MID-COAST AUDUBON MerganserThe Mid-Coast Audubon’s mission is to promote long-term responsible use of natural resources through an informed membership, education, and community awareness

Published three times a year Volume 43, No. 1 - February 2019

Guest author - Louis President’s Corner Calendar Dawning of the 119th New & Rejoining Think about Spring Bevier Soup, Sea Ducks, Field trips and Christmas Count Members What will you put in your garden? Great Black - Surprises programs Highlights of local Page 6 What are you doing Page 2 Page 4 counts Page 7 in Maine? Page 5 Action Alert Critter Corner Great Backyard Bird Page 1 Scholarships Environmental issues More peanuts, please! Count Summer Fun and Quiz - Fun with for the upcoming 2019 Page 2 Get your favorite hot Learning Flocks legislative session drink and count Page 4 Can you name the Page 6 flocks? from the comfort of your Page 6 chair! Page 7 BY LOUIS BEVIER Mexico, state of Nayarit, San Blas, Why am I telling this story? Because May 31, 1980, time 06:15–09:30—my last year a Great Black Hawk showed notes say I am exploring up in Maine and decided to adopt an swamps near this small town on the urban landscape with large white west coast of Mexico where it is oaks, planted spruces trees, and “sunny and calm, 80°–90° F.” On that alleyways as home. Great Black trip over thirty-eight years ago, I saw are generalist predators, my first Great Black Hawk. preying on fish, frogs, lizards, and small mammals. The adopted daily That area is about as far north as the diet of Eastern Grey Squirrels, ranges, the steamy northern introduced rats, and the occasional edge of the subtropics. Thinking Rock Dove stolen from another hawk back, I can still picture iguanas in the made sense for this Great Black and the thrill of my first Louis Bevier Hawk now that it was in Maine. Bare-throated Tiger-Herons, Boat- billed Herons, Mangrove Cuckoos, Great Black Hawk checking out its next meal! Ironically, I was in west Mexico not trogons, and parrotlets. Subtropical and tropical lowland woods far south of San Blas when this hawk was found in Biddeford near water is the expected habitat of the Great Black Hawk. last August. The news first came via social media about an They are resident along both coasts of Mexico south through unidentified immature hawk. Identification of immature black and South America to northern Argentina. As hawks, Common and Great, was not something bird guides far as known, they are resident and do not migrate, unlike the forty years ago explained well. The very long legs of Great and , which does have migratory populations its short primaries, extending only a short way on the folded in the northern part of its range. They can be seen on spring wing, were, however, noted by Alexander Wetmore and Robert migration, for example, along the Santa Cruz River in Ridgway decades ago as key differences from Common Black Hawk. southeastern Arizona. Continued on page 3 https://midcoast.maineaudubon.org/ 1 MID-COAST AUDUBON

PRESIDENT’ S CORNER and even allow us to shift perspectives. Of course, not all surprises are good, but providing more opportunities for good S UE S CHUBEL surprises is definitely beneficial! A friend and I finally went to Soup, Sea Ducks, Surprises see the Great Black Hawk. Imagine the surprise of finding that from Central and South America for the first time. We Hot soup – just right for a cold day. weren’t certain it would be there in Portland’s Deering Oaks And sea ducks – a splashy condiment on the winter seas. A Park, where it has been since November, but there it was, with perfect pairing. What a nice surprise to find a food truck in attendant photographers and birders. Very cool, lovely long Rockland selling soup, parked right next to a lovely harbor legs. We appreciated it on an icy January day. But view, with quackers. Today – white bean and sausage soup, surprising? Not so much. with a side of American Wigeon, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, Long-tailed and At Two Lights State Park though, we walked Black Ducks. out over the frigid rocks and were quite astonished to see Harlequin Ducks and And the surprise of it! Finding out that a Common Eiders with a perfect blush; the soup truck was in Rockland was good, but sun just right for amazing colors. That then discovering all these birds while separation between expectation and supping – even better! According to the reality (surprise) gave us an excellent dose book, Surprise: Embrace the Unpredictable and of dopamine for the pleasure centers of Engineer the Unexpected, being surprised our brains, and a strong memory to boot. American Wigeon pair intensifies our experiences by about Sue Schubel Grab a buddy and your bins (another 400%. Because it is unexpected, our biology perfect pairing), and go outside! Travel a perceives it as a possible threat and causes us new route, or even the same loop in the opposite direction. to freeze for an instant. This pause and focus may seem Enrich your life, as you let yourself encounter the insignificant, but it gives one an opportunity to be curious and unexpected. Here’s hoping you’ll be surprised, too. notice new things. It may make us more adaptable to change,

