The newly formed Maine Young Birders Club will be having its second field trip this Saturday at Scarborough Marsh. For more information about this outing and the MYBC, please visit their new website: http://www.maineyoungbirders.org You can also contact Lena Moser or Nathan Hall at maineyoungbirders@gmail.com.
Continue reading →At the University of Maine, Dr. Olsen’s research program explores how animals, particularly birds, respond to environmental change. Tidal marshes blur the transition between land and ocean across great swaths of the Atlantic seaboard of North America. These estuarine systems act as the nurseries for our fisheries and provide protection from storm surges for our towns and cities. As an ecosystem with a mix of terrestrial and aquatic characteristics, however, they are also inhabited by species with unique adaptations for survival. Sea-level rise is already challenging these adaptations, and the outcome for these species, the ecosystem as a whole, and … Continue reading →
Purple Martins are beloved birds. They’re known as harbingers of spring, arriving in Maine in mid-April as a most welcome sign of the changing seasons. They are aerial acrobats known for their great speed and agility in flight, and when approaching their housing, they will dive from the sky at great speeds with their wings tucked. But their numbers have been dramatically reduced as European Starlings and House Sparrows have successfully competed with them for nesting cavities. Throughout the Eastern United States, many people have been working to support and strengthen their nesting colonies. In 2013, Purple Martins were discovered … Continue reading →
Please click on the link below to view the Winter 2017 issue of our Harlequin newsletter (with photos in full color!) Harlequin Winter 2017
Continue reading →Do you know of young birders or naturalists (ages 11-18) who live in southern Maine? If so, we want to hear from them! York County Audubon is helping to launch the Maine Young Birders Club (MYBC)–the first of its kind in the state. MYBC will organize bird walks, field trips, presentations, and other fun events and activities for young nature-enthusiasts. We are looking for new members! The first Club meeting will take place on Saturday, March 25, with a bird walk followed by a pizza lunch. If you know of a young birder who wants to get involved, please contact … Continue reading →
Hog Island on midcoast Maine YCAS will again be awarding a scholarship for the Educator’s Week program, July 16-21, 2017 on famed Hog Island. Check the Scholarship Programs link under the Community Involvement pull down heading above for more information. The application deadline is March 15th.
Continue reading →THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN FULLY BOOKED. IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO ycas@yorkcountyaudubon.org WITH “WORKSHOP WAITING LIST” AS THE SUBJECT This two-part workshop, on Saturday afternoon, Jan 28th and Sunday morning, Jan 29th, will get you started on unraveling the mysteries of gull identification. Actually, most gulls are not very difficult to tell apart, though adult and juveniles of most species look very different. We’re going to give ourselves confidence with identifying the easier plumage’s of our common species, and then tackle the more challenging intermediate plumage’s and the less-common species. (Please note … Continue reading →
For anyone who missed Lena Moser’s wonderful YCA October presentation on her trip to Lake Baikal, it’s now available for your viewing! Special thanks to Saco River Community Television for recording it and making it available in such high quality. And special thanks to Lena for such an exceptional presentation. Just click this link: https://vimeo.com/189813500
Continue reading →For anyone who missed Doug Tallamy’s great program “Bringing Nature Home” at the Ogunquit Playhouse in June, a video of it can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/174067253 Special thanks to Saco River Community Television for recording it and making it available in such high quality.
