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
birding
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
Learn to Talk Bird with Five Easy Wild Bird Sound Imitations
The tools now available to help us all learn more about the birds in our area are incredible. Apps like Merlin, for example, allow you to “aim and ID” bird vocalizations. But if you want to remember who the avian songsters are when and wherever you hear them, one of the best learning strategies is Read More
My Maine This Week: Kelly Magalis
Many of you may have read about rare sightings of a Summer Tanager in Biddeford Pool and other areas around Maine recently. Well, we are very happy to be able to share these photos of the bird. Kelly Magalis of Brunswick, Maine, shares her photos of a molting Summer Tanager that she spotted in late Read More
Birds, Trees, and the Air We Breathe
Trees and people share the same breath. As Earth Day approached in April, we found ourselves having that discussion. Fascinating, when you think about it. Willows, pines, oaks, spruce—they also share their breath with birds. And with every oxygen-breathing creature on Planet Earth. Every minute of every day, we breathe deep into our lungs the Read More
“Pop-up Pond” Birding
There are many ways to spend time birding in the spring. As for us, we especially enjoy the surprises found by “pop-up pond” birding. To us, it has become a savored spring birding tradition. Sure, springtime birding also means frequent visits to favorite ponds, lakes and rivers. The increasing ice out means an increasing chance Read More
Don’t Listen to the Birds!
At least when it comes to the idea that singing birds mean spring has arrived. Ok, go ahead, listen to them. Enjoy them. Celebrate them anyway you wish. Just don’t believe them. For the last week or so, our neighborhood has erupted in bird song. The cheerful “PEA-ter, PEA-ter, PEA-ter” of a resident Tufted Titmouse Read More