I’m delighted to report that we might finally have Eastern Bluebirds nesting in our home habitat. We’ve lived here in Poland Spring for over a decade, and have never put up a nest box. However, I am kind of a fanatic about retaining and promoting dead and dying trees on our landscape because “dead and Read More
First Light Wildlife Habitats
Deborah Perkins, M.S. is a wildlife ecologist with 25 years of experience in her field and a lifelong commitment to wildlife conservation. Before settling down in her native Maine, she was a field biologist for many years, conducting fieldwork and wildlife research throughout North America, from the deserts of New Mexico to the remote tundra landscape of the Canadian Arctic. Since 2010, as the sole proprietor of First Light Wildlife Habitats, she has been partnering with landowners throughout Maine to create thriving wildlife habitats in their own backyards, farms, and forestlands. Deb lives with her husband and daughter in Poland Spring.
Goldenrods: a Top Plant for Boosting Biodiversity
The land is awash with sprays of amber, lemon, and yellow from the wild goldenrods that proliferate in meadows, roadsides, forest edges, and vacant lots this time of year. These misunderstood, underappreciated, and spectacularly diverse plants have been lumped into the common category of “goldenrod” and unfairly blamed for hay fever. The showy colorful blooms Read More
Maine’s Real Lupine Revealed
You can’t miss all the lovely lupines in bloom right now. They are the poster child for the quintessential Maine summer — universally loved and cherished. And who could forget Miss Rumphius (The Lupine Lady)? The prolific lupines of Maine’s countryside are actually native to the West Coast and have only been here since the Read More
Sow Something for Bees
Spring really is coming. Signs are everywhere. Earlier this week (March 20th) was the Vernal Equinox which marks the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere! Three weeks ago I spied my first Turkey Vulture of the year after my presentation on pollinators to the wonderful folks at St. Mary’s Garden Club in Falmouth. Read More
Dead and Dying Trees are Key to Life
Walk into most of the woodlands in our region today, and you will find a lack of dead and dying trees. Yes, that’s right – most of our forests do not have enough dead and decaying trees. To many people, this may seem counterintuitive. Why would we want more dead and dying trees on the landscape? Read More
A Top Threat to Biodiversity: Invasive Plants
Non-native honeysuckle shrubs dominate this forest understory and have choked out native plants on Ricker Hill in Poland Spring, Maine. You can see this for yourself on Route 26, just across the road from The Lodge at the Poland Spring Resort. The dense green thicket below the trees are all invasive honeysuckle shrubs, native to Read More
Hallowed Habitat
Typical Halloween decorations, stories, and traditions invariably include “spooky” wildlife such as owls, bats, and spiders (oh my!). However, I invite you, my dear reader, to focus on these creatures in a fresh, new way this Hallow’s Eve, by providing them with “Hallowed Habitat.” It’s my favorite month of the year—October! The hardwoods are showing Read More
Baby Bats Need Love, Too
“I never grow tired of seeing flying bats silhouetted against an inky-blue sky. It stirs up a special kind of magic in my heart.” The other evening after dinner we were sitting around the fire in our backyard – (oh, what a simple patio and a fire bowl can do to encourage time spent under Read More
Water for Wildlife and Your Dream Landscape
August—oh how I love this month in Maine! Fewer bug bites, warm days, and cool nights for perfect sleeping weather. Drifting off to dreamland with the peaceful sound of cricket song and a cool evening breeze through open windows just can’t be beat. It’s been so unbearably hot. Cooler evening temperatures can’t come soon enough, right? Read More
