PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND FIELD TRIPS- email deaudubon@gmail.com. SOMEONE WILL REPLY WITH A CONFIRMATION SOON. No registration required for programs which are free and open to the public.
Hiking with All the Senses
Sunday, October 15, 9-11 a.m.
Carter Nature Preserve, Surry
Join Master Naturalist, Merrie Eley, and experience nature through all your senses on a 1.5-mile trail system with varied habitats. Touch, smell, taste, hear and see many natural delights along the way as you explore field, woods and shore on Morgan Bay. Mostly level with uneven woods trails and rocky shore; sturdy shoes and walking sticks may be helpful.
Sargent Mountain’s Fall Specialties
Friday, October 27, 9:00 a.m.-noon.
Acadia National Park, Upper Hadlock parking area
Zach Holderby will lead a 4-mile (round trip) hike to the summit of Sargent Mountain (1,373’) in Acadia National Park to search for late migrants such American Pipit, Snow Bunting and Horned Lark. These birds are often found in tundra-like habitat which means they are right at home on Maine’s mountaintops! This is a strenuous hike, you must be comfortable climbing mountains…please come prepared!
Maine is Weird
Monday, October 30, 7:00 p.m.
Moore Community Center, Ellsworth
Maine is weird…or at least it’s unique! The state’s geology, geography and history are vastly different from other states, which explains why so many birds come here. Bob Duchesne will list the “Top Ten Reasons Maine is Weird” which will surprise even most Mainers!
Know Your Mosses
Sunday, November 5, 9:00 a.m.
Lisa Tolman Wooten Nature Preserve, Deer Isle
Haircap, Brocade, Wavy Broom, Plume and Feather are all types of mosses found in our area. They are a very important part of the forest ecosystem and are great at retaining water after rainfall. They also contribute to stabilizing soil by reducing erosion. Plus they are just lovely to look at! Join botanist, Cathy Rees, as she leads you on a hunt for some of the more common species. Learn to identify mosses by taking a closer look and using habitat as a guide. This will be a moderately easy 1.5-mile walk through forested habitat.
A Northern Naturalist in a Southern Hemisphere
Tuesday, November 7, 7:00 p.m.
Moore Community Center, Ellsworth
Local naturalist Rich MacDonald will present a travelogue of his most recent trips to South America, the Subantarctic and Antarctic. For years, Rich has been working on expedition ships traveling to the colder reaches of the Southern Hemisphere, visiting such notable locales as the Patagonian fjords, Cape Horn, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia Island and the Antarctic Peninsula. Featuring prominently in Rich’s presentation will be birdlife, marine and terrestrial mammals and the history of whaling. Throughout his presentation, compare and contrast Rich’s experience to that of Sir Ernest Shackleton.
Wingspan Wednesdays with DEA
November 29, December 6 & 13, January 3, 10 & 17, 6:15 p.m.
Howard Room, Blue Hill Library
Hey bird and board game enthusiasts! Join Downeast Audubon for a series of fun-filled game nights featuring the popular board game, Wingspan. Wingspan is a bird-themed board game where players compete to attract birds to their wildlife reserves. It boasts beautifully crafted (and scientifically accurate) cards for over 150 bird species, paired with gentle yet strategic gameplay. Whether you're a birder looking to dive into the gaming world or a gamer eager to learn more about birds, this game has something for everyone. For those new to Wingspan, don't fret! Board member James Longo will be on hand to give a tutorial and go over the gameplay, ensuring everyone gets off to a flying start. Drinks and snacks provided. Co-sponsored with the Blue Hill Library.
Holiday Gathering and The State of Maine Birds: Decades of Change
Friday, December 8, 6:30 p.m.
Bagaduce Music Performance Hall, 49 South St, Blue Hill
Let’s gather together during this festive season and share some good cheer! Please bring items for a cookie swap, drinks will be provided. After socializing for a bit we will learn about bird populations in Maine and how they are continually changing. This presentation by Nick Lund of Maine Audubon covers the last few decades and discusses which species are disappearing, which are increasing and then looks forward to identify what the future of Maine birds might be.
Christmas Bird Count
Participate in the 124th Christmas Bird Count and help contribute to the longest running survey in ornithology. From December 14 through January 5, organized groups choose ONE day to count birds seen or heard within a designated 15-mile circle. Join a team in the field (or go solo) or keep a tally of the birds seen around your feeders if you live within the count circle. Results are compiled and sent to National Audubon where they are used to assess the health of bird populations and help guide conservation.
There are five counts in our area, and we need YOUR help to make sure they get covered thoroughly!
•MOUNT DESERT ISLAND—Saturday, December 16
Contact Michael Good: info@downeastnaturetours.com
•BLUE HILL—Sunday, December 17
Contact Zach Holderby: z_hold@hotmail.com
•DEER ISLE—Saturday, December 30
Contact Ken Crowell: kennethlcrowell@gmail.com
•HOG BAY—Sunday, December 31
Contact Medea Steinman: wrenyen@gmail.com
•SCHOODIC—Monday, January 1
Contact Seth Benz: sbenz@schoodicinstitute.org
Project FeederWatch (operated by Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada) turns your love of feeding birds into scientific discoveries. FeederWatch is a November 1-April 30 survey of birds that visit backyards, nature centers and other locales in North America. You don’t even need a feeder! All you need is an area with plantings, habitat, water or food that attracts birds. The schedule is completely flexible. Count your birds for as long as you like on days of your choosing, then enter your counts online. Your counts allow you to track what is happening to birds around your home and contribute to a continental data-set of bird distribution and abundance.
Last winter 329 FeederWatchers reported data from Maine. The top five species reported were: 1)Black-capped Chickadee 2)White-breasted Nuthatch 3)American Goldfinch 4)Mourning Dove 5)Blue Jay. Go to www.feederwatch.org to learn all about the great hobby of bird feeding: from tricky IDs and gardening for birds to types of feeders and recognizing diseased birds. Sign up for this season’s Project FeederWatch today!