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Down East Spring Birding Festival
May 28-31, 2010 |
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If there is one birding festival that offers
most of what Maine is famous for, this one is it. The Down East
Spring Birding Festival celebrated its 7th successful year over
Memorial Day Weekend. The continued run of good weather enabled
birders from all over the country to chase lifers into the
boreal forest, along the rocky coastline, and even offshore to
spectacular Machias Seal Island. There are few places on earth
where one can enjoy an Atlantic Puffin and a Spruce Grouse on
the same day. The maritime spruce/fir forest of downeast Maine
is perfect habitat for this elusive species. This particular
individual (right) seems to be just waiting for us every year. |
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Palm warblers (left) are bog birds. Upland
Sandpipers (right) are denizens of the local blueberry barrens.
Downeast Maine has the largest wild blueberry fields in the
world. Such differing habitats occur right next to each other in
this region. A highlight of this year's first day: this
unashamed "Uppie" was witnessed copulating right next to the
road.
Day trips deep into the boreal forest are
annual highlights where Gray Jays, Black-backed Woodpeckers, and
Boreal Chickadees reside. |
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Naturally, the most prized part of any
birding experience downeast is the chance to land on Machias
Seal Island. Of the five puffin colonies along the Maine coast,
this is the only island where it is permissible to go ashore and
watch the birds from blinds. An estimated 6000-7000
puffins use the island each summer. Visitors can also compare the
common and "bridled" forms of Common Murres up close(left). Razorbills are abundant.
Black Guillemots are present in good numbers. As with many
offshore islands, Machias Seal is a migrant trap, so anything
can happen. A host of sparrows and warblers are often found near
the lighthouse. |
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Common Terns (left) on the island are greatly outnumbered by the Arctic Terns
(right), but both contribute to the thousands of terns calling
the island home in the summer. Nesting failures in recent years
has become a problem, but the birds were present in abundance
during this year's festival, with males constantly wooing
females. Lastly, no visit is complete without a visit
to the seal haul-out at near-by Gull Rock. These Harbor Seals
are often joined by the much larger Gray Seals as both bask in
the sun at low tide.
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