CRITTER CORNER D ON R EIMER abruptly when a rocketing squirrel snapped off the feeder’s ringed spinner mechanism. The view through my living room window looks directly at several bird feeders suspended on thin metal wires from Does anything actually work to minimize squirrel contacts overhanging tree branches. Beyond a few bounding chickadees with your feeders? Certain feeders equipped with weight and nuthatches grabbing sunflower sensitive perch closures generally work. Since birds weigh far seeds, a frustrated grey squirrel stares less than squirrels, they can eat intently back at me, pumping his tail comfortably without causing the defiantly and issuing chittering feeder compartment to close. Or you challenges under his breath. might consider the patented Squirrel Stopper Pole that features an I’m a seasoned veteran of the squirrel inverted cone-shaped baffle that is campaigns though, with some meager suspended on springs. When wins and notable losses. Like the time I touched it begins to bounce, tumbled off a stepladder while allegedly preventing squirrels or repositioning a feeder, breaking my raccoons from climbing any further. right wrist. Through the years, I’ve Squirrels are prodigious jumpers, attached any number of creative but Eastern Grey Squirrel Don Reimer ineffective contraptions to my feeders, capable of reaching feeders located including slinky metal springs, 10 feet or less from any tree beverage bottles, kitchen funnels and vinyl photograph branches, decks, roofs or power lines. Try positioning feeders records. I’ve applied red pepper flakes, greasy Crisco further away from any such strategic launching pads. shortening and sticky WD 40 lubricant to feeder poles, baffles Remember that placing certain food types directly on the and domes. I admit to chasing and pitching a broomstick at ground, such as nuts, sunflower seed, corn and fruit will coax fleeing squirrels on various occasions. potential scores of squirrels and other rodents into your yard. For a time, I owned an expensive battery-powered feeder that It may seem hard to fathom, but I know of folks who genuinely spun when a squirrel mounted it, slinging the offending rodent enjoy watching the ingenious antics of squirrels around their straight into the shrubbery! Those brief glory days ended home feeders. And that’s okay too!

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Padre Island, Texas. That was a little to the south have only one broad white over three months before the Maine bar across the tail (the nominate sighting. The Texas record was the first , urubitinga). As far as known thought to be of natural occurrence in immature plumages do not differ. the United States. Independently, John An oddity about the Maine-Texas bird is Schmitt and Tom Johnson noticed that that its first generation of new tail the unique pattern of dark blobs on the feathers show two different patterns. under wing coverts matched on the The new tail feathers on the left side are

