by Bill Trotter, BDN staff Bangor Daily News news story Does the black vulture stand a chance of becoming the official bird of Maine? Through the process of elimination, it just might, say scientists who released a report about climate change affecting migratory birds Monday. The black-capped chickadee, which has been the official bird of Read More
Forests and Wildlife
NRCM works to protect Maine’s natural areas and wild, undeveloped character, particularly in the North Woods. We support responsible land development and sustainable forest practices that protect sensitive ecosystems and wildlife. We work for increased public ownership of Maine lands, so future generations will know the Maine we love today.
Protection of Maine’s natural, remote areas was one of the issues for which NRCM was founded in 1959. More than 60 years later, much progress has been made but major threats to Maine’s land and water resources continue.
Read news & blogs about our work to protect Maine's forests and wildlife.
Report: Climate Change Threatens New England’s Migratory Birds
Urgent Action Needed to Protect Birds and Their Habitats NWF and NRCM press release June 24, 2013 — Climate change is altering and destroying important habitats that New England’s migratory birds depend on and urgent action is needed to change that dangerous flight path, according to a new report released by the National Wildlife Federation. Read More
The Chickadees and the “Snake”
Spring is a great time to consider all of the good work NRCM does to protect Maine’s wildlife and there habitats. Birds are, for me, the most noticeable. One of the things I love most about this time of year is the changing behavior of the birds around me. The males sing loud and strong as Read More
Starving Puffins Indicate Trouble at Sea
by Abigail Curtis, BDN staff Bangor Daily News news story BELFAST, Maine — Maine seabirds – including the iconic Atlantic puffin – may be in trouble. Researchers are concerned about starving chicks and dead birds that washed up this winter off Cape Cod and Scotland. Lately, the razorbill, a species related to puffins, has been Read More
Celebrating Herring Homecoming on St. Croix River
Federal officials pledge continuing support to help restore one of largest alewife runs in the nation News Release Baileyville, Maine — Today, Tribal and federal Trustees joined with state and nongovernmental partners and Canadian officials to celebrate the reopening of the Grand Falls Dam fish ladder, which has been closed for more than two decades, Read More
Starvation Stressing Maine Puffin Colonies
Scientists blame shifting fish populations as ocean temperatures rise. by Clarke Canfield, Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story PORTLAND — The Atlantic puffin population is at risk in the United States, and there are signs the seabirds are in distress in other parts of the world. In the Gulf of Maine, the comical-looking seabirds Read More
Alewife Observations
Guest blog post by NRCM member David Wilkins Editor’s Note: In October 2011, NRCM member and alewife activist David Wilkins wrote a blog post about his personal project to restore this native Maine fish to Webber Pond, near where he lives. As David wrote in his blog, “The run in Muscongus Brook and into Webber Read More
Sebasticook to the Sea: Alewives’ Perilous Lives Crucial to Ecosystem, Economy
Matt Hongoltz-Hetling, MaineTodayMedia staff Morning Sentinel news story BENTON — Alewives are little fish with a big story. Each year, billions of the silver fish hatch out of eggs in the cool waters of the Sebasticook River and embark on a dangerous journey to the sea and back again. Those that return must make it Read More
Outdoors: Alewives Return in Numbers
Dave Sartwell, outdoor writer Gloucester Times This could be a banner year for the return of alewives to the North Shore. Although we are still early in the run, all indications are that the work being done by a host of different governmental agencies and volunteer organizations and the restrictions being put in place on Read More