Mainebirding News

BRI webcam captures Bald Eagle egg laying

news post submitted by Patrick Keenan — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:00:00 EST

GORHAM, Maine, March 9, 2010 - BRI Eaglecam2 has documented that eagles have laid their first egg in a nest monitored by a webcam. This is one of Biodiversity Research Institute's live internet cameras in Maine allowing the public to monitor a bald eagle pair at a nest in central Maine.

"The eagles began bringing grasses to line the nest bowl about two weeks ago and laid an egg during the late afternoon on March 8th," said Patrick Keenan, BRI's Outreach Coordinator. "Early this morning we confirmed the presence of the egg when the adult left nest for several minutes. Even though the egg has not yet hatched I feel like a new dad."

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2010 Great Backyard Bird Count

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:00:00 EST

January 26, 2010 - Bird watchers coast to coast are invited to take part in the 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, Friday, February 12, through Monday, February 15, 2010. Participants in the free event will join tens of thousands of volunteers counting birds in their own backyards, local parks or wildlife refuges.

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SeaNet-Beached Bird Surveys-Volunteer Opportunity

news post submitted by Stella Walsh — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:00:00 EST

The Seabird Ecological Assessment Network (SEANET) is recruiting volunteer citizen scientists to assist in a study of seabirds along the coast of Maine. Volunteers are asked to register with the Tufts-based program to walk an assigned segment of shoreline and record environmental data and the presence of live and dead marine birds. A shoreline of any substrate can be surveyed - cobble, gravel, ledge, boulder, or sand - provided it can be walked year-round. Ocean-facing shores, coves, bays, and harbors are all acceptable for surveys.

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News from Maine IF&W

news post submitted by Steve Walker — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:00:00 EST

Maine Birder Band Program!

In 2009 the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife "registered" well over 300 Maine birders and outdoor enthusiasts through this voluntary program, and registered birders from 23 other states! The birder band program has been featured in national birding magazines, on-line blogs, and e-mail newsletters each helping to spread the word. Several other state wildlife agencies have contacted MDIF&W to assist them in launching similar efforts in their states.

The success of this program has certainly boosted the profile of birding at MDIF&W, and has proven that birders and other non-consumptive wildlife enthusiasts are willing to contribute directly to the programs that benefit non-game bird conservation and access to birding hotspots. Maine Birder Band revenue currently makes up a small portion of funds needed by MDIF&W to sustain non-game wildlife conservation efforts, however every dollar is critical as non-game programs rely heavily on voluntary contributions to leverage state and federal match. The following is a sampling of MDIF&W work completed in 2009 relevant to Maine birders. Birder Band funds raised in 2009 will be allocated for similar work this year.

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Sears Island Causeway (Ruddy Ducks Followup)

news post submitted by Seth Benz — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:00:00 EST

This morning provided some of the greatest numbers (100+) and best
looks (quite close) at Ruddy Duck in recent years at this location.
Other species included long-tailed duck (80+), bufflehead (50), common
goldeneye (12), Bonaparte's gull (60), horned grebe (4), common loon
(3).
Fort Point Cove produced only a dozen or so RUDU today.

Seth Benz

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