John Weinrich John Texas bird and the Maine sighting. typical of the earlier immature stage, Incredibly, the same bird had flown being finely barred with a broad black from Texas to Maine. This far band at the tip. Some finely barred Great Black Hawk at Deering Oaks Park, Portland. outstripped expectations of vagrancy in juvenile (called basic I by some) tail Once established that the unidentified an otherwise sedentary species. feathers remain, as is typical in large bird was a Great Black Hawk and that it birds. On the right side, however, the was indeed in Maine, the hunt was on. new tail feathers are broadly black with Thanks to Doug Hitchcox, who found it two wavy white bars, one broader and again, many others got to see the bird at one narrow nearer the base. This Biddeford, where its opportunism was matches the pattern of the third on display as it wolfed down eggs of generation of tail feathers, i.e., more small passerines. Sadly, the bird was adult-like. The pattern of these black gone a couple of days later. Then in late and white feathers does match samples October, while I was corresponding of ridgwayi, but it is still uncertain with Bill Bunn, he casually asked about Frank Mantlik 2018 whether any South American birds a raptor he had photographed. I told Great Black Hawk eating an egg in Biddeford show a similar pattern. It would make him it was the Great Black Hawk, most sense for a natural vagrant to assuming he had photographed it back Some limited wandering is known. in August. No! It was on October 29, on For example, in the state of Sonora, the Eastern Promenade in Portland. northwest Mexico, there are five Searches failed to locate the bird; we all records (up to 1995) north to the Rio assumed it was gone again. A month Yaqui. Two are from March and passed, and by now snow was on the April; three are from November and ground. Then another post to social December (The Birds of Sonora by media asked about an unidentified Stephen Russell and Gale Monson, hawk in Deering Oaks Park, Portland. It 1995). Could the species sometimes was the Great Black Hawk, still here. wander? The latitude of those northwestern records and the spring The bird stayed and was widely occurrences are of interest because enjoyed. After a severe storm in mid- Great Black Hawk tail feathers, courtesy of Avian Haven. they might presage the Texas late January, the bird was found a bit originate from Mexico and thus be an occurrence. weakened and on the ground. The example of ridgwayi. But it is better left decision was made to rescue it, and When the bird showed up in early undetermined for now. This complicates Avian Haven, with Diane Winn and August, it had started molt on its inner ideas of where, if at all, one would Marc Payne at the helm, are nursing the primaries and some tail feathers repatriate the Maine hawk. Maine or bird, which is healthy except for (rectrices). This first wave of molt Texas make sense if we respect the potentially serious frostbite that may usually occurs when a juvenile Great bird’s free will to have flown to those affect the viability of the feet. Black Hawk is about a year old. They locations, if it can be released into the Nevertheless, its future is an open pass through a couple of immature wild again. plumages before attaining the all-black question. Where does one release the Louis Bevier is a research associate, Biology bird? Where did it come from? adult plumage. In adults, populations Department, Colby College, and is on the from Mexico south to Panama show a Maine Birds Records Committee. Before the bird showed up in Maine, a narrow white bar across the base of the juvenile Great Black Hawk was Note: Florida had some long-staying Great tail (subspecies ridgwayi), whereas birds Black Hawks that were the nominate (S.Am.) photographed on April 24 at South form. These have been regarded as escapes. https://midcoast.maineaudubon.org/ 3 MID-COAST AUDUBON Calendar of Events FREE bird walks (no pets please) and programs; donations are welcome to help defray costs. Program chair: Kathy Cartwright 832-5584. Field trip chair: Dennis McKenna 563-8439

FEBRUARY backyards to improve the habitat for Maine birds. He’ll discuss Program: Thursday, February 21, 7 p.m. what you can plant and how to manage and maintain your Camden Library garden for its full ecological benefit. Join us for a panel discussion of the environmental considerations for the APRIL Penobscot Bay Watershed as it relates to Field Trip: Thursday, April 11 land-based salmon farms proposed for Damariscotta River Association and Salt Bay Farm Belfast and Bucksport. Panelists include: Early migrants and holdover winter passerines. Andrew Stevenson, a Belfast resident Meet at Farm parking lot on Belvedere Rd. at 7:00 a.m. recently retired from a career in environmental protection; Dr. Program: Thursday, April 18, 7 p.m. Nichole N. Price, Senior Research Scientist Director, Center for Camden Library Venture Research on Seafood Solutions, and Eric Sanders, Mike Shannon, a lifelong naturalist, storyteller, educator, and Councilor Ward 3, City of Belfast. Moderator: John Morrison, Maine Guide will tell us about Romantic Antics – The Sky World Wildlife Fund, Director of Conservation Planning & Dance of the American Woodcock. He’ll describe the annual Measures. Detailed information can be found at our website. courtship cycle; the woodcock’s aerial technique, bizarre and Field Trip: Thursday, February 28 mysterious, places him up front as a strange suitor. Cliff House and Perkins Cove, Ogunquit Looking for sea ducks, alcids and other seabirds. MAY International Meet at Damariscotta Hannaford at 7:00 a.m. Field Trip: Saturday, May 11 Migratory Bird Day! Migrating seabirds and passerines. MARCH Meet at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse parking lot at 7:00 a.m. Field Trip: Thursday, March 14 Biddeford Pool, Pine Point and Scarborough Marsh Field Trip: Saturday, May 25 Sea ducks, raptors, and early migrants. Monhegan Island day trip to see spring migrants, Meet at Damariscotta Hannaford at 7:00 a.m. Make reservation through Monhegan Boat Line prior to trip. Meet at Ferry Dock, Port Clyde at 6:45 a.m. Program: Thursday, February 21, 7 p.m. Camden Library For updates and detailed information about our events, visit our Eric Topper, Maine Audubon’s Director of Education, presents website https://midcoast.maineaudubon.org/!or Bringing Nature Home, expanding native plants into our e-mail [email protected]

