Ukulele Plucking

After a few short weeks of being in Maine I bought a ukulele.  A month later, I was performing in my first concert with the Puffin Pluckers. This ragtag group of volunteers and staff that all share two things in common - a love for Hog Island and a good time. We strummed, we sang, we had performances on a boat, in a dining hall, and in the Fish House.  The set list was upbeat and the audience was forgiving.

Hog Island isn't my first time living on a remote island a stone's throw off the coast.  Jekyll Island in Georgia will always be my first island living but Hog Island has wiggled its way into my heart and I must admit, I'm looking forward to more ukulele, more singing, and more fun times to be had on the Maine Coast. 

If you're interested in learning more about our education programs or want to sign up for camp, check out our website: hogisland.audubon.org.  

EARLYBIRD gets the worm!

The earlybird does get the worm or at least in this case you save $50 off of Hog Island Audubon Camp registration if you sign up by the end of the day - December 15th. The camp is a life-altering experience that I really do not think you can get anywhere else.  Where else can you see puffins with Dr. Steve Kress, walk the trails that Roger Tory Peterson and Alan Cruickshank gave bird walks, have a chance to spend dinner with the likes of Pete Dunne and Scott Weidensaul?  Also you get to wake up to the sound of loons calling or lobster boats driving by.  The stars are amazing and the darkness is real and engulfing as you walk the silent trails.  The rugged beauty of the Maine coast is something everyone should experience so what are you waiting for?  There are scholarships if you really need some extra help, otherwise sign up today and save a few dollars! The earlybird will get more than a worm while at camp, I can promise you that!

http://hogisland.audubon.org/

Migration and Monhegan

One of my fondest memories of this past summer was the night we spent with campers on Monhegan Island.  Monhegan sits far our in the Gulf of Maine and it a perfect land beacon for migranting birds as they travel south. We hiked up to a open hillside for sunrise and watched the migrant show at it's best. Flyover warblers, shorebirds, and raptors graced the skies above and a few even landed for closer inspection.

We watched raptors diving over the Monhegan forests and heard Bobolinks calling high in the sky.  We were even given great views of a couple of Whimbrels that made repeated flyovers that morning.

Whimbrel over Monhegan taken by Tom Johnson

Of course the main attraction was after sunrise when we hiked the Monhegan trails in search of migrants busily feeding on trees and bush.  We were able to identify 19 species of wood-warblers that day in addition to seeing three species of vireos in one binocular field of view!  In addition, we had a rare Black-crowned Night Heron at the Ice Pond and so many Merlins you couldn't count them all.  

Prairie Warbler on Monhegan taken by Tom Johnson

If you're thinking about joining the Hog Island Audubon Camp on Monhegan next year, you're in luck!  We have two weeks of migration camp with two different sets of prices.  The first session will be a lower price as we will just do a day trip to Monhegan.  The second session of Living on the Wind: Migration and Monhegan will be higher in price but will include an overnight on the island and a chance to see this sunrise birding firsthand!  Of course spaces are limited and we are selling out fast.  I hope you'll consider joining us next summer. 

Hog Island Family Camp

Hog Island Audubon Camp host a lovely week for families each August.  Next summer there will be two sessions!  The week is filled with outside activities to keep the kids engaged and the parents excited as well.  Between boat trips and craft projects, the camp strives to have something for everyone. On many days there are optionals where the campers can select which activity appeals to them most.  These range from Pond Study to Squid Dissection.

Spotting an Osprey on the Shakedown Cruise

There are a couple of boat trips sprinkled in the week and this year all the campers had the chance to see Puffins!  This is late in the season for puffins but enough were still around to delight all the attendees.

One of the best activities and involves the whole camp is the Inter-tidal Exploration.  This involves everything from seining to rock scrambling. The evening is capped with a delectable exotic periwinkle snack cooked over an open fire on the beach.

On depature the campers are surprised by our "puffins" that sing and dance on the dock as the Snow Goose takes them back to shore.  The mix of grandparents, parents, kids, instructors, and volunteers make this a special week not to be forgotten. Next year the camp is expanding to include 13 year-old campers.  One session will be 8-12 year-olds and the second will be 8-13 year-olds. If you have kids, this should be on your bucket list.  It will be a week to never forget!

