They hope for rare avian sightings as Audubon’s three-week continental canvass kicks off. By Michael Shepherd, Kennebec Journal Kennebec Journal news story FARMINGDALE — Sunday’s bird count started off like they often do for Glenn Hodgkins. A chickadee and a nuthatch, common in Maine, were the first birds he spotted along Northern Avenue. “Those are Read More
Protecting Wildlife
Conservationists Release 140,000 Maine Salmon
The release will help restore the fish’s run to the East Machias River. The Associated Press Portland Press Herald news story EAST MACHIAS — A Maine conservation organization says its effort to release more than 140,000 juvenile Atlantic salmon will help restore the fish’s run to the East Machias River. The Downeast Salmon Federation released the Read More
Bowdoin Biologist Investigates Tadpole Die-off
Nat Wheelwright says 200,000 died in less than a day last year. ‘It was like a nuclear bomb went off.’ by Chelsea Diana, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story More than 200,000 wood frog tadpoles died within 21 hours last year at a pond in Nat Wheelwright’s backyard in Brunswick, in what may be Read More
Birding the Proposed National Park Lands
by Allison and Jeff Wells For birders like us, there’s no better way to explore new places than by watching and listening for the birds found there. Add to it another dozen bird enthusiasts and make the setting the breathtaking lands east of Baxter State Park proposed as a National Park and National Recreation Area, Read More
Humans Changed Behavior, and Alewives are Rebounding in Kennebec, Penobscot, St. Croix
By Lisa Pohlmann, Special to the BDN Bangor Daily News op-ed For the last few weeks sea-run fish known as alewives have been heading up Maine’s rivers to lay their eggs. Their journey is a breathtaking force of nature to behold, as they fight strong currents, heading upstream in droves. While probably hundreds of millions Read More
Maine Climate Warming Up Quickly, Analysis Shows
It’s tied with Vermont for the fastest rise in annual average temperature for all the states in the past 30 years, affecting wildlife, farmers and fishermen. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story The climate has warmed in Maine and Vermont more than in every other state in the past 30 years, Read More
Five Cents for a Disposable Bag? No Thanks, I’ve Brought My Own!
We all want to see fewer plastic bags dangling in our trees, flapping on our fences, polluting our oceans, and clogging up our storm drains—it’s how to solve this problem that’s cause for debate. Some people suggest that we should ban plastic bags altogether, that way there won’t be any to be littered. Others say Read More
Portland Panel Lowers Plastic Bag Fee to 5 Cents, Sends It to City Council
The new plan would also allow retailers to keep the nickel they charge for each disposable plastic or paper bag. By Kevin Miller, Staff Writer Portland Press Herald news story Members of Portland’s Transportation, Sustainability and Energy Committee voted 3-1 to endorse an anti-litter proposal that would require retailers to collect 5 cents for every Read More
Pingree Presses for Ocean Acidification Study
The Maine 1st District Rep. Chellie Pingree says some Maine fisheries are already threatened by ocean acidification, caused by excessive amounts of carbon in the atmosphere. MPBN news story Maine U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree has introduced legislation that would require federal officials to study the effects of ocean acidification on coastal communities in Maine and Read More
