From: "Linda Woodard" <lwoodard@MAINEAUDUBON.ORG>

To: <BIRDEAST@listserv.arizona.edu>

Subject: [BIRDEAST] Maine Bird Alert March 19, 2003

Date: Friday, March 21, 2003 3:37 PM

Name: Maine Audubon Bird Alert

Date: March 19, 2003

Area: State of Maine

Number: (207) 781-2332

Compilers: Steve Pollock and Kay Gammons

Transcriber: Maine Audubon (birdalert@maineaudubon.org)

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An extremely early INDIGO BUNTING was reported to have flitted around and

landed briefly along Chases Mills Rd. in East Machias. An EARLY CHIPPING

SPARROW was seen in Cape Porpoise.

The migration this week saw small increases in the numbers of RED-WINGED

BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES in the southwestern coastal areas and inland

to a lesser degree. Also arriving in southern Maine and the mid coast were

KILLDEER. Scattered reports of TURKEY VULTURES were received from the York

and Cumberland County areas and inland as far as Wilton. We received a few

reports of AMERICAN WOODCOCK in the York County region. SONG SPARROWS also

arrived in small numbers.

The population of wintering AMERCIAN ROBINS is still fairly large over many

areas.

York County

A pair of RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS was circling Mount Agamenticus in York.

Along Perkins Cove on Marginal Way Walkway in Ogunquit there were 12

HARLEQUIN DUCKS, 1 SONG SPARROW, 1 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, 1 GRAY Catbird,

28 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, and 18 COMMON GRACKLES. Along Cutts Island Road

there was a pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS in a field at the edge of the Rachael

Carson Preserve. HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen at the Cliff House in Ogunquit.

In Wells there were 5 GREATER SCAUP, 1 AMERICAN KESTREL, 15 HORNED LARKS,

many RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, and COMMON GRACKLES. A KING EIDER was in Wells

harbor.

At Goose Rocks in Kennebunk there were 6 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, 6 COMMON

GRACKLES, SONG and TREE SPARROWS, 1 KILLDEER, 18 HORNED LARKS, and a BALD

EAGLE.

Sixteen BRANT, 30 DUNLIN, and a HORNED LARK were at Biddeford Pool. Thirty

BRANT and the same flock of DUNLIN were seen at Hills Beach.

A GREAT BLUE HERON was in Kennebunk

. At the Saco Yacht club there were 12 COMMON MERGANSERS and 2 BALD EAGLES.

Along Thunder Road there was an AMERICAN WOODCOCK. A GREAT BLUE HERON was

also in Saco.

Greater Portland and western Maine

A KILLDEER and a SAVANNAH SPARROW were at Pine Point in Scarborough. Other

KILLDEER was seen at Seavey's Landing and Pelreco. A KILLDEER and a TURKEY

VULTURE were at Scarborough marsh.

Twelve TURKEY VULTURES were seen over the Maine Mall in South Portland.

A CAROLINA WREN was seen at Broad Cove in Cape Elizabeth. Sixteen BRANT, 3

HORNED LARKS, 1 COMMON GRACKLE, and 1 PURPLE FINCH were seen in the vicinity

of Kettle Cove.

A TURKEY VULTURE flew over the University of Southern Maine's Gorham campus.

In Wilton this past week there were 2 TURKEY VULTURES, 5 COMMON and 5 HOODED

MERGANSERS, and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK.

A PURPLE FINCH and a SONG SPARROW were seen in Bridgton.

Central Maine

Approximately two dozen CEDAR WAXWINGS were observed in the Hannaford

parking lot in Brunswick.

A COMMON GRACKLE was seen in Topsham.

This week in Turner there were HORNED LARK, SONG SPARROW, COMMON GRACKLE,

and KILLDEER.

A BALD EAGLE was on Long Pond off the Castle Island Road (north side) right

at Castle Island in the Belgrade Lakes area. Two PURPLE FINCHES are visiting

feeders on the West Road in Belgrade Lakes village.

Along Ayers ridge road in Freedom there were 50 SNOW BUNTINGS.

Two HORNED LARKS were in Unity.

A PILEATED WOODPECKER was located in Dixmont.

A BALD EAGLE was seen in Brewer.

Two adult male WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were singing up a storm at the top of

spruce trees on the edge of Caribou Bog, a mile north of the old Orono dump.

Northern Maine

PURPLE and GOLD FINCHES were seen in Houlton along with 50 SNOW BUNTINGS.

Midcoast

One RED-THROATED LOON was seen near Goat Island in Phippsburg. Elsewhere in

Phippsburg were 3 TURKEY VULTURES, 2 COMMON RAVENS, 1 BARRED OWL, and 12

CEDAR WAXWINGS in an apple tree. Seen on Parker Head Road in Phippsburg, on

the river side in an outlet of Center Pond, were a female BLUE-WINGED TEAL

and a female NORTHERN PINTAIL. A group of AMERICAN ROBINS was feeding on

juniper berries and sumac, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, and one COMMON GRACKLE

were also seen.

In Georgetown on the 18TH an AMERICAN WOODCOCK and a NORTHERN FLICKER were

seen.