Can’t afford to go to camp? The Mid-Coast chapter Summer Fun and Learning has given scholarships to its local community for over 50 years. Scholarships for 2019 are available thanks to with Scholarships our Jean Hamlin Ornithology and Joe Gray scholarship funds. Hog Island offers sessions for teens and adults. For example, “Sharing Nature: An Educator’s Week” – mingle with fellow educators, be reinvigorated and learn new things for the classroom, a new session with David Tallamy “Creating Bird Friendly Habitats,” or “Raptor Rapture” – learn about ospreys and other raptors. Explore: http://hogisland.audubon.org/ But don’t wait too long. For information and application visit our website: Hog Island Audubon Camp in Bremen, Maine https://midcoast.maineaudubon.org/ or contact Sue at [email protected].

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Dawning of the 119th Annual Christmas Bird Count

Pemaquid/Damariscotta (MEPD) One noticeable trend is the progressive Christmas Bird Count, Friday, northward expansion of species in December 14, 2018. Twenty-six response to generally milder and participants fanned out over the 15- shorter winters. Red-bellied mile diameter count circle, in part to Woodpeckers, for example, now nest ascertain whether the local populace and winter in Maine – 6 were found on was correct when they asked: “where count day. Cardinals (49 this year) and are all the birds”? In this count, there Mourning Doves (205) are abundant. were 4,393 individual birds counted, Northern Mockingbirds and Carolina

nearly 2,000 fewer than last year’s Reimer Don Wrens became relative newcomers to count. Pine Grosbeak New England in past decades and are found regularly in Maine. Increases of Despite the low numbers, 65 species Mallard duck populations (558) and were found by the hardy birders, decreases of Black Ducks (65) continue, which is about average for the MEPD as hybridization between the two count circle. A Baltimore Oriole, species favors the former. visiting a feeder in Bremen, was found during the count-week. Four species: Perhaps this year’s biggest surprise the Red-bellied Woodpecker, Double- was a virtual absence of the irruptive crested Cormorants, Sharp-shinned winter finches we had anticipated. No Hawk and Bald experienced cross-bills, siskins, purple finches or

record-breaking high counts. A Roushdy Juanita redpolls. Waxwings also went Gadwall, a duck found for the first Baltimore Oriole unrecorded this time. One saving grace time last year, was again sighted this was a cluster of 4 Pine Grosbeaks at year. Clark Island. Blue Jay numbers were Irruptive winter finches, predicted and down (56 individuals), as portions of eagerly anticipated this year, failed to jay populations vacate the region in show; with only one Pine Siskin years with poor acorn crops. spotted. It is no secret that Wild Turkeys are Thomaston/Rockland, Saturday, doing well, however. With December 15, 2018. This year’s 68 populations reestablished in Maine species was considerably lower than Reimer Don woodlands in the 1970s, fields and Northern Shrike last year’s record-setting 83 species, commercial gardens (and select bird Despite well-stocked feeding stations, with overall numbers also down by feeders of lucky homeowners) now bird activity was limited in many roughly a thousand. Factors such as contain the foraging flocks. Five Great instances. Did this mean that, with weather and travel conditions on count Blue Herons and Belted Kingfishers bare ground conditions, birds were day, the amount of snow cover and were found on count day. A single feeding in the local woods and fields? whether fresh water bodies are Northern Shrike at Tenants Harbor Or were fewer birds lingering at the unfrozen influence the count totals. was a welcome addition to the count. mid-coast? Fresh-water lakes were Food availability (natural sources and Photo: sunrise at Pemaquid Lighthouse on CBC solidly frozen, reducing waterfowl day 2018 by Juanita Roushdy at feeders) is always a chief factor. numbers and diversity. Continued on page 7. https://midcoast.maineaudubon.org/ 5 MID-COAST AUDUBON

