Aroostook Birders plan September events
While most think of spring as the prime season to view birds, members of Aroostook Birders’ bird watching club want to prove that fall birding can be equally rewarding. All with an interest are invited to attend a series of September birding events sponsored by the local club.
Photo courtesy Aroostook Birders
Hawk Watch — On the summit of Mapleton’s Haystack Mountain, birders from left: Scott Thompson, seated, Dennis Kerekes, Bill Sheehan, Bob Pinette and Judy Roe took part in last year’s hawk watch with Aroostook Birders’ bird watching club.
On Thursday, Sept. 19, the club will sponsor “Maine’s Herons and Cranes,” a presentation by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Biologist Danielle D’Auria to be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Alumni Room in Campus Center at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
Great blue herons and sandhill cranes are two of Maine’s largest birds. Maine’s great blue herons have been experiencing localized declines while the sandhill crane has been increasing its numbers. D’Auria’s talk will cover both the similarities and differences of these two long-legged, long-necked birds, including information about their natural history, their status in Maine and current monitoring and conservation efforts.
Once again, the club has scheduled a Hawk Watch to be held Saturday, Sept. 21 (rain date is Sunday, Sept. 22) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on top of Haystack Mountain, off Route 163, four miles west of Mapleton. Participants might expect to see various hawks, turkey vultures and other winged migrants on their way to southern winter homes.
Haystack’s short but moderately strenuous trail concludes with a climb over rock face just before reaching the spectacular view at the top. Bring binoculars, a lunch and perhaps even a packable chair. Note, this outing is weather and wind dependent, so check the Aroostook Birders website for last-minute updates.
All events are free and members of the public are encouraged to attend. For further information, visit www.aroostookbirders.com call Sue Pinette at 764-1801 or e-mail thearoostookbirders@gmail.com.
