Pre-registration is required to attend field trips- email deaudubon@gmail.com. Someone will reply with a confirmation soon. No registration is required for programs which are free and open to the public. For more event details and to register for field trips, email deaudubon@gmail.com.
Winter Birds of Schoodic
Saturday, January 18, 9:00 AM
Fraser Point, Schoodic
Chuck Whitney will guide us along the Schoodic Loop Road, making regular stops to see winter specialties which could include sea ducks—Harlequins are a distinct possibility, loons, grebes, Purple Sandpipers, and winter finches. Last year the group even saw a Razorbill!
Animal Tracking
Wednesday, January 22, 7:00 PM
Moore Community Center, Ellsworth
New Hampshire native, Jon Sargent, will share his tracking experiences and give insight on how to identify and interpret animal tracks, trails, and other sign. Jon has over 30 years of tracking experience and has been in the field with Susan Morse of Keeping Track, author Mark Elbroch, and completed an apprenticeship with tracker and author Paul Rezendes. Watch your email for a follow-up field trip to be announced soon after this program (timing depends on the snow cover).
Game Night: Wingspan is Back!
Thursdays 6:00 PM January 30, February 27, March 6
Blue Hill Library
AND Fridays 4:00 PM February 21 and March 21
Wendell Gilley Museum, Southwest Harbor
Wingspan is a bird-themed board game where players compete to attract birds to their wildlife reserves. It features beautifully crafted (and scientifically accurate) cards for over 150 North American bird species and gentle yet strategic gameplay. It's a great activity to engage a birder with a game, or to engage a gamer with birds. James Longo will coach us as we learn the ins and outs of the game.
Sal Rooney Memorial Scholarship Recipient Presentation
Wednesday, February 5, 7:00 p.m.
Moore Community Center, Ellsworth
In a world facing a growing array of environmental challenges, wildlife health issues remain a prominent topic in the news, with a wide range of people tackling these concerns on the frontlines. Kaiti Hall, ’24 Sal Rooney Memorial Scholarship recipient and student at College of the Atlantic, will share her summer research surveying Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the Mount Desert Rock gull colony as well as her year-long study involving Common Loon necropsies (animal autopsies). Discover how both fieldwork and laboratory necropsies contribute valuable insights to the field of newly emerging wildlife diseases.
The Hidden History of American Warblers—An evening w/ Kenn Kaufman
Monday, February 10, 6:00-8:00 PM
Today, the American warblers (members of the family Parulidae) are very popular, and birders eagerly await their return every spring. But two centuries ago they were far from popular—they caused endless confusion for early naturalists. They were not even recognized as a distinct family at first, with some being classified as thrushes, flycatchers, or creepers. Different names were often applied to males, females, young birds, or spring and fall plumages of the same warbler, and rare hybrids were sometimes claimed as new species. In this program, based on research for an upcoming book, Kenn will delve into the surprising back stories of some of our favorite songbirds.
This program is sponsored jointly by all of Maine Audubon’s statewide chapters. Kenn is a prolific writer, artist, and speaker, with a lifelong interest in birds and the natural world. If you’ve never had the pleasure of reading one of his books, or listening to him give a program, this is your chance! ONLINE ONLY, sign up here to get the Zoom link: https://maineaudubon.org/events/an-evening-with-kenn-kaufman/
GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT
February 14-17
Each February the world comes together for the love of birds. Over four days people spend time in their favorite places watching, counting, and reporting as many birds as they can find. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before migration.
Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) was the first online citizen science project to collect data on wild birds and display results in near real time. Birds Canada joined the project in 2009, and in 2013 GBBC went global when participants from around the world began entering data into eBird.
Participate this year by watching birds for at least 15 minutes at any one location. Identify and count all the birds you see or hear during that time. Share your observations by using Merlin or the eBird Mobile App or enter your bird list on the eBird website from a computer. Go to www.birdcount.org for more information.
Ocean Drive Bird Walk
Saturday, February 15, 9:00 AM
Acadia National Park
Join leader James Longo for a casual stroll along Ocean Drive between Sand Beach and Otter Cliffs. You can’t beat the view, and with the ocean on one side and evergreen forest on the other, we have the potential to see a good variety of birds. Winter access to Ocean Drive is via Schooner Head Road off Route 3 after Bar Harbor village.
All About Golden-Winged and Blue-Winged Warblers
Thursday, March 20, 7:00 PM
Moore Community Center, Ellsworth
Kurt Ongman’s PhD research explores the breeding dynamics of Golden-winged and Blue-winged Warblers within a major hybrid zone at Fort Drum, New York. Using innovative methods like radio telemetry, diet metabarcoding, and nest monitoring, his work provides new insights into the interactions and hybridization of these closely related species. Golden-winged Warblers, a species of conservation concern, face challenges from habitat loss, competition, and hybridization with the more dominant Blue-winged Warbler. Kurt’s research highlights the environmental and behavioral factors influencing these dynamics and sheds light on the efforts needed to conserve these charismatic birds and their habitats.
National Flower Day
Friday, March 21, 7:00 PM
Blue Hill Library
Happy National Flower Day! Join Leslie Clapp for this fun holiday celebrated annually
on March 21, right after the first official spring day—a day symbolic of renewal and new life. Few things can uplift spirits the way flowers do. They not only bring beauty and joy to our lives, but they also have culinary and medicinal purposes and help sustain our entire ecosystem. Flowers add color, scents, and texture to our gardens, stimulating our senses. Each of them carries a unique story and cultural value. This presentation explores floral wonders, mostly in Leslie’s own garden, and celebrates a collective ode to nature's artistry.
Birding Seawall
Saturday, March 22 9:00 AM
Seawall Picnic Area, Manset, MDI
Come on, grab your binoculars and join leader Craig Kesselheim for our first official spring outing of the year! We will scan the coastal waters around Seawall picnic area looking for seabirds then walk along the nearby road and through the campground where forest birds may be heard and hopefully seen.