Maine Nature News Photo of Ginny Remeika |
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Editor's Column Notes, Announcements & Reflections Hello! Thanks to Ginny Remeika for the photo in this banner. The hummingbirds are returning to Maine quickly now. I have two feeders out but they haven't arrived here yet. It's usually the middle of May before I see them here in northeastern Maine. They're out and annoying. This could mean just one thing this time of year -- "they" are the black flies. JB has seen them in Biddeford and I've swatted at them in Red Beach. I'll get this year's map online and officially start the count with this week. Black flies are the number one search that brings people to Maine Nature News. Black flies. Not moose or leaf peeping, it's the dreaded black flies. Last summer someone asked me why I stopped report in the middle of summer. I can only report what I know so please send your reports to me. This graphic shows the top 20 searches so far this month.  Have a great week! Robin Follette Editor/Publisher |
Maine Nature NewsMay 6, 2009
Vol. 13, No. 18
 Wednesday, April 30 Hodgdon (Map 53) Yesterday afternoon about 4:45 pm, we spotted a glossy ibis in a flooded farm field along the Canadian border in Hodgdon, Aroostook County. He was quite content to dabble in this large puddle along with some Canada geese, sea gulls, mallards and teals. This was quite a pleasant surprise. I've attached a photo, sorry for the poor quality, he was intent on staying as far out of range as possible and this is the best my little camera could do, but it's good enough for making a positive ID. SY Friday, May 2 Mars Hill (Map 59) I have enjoyed seeing the Nature Report for some time now. I am fairly new to the "County" but have been in Maine since 1965. I am amazed at how different the weather and resulting nature is up here! Our first flower to be seen is the Colts foot dandelion, yesterday. I can't believe the several inches of gravel it grew up through. JSS  Sunday, May 4 Talmadge (Map 35)
When I looked out the window this afternoon this large creature was eating away. JB  This is the third
year I've participated in the North American Woodcock
Singing Ground Survey. Steve drove me to Danforth (Map 45) Sunday, May 4,
for the
first count. The route is 3.6 miles long and takes up to 38
minutes. I
counted only four males. On Tuesday,
May 6, we went to Amity
(Map 53) for the
second count. There were six singing males and a moose that
wouldn't
come out so that we could get a good look. Since the count doesn't
start until either 15 or 22 minutes after sunset we're able to hear a
lot but see little by the end of the count. We could hear it walk into
the woods when we pulled over and shift its weight while it
waited for
us to leave.
Counting involves the exact timing of sunset plus 15 or 22 minutes depending on cloud cover. You listen for two minutes then drive .4 miles, listen two minutes then drive .4 miles, and repeat for a total of 10 stops. If the temperature is lower than 40° the count is canceled for the night. I have from April 10 to May 20 this year. Steve recorded the GPS coordinates for me on my first counts in 2006. I have to mark down the level of disturbance (no to high) and make any necessary notes. One of the notes in the Danforth count is about stop number nine. It's the parts yard for the wind farm this year. RF |
Clubs & OrganizationsClubs and
organizations related to Maine's natural history are welcome to submit
their press releases for consideration in Maine Nature News.
MNN is compiled on Tuesdays so please send them with that day
in mind. email
Celebrate Earth Day with Stanton
Stanton Bird Club May Events Lewiston, ME, In celebration of Spring 2008, the Stanton Bird Club is sponsoring several events in May and early June. All events are free and open to the public. Weekly Bird Walk Tuesdays April 22nd through Tuesday May 20th 6am-8:30am. Join other “early birds” as we walk along the Bates college campus and Riverside cemetery in search of migrating warblers and other songbirds. All experience levels are welcome to attend. Meet trip leader Tom Hayward at Hathorn Hall, Bates College in Lewiston. Spring Wildflower Exploration Saturday April 26th – 9-11am. Spring ephemeral flowers – those flowers that bloom for only a short time -- will be the focus for this easy walk through the Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary. Flowers seen in previous years include Wood and Rue Anemone, Trout Lily and Mayflowers. Meet at the Thorncrag parking lot on Montello street in Lewiston. Birding in Dadaab Africa Monday, May 5th – 7-9pm. Guest speaker David Haines, will discuss the discovery of wildlife while in a refugee camp, during the monthly Stanton Bird Club meeting. Meeting will be held at the Auburn public library. Evergreen Cemetary Saturday May 10th – 7am-Noon. This Portland hotspot is a migrant trap, and usually yields an abundance of warblers. All experience levels are welcome to attend. The group will meet at the Lewiston Promenade mall in front of Staples, leaving at 7am and returning around noon. For more information, contact trip leader Dan Marquis at 784-8397. New Gloucester Marsh / Pineland Farms Saturday May 17th – 7am-Noon. Marsh birds such as the Virginia rail, sora and American Bittern will be scouted for at the marsh, while warblers, orioles and tanagers are possible visitors to Pineland Farms. All experience levels are welcome to attend. The group will