Please e-mail Frank Wihbey, Editor: menature@maine.maine.eduVol. 2, no. 14 Tuesday, April 8, 1997
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.
Tuesday, April 1. E. Orland (Map 23) Toddy Pond near the
dam: Two hooded mergansers landed in open water 15 feet from the house, water a little
more than wide enough to accommodate them. These colorful characters fished some, courted
a little, and bred. The male then dashed in a swimming, straight line forty
feet--anthropomorphizing, I briefly assumed he was exiting. He spun around and bee-lined
back. The female collected herself and rested her heals (tarsals?) on water-covered ice.
The projected big storm that was small until midday is still blowing and accumulating.
Various species of birds, including sparrows and juncos, hop at the heavy snow, digging
holes where bird feed has accumulated and climbing in to dig some more. This double foot
hopping and using momentum to scratch both feet backward is something new to me, though
I'd guess others find it commonplace. W.D.
Tuesday, April 1. Alfred (Map 2) The robins are spending most of the day in the road. I wonder how many will be killed because of this storm and the robins reaction to it. I wonder how many other species will be "lost" because of this. J.L.
Wednesday, April 2. E. Orland (Map 23) Toddy Pond near the dam: This end of the Pond is opening to water again with today's winds and above freezing temps. Two hooded mergansers, presumably of yesterday's adventure, are joined by another pair today. Three sit on a small spit of ice in the middle of this part of the pond, with 40 mph gusts buffeting and icy waves lapping them. Amazing; but this resting area must suit survival more than the predator-infested shore. W.D.
Friday, April 4. E. Orland (Map 23) Toddy Pond near the dam: For the first time in weeks we have as much as 4 acres of open water, with the south shore lined by a few dozen feet of ice. That ice has holes every few feet. Three pair of hooded mergansers make their way from hole to hole as they fish. Two black ducks work the holes closer to shore, waddling between holes, occasionally resting, identical dark silhouettes, two bags of smokey feathers each on one leg. At a more distant point, what appears to be a sandpiper chips or dips at the ice's edge. W.D.
Saturday, April 5. E. Orland (Map 23) Toddy Pond near the dam: Now about 5 acres of water are open. A pair each of 4 species of ducks are visiting: American golden eyes, black ducks, hooded mergansers, and the mallards, who are probably staying. W.D.
Sunday, April 6. E. Orland (Map 23) Toddy Pond near the dam: In addition to yesterday's crowd, we have at least one kingfisher and a pair of wood ducks visiting this few acres of open water. W.D.
Monday, April 7. E. Orland (Map 23) Toddy Pond near the dam: We see a colorful variety of diving ducks in and out of the fog this morning: 5 ring-necked ducks, a pair of American golden- eyes, seven common mergansers, a pair of black ducks, a wood duck, and a pair of hooded mergansers. W.D.
Monday, April 7. Otis (Map 24) Mud season is starting, but in most places we still have frozen ground. B.G.
Monday, April 7. Farmington (Maps 19/20) Hi, after a
sudden spring snowfall which generally made a mess of things, we then, this past week, had
two sunny days in a row (two, count 'em, two). So the snow is now melting and we are in
MUDTIME. Sap is running but probably not going to be a bumper year as came too late. No
pussywillows yet. Ice is beginning to break up in rivers and lakes but no sign yet (and I
hope never) of flooding. Spring skiing is on.
A few geese and ducks in the wet spots in the fields where the snow has melted. (What do
they find to eat there or are they just resting?) First deer came out of the woods and
into the fields this weekend. They seemed a bit raggedy but it was a long winter for
them.Roads are awful. (I think we say that every year.) Cormorants are back in the
Kennebec River in Waterville area. (Maybe they hadn't left but I hadn't seen them for some
time). Skunks and coons are out foraging - beware of rabies. Saw first woodchuck dead by
road: early bird got a dirt nap I guess. (What someone told me meant a dead animal). Tally
ho. S.M.
Tuesday, April 8. E. Orland (Map 23) Toddy Pond near the dam: Interspecies conferencing? Battle conferencing? 11 birds are gathered at the opposite shore: 2 mallards, 4 hooded mergansers, and 5 ring-neckeds. The mallards, not polite conferencers, show the end that conveys a bad attitude, as they dabble. After awhile, it appears there's a reason for the huddling. A hawk flies over. When I pass the window a short while later, the mallards are gone, the mergansers are motionless, and the ring-neckeds are paddling to the noisy, threatening highway side of the pond. The mergansers' tense, motionless treading breaks into a quick, exiting flight. Passing the window again, I peripherally catch view of a low slung, large, dark form. Two loons have returned. As the loons submerge and quietly resurface dozens of yards later, the ring-neckeds scoot to take up at the opposite shore again. With the menacing, spear-beaked forms occasionally staring their way, the ring-neckeds retreat to the top of the ice. The mergansers rejoined. The ducks deferentially remained on the ice until an oblivious homo sapiens' rambunctious canine, frolicking on the thin ice, moved them back into the water. A week at the beach may be done for 4 or 5 duck species here. W.D.
Downeast Birdline has ceased -- discontinuation announcement
Downeast Birdline -- transcript of current telephone message
Return to top of this page.