Bird Quiz — Fun with Flocks Mid-Coast To call a flock of crows a "murder" is unfair, but some traditional New and Audubon terms for flocks are simply descriptive, such as a "murmuration" of Rejoining Members! starlings. See if you can name the type of birds in the following Organized December 6, 1969 flocks: Camden Garden Club, Camden a 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization 1. A cotillion of ______7. An exaltation of ______Tony and Cheryl Ferrara, Bremen Dianne Goddard, Friendship P.O. Box 458, Damariscotta, ME 04543-0458 2. A herd of ______8. A scold of [email protected] Gill Iltis, Chamberlain 3. A raft of ______9. A squadron of ______Kristen Rupert, Watertown, MA OFFICERS 4. A huddle of ______10. A charm of ______Alice M. Savage, Windsor Sue Schubel, President 5. A shimmer of ______11. A kettle of ______Barbara Kinder, Vinalhaven John Weinrich, Vice President Sherrie York, Secretary 6. A confusion of ______12. A college of ______Harry Smith, Camden Richard Vose, Nobleboro Lew Purinton, Treasurer Answers on page 7 DIRECTORS Tom Arter, Newcastle 4. Habitat Connectivity. Securing at Action Alerts Stephen Barnes, Tenants Harbor least $75 million in new funding for Kathy Cartwright, Waldoboro Land for Maine’s Future. LMF is a Bill Goodwill, Friendship 30-year success story, conserving Dennis McKenna, Damariscotta over 600,000 acres of working Kristin Pennock, Whitefield forests, farms, and waterfronts. Gail Presley, Rockland 5. Wildlife Stewardship. Rebuilding Lew Purinton, Somerville core functions of the Bureau of Don Reimer, Warren Maine Audubon and its 7 chapters are Parks and Lands with focus on Juanita Roushdy, Bremen active in preserving and conserving conserving older forests. Maine’s Sherrie York, Bristol Maine’s wildlife and habitat. Did you Public Reserved Lands contain some of COMMITTEES know that Maine enacted its own the oldest trees in the state – prime Field Trips: Dennis McKenna, 563-8439 Endangered Species Act in 1975, habitat for boreal and migratory forest Nest boxes: Lew Purinton, 215-1913 concerned that fish and wildlife were birds of high conservation value. The Membership: Juanita Roushdy, 529-2355 disappearing from the state. balance between sustainable forestry, Preserves: Bill Goodwill, 354-0669 outdoor recreation, and wildlife habitat Programs: Kathy Cartwright, 832-5584 Eliza Donoghue, Senior Policy and has been lost. Scholarship: Sue Schubel, 380-1370 Advocacy Specialist for Maine Audubon, Special Events: Sue Schubel, 380-1370 spends a lot of time in Augusta. Coming soon is a new The Merganser editor: Juanita Roushdy, This legislative session will see her report on transitioning to 529-2355 and Maine Audubon striving renewable energy. The Merganser is published three times a year toward: Conservation Biologist in February, May, November. News items and GIS Manager Sarah and photos are welcome. 1. Strengthening the threatened Haggerty and the rest of Maine Maine Endangered Deadline for next issue is April 15! the Maine Audubon Send to [email protected] Species Act. Conservation Team are 2. Climate and Energy. Setting bold finalizing the report. It targets for reducing emissions will contain best practices Injured Bird! and transitioning to a low-carbon to reduce wildlife impacts Avian Haven economy. from solar, on- and off- 3. Plastics Pollution. Developing shore wind, and Accepts all bird species policies to decrease the amount of transmission lines. year-round plastic that pollutes our land and water Visit Maine Audubon’s website: https:// 207-382-6761 and harms wildlife. www.maineaudubon.org/. Sign up for www.avianhaven.org Action Alerts or even volunteer to help. Cooper’s Hawk enjoying squirrel! Fun with Flocks Quiz Answers Photo by Don 1. Terns 4. Penguins 7. Larks 10. Finches Reimer 2. Cowbirds 5. Hummingbirds 8. Jays 11. Raptors 3. Ducks 6. Warblers 9. Pelicans 12. Cardinals

