Eastern Bluebird Scientific name: Sialia sialis Cool fact: Bluebird houses aren’t just for nesting! Several bluebirds will roost together in a bird box for warmth in the winter. Does any songbird elicit a smile more readily than a bluebird? “The bluebird of happiness” has long been a trope in our popular culture, and the belief Read More
birding
Acoustic Signs of Spring
The acoustic sounds of spring. This time of year, it’s hard to miss them, as birds are winding up to establish breeding territories and to attract mates. Do you have favorites? Maybe you have some that, when you hear them, make you say, “Yup, spring has arrived!” For us, there are many. The first whistled Read More
Bird-feeding Tips for a Purpose
February has beenall about birds, at least for us bird enthusiasts. For one thing, the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) took February 12 through February 15. We have fond memories of our years at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, one of our best being the brainstorming we did with National Audubon as we all tried Read More
Creature Feature: Common Redpoll
Common Redpoll Scientific name: Acanthis flammea Cool fact: The Common Redpoll has a pouch in its throat that enables it to store food. Thanks to this adaptation, on a very cold day the bird can quickly collect seeds, then remain in a sheltered, warmer spot for several hours while it eats. Many of our songbirds Read More
Irruption Underway: Keep an Eye Out for Winter Finches
In Florida, a Purple Finch was recently spotted as far south as Sarasota, and Red-breasted Nuthatches were found at Cape Canaveral. And get this: A Pine Siskin was heard flying over Everglades National Park! Meanwhile, Pine Siskins and Red-breasted Nuthatches were reported far, far to the north in the tiny community of Moosonee, on the Read More
Seal River Watershed: The Maine-Canadian Connection
Cool autumn air descended upon us here in Maine from Canada this past week. It brought with it those beautiful, sunny blue-sky days and nighttime temps that drop maybe a little lower than what we’d like for this time of year. So far, we’ve remembered each night to move our porch-dwelling geranium into the garage Read More
A Strange and Mysterious Feathered Creature
Maine has been home to many a mysterious creature. There was the so-called mutant beast that roamed the town of Turner, accidentally killed by a passing car in 2006. In 2018, an animal “that was not a whale” but only “may” have been some kind of shark washed up on the shore of Higgins Beach Read More
“Naked & Afraid”? How about Feathered and Fearless!
As we’ve had to spend more time at home due to COVID-19, we have taken to doing more of most things we already do around the house—yard birding, yard work, reading, housework (OK, maybe not more housework!), jigsaw puzzles…and a bit more TV. Since we tend to gravitate toward natural history-based shows, perhaps it was Read More
6 Apps to Help You Explore Maine, Wherever You Are
Last year we introduced you to eBird, iNaturalist, Discover Katahdin, and six other nature-based apps. Read about them at www.nrcm.org/blog/apps-explore-maine. We hope you enjoy this year’s picks! Penobscot Mountain by Pete Didisheim 1. Acadia National Park by Chimani Maine-based Chimani designed this premier app for one of our state’s crown jewels: Acadia National Park. This Read More
