I spoke to someone recently who said that the most unpleasant feeling in the world is itchiness. Many of their fellow humans might agree; a 2011 study at the Emory University School of Medicine compared the impacts of chronic pain and chronic pruritus (itchiness) on quality of life, and found that the average itchy patient […] The post Small Wonders: No Touchy! appeared first on Maine Audubon.| Maine Audubon
Fall migration gives us a second chance to see trees full of normally secretive warblers, though some species have been fairly conspicuous all summer. American Redstarts are striking warblers that breed in Maine. Females and young birds have gray upperparts with a patch of yellow under each wing and yellow on the outer tail feathers. […] The post Backyard Bird of the Month for October: American Redstart appeared first on Maine Audubon.| Maine Audubon
What was just a worn cement retaining wall on Broadway in Bangor last month is now becoming a vibrant celebration of birds, native plants, and community spirit. The Maine Audubon Mural, the newest commission by Bangor Beautiful, can be seen on the highly visible stretch of wall near the Family Dollar on State Street. Passed […] The post Bird Mural Takes Flight in Bangor appeared first on Maine Audubon.| Maine Audubon
We’re thrilled to share the launch of our new afterschool program, EcoExplorers, designed especially for curious young naturalists in 2nd through 5th grade! Turning our 229-acre sanctuary into an environmental laboratory, this hands-on program combines outdoor adventure with scientific discovery to help students connect more deeply with the natural world around them. Each week, students […] The post New “EcoExplorers” Afterschool Program Inspires Young Naturalists at Fields Pond appea...| Maine Audubon
Yes, it was another record-breaking season! Breeding pairs of Piping Plovers hit a record high in 2025 reaching 174 pairs, smashing 2023’s record of 157 pairs. A total of 251 chicks fledged, only one chick shy of breaking 2022’s record number of fledglings, resulting in a productivity rate of 1.44 chicks fledged per pair. Although […] The post Plovers All Over: 2025 season recap appeared first on Maine Audubon.| Maine Audubon
Last week, staff from Maine Audubon were in Washington D.C. to hand-deliver a petition signed by more than 1,800 Mainers asking Maine’s Congressional delegation to protect the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Maine Audubon Advocacy & Outreach Manager Nick Lund met with staff in the offices of Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, and Representatives Jared […]| Maine Audubon
This year we celebrated the 30th anniversary of our first Bar Harbor Pelagic trip running and the conditions were great! Scheduling a boat trip in mid-September is great for birds, but also hurricanes, and while most years we hope to sneak in this trip between passing storms, this year there wasn’t a cloud on the […] The post 2025 Bar Harbor Pelagic Trip Report appeared first on Maine Audubon.| Maine Audubon
New England has the most beautiful fall foliage in the world! This may be my extremely biased opinion, but it is backed up by the millions of leaf peepers who visit every single year to witness the magnificent display put on by our native trees. For a long time, scientists believed that red fall colors […] The post September Phenology Report: New England’s Red Foliage appeared first on Maine Audubon.| Maine Audubon
Bangor Beautiful and Maine Audubon are partnering to transform a cement retaining wall on Broadway in Bangor with a powerful combination of public art and native plantings. The project will feature five large-scale murals by Eastport artist Alison Ross (schematic mockup of one of the five murals above), smaller companion murals created by students from […] The post Bangor Beautiful and Maine Audubon Collaborate on Bird Mural and Native Plantings on Broadway in Bangor appeared first on Maine...| Maine Audubon
I’ve lived long enough to avoid uttering the words “I will never . . . ” I’ve also observed that every ten years, both the world and I change enough that each decade of life provides an opportunity to reinvent myself. Such was the case when, in 2016, I retired from a very fulfilling career […] The post Andy’s note: My next adventure appeared first on Maine Audubon.| Maine Audubon
The Fish Crow is a bird you have most likely seen, but may have never noticed. It is a distinct species of crow, yet it often associates with the ubiquitous American Crow, and the two species are almost indistinguishable in appearance. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the two next to one another and might notice […]| Maine Audubon
Last week, I saw a couple of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds whizzing around the nursery and perching in nearby trees. I love spotting these tiny and shiny birds—the only hummingbird native to New England. Even though this is the only species we typically see on the East Coast, they really pull their weight as pollinators; many native […]| Maine Audubon
2025 marked the launch of Maine Audubon’s four Community Tree Nurseries in Portland, Auburn, Bangor, and East Machias. Working with professional partners in municipal public works, urban forestry, vocational education, and habitat restoration, these nurseries will produce native species of trees and other plants for city arborists to use in replacing canopy trees in Maine’s […]| Maine Audubon
Looking for a way to enjoy Maine’s beautiful coastline, engage with other people, and help our migrating shorebirds at the same time? Become a Shorebird Ambassador with Maine Audubon! Shorebird Ambassadors walk the Maine shoreline during migratory shorebird season (July-October) to both monitor the birds and to share the birds’ stories with the general public. […]| Maine Audubon
As we reach peak summer in southern Maine, it is hard not to think about climate change with every day that hits 90+ degrees. In addition to the heat, there are other extreme conditions that are being exacerbated by climate change. Although our native plants are adapted to a range of regional conditions, hitting those […]| Maine Audubon
News and notes from Maine Audubon, a Maine nonprofit committed to protecting wildlife and wildlife habitat| Maine Audubon
It’s that sweet time of year again: Maine Maple Sunday weekend is coming right up on March 22-23. During that weekend you have a chance to visit maple producers to learn more about how maple syrup and other maple treats are made. You’ll also have a chance to learn more about how these sugarbushes are […]| Maine Audubon
By Ethan Daly, Loon Restoration Team Technician I was recently checking in on one of our new loon nesting raft sites near Gray, Maine. As I stood on the shore, speaking with a volunteer about how to minimize human disturbances to the raft, we watched two paddle boarders weave in between our strategically placed raft […]| Maine Audubon