Puffins with Steve Kress

Eastern Egg Rock, ME

When Steve Kress, founder of Project Puffin, calls you up and asks if you want to join him for a boat ride to Eastern Egg Rock the answer is always yes.  The opportunity to see puffins with Steve seemed a little surreal.  Recently arrived to Hog Island, I was happy to find my Friday afternoon in company of a great ornithologist on a trip to see the species he brought back to the Maine coast.

Rose and Steve share a laugh.

We headed out to Eastern Egg Rock with great weather, calm seas, and a high tide.  We were going to pick up Rose Borzik, who has been working with Project Puffin for over 20 years.  We scooped her up from the dingy and circled the island in such of the sea parrot. 

Atlantic Puffin, Fratercula arctica

Puffins can be a little hard to see in August but we were in luck as one flew right at the boat and landed a mere 30 feet away.  The Atlantic Puffin is a silly looking football-shaped bird with a colorful beak and a tuxedo suit.  Our puffin had a mouth full of fish and seaweed and casually watched us, diving sporadically until it decided it had its full investigation satisfied.

It was the only puffin of the trip but it was a perfect specimen that gave us wonderful looks as we idled in the boat.  Our trip was smooth on the return and the sun gave a hint of setting as it brightly lit up the Queen Mary on Hog Island.  A great welcome to Maine and my life on Hog Island!

Hog Island Audubon Camp, Maine

Hands-on Bird Science

Hands-on Bird Science is probably the most exciting session of Hog Island Audubon Camp, in my personal opinion.  You take Scott Weidensaul and a stellar team of ornithologists with backgrounds in bird-song recording, bird-banding, and museum specimen preparation and you not just watch but learn how to get "hands-on" with birds.  This is a great session for naturalists of all levels, educators, volunteer bird-banders, and just anyone that wants to learn about birds in a "hands-on" fashion.

Also, in case you didn't know, Hog Island is all across the social media platforms.  Find the camp on Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube!

Breaking Into Birding

Do you remember the spark bird that turned you from casual observer to birdwatcher?  Mine was a group of birds - warblers.  It occurred in the spring of 2007 at Green Cay Nature Center & Wetlands.  Something about identifying the birds felt so perfect.

If you know someone that has an interest in birds but isn't a full-fledged birder yet then I have a place that is sure to spark their love of birding. Breaking Into Birding is a new session at Hog Island Audubon Camp that is purposely geared towards beginners.  We promise to delight the senses, show people beautiful birds, and hopefully find them that spark bird that changes their life.

No experience is necessary and we have world-class instructors there to guide you every inch of the way.  You will see Atlantic Puffins on Egg Rock and nesting Ospreys on Hog Island.  The food is fresh and local, while the accommodations are rustic Maine cabins.  Be a part of Hog Island history and let us row you ashore.  There's only 8 spots left, so register today!

Puffin Info

Brushing up on puffins for the new job - thought this infographic was pretty cute.  If you want to come see a puffin this summer you should sign up for a week of Hog Island Audubon Camp!  Added bonus is you'll also spend some time with me on the island.  

Celebration - New Job, Master's Degree, New Beginnings

Today I finished my Master's of Science in Recreation & Parks Management.  This three year endeavor has been stressful at times, fun at others, but tonight I completed my final requirements in the presence of a few dear friends and my advisor.  I am indebted to each of my cohort peers, my family, but ultimately a huge thanks to my lovely Lark for always supporting me.

The other big news is I also just finished my last day of work in Colorado (for now) and am officially moving to New York to join the Audubon as their new Hog Island Program Manager.  I'll be in Ithaca for Fall, Winter, and Spring and in Breman, Maine for most of the long summer.  I can't wait to start this new chapter though the road may be bumpy at times.

Hog Island, Maine

Colorado will be missed but I'll focus on the future for now and who knows, we may one day be back.

Birding Maine: Day One

We spent the day on Jordan and Cecilia's boat, the Penelope. Swimming in Newhagen Harbour, eating fresh seafood, and riding on the front of the boat were the highlights.
In the afternoon we picked up groceries and then relaxed at the house. I had all the essentials: rum&coke, Maine birds, and bins. My bird of the day was a Black Guillemot seen from the back deck.
Looking forward to the week ahead!

