Ivory Gulls are incredibly rare in Maine. In fact, only six have ever been confirmed in Maine! So, when an Ivory Gull showed up in Southwest Harbor, Maine, in 1940, it was a big deal. The bird was “collected,” with the taxidermied mount ending up in the archives of Acadia National Park. Then it went missing for nearly 80 years. This has been a mystery that long occupied my interest. In December 2025, the specimen was refound! Here is the story….
Read MoreAutumn birding in the North Country means geese. A LOT of geese! Canada Geese. Snow Geese. And sometimes, it even means a Cackling Goose and a Ross’s Goose. I’ve watched innumerable geese in my life, but it took this most recent trip to one of my favorite North Country birding haunts to really absorb that geese roost on the water at night but leave during the day.
Read MoreA plane ride to an off-shore island, a cold day of birding, and some history of the Christmas Bird Count all are part of this blog post about the Matinicus Island CBC.
Read MoreThe story of a book and how an autographed copy of a James Bond book made its way to my library.
Read MoreRich spent 15 hours birding by bicycle, part of his zero-carbon little big year, all in an effort to raise scholarship money so Downeast Audubon can send local youths to summer camp. Final results: 47 miles pedaled and walked, 14 hours birded, and 101 species!
Read MoreHow did you spend your World Migratory Bird Day? Mine was on Ship Island, part of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge, where I am care-taking for a week. During the course of the day, I observed 23 species today.
Read MoreRich’s first book, Little Big Year: Chasing Acadia’s Birds, has been published! Read about his year-long adventure to see all of the birds of his corner of Downeast Maine. This story-telling narrative weaves information about each species with his experience finding them and draws on his years’ of study in the field.
Read MoreWhen a rare bird shows up in Bar Harbor (the second in a week), it is time to go on the chase. Brewer’s Sparrows are normally found west of the Mississippi. This is only the third documented occurrence in Maine!
Read MoreVaried Thrush are a western species. So, when one shows up in Bar Harbor, I am off to see it!
Read MoreEver wonder what it is like to spend an entire day birding? (And I do mean an E.N.T.I.R.E. day!) Join me on a virtual birdathon as I try to identify as many species of birds as possible in one day, all while riding my bicycle. And in case you wonder what triggered this crazy adventure, it was to raise funds to send local youths to summer camp. Please consider sending a check to Downeast Audubon, P.O. Box 1212, Ellsworth, ME 04605. And tell them you watched Rich's birdathon video.
Read MoreWhen an Orchard Oriole shows up in Bar Harbor, Maine, and is associating with some Baltimore Orioles, this is a prime opportunity for some side-by-side comparison. Check out our three-minute video.
Read MoreJoin The Natural History Center’s Richard MacDonald on a virtual birding tour of his back woods and then Acadia National Park’s Sieur de Monts Spring. Highlights include a Barred Owl on her nest.
Read MoreOn a cool Maine Earth Day, Rich finds a splash of avian color at Hamilton Pond. Enjoy Palm Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Yellow-rumped Warbler In this 2-minute movie. (You can link to it in the title or navigate to https://youtu.be/kkkPP3aqdaI.)
Read MoreJoin Rich MacDonald and The Natural History Center on this Earth Day Virtual Birding Tour of Acadia National Park's Breakneck Road. In this 26-minute movie, Rich discusses habitat, showcases a few species of birds, and shares some of his multitude of stories.
Read MoreNumbers of Broad-winged Hawks are ramping up at the Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch, near Freeport, Maine! Those numbers should keep going up over the next week or so. Keep an eye peeled to the sky: depending on where you are, this could mean Broad-wings in your area any day now.
Read MoreThe Natural History Center now has a YouTube Channel! and we have posted our first video field trip! Check us out!
Read MoreOn a rainy April night (at least, that’s the case here in Maine), head out after dark to a local road bordering a wetland and look for amphibians—frogs and salamanders—crossing the road. Tonight was one of those nights. During an hour out after dark, we helped about thirty Spotted Salamanders cross the road in hopes that they don’t become flattened fauna.
Read MoreWe are living in a challenging time in human history. Each of us is doing our utmost to gracefully maneuver through this period. Although The Natural History Center has canceled tours until May, we do what we can to keep our sanity. For us, that includes birding. Beginning next week, we intend to offer virtual birding tours! Look for details over the weekend.
Read MoreIs there going to be an Aurora lightshow this week across the northern portions of our country? Here are a few resources to help you keep track.
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