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Editor's Column Notes, Announcements & Reflections Hello!
I'm going to take advantage of something Kirk said in his report this week. It's easy and canbe helpful for other readers . I thought you might like to know about our readers. So far this month MNN averages 349 readers who make 2,352 hits a day. June was the busiest month this year with an average of 691 readers a day. There have been 77,210 unique readershere since March 4, 1996. Educational institutions in the United States have made 711 visits here this month. That's important. People are learning from the reports you provide. Readers from 58 counties have been to MNN this month. I can't see all 58 countries but here's a list of the top visitors from most to least:Canada, Brazil, Netherlands, Germany, Mexico, Japan, Hungary, Russian Federation, Australia, Italy, Turkey, Norway, Poland, India, Belgium, Greece, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, China, Spain, France, and Argentina. Readers came to MNN through searches (mostly Google) for: lunar eclipse, hickory nut, cartoon frog (this was a blogger who then linked directly to a graphic on this server; I moved the graphic), grand canyon (from Frank's trip), Appalachian trail, desert flower, mountains, black flies, desert flowers, acorns, winter snowflake, Maine nature news, chipmunks, Arizona mountains, elf owl, black fly season Maine, rock mountains, rock formations, snowflake and walnuts. Black flies are the most popular searches each year. Sincerely, Robin Follette, Editor |
Maine Nature NewsNovember 13, 2007
Vol.
12, No. 42
Saturday, November 10
Holden (Map 23)
I saw a Long-Tailed
Weasel on Nov.10 in my wooded back yard. Its body was about
15" long, and its tail about 6" long. It was nearly all white, but gray
on its back, up the back of the neck, and between the ears. Its tail
was white except the end 3/4 inch was black. It went back and
forth, along fallen trees and through brush piles. A dozen Juncos were
feeding on my lawn fifty feet away, but the weasel was not paying any
attention to them. I've seen a number of Short-Tailed Weasels
(Ermine) but this was first time I've seen a Long-Tailed one. I've
seen Long-Tailed Weasel tracks, but Ermine tracks are
much more common. JKM Sunday, November 11, Rangeley
(Map 28)I went for a walk with a friendin a local wildlife sanctuary,when this long tailed weasel popped upfrom under a log. He was all white,and stood out like a beacon. Itook a quick picture of him before he dashed off through the woods. Further down the trail I saw a snowshoe hare, which unlike the weasel was mostly brown. Not too long after that the weasel crossed our pathagain, and then not 10 minutes later again. I'm pretty certain it wasthe same one, the only distinguishing feature was a light brown stripe going the length of its back. Northern birds showing up more, had a pine grosbeak at my feeder, a northern shrike and some common redpolls too, over the past week. Sunday afternoon, I watched 2 spike horns (whitetail deer bucks)sparring out in the field near my home.  I encourage you to become a correspondent for MNN. It's easy, and canbe helpful for other readers . Can't write? Robin can help there. What to report? Anything you want as long as it's nature related. Note when, where, time of the day, whatever you think adds to yourreport. Your report does matter, and it gives you a reason to get outand see nature. And you have fun doing it. A lot of what we havelearned about nature has come from little reports like this, you seesomething, you tell someone and it adds to what we know. We all learn. KB Monday, November 12 (Talmadge, Map 35) Over the past three or four days an inch of ice has formed on our pond. Redpolls have come back to the feeders. Neighbor Jan has Pine Grosbeaks coming to her feeder. I've seen an occasional Evening Grosbeak at my feeders. I watched a very large deer behind the cemetary on Talmadge Road. RF |
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The fourth of a series of Fall Guided Bird Walks in the Lewiston/Auburn
area will be held this Wednesday, Nov. 7. Meet at Staples on
Lisbon St., Lewiston at 8AM, details below. If you prefer,
meet us at the new Thorncrag parking lot on Montello St. near the
intersection of Highland Spring Rd. at 8:20 AM. All walks are free and open to everyone, beginning naturalist to advanced birder. Walks are led by Stan and Joan DeOrsey with Susan Hayward, Thorncrag naturalist, sharing her knowledge, especially on plants. Anyone interested in walking, seeing new places, fresh air, and nature is welcomed. Please mark your calendar and join us every other Wednesday on the following dates: Nov. 7 Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary, Lewiston for woodland residents Nov. 21 Alexander-Harkins Preserve, Auburn for field & woodland residents; possible mud if recent rain Dec. 5 Railroad Park, Lewiston & Auburn for winter gulls and ducks Dec. 19 St. Peter's Cemetery, Lewiston for winter visitants -- Meeting Location: Walks leave at 8am from the Staples parking lot, 855 Lisbon St., Lewiston to be at the walk site at 8:20am. -- Walks end by 11am, but you may leave early. -- If raining or snowing at 7am and predicted to continue through 10am, the walk is canceled. -- Bring binoculars and dress for the weather; layers work very well. -- Walks are approximately 2 miles on an even and basically dry surface. -- For any questions, call Stan or Joan DeOrsey at 933-2266 or e-mail jsmd@att.net. Please come and see new places around Lewiston and Auburn. We want to increase participation by holding REGULAR local walks. Tell your friends and neighbors, better yet bring them with you. These are not strenuous walks and no special knowledge is required. Come out and see the birds, visit new places, and have fun. Thank you ... see you Wednesday! |
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