Editor's Column
Notes, Announcements
& Reflections

Hello!

Welcome to the new and returning readers who find Maine Nature News after an article runs in a newspaper this week.  More about it and a link to the article next week.  

This week's banner is from a photo was submitted by GR.  It's a good reminder to watch your bird feeders. Bears will raid them if they're still hungry and have a chance at an easy meal.

There is an answer to last week's question in Q&A this week.  I have a question to go along with Dave's answer.  Has anyone tried spraying Listerine as a black fly repellent?  I've read the email that's ciruclating the net and have been wondering.  

Do you have a nature-related Maine blog?  I'd like to include links to such blogs.  If you have one please let me know by sending an email to the reports link above.

Comments coming in with black fly reports this week:

MNN needs a new scale. 1 to 3 just isn't going to cut it this year. 10+ right now. They just swarm in dense clouds (to the point of effecting vision), the hum is physiological warfare. I was in 3 layers of shirts with netting and gloves and they still find cracks to crawl through and bite.
*slap*
MP

Hi the Black Flies are ferocious here in Pembroke – some locals say that Pembroke is the official breeding town for the flies.  Was trying to mow the lawn this am and had to stop  -- the bugs are ‘wicked’.  At this time of year=I would welcome the mosquito!  R and SS

An early start lets you work in relative peace outdoors until the sun warms up the day. But when the flies get going you better be ready. DEET
products appear ineffective we are having some luck with Avon's Skin So Soft. Unfortunately it only takes a few to get through your defenses to leave lasting ugly angry welts. The back of both my hands are ballooned up in reaction to bites while gardening. GV

I have a report for you Mom.  THERE ARE MILLIONS AND THEY'RE BITING ME.  And she proceeded to point out the bites she got while waiting for the bus this morning.  

Between the cool temperature and later on the breeze I didn't have to deal with many black flies while turkey hunting last Friday morning.  We saw fisher tracks in wet dirt in Danforth (Map 45).  My hunting partner and friend PS knew they were fisher tracks because of the side-by-side foot placement.  Once I pictured a fisher moving I knew he was right.  I had no luck hunting, btw.  Up at 3 am, home at 12:30 pm, two tom turkeys 30' from a livingroom window.  The next morning they were in my garden.  We chased them off and haven't seen them since.
Have you taken a deep breath while standing outside lately?  It smells wonderful here.  The wild apple trees and my cherry trees are in full bloom.  In a day or two the lilacs will open.  When all three bloom at the same time it's overwhelming.  It's a little too sweet smelling so I don't stay near them for long.  The air is buzzing.  You can hear bees from almost everywhere in the yard.  The trillium are still in bloom.  Is anyone seeing lady slippers?  I don't seem to have them on my land.  The violets and strawberries continue to blossom.  It looks like a great year for while strawberries.  

I'm going to stop here and go back outside to work while the wind is keeping the black flies down.

Have a great week!

Robin Follette
Editor/Publisher
email

Maine Nature News