In the breathtaking closing scene of the 2015 documentary, The Messenger, children and adults visiting the Royal Ontario Museum sort and organize thousands of birds that died after flying into windows in Toronto, Canada. The colors, shapes and sizes—of both birds and people—are striking. I show this film to the Avian Ecology and Conservation class Read More
Nature of Maine Blog
The Natural Resources Council of Maine’s “Nature of Maine” blog gives you the inside scoop on some of the latest issues facing Maine’s environment. From environmental news to threats to opportunities, NRCM is on the frontlines of the latest goings-on—and we’re often leading the charge on efforts to protect Maine’s precious lands, air, waters, and wildlife. Read what NRCM staff members have to say and get the perspective of some of our members and supporters who have been guest contributors.
Perhaps you have an issue you’d like to write about. Maybe you’re an expert on a particular topic and are inspired to share your expertise. Maybe you’ve recently made a visit to a spectacular Maine nature preserve or other natural area and would like to write about it (captioned photos welcome!). For submission guidelines, email nrcm@nrcm.org.
Robin Hunting—and Eating—and the Year of the Bird
You may know that the early settlers to North America named the American Robins we know and love today. But did you know they also ate them? When the first European settlers saw the bird, they named the species “robin” based on the robins they knew back in Europe. That species, now called the European Read More
Loranger Memorial School Trail Mapping Project
The fifth, sixth, and seventh grade GATES (gifted and talented) students from Loranger Memorial School are working together on this project with help from their teacher, Mrs. Nye. The Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) is helping us by providing a grant that we will use to go on field trips to local trails in Read More
Hope Elementary School’s 7th Grade Invasive Species Project
The 7th grade class from Hope Elementary School (HES) is undertaking a project funded by the Natural Resources Council of Maine to investigate invasive aquatic plant species. With their teacher, Mr. Amundsen, they have proposed to survey and detect the presence of invasive aquatic plant species from a local lake in Hope. Invasive aquatic species Read More
Athens Community School Middle School Students Learn about Local Wildlife
At Athens Community School, we have a unique Friday afternoon program called Learning Power. In this mock community, students choose a group to join for the year where they learn and practice real-life skills. This year, my group is a 4-H Club. In 4-H, children “learn by doing” while applying life skills, strengthening the fundamentals Read More
Easter Traditions with Nature in Mind
Greener Easter Traditions Easter falls on April 1st this year. It is one of my favorite times of year because it marks a time of rebirth and renewal. The images of eggs, colorful flowers, lambs, nests, and baby bunnies are like a breath of fresh air for those of us in the North who have Read More
The Littlest Goose
Every winter, a few of the tiniest of geese spend the winter along the Maine coast. These geese, called Brant, are another of the species that we celebrate in the Year of the Bird because, if not for the passage of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1918, they might not be with us anymore. Read More
“Intelligent Tinkering”: How to Boost Biodiversity at Home (Leopold’s Wise Words Part 2)
“To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering.” — Aldo Leopold, 1949 In my last blog post, I wrote about Aldo Leopold (the father of wildlife ecology), carnivore coexistence, and his “thinking like a mountain” quote. This follow-up post springs from another one of his well-known quotes, and explores the importance of Read More
York’s Young Foam Fighters
While alliteration in blog titles is great, there is something even better, and that is when we learn about the next generation of Mainers recognizing a major problem in our environment, foam containers, and stepping up to solve it right in their own community. That principal is certainly on display in York where an intrepid Read More