Top Ten Lifers of 2009: Number 1

Last year I posted my Top Five Desirable Lifers thanks to Corey's post on 10,000 Birds. So you can imagine my happiness when one of these birds came into my life in 2009. Without a doubt my favorite bird of the year was my lifer Atlantic Puffin. This is bird that children dream of, a bird that I didn't really think I would see at the beginning of the year but with a little luck and coincidence I found myself in Maine on May 16, 2009 waiting for a boat that would take my to Eastern Egg Rock.

From Pemaquid Point near New Harbor, Maine I took a boat (from Hardy Boat Cruises) out to Eastern Egg Rock. Along the way I would see my number three Top Ten finalists the Black Guillemot and Razorbill. But it was the Atlantic Puffin that I came to see and when we finally found one you better bet I was running to the upper deck to see the bird in the flesh. The day was cold and brisk and the boat was wet. This was the first boat trip out of the season to see the colony of puffins so we only had half a dozen or so people. I knew I would miss out seeing Artic Terns this early in the year but I came for the puffins and I would see plenty of them on this boat trip. When our captain spotted some birds ahead I was the first to scramble up the metal ladder and onto the top of the boat. I didn't take any photos but I have some nice shaky footage on my video camera of the puffins flying, floating, and swimming. It was a great moment and I am grateful to my friend Rupp for allowing me to visit and for joining me on this cold adventure out to sea. The Atlantic Puffin did not disappoint and I wish I could see it every year. Nevertheless it's permantly found on my best birding experiences and is hands down my number one lifer of 2009.

Top Ten Lifers of 2009: Number 3

Razorbills by Arthur Morris

Nothing can round out a Top Ten list like a pair of Alcids. Coming in at number three are the Razorbill and the Black Guillemot. I went to Maine in May to see my dear friend Rupp and also to see the puffins. I was stoked at the idea of puffin colonies but I didn't relaly have razorbills or guillemots on the radar until a little further research was done. I knew that I would likely see Common Eiders and Black Guillemots but really the Razorbill would be found only if lucky since spring was approaching at the Razorbills would recede back into the northern waters of the Atlantic. So imagine my surprise when I got both of them on my puffin trip in Maine.

Razorbills are large auks that live in the coldest regions of the Atlantic Ocean but during winter they will come as far south as New Jersey. From the top of my puffin boat I spots that distinctive bill. We had whole rafts of them on our way out to Eastern Egg Rock. The Black Guillemot is closely related to the Razorbill but I will admit not quite as impressive. Despite this, I couldn't leave it off my Top Ten list so the two cousins will have to share the title. The guillemot lifer look was just as spectacular mostly because I saw it BEFORE our boat trip left the dock. We were waiting in the cold, with every piece of clothing we brought with us. Rupp and I were quite comical with our scarves and hats and layers of clothing but we were walking around staying warm when we saw the bird in the harbor only feet away. Later we would see large numbers of guillemot but you don't forget the first.

All in all, I had a great time in Maine and it won't be the last mention of this great state on our way to the number one spot. If you want to see guillemots, Razorbills, and puffins I would suggest Hardy Boat Cruises. They were so friendly and the price was perfect for a low budget birder like myself.

Top Ten Lifers of 2009: Number 5

Trail Map of Evergreen Cemetery, Maine

My trip to Maine was one of the best trips of the year and it also netted me some amazing birds. I had been dreaming of Maine since college. A friend of mine lived there and I often dreamed of driving up the coast. So this May I decided to visit my dear friend Rupp, fresh back from Bolivia, and see her job and also look for some birds.

On my first full day without her I decided to head into Portland and check out this Evergreen Cemetery I had heard of online. You may remember my number nine bird was also found at an Evergreen Cemetery but on the opposite side of the Eastern seaboard in Florida. So imagine my delight when once again I found myself in a cemetery that was literally dripping with neotropical migrants. There were Chestnut-sided Warblers and Indigo Buntings and all sorts of delights but the best two birds were my lifer Canada Warbler and lifer Baybreasted Warbler. Warblers hold a dear place in my heart since they are the main reason I really got into birdwatching. I found them terribly intimidating but once I started observiing them I found them also even more bewitching to behold. I love the small compact bodies, the skinny legs, the eye rings and wing bars and other number of subtle differences between them. They are my favorite nature puzzle and you can't imagine my happiness in seeing these two little birds in a cemetery in downtown Portland, Maine.