6 https://midcoast.maineaudubon.org/ MID-COAST AUDUBON Christmas Bird Count. . . cont’d Bunker Hill (MEBL) CBC, December 17, 2018. Sixteen keen There were, for this count, record highs and lows for several birders in eight sections bucked a very snowy day counting species. For example, only 11 Blue Jays were counted, which is birds in the 13-year old Bunker Hill Christmas Bird Count a 13-year low against a record high of 688 in 2017. Conversely, circle. Counters were in the field from daylight to dusk while wild turkeys had a record high with 708 gobblers as opposed four additional counters counted birds at their feeders from to the second highest count of 409 in 2008 and the lowest the warmth of their homes. The 53 count of six in 2006. Wild turkeys, once species seen this year was within 2 of native to Maine, were extirpated in the the 13-year average of 55, but the actual early 1800s from overhunting and forest number of birds counted, 3,288, was clearing along the coast. In 1978, they close to 1,500 below the average seen were reintroduced in Maine by over the life of the circle. Poor weather state biologists and the birds have was a major contributor for the low thrived ever since. numbers of birds seen. Higher numbers Only the second American Kestrel ever of species were expected after the winter seen in the history of the circle was finch report out of Canada predicted a discovered this year in the Whitefield heavy eruption of finches this winter. section. Ten Evening Grosbeaks were seen in the

Nobleboro area. Evening Grosbeaks Reimer Don

Think about Your Spring Garden! Not Able to Do a

What will go in your garden this year to attract birds and Christmas Bird pollinators? Although many hybrids and cultivars are Count . . . Then the attractive to our feathered friends, wouldn’t it be better to have plants and flowers native to Maine consumed and Great Backyard Bird spread rather than nonnatives? Count is for You! Not sure what to plant? A number of resources can Get a steaming hot cup of help. Ask local garden bird-friendly coffee, your shops that have native binoculars and sit down and plants. The Wild Seed watch the birds coming to Project is a Maine nonprofit your feeders, either at home,

Wild Seed Project Seed Wild can participate from your Elderberry bush dedicated to saving Maine’s at school, at the office, or, backyard or anywhere in the native seed bank and hey, even, the gym! world. encourages gardeners to use them: https:// The Great Backyard Bird wildseedproject.net/ National Audubon’s program Plant Count (GBBC) is free, fun, Your reported sightings will for Birds provides photos and information on plants and an easy event that help researchers at Cornell suitable for your zip code: https://www.audubon.org/ engages bird watchers of all Lab of Ornithology and plantsforbirds Even better, visit Maine Audubon’s native ages in counting birds to National Audubon learn plant sale in Falmouth in June. Your local extension office create a real-time snapshot of more about birds. is another helpful resource and often has plants for sale bird populations. So, take 15 minutes to share later in the spring; for example, with your friends watching Knox County has a Plants for Participants count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as birds and contributing to the Maine Landscape program that citizen science. Be part of the gives details about native plants. long as they wish) on one or more days of the four-day Great Backyard Bird Count, Native plants provide more food event and report their February 15-18. You may be for birds and wildlife, require less sightings online surprised at what you see! water, are used to Maine weather, at birdcount.org. Anyone can Take someone birding, share

and are not aggressive. Enjoy the Project Seed Wild Rhoda take part, from beginning the fun! bounty and beauty of Maine! bird watchers to experts. You https://midcoast.maineaudubon.org/ 7 Mid-Coast Audubon - The Merganser MID-COAST AUDUBONVolume 43, No. 1 - February 2019

Mid-Coast Audubon Nonprofit org. P.O. Box 458 Damariscotta, ME 04543-0458 U.S. Postage https://midcoast.maineaudubon.org/ Paid An all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) chapter of Maine Audubon Permit #862 Damariscotta, ME

04543-0458 Don Reimer Don

Love is in the air for this Wood Duck and female Mallard in Rockport Harbor!

Teens Head to Costa Rica for Tropical Teen Week! Join the Hog Island and ABA team in 22nd Annual Great Backyard Bird Count Costa Rica, July 21-26, 2019. Sign up February 15-18, 2019 at http://hogisland.audubon.org/ See page 7

MID - COAST AUDUBON