Have you looked out at your bird feeder lately and seen birds you hadn’t seen the previous day—perhaps not since the previous year? With most of us staying home these days and exploring nature around our yards, many people are seeing Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Indigo Buntings that suddenly appear at their bird feeders Read More
birding
Our Backyard Discovery Diary: Mockers, Rattles, Ruby-crowns, and Twitters
During Earth Week, staff at the Natural Resources Council of Maine sent “digital care packages” to our members and supporters, as a way to help folks stay connected to nature. Jeff’s organization, National Audubon, has also upped their online engagement opportunities, as have a number of other groups. But many of us—perhaps you?—are creating our Read More
Quarantining with Birds & Nature
With our son’s school closed and our offices at the Natural Resources Council of Maine and National Audubon doing the responsible thing of instituting work-at-home policies out of concern about the coronavirus, we have found ourselves thinking about the implications of staying here at our house. We’ve all heard the stories of people being quarantined Read More
Mindfulness Birding Big Year 2019 Wrap-up
You may recall that in early 2019, we announced our pursuit of a Maine Mindfulness Big Year. Since our blog is (mostly) monthly, and we enjoy writing about a wide variety of bird-related topics—including special birding events with members of the Natural Resources Council of Maine—we only occasionally posted updates here. So you likely have Read More
Insider Secrets of Some of Maine’s Favorite Birds
Birds nonchalantly drop clues into the mysteries of their lives as they go about their business of flitting in the treetops, skulking in the underbrush, diving for fish and other water critters to eat, gorging at our bird feeders, migrating, breeding, feeding young, and so forth. The revelations they provide can give us reason to Read More
Creature Feature: Canada Warbler
Canada Warbler Scientific name: Cardellina canadensis Cool fact: A flurry of feathers rustling in ferny, shrubby thickets is all that is often seen of the bird, as Canada Warblers are secretive. The Canada Warbler is one of the latest arriving of the 26 warbler species that split their lives between Maine and the tropics of Read More
From Hawk Hunting to Hawk Watching: A Day Celebrating Hawks at “Mt. A” with NRCM Members
This fall, we spent an enjoyable afternoon on top of Mt. Agamenticus in York, leading a hawk-watching adventure for members of the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). If you’ve visited “Mt. A,” as this place is often affectionately known, you know it’s a fascinating place. The mountaintop hosts a town-owned-and-operated nature center that was Read More
Birds, Bogs, and Grasslands: Update on Our Mindfulness Birding Big Year
Some dads get ties for Father’s Day. Some get tools. Jeff wanted a Lincoln’s Sparrow. Those first two gifts are pretty much guaranteed: we’ve never heard of a store running out of ties or power drills. Just check your friendly neighborhood store. On the other hand, acquiring a Lincoln’s Sparrow takes some effort. Since we Read More
Wowed by Warblers
Some days are better than others. That’s true when it comes to birding (though there’s no such thing as a bad day of birding), and it’s definitely true when it comes to warbler watching. Any opportunity to avoid the dreaded “warbler neck” (the cramping that comes from staring up at these tiny birds as they Read More
