Talks

Birding, and other wildlife observing, provides an intimate connection to nature that makes us better stewards of the environment and even provides us with wellness and mental health benefits, but through our pursuits, are we doing more harm than good? In this program, Maine Audubon’s Staff Naturalist, Doug Hitchcox, will talk about many of the...

Why do trees have individual characteristics? Why is some bark smooth and some rough? Some light colored and some dark? Why are some leaves lobed and some smooth along the edges? Patty Cormier will answer many of these questions and more. This is, she says, one of her favorite topics. Patty Cormier was appointed as...

Hunter will be discussing invasive plants in Maine with a focus on their impact on wildlife and forestry. The growing prevalence of any of these species threatens the health of their host ecosystem, so identifying them early and planning for treatment is essential for maintaining productive habitat and forests. For the most common invasive plants...

If you have read Dr. Doug Tallamy’s books Nature’s Best Hope, Bringing Nature home and The Living Landscape you understand the importance of incorporating native plants into our landscapes. Many of our gardens are filled with plants from Asian and Europe which our native insects do not recognize as food sources. The lack of these...

This presentation will begin with a general overview of the evolution, ecology, and behavior of damselflies and dragonflies (Order Odonata). This will be followed by a brief survey of some of Maine’s 161 known odonate species. Finally, conservation concerns for this important group of insects will be discussed, and resources to facilitate contributions by community...

Photo Credit – Margaret Gompper/Audubon Photography Awards Dr. Pokres, a graduate of Cornell and Tufts University will be speaking on new research findings concerning loons: their behaviors, their reaction to environmental stress, and threats to their well-being. A retired member of the faculty at Tufts, he regularly consults for a variety of private, state, and...

Snow Bunting - Photo credit - Nick Leadley This has been rescheduled from 11/9. Dr. Ron Butler will give his talk on lichens now on 11/9. Are you a snowbird? Do you head south during the winter in search of sunny, warm weather with plentiful fresh local fruits and vegetables? Just like human snowbirds, many...

Photo Credit - Dr.Butler This talk was rescheduled from 10/12 This presentation will provide a general overview of the evolution, morphology, and physiology of lichens. The ecological role of lichens in terrestrial ecosystems with be discussed, and the uses of lichens by animals (including humans) will be explored. A brief survey of some common Maine...

Phote Credit _SherrieTucker Speaker: Danielle D’Auria Did you ever wonder where Maine’s Great Blue Herons go in winter, and what path they travel to get there? Since 2016, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife has deployed lightweight GPS tracking devices on Great Blue Herons to follow their movements during nesting, migration, and wintering. This...