Camden Hill State Park, ME

After a wonderful night of camping we woke up bright and early to do some hiking around Camden Hills State Park. Our first stop was a quick drive up to Mount Battie. This was the view from the top. Down below is the sleepy bay town of Camden. All the little towns along the Maine coast were filled with cute shops and great restaurants.

For our day hike we chose the Megunticook Trail which took us to the top of the 1385' mountain. Along the way we paused for all sorts of herps including the snake above and some toads. Near the last one third of the hike we took a nice stop by some waterfalls. After a little exploration we found some salamanders and even posed for a photo together.

The weather was perfect for hiking. We only had one base layer on and it felt perfect. Of course when we made it to the rock face at the top we did have to put our jackets on but otherwise, this really was the right time of year for trekking up the trail. The trail wasn't very steep and really the only difficult part was the last section that you see in the photo below where the trail became more of a rock hike.

All of our efforts paid off at the summit where we found an even better view of Penobscot Bay.

We settled in on the rocks and enjoyed the view for probably close to half an hour or more. A Peregrine Falcon gave us a great aerial show. It's not very often that you get the chance to see a bird like that from above. It whipped through the valley and occasionally came over to perch in a nearby tree.

After soaking in Mount Megunticook and the view we trekked back down the trail. The Maine woods really are beautiful and much wetter than I imagined. On parts of our hike we had to cross boards so we didn't sink into the muddy trail.

Before leaving Camden Hills State Park we took a quick side trip to their shoreline. Rupp enjoyed exploring the tidal pools while I enjoyed just watching the waves come in and hit the rocks. We don't have many rocky coasts in the Southeast so I was very content to sit and enjoy my surroundings. It's not very often that we really take the time to just be somewhere without doing something. I even put my binoculars down for awhile and enjoyed my last moments at the park.

After a great morning we had really worked up an appetite so off we went back south to find food and head towards our Puffin trip. Even without the Puffins this was an amazing day of exploration and good times with one of my best friends but the boat trip at the end would make it perfect. More on that soon!

Maine Dish

Mallards that aren't feral, something I won't see in South Florida.

On my second full day in Maine I woke up bright and early and headed to Evergreen Cemetery in downtown Portland. I must say that this hotspot held up to it's reputation. Among the highlights were Bay-breasted, Chestnut-sided, Canada, and Wilson's Warblers. By the end of the morning I was in the double digits in the colorful migrants. And I had picked up my lifer Least Flycatcher. I left to visit Caspic Park where I found both Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, nesting nonetheless.


I figured the best reward for my early birding success was to head back to Saco and try the infamous lobster roll out for lunch. I took a picnic on the jetty and watched the boats go out to sea. The lobster was amazing, the scenery divine, and the birds weren't bad either. A Greater Black-backed Gull came over looking for a hand-out but I declined. Of course I did manage to take a picture with my poor point and shoot camera.

Once Rupp was off work we loaded up the car and headed north to Camden Hills State Park. Hiking, camping, and Puffins were on the agenda. More on that later!

Adventures in Maine

Tidal pools in Maine

My first day in Maine led me to the tidal pools near Saco. My friend Emily Rupp works for the Ferry Beach Ecology School and I was lucky enough to ride along for the trip. After climbing over the rocks and looking for marine creatures I decided to leave the school children and head up to the trails nearby. From here I would be granted my first Yellow Warblers of the trip but certainly not my last! It was really thrilling to see these migrants not only in breeding plumage but singing. This is something that I haven't really had the privelege of witnessing since I am usually residing in the southern states.

After lunch I was directed to the wooded areas of Ferry Beach State Park. It was really amazing walking through the beech and birch trees listening to American Goldfinches sing. I loved the park and I even found a Ruby-throated Hummingbird off the trail. The view below gave me my first Veery, which flushed from the side of the stream.


I ended the day with 27 species. Not bad considering I only birded for a few hours. Highlights included (as far as I'm concerned) Song Sparrow, Blue-headed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Black-throated Green Warbler, and my lifer Common Eider.

Since I'm a good Southern girl that rarely goes north I am even excited by seeing chipmunks and Black-capped Chickadees.