque Isle’s Birding HotspotsSaturday, August 10Houlton’s Birding HotspotsSunday, August 11AUGUST10 & 11Bird The CountyAt the SanctuariesVolunteer workdays and summer plants and bird walks are scheduled for Mast Landing Audubon Sanctuary (Freeport), Hamilton Audubon Sanctuary (West Bath), and Josephine Newman Audubon Sanctuary (Georgetown). More: maineaudubon.org/events21SUMMER 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT
Naturalist HQDOUG HITCHCOX, STAFF NATURALISTIN AN ISSUE FOCUSED on youth in action, I wanted to reect on a few inspiring experiences I’ve had as an educator at Maine Audubon. As the Sta Naturalist, I primarily work with and provide programming for adults, but am always delighted to mix that up with a younger audience. Some of these interactions are short, like spending an hour or two with kids at one of our summer day camps at Gilsland Farm. There is a nostalgic component here—I was a camper here more than 20 years ago, and now I’m getting to teach kids how to use binoculars and ID birds. I love knowing these campers are making connections with nature, no matter where they nd themselves in 20+ years.Since 2018, I’ve had the honor of being an instructor during a week-long Mountains to Sea Birding for Teens camp, run by Hog Island Audubon Camp (operated by National Audubon’s Seabird Institute). We spend time on Hog Island in Bremen, do some birding in coastal Lincoln County, and ascend to the mountains and spend a couple of days at our Borestone Audubon Sanctuary lodges in Elliotsville. There is a mix of birding interests in the group and Borestone provides so many opportunities—from studying uncommon plants to diving into call-types of Red Crossbills. Every year we have a handful of campers who have never climbed a mountain before, and the trip creates impactful memories they will keep for the rest of their lives.This spring I had the pleasure of joining Jane Aeck Fitz, our Community-based Education Programs Manager, for a couple of days of teaching students at Casco Bay High School about bird migration and how to use the Merlin app to identify birds. I’ll acknowledge that this bunch included some less-than-interested kids (I know I was much more interested in basketball shoes and my used Honda Civic than anything in school at that age). Nevertheless, I know I will always remember a comment from one girl who I thought wasn’t interested, saying at the end of our outing, “Before this week I never heard birds. Now I hear them every time I step outside.” It gives me great hope when I see youth, like many of those mentioned throughout these pages, who are making an impact on the environment and starting their careers with a focus on wildlife. And while they might be harder to keep track of, these kids, who we have quick interactions with, also give me faith that the future will be all right. Doug with campers in 2018Doug with campers at Borestone22MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT • SUMMER 2024
June3BLACKPOLL WARBLERS and BICKNELL’S THRUSHES have returned to their breeding territories on Maine’s highest peaks. Both species are listed on Maine’s Endangered Species Act list as threatened. Their subalpine habitat in Maine is some of the most at-risk due to climate change.15Adults of many species of moths and butterflies, like WHITE ADMIRALS, are flying now, looking for mates and host plants to lay their eggs on. White Admirals in Maine usually lay their eggs on birch species, like Yellow Birch. 20WOOD FROGS are often seen around this time on the forest floor. This species only breeds in vernal pools, and is nearly always found within a quarter-mile of a vernal pool site. July4FIREFLIES or lightning bugs are at their peak around now. They are neither flies, nor bugs, but beetles; 11 night-flashing species can be found in Maine. They spend their larval stages in the soil, and require healthy soils and an abundance of leaf litter. 11Now is a good time to find SNAKES, especially on hot days. Garter Snakes, Red-bellied Snakes, Milk Snakes, and Smooth Green Snakes are the most common throughout Maine, and are most frequently found around habitat edges.28By July, SHOREBIRDS are already starting to migrate back south to their non-breeding territories. Species like Least Sandpipers and Black-bellied Plovers breed in the brief Arctic summer, taking advantage of 20+ hours of sunlight per day and the abundance of insects that fosters. August2NEW ENGLAND BLAZING-STAR (Liatris novae-angliae), threatened in Maine, is blooming now in York County. This species is endemic to (only found in) the Northeast, and the largest population anywhere is found on and near the Kennebunk Sand Plains. 7This is probably the best time to see young LEAST BITTERN, if you’re both lucky and patient. They are among the most dicult birds to see, as they spend nearly all their time hiding in cattails, but their young sometimes pick poor hiding spots and can be seen in late summer. Endangered in Maine, this species only nests in extensive cattail patches.15HARBOR SEALS are feeding in coastal waters throughout the summer. They frequently chase schools of small fish and squid into shallow water, often accompanied by gulls, terns, or Striped Bass. The Naturalist’sSummer AlmanacBy Field Naturalist Andy KapinosNEW ENGLAND BLAZING-STARPhoto: Arthur HainesPhoto: Nick Lund23SUMMER 2024 • MAINE AUBUDON HABITAT
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 2The 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, PROPERTIESFrancesca Gundrum, ADVOCACYMelissa 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, ElliotsvilleSanctuariesYOUTH IN ACTIONCOVER PHOTO BY JONAH BEAN PHOTOGRAPHY Jonah is a Bangor-based sport, event, and portrait photographer who is also a senior at John Bapst Memorial High School. He took this photo on a Field Biology class trip to Fields Pond Audubon Center. Native Plants Festival & SaleSaturday, June 8, 9 am to 3 pmGilsland Farm Audubon Center, FalmouthFeaturing more than 100 species of native wildflowers, shrubs, and tree seedlings, plus workshops, info tables, expert advice, books, and more!CAN’T MAKE IT ON JUNE 8? Order online for pick-up in Falmouth and Holden all summer long. shop.mainenativeplants.orgNative Plants Finder mainenativeplants.orgLearn about Maine native plants on our custom website which features more than 80 plants you can sort by size, soil conditions, bloom month, caterpillars hosted, wildlife benefitted, and sunlight. Look for our beautiful & practical BRING NATURE HOME tote bags, on sale this summer!