car pool from the Auburn J.C.Penney parking lot, leaving at 7am and returning around noon. For more information, contact trip leader Tom Hayward at 782-5238. Warren Warbler Walk Sunday May 18th – 7am-10am. The Warren warbler walk, named in honor of Mary Warren, has been conducted annually by Stanton since 1928. This perennial favorite explores some prime habitat for warblers, thrushes and vireos. All experience levels are welcome to attend. The group will meet at the Auburn J.C.Penney parking lot, leaving at 7am and returning around 10am. For more information, contact trip leader Tom Hayward at 782-5238. Birding at Sylvester’s Wednesday May 21st – 7am. This annual trek is along the Androscoggin riverside and open fields and woodlands. Past birds at this location include Bobolinks, several warbler varieties, Red breasted Grosbeak, and Eastern Meadowlark. The trip will continue on to the property of Col. George Benjamin, where we will explore the farm pond, feeders, stream and overgrown fields. All experience levels are welcome to attend. The group will meet at the property of William Sylvester (1128 Riverside Dr. Auburn) at 7am. For more information, contact trip leader Tom Hayward at 782-5238. Birds and Flowers of Beaver Park Saturday May 31st – 7-12noon. Beaver Park is a 337 acre wooded area in Lisbon. Join trip leaders Stan DeOrsey and Susan Hayward as we look for migratory birds as well as spring flowers. The group will meet at the Lewiston Promenade mall in front of Staples, leaving at 7am and returning around noon. For more information, contact trip leader Susan Hayward at 782-5238. Papermill & Ricker Farm Trails Wednesday June 4th – 8am-11am. The Papermill Trail is a newly paved trail in Lisbon. The trail runs approximately ¾ mile. Join trip leaders Stan DeOrsey and Susan Hayward as we look for migratory birds as well as other woodland residents. The group will meet at the Lewiston Promenade mall in front of Staples, leaving at 7am and returning around noon. For more information, contact trip leader Susan Hayward at 782-5238. Stanton field trips are free and nonmembers are invited. All experience levels are welcome. For more information, contact trip leader Dan Marquis at 784-8397. The Stanton Bird Club is a conservation organization offering monthly free natural history programs and field trips throughout the state. The organization welcomes new members whose dues help to provide land stewardship at three sanctuaries, owned and managed by the club, in Lewiston and Monmouth. For more information, call 782-5238, visit the Web site or email questions to Linda Seamans. For questions or comments please contact: Linda Seamans Stanton Bird Club Chair – Public Relations (207) 240-1380 A Youthlinks Benefit LectureNaturalist Bernd HeinrichJoin famed naturalist Bernd Heinrich as returns to the Strand to present "Nesting Season: Cuckoos, Cuckolds, & the Evolution of Monogamy". Learn about why some birds mate for life, others keep birds on the side, and why the cuckoo takes over other's nests! Dr. Heinrich is an engaging and entertaining speaker who enjoys sharing his knowledge and interacting with his audience. His last appearance in 2006 sold out, so book your tickets early to avoid disappointment. Dr. Heinrich's presentation is a benefit for Youthlinks, a program of Broadreach Family & Community Services. Youthlinks provides opportunities for adolescents to volunteer to help others throughout Knox County. Tickets $20/Adults, $15/Under 18. Tickets go on sale May 1. Call 594-2221 to reserve tickets or for more details. Dan Bookham, Development Coordinator, Broadreach Family & Community Services (formerly Waldo County Preschool & Family Services) 420 Broadway, Rockland, ME 04841 (207) 594-2221 |
History of the MNN Web Resources
Reports from Frank's hiking and backpacking trips
| View
via webcam
of Mt. Katahdin, Maine |
View
via webcam
of |
View
from webcam
in
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Coast
view via
webcam
of
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| Western
Hemisphere in visible light Courtesy NOAA Geostationary Satellite Server
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Current Northern Hemisphere "auroral oval" as seen from NASA POES satellite
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Preparation
Maine Nature News, a weekly online periodical updated on Tuesdays, covers natural history events, occurrences and observations in Maine. It emphasizes what is happening in the natural world, from the point of view of Nature, and deemphasizes human events and activities about Nature, such as the environmental movement, societies and clubs, since those are well-covered elsewhere. (A few Web links of interest are provided.) It will be successful with your support as a natural history correspondent.
Editor/Publisher:
Robin
Follette
Founder
and Past Editor:
Frank Wihbey
Page
design
and HTML coding: Robin
Follette, Frank
Wihbey
Page name banners: Kirk Betts Paul Garrity, Frank Wihbey
Photographs: ©1996 by Karen A. Wihbey, ©1996-2006 by Frank Wihbey and other contributors.
Weekly Nature reports: Volunteer correspondents throughout the state.
Page name banners: Kirk Betts Paul Garrity, Frank Wihbey
Photographs: ©1996 by Karen A. Wihbey, ©1996-2006 by Frank Wihbey and other contributors.
Weekly Nature reports: Volunteer correspondents throughout the state.
Unique visitors to MNN since March 4, 1996
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