Continue reading →What will be happening in the Maine Legislature after the November election? How will environmental concerns fare in Augusta next year? What’s the outlook for advancing solar and other alternative energy sources in Maine, and for protecting Maine’s forests, waterways and wildlife? Jennifer Burns Gray has been Maine Audubon’s staff attorney and advocate since 1997 where she has served on an assortment of commissions and committees. She has been extensively involved in the legislative process. She will talk about the upcoming 128th Maine Legislative session and what’s likely to be high on Maine Audubon’s priority list of issues. Jenn holds … Continue reading →
Keep your feathered friends happy this winter by treating them to tasty and fresh, premium quality bird food and help support two of your favorite environmental organizations at the same time. Profits from our annual sale support the educational programs of both York County Audubon and the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve. A wide variety of types of seed and suet is available, with great pricing, especially if you order early. Early bird pricing is available if you place your order by 4 p.m. on October 28th. Order pick up will be at the Wells Reserve November 10th – 12th, … Continue reading →
Beginning on Christmas Day in 1900, the Audubon Society has been sponsoring Christmas Bird Counts (CBC’s) to help monitor the health and status of bird populations throughout North America. In that first year, there were 25 count circles with a total of 27 birders. Now, there are over 2300 count circles each year with over 70,000 birders participating, with the locations stretching from Alaska to South America. Each year, York County Audubon sponsors two counts. The Southern York County circle extends from Kittery to Ogunquit, while the Biddeford/Kennebunkport count circle reaches from Kennebunk to Saco. Each count territory is a … Continue reading →
Lake Baikal, also called the “pearl of Siberia,” is a truly astonishing place. It is Earth’s deepest lake, holding a fifth of the world’s fresh water. At 25-30 million years old, it is also one of the most ancient geographical features on the planet. Perhaps this is why the lake’s water alone is home to 1,500 plant and animal species, 80% of which are found nowhere else on Earth! Diverse habitats around Lake Baikal—from expansive shorelines and mountain ranges to taiga forests and steppe meadows—attract numerous birds. Some sought-after species include Siberian Blue Robin, Daurian Jackdaw, Amur Falcon, Siberian Thrush, … Continue reading →
Please click on the link below to view the Autumn 2016 issue of our Harlequin newsletter (with photos in full color!) harlequin-autumn-2016
Continue reading →There are more than 1,300 known species of bats, comprising nearly a quarter of all mammal species on earth. These unique creatures are at the center of some of today’s most pressing ecological issues, yet are still held in fear by some, and misunderstood by many. Old wives’ tales and folklore, such as that bats suck blood, get into your hair, or they are blind, are in need of an update. Our September program: Myths and Truths about Bats – Bat Conservation and Biology presented by David Bates. David Yates is the Mammal Program Director at the Biodiversity Research Institute in … Continue reading →
SORRY, BUT THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN FULLY BOOKED. IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO ycas@yorkcountyaudubon.org WITH “WORKSHOP WAITING LIST” AS THE SUBJECT Late September is the time to be looking for migrating hawks! YCA is collaborating with the Mount Agamenticus Conservation Region to present a workshop on Sunday, September 25th (with a rain date of Monday, September 26th) in the Learning Lodge atop beautiful Mount Agamenticus, an excellent spot to see the Fall raptor migration. The workshop will run from 9:00 a.m. till 11. Then we’ll eat our bag lunches and step … Continue reading →
THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN FULLY BOOKED. IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO ycas@yorkcountyaudubon.org WITH “WORKSHOP WAITING LIST” AS THE SUBJECT York County Audubon continues our Workshop series by offering a Shorebird Identification Workshop presented by noted Maine Birder, Louis Bevier. Shorebirds herald the changing seasons by staging and feeding in mixed flocks on our beaches and resting on historical roosting area. Fortunes Rock Beach and Hills Beach are two of these noted areas. Louis will discuss the beautiful plumage variation of these long-distance migrant flocks. We will begin to identify specific species within … Continue reading →
Birding can be whole lot more than feeding, watching, photographing, keeping life lists, or chasing rarities. It can also involve knowing what birds are saying. Deep Bird Language requires slowing down and truly listening to the birds. Dan says “It’s more about quality than quantity.” For the vast majority of human existence, this was a skill we could not afford to ignore. Once critical to our survival it is now, nearly gone. Local tracker, naturalist, and birder Dan Gardoqui will give us a peek into the world of Deep Bird Language including tips on how to “re-awaken” this hardwired skill set … Continue reading →
The Nominating Committee has presented a slate of Officers and Directors to the YCA Board, and that slate has been approved by the Directors. At the Annual Meeting on June 21st, the following slate of Officers shall be voted upon by the Membership: Bill Grabin, President, Joyce Toth, Vice President, Kathy Donahue, Treasurer, and Monica Grabin, Secretary, as well as the following slate of Directors: Mary Bateman, David Doubleday, Doug Hitchcox, Ken Janes, Lena Moser, Pat Moynahan, Eileen Willard, Marian Zimmerman
Continue reading →Michael Milicia is a gifted photographer and teacher. He will present a selection of bird images along with understandable commentary intended to inform, entertain and inspire. This program will be of interest to both general audiences and photographers of all abilities. Using example photos, Mike will demonstrate the importance of things like head angle, catch lights, in-camera composition, knowing your subject, and being proactive in the field. There will also be a review of a few key camera settings that enable Mike to be more productive and get better results in the field along with a brief discussion of his … Continue reading →