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Editor's Column Notes, Announcements & Reflections Hello! This week's edition is short. There's one report and I've added it, and this short note, to the top of last week's report. High winds are causing the lights to flicker now and then. I planted three pounds of peas and a pound of spinach yesterday so I'm very glad to see this rain. Til next week, stay dry today and enjoy the sun the rest of the week. And send along your wild flower pics! We'd love to see them. Robin Thanks to Chad Januskiewicz for the photo in this banner. I have photos from several readers to rotate through. Thank you! I appreciate it! Steve called while I was driving to Bangor Saturday morning. "I just heard two toms across the road. There's a hen loose and she's 'taking' to them." We raise Bourbon Red turkeys. We have eight hens and two toms. I knew from the unconcerned tone of his voice that it wasn't out toms across the road. He wasn't concerned because he wasn't going to have to find them and bring them home. Me on the other hand - I was concerned. I don't want my hens near wild toms. "Please," I begged, "get her IN!" It took some juggling to get them in but they're safely separated by 7' fencing. The wild turkeys stayed nearby all weekend. My toms gobbled back and forth with at least one wild tom. I think they've moved on but I'm still listening just in case. I've seen a lot of turkeys on the sides of the road and edges of fields this spring. They seem to have done well over the winter in this area. I don't think we could ask for a more beautiful spring than we have this year. After such a long winter this is wonderful. BK sent the answer to last week's question. The bird RO asked about is a northern harrier hawk. We have one here in early evening too. It's a beautiful bird that we've enjoyed watching. Have a great week! Robin Follette Editor/Publisher |
Maine Nature NewsApril 29, 2008 Vol. 13, No. 17
Friday, April 25 Standish (Map 5)
The goldfinches are back. First sighting this evening at 6:30 p.m. in Standish. It's great to have them back. -- Ron April 22, 2008
Vol.
13, No. 16
 Photo courtesy of Joan Farnsworth Monday, April 14
Unity (Map 21)
Osprey's are back in a nest they built last year in Albion. They built it on Rt. 9 on powerline poles that sit right above a swamp. This nest is between China Lake and Lovejoy Pond. Last year they hatched 3 chic's. Woodcock have been out singing for a week now. Took our 4 month old out for a walk today looking for antlers and heard the peepers in the bog. Harrier has also been circling the field this week. HB  There was a one legged robin on our lawn. Last fall we also had one and I got a few pictures and I think that this is the same one. It has no problem getting worms and can sit on a limb. Last fall it spent a good part of its evening time in our holly bushes and I thought that it might be staying there to avoid the neighbors cats. It can sit on a limb however we have observed this year. I will try and get a diecent picture for you if it stays around. By the time that I got new batteries in the camera, it was too dark for clear shots. D&E from Glenburn |
| Q&A Q. What
kind of hawk hovers in front of trees while hunting small birds?
We see this bird only from a distance. t is approximately
18-24" tall, white underside, dark feathers, "owlish" shaped face.
The description is so vague that its behavior might be the
only useful information. RO
emailA. The description of a hawk that hovers and has an owlish face sounds like a Northern Harrier Hawk, once called a marsh hawk. We have them at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in Florida in the winter. They fly low over the marsh areas and have a white spot on the top of the tail at the base. My bird book shows that they breed in the northern U.S. and Canada and migrate to the southern U.S. in winter. BK Send your questions and answers in for next week's issue! |