Vol. 1, no. 43 Tuesday, December 24, 1996
Quick jumps: | This week's reports | Downeast Birdline -- discontinuation announcement | Meeting of new group: Greater Portland Naturalists Forum | Publication announcement: Biological Diversity in Maine: An Assessment of Status and Trends in the Terrestrial and Freshwater Landscape |
You are invited to participate. Your reports are always welcomed!
Please e-mail Frank Wihbey, Editor: menature@maine.maine.edu
This week's reports
Report format = Day, date, time. Location (Maine Atlas Map number) Report text. Initials of correspondent
Sunday, December 15. Orrington/Holden (Map 23) On Dec. 15, on a walk around the boundary of Maine Audubon's Fields Pond Nature Center, Penobscot Valley Chapter officers of Maine Audubon found 2 porcupine dens. There were large mounds of scat and some quills, and the porcupine was visible in one of the dens. There was also a large tree with bear claw marks on it, several piles of bear scat, and much sign of red squirrel and deer too. J.K.M.
Thursday, December 18. Orono (Map 23) The Stillwater River is ice free again. F.W.
Saturday, December 21. Orono (Map 23) Huge ice flakes reappeared in the Stillwater River after the onset of the latest freezing spell. F.W.
Saturday, December 21. Orono (Map 23) Few birds seen at or near our feeders for this year's Audubon Christmas Bird Count. A couple of blue jays, a few black-capped chickadees, and a crow were all that appeared. This seems somehow related to the abrupt change of weather, which dawned clear and cold after nearly a week of overcast, drizzle and rain. Why would these be related? F.W.
Sunday, December 22. Falmouth (Map 5) Tidal area along Rte. 295, near Bucknam Road exit, Falmouth area, observed five buffleheads. B.G.
Sunday, December 22. Orono (Map 23) About fifteen American goldfinches, in winter
coloring were feeding on seeds in the catkins high in a yellow birch in our yard.
Also noted today about forty pigeons (rock doves) gathered on the the roof of a downtown
building. What was noteworthy about this otherwise common sight was that they were not on
the peak of the roof as usual, but were clinging to the surface on the downwind (South)
hip of the roof, and were nestled in complete impugnity under the false owl placed up
there to discourage them! F.W.
Sunday, December 22. Orrington (Map 23) Saw an immature bald eagle, possibly two years old, circling for several minutes over Fields Pond, perhaps to catch a fish. The pond is still nearly ice free. F.W.
Monday, December 23. E. Orland (Map 23) 7 hooded mergansers mingled with the roughly ten resident mallards. I was surprised at the casual diving of the mergansers within the swimming flotilla of mallards, the two species almost touching. Like the goldfinches and chickadees at our feeders, individuals of the different species seem to tolerate closeness interspecially more than intraspecially. The water here is being drained off y at the dam. But it's level is about average. Patches of ice appear both here and toward the middle of First Toddy. W.D.
Downeast Birdline has ceased -- discontinuation announcement
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