Two GREAT BLUE HERONS were flying parallel with Washington St. and landed in

the marsh just North of the Maritime Museum. Hooded Mergansers are still

present at the Dike in Woolwich.

Ten BARROW'S GOLDENEYES were in Belfast.

A KING EIDER was at Boothbay.

Eastern Maine

A KILLDEER arrived in Sedgewick. On Tuesday 3/18 a NORTHERN FULMAR was seen

flying and feeding about 100 yards off Thunder Hole at Acadia National Park.

At the harbor on 3/16 there were 18 GREAT and 3 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS

counted. A GREEN-WINGED TEAL was in with 100 BLACK DUCKS and 25 MALLARD at

the Bar Harbor bar on 3/16. The large wintering concentrations of COMMON

EIDERS in Frenchman Bay have decreased from an estimated 10,000 birds to

about 5,000. This could be due to flocks spreading out over the bay rather

than an actual decrease. It is difficult to determine from shore-based

observations. BUFFLEHEADS are showing greatly increased courtship behavior.

Twenty WILD TURKEY are being seen regularly along the Mud Creek Road in

Lamoine. About 50 PURPLR SANDPIPERS were active at the base of Otter Cliffs

in Acadia National Park on 3/18. MOURNING DOVE cooing has increased the past

week, particularly on the warmer days. HAIRY WOODPECKERS are into full

courtship drumming as of 3/16. PILEATED WOODPECKERS have been drumming and

chasing each other on the College of the Atlantic Campus in Bar Harbor.

AMERICAN ROBINS numbers have decreased since last week but they are still

common around town. Small flocks of CEDAR WAXWINGS, between 10 and 25 in

number, are still being seen feeding on decorative shrubs around Bar Harbor.

A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen on Great Cranberry Island on 3/15. Two COMMON

GRACKLES were in with a flock of Starlings in Bar Harbor on 3/16, the first

to be seen since November. PURPLE, HOUSE, and GOLDFINCHES are plentiful at

feeders.

Upcoming Maine Audubon Programs: To reserve your spot call (207) 781-2330,

ext. 215 or email lledoux@maineaudubon.org

Alaska Wilderness: A Canoe Journey into the Arctic National Wildlife

Refuge-Visit Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with a seasoned

naturalist. In this land of 24-hour summer sun, you'll meet some of the

mammals, birds, plants, and insects that thrive in our continent's most

remote wilderness-the Arctic tundra. The slide show and live bird program

treats you to intimate views of Snow Owls at the nest, and caribou

maneuvering ice river crossings. You'll see Peregrine falcons,

yellow-billed loons, and other birds on their nesting ground. Learn how

light and weather, mosquitoes and lemmings play into a symphony of life in

the remote arctic region. This program by Marcia Wilson combines a fast

moving slide presentation with an interactive introduction to a live snowy

owl and other arctic birds as well as a touch table of arctic treasures.

You'll also get great looks at a live Snowy, Short-eared, and Great-Horned

owl!

¨1-2:15p.m., Saturday, March 29. Cost: Cost: $8/member adult, $3/member

child $10/nonmember adult, $4/nonmember child. Reservations necessary

Exploring Maine's Ecology with Dr. Herb Wilson-This course is designed to

give you an introduction to the ecology of Maine. We will investigate the

processes, such as climate, geology, succession that control the

distribution and abundance of plants and animals. We will begin with a

consideration of global climate patterns and then work our way down to

smaller and smaller scales (biomes, communities, populations). Topics to be

discussed will include predation, competition, physical stresses, zonation,

nutrient cycling and forest succession. Recommended text: The Economy of

Nature (fifth edition) by Robert Rickefs. Herb Wilson teaches Ecology,

Ornithology and Biology at Colby College, and is a regular contributor to

many newspapers in Maine, including the Maine Sunday Telegram.¨ 6:30-9:00

p.m. Tuesdays April 8, 15, 22 and 29, 6:30-9:00 pm with field trip May 10.

Cost: $120/member, $150/nonmember. Limited to 20 participants.

Reservations necessary.

Birds, Bellybuttons, and the Meaning of Life- Do you remember the bird that

changed your life? Have you ever wondered why there are so many small brown

birds? Join author and video producer Dick Walton for a lighthearted and

decidedly personal investigation into that mystery of mysteries - why

birders bird. Using video from across North America, Dick will present one

birder's answer. ¨ 7:30 pm Friday, April 11 Cost: $12/member, $15/nonmember,

Reservations necessary

Birding by Ear: An Introduction to Birdsong - Did you know that most

birders, from beginners to experts, identify many of the birds they

encounter by their vocalizations? Join Dick Walton, co-author of the

Peterson Field Guide Series - Birding by Ear, for an in-depth workshop

designed to assist birders develop techniques for learning birdsong as an

aide to field identification. We will focus on our most common songsters and

learn how to recognize and recall their vocalizations. Suitable for

beginning students of birdsong. Participants will receive workshop materials

and registration is limited to 25. ¨ 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Saturday, April

12. Cost $50/member, $65/nonmember. Reservations necessary.

Linda Woodard

Maine Audubon

20 Gilsland Farm Rd

Falmouth, Maine

207-781-2330 ext. 213

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