Some places are special for all sorts of reasons. Take Clarry Hill in Union. Its high elevation provides spectacular views of the Camden Hills, glimpses of Muscongus Bay, and acres upon acres of lowbush blueberries that are highly valuable to local jobs and Maine’s economy. These lands are also important for countless species of birds. Read More
birding
Bird Songs: More to Them Than What We Thought?
The temperature was skin-numbing. Even the slightest ripple of wind cut our lungs like fire. And yet, the birds sang. Sure, the sun was shining. The sky was brilliant blue. But the temps were so freakily cold that our little dog Loki, despite double layers of sweaters, would get just a short walk, for the Read More
Celebrity Steller’s Sea-eagle Returns to Maine
The superstar Steller’s Sea-eagle is back! Last winter, Maine hosted the mega-popular rarity that delighted birders with stops along the midcoast, sending birders and the simply curious alike flocking to places like Georgetown, Boothbay Harbor, and Pemaquid. Unless you live under a rock, you probably remember the flurry of excitement. After all, this is one Read More
Jeepers Creepers, That’s a Cool Bird
We have been fascinated with Brown Creepers from our earliest birding days. That’s a really long time! By “long time,” we mean back to junior high school days, where Allison caught her first glimpse of this mysterious tree-hugging bird along the forested edges of the Winthrop dump (ya, the foreground was not very scenic!); Jeff Read More
Evening Grosbeaks are on the Move
When we think of Evening Grosbeaks, we remember the hordes of them gorging themselves at the double-decker platform feeder at a former family home in Winthrop. We’d watch from the large living room window as the plump golden, black, and white orbs chomped through gobs of sunflower seeds with their enormous bills. Sometimes the flocks Read More
Puffins and a Purposeful Person
Many people think of Dr. Steve Kress as “the puffin man.” He’s widely revered for reestablishing puffin colonies to the coast of Maine, and rightly so. But when it comes to bird conservation, Steve is much more than that. We first met Steve when we were graduate students at Cornell University years ago. (Interestingly, Steve Read More
New Mind-blowing Tool Unveils the Secrets of Bird Migrations
During migration, birds mysteriously come and go—the sudden appearance of ducks in the bay or at your local pond. Maybe you’ve noticed a warbler or sparrow flitting about in the backyard shrubbery that you hadn’t seen the day before—or maybe even for weeks or months? Maybe you wondered where it was headed next? Perhaps you Read More
“What’s Up with the Bald Birds?”
The MaineBirds listserv recently received posts from people in Liberty and Camden who have been seeing bald birds around their yards. Such sightings harken us back to our days at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, where questions about birds with featherless heads ranked high on the list of FAQs from our members and the public. Read More
NRCM Staff Share Apps to Help You Explore Maine’s Outdoors
Looking for ways to explore and learn more about Maine’s environment? Check out these NRCM staff picks! If you have other apps you use, please share them with us at nrcm@nrcm.org. LEAF SNAP: Abben Maguire (Administrative Assistant/Accounts Payable Coordinator) uses this handy plant ID app to identify mushrooms, plants, flowers, and more! Fun fact he learned from the Read More
