Community News

For the birds
Winter birding a fun winter activity
By Elizabeth Prata

Gray -- Next time you are speeding through Gray Meadows, also known as The Flats, on Route 100 south of Gray Plaza, think of the ducks.

Maine Audubon cites Gray Meadow, near Long Hill Road in Gray, as a Cumberland County "Where to Bird" place. There you can see in the wetland waterfowl, herons, rails, marsh wren, and wintering shrikes. For amateur birders, winter or no winter, there are birds to see and Cumberland County is full of them. As a matter of fact, winter is perfect time to see many species not easily spotted during other seasons.

Birding is not often thought of as a typical winter activity, but talk to any birder, amateur or expert, and they'll wax enthusiastic about the opportunities that abound here in southern Maine. "Winter or summer, it just means we go to different locations," said Dan Marquis of the Stanton Bird Club in Lewiston. "We go to the coast in the winter, you're guaranteed to see birds." Mr. Marquis also said that open water on rivers or lakes, such as the Androscoggin, practically great guarantee a bird spotting. "Especially on the St. Mary's Church bell tower," the highest and most dramatic spot in the town cities, which overlooks the river. Above, Gray Flats along Rt 100 south of the Village

Birders like Mr. Marquis say, "It's fun. You see birds in winter you're not going to see other times of the year." Like? "The harlequin duck. A showy bird that's just beautiful." The harlequin duck comes up when asking other birders, too. Stella Walsh of the Yarmouth Wild Bird Center is plenty enthusiastic about the gorgeousness of the harlequin duck. Its Latin name is the Histrionicus histrionicus, after all. "It's a very incredible looking bird. You can almost always see them at the coast in the surf. They're really fun." Left, the colorful Harlequin duck. Jim Stasz photo, USGS

Both Ms. Walsh and Mr. Marquis say that for the novice, it's easy to get started. "Get out on a trip with seasoned birders. They'll know where to look and what you're looking at." Ms. Walsh says the same. "You learn birds one at a time. My advice is to go with groups, and don't be afraid to ask questions. They'll get excited for you over what are common birds to them but are new to you."

There are free bird walks several times a month, led by naturalists with the Wild Bird Center of Yarmouth. The Free Bird Walks are geared towards birders of all skill levels, and are offered every Saturday at 8 a.m. Walkers meet at the Wild Bird Center of Yarmouth and usually involve a short car-pool trip to a local site of seasonal interest. In the winter, it will likely be toward the coast, where birds of all feathers flock together. More information is available at the website http://www.wildbirdcenter.com

You don't have to go to the coast to see interesting birds. "I was driving to Scarborough on a nice sunny day," Ms. Walsh said, "and I saw nine red tail hawks sunning themselves along the highway. They like it there, there's grass that's not covered by snow. Where there's grass there's mice and voles for them to prey on." Right, Ducks ascending over the marsh, file photo

Ms. Walsh's best bird story comes from the time she was on her way to pick up a friend to go to a concert. "I saved a red tail hawk once. I was on the bridge and a red tail hawk hit the car. I stopped and I got him into the vehicle using a fleece I had in the car. I called my friend and told her that I couldn't go to the concert. She laughed and said 'you never know with you, what adventures you'll get into!'" Ms. Walsh said that she boxed the hawk up and brought him to the Center for Wildlife. "Thy gave him 2 mice a day for a couple of months, and then I was allowed to release him back into the woods near where he was hit."

Mr. Marquis said that you never know where a great bird spotting opportunity will show up. "There was a snowy owl spotted at the Portland jetport, of all places." The owl was there for several days. "They like open spaces," Mr. Marquis said.

The bird walks sponsored by the Yarmouth Bird Center are great for new people, Ms. Walsh said "There are many new birders that go." She noted that Maine Audubon has free bird walks too, during the summer. "I bird before work and I got to know a lot of people that way."

Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary is in Lewiston, where the Stanton Bird Club is. Thorncrag is a 310 acre wildlife preserve, and at an elevation of 510 feet, the highest point in the city, this sanctuary sits as a green capstone, a forested oasis surrounded on three sides by urban and suburban development, their website explains. The Club lists great places besides Thorncrag to bird as along the Androscoggin River near the treatment plant, Lake Auburn, and also the New Gloucester Marsh on Rt. 231 at the railroad tracks near the ball field. Walk beside the tracks until the marsh opens up.

The Stanton Club also mentions Gray Meadow where the abandoned track bed of the old Interurban Electric Trolley cuts through woods and across a large wet meadow/marsh south of Gray. The woods have many possible warbler species in the spring, as well as an occasional Black-billed Cuckoo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, or vireos. Out on the marsh, swallows, ducks, sparrows, flycatchers, and blackbirds are all to be expected, the website lists.

The skies abound with bird life, even in winter. If you are tired of the usual winter activities and want to try something new, different, free, or low impact, try a winter birding activity. And the owls are just about ready to mate, listen for them on the first warm spring night in February. Or check out the coast where the harlequins will be bobbing, or the Gray Meadows where herons and wintering shrikes abound. Look up, and though the trees are bare, the skies aren't.

Other resources:
http://mainebirdingtrail.com/
www.maineaudubon.org