MYBC Welcomes Brit Fox

Brit Fox, MYBC's newest Co-Coordinator

MYBC is thrilled to officially welcome Brit to the coordinator team!

Brit is the newest Maine Young Birder’s Club coordinator, joining the team in 2024.  Prior to joining, Brit regularly attended MYBC outings and was always floored by the interest, excitement, and knowledge of the young birders. She currently lives in York, Maine with her husband, daughter, son, dog, and cats.  Brit has been birding since 2012 and has a particular interest in the birds in her own backyard.  She's seen species such as northern shrike, eastern meadowlark, and blue-winged warblers right out her front door.  As an animal welfare professional for over a decade, Brit has a keen interest in nature education and helping kids discover and explore the amazing natural world around them.  .

Favorite Birds: Dovekie, Bohemian Waxwing, and Fox Sparrow

MYBC Welcomes Laurie Pocher

Seth Davis, Former MYBC Coordinator

Laurie Pocher, MYBC's newest Co-Coordinator

By Marion Sprague

As the spring season reaches full bloom MYBC is going through its own changes.  Seth Davis, MYBC coordinator since 2017, has relocated to Bar Harbor, ME with his family to take on a role as a full-time instructor of Psychology at Husson University. While we know the decision to leave MYBC was very difficult, all of us at MYBC wish Seth all the best and hope he will join us for a walk when he comes to visit!

As they say, when one door closes, another door opens. MYBC is pleased to welcome Laurie Pocher as our newest club coordinator.  Laurie, a knowledgeable birder and talented photographer, has been joining MYBC as a guest leader for the past few years and gladly stepped into a more formal role as coordinator when the opportunity presented itself.

Her first real camera was a college graduation present from her parent. A few years later, a friend introduced her to birding. Worlds collided, an obsession was born… and she’s been photographing birds, nature and wildlife ever since.

Laurie moved to Southern Maine from Boston in 2013 opening up a whole new habitat for her to explore. Her ‘day job’ keeps her sitting at a desk, collecting and analyzing information to help her clients make better marketing decisions. It’s challenging and rewarding work, but on any given day she’d much rather be outside with her camera and her dogs.

Favorite Birds: Osprey, Blackburnian Warbler, and Short-eared Owl

MYBC June 2020 COVID-19 Update

We miss you all! We are taking our cues from our local Audubon chapters on when to resume our outings. Currently both Maine Audubon and York County Audubon are not hosting in-person events. To that end, we will not host a June outing. We remain hopeful that in July, when the governor rolls out the third stage of the Maine reopening plan, we will be able to resume our activities.  We will continue to keep everyone updated via email/MYBC Facebook Page/Website

As spring migration winds down, baby season is ramping up. Piping Plover chicks are starting to show up on Southern Maine beaches. It won’t be long before we will start seeing many other fledgling birds. During this time of year you may find what looks like an abandoned or injured fledgling/nestling on the ground. Often they are freshly out of the nest and require no intervention from us. Here is a very useful flow chart provided by Maine Center for Wildlife. If you find a baby bird on the ground go through this checklist. It is important that you do not try to feed or rehabilitate the bird on your own. Birds require very specialized care and are best brought to a rehabber such as Center for Wildlife (207-361-1400) or Avian Haven (207) 382-6761).

We miss everyone and cannot wait to get back out with the group to bird soon. Stay safe, stay healthy and watch those birds!

Marion & Seth

MYBC May COVID-19 Update

We wanted to update everyone on our plans for MYBC during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will not have a May outing in accordance with Governor Mills’ “Stay-Safer-at-Home” order for Maine. We are watching the state’s plan for re-opening guidelines on when activities like our outings can safely resume. We will keep everyone updated via email/MYBC Facebook Page/Website.

We are in full swing with spring migration right now. Warblers and other passerines are arriving almost daily. This week looks like a gorgeous stretch of weather for birding. Check out this lovely Nashville Warbler photo Marion got this weekend.

We miss everyone and cannot wait to get back out with the group to bird soon. Stay safe, stay healthy and watch those birds!

Marion & Seth

MYBC April COVID-19 Update

Hello Everyone,

We wanted to update everyone on our plans for MYBC during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will not have an April outing in accordance with Governor Mills’ “Stay-Safe-at-Home” order for Maine until April 30, 2020. We are monitoring the CDC guidelines will make a determination for May and update everyone via email/MYBC Facebook Page/Website

In the meantime, while you practice social distancing it is the perfect time to get to know the avian visitors in your backyard. As we creep closer to May and the peak of spring migration, we are already seeing activity in our very own backyards:

  • American Woodcocks have been arriving in Maine for a few weeks. Listen for them at dawn and dusk to catch their distinctive “peent” and sky dance.

  • Dark-eyed Juncos, who have been frequenting feeders all winter, are starting to get the spring-zoomies. You can watch them as they zoom across the yard chasing each other.

  • Hermit Thrushes have started to return to the Maine woods. Listen for their flute like morning and evening songs.

  • Lots of birds are tuning up for the dawn choruses of May. Can you identify who is singing in your backyard?

  • Do you keep a yard list? This is a perfect time to start!

The Cornell Lab released an article with some ways to appreciate birds during this time of social isolation. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/how-to-make-these-next-few-weeks-a-little-easier-courtesy-of-birds/. They have also provided  list of past lectures about a variety of birding topics: https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/live-events/.

Now is a great time to learn more about how to participate in the Maine Bird Atlas. They have moved their Kickoff Event to a virtual meeting on April 25th.  They keep everyone updated through their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/mainebirdatlas/. They also host a weekly bird challenge that is a great way to get involved.

We miss everyone and cannot wait to get back out with the group to bird soon. lease feel free to reach out digitally to share any cool sightings, stories or updates.

Stay safe, stay healthy and watch those birds!

Marion & Seth

MYBC Announces 2020 Teen Hog Island Scholarship

Maine Young Birders Club Announces Coastal Maine Bird Studies for Teens Scholarship

MYBC is seeking a young birder to participate in a birding program for teens on Hog Island in June of 2020. MYBC and York County Audubon are pleased to partner with Friends of Hog Island to offer this scholarship.  Application and complete details are available at www.yorkcountyaudubon.org  and applications are due by March 15, 2020.

The program is entitled “Coastal Maine Bird Studies for Teens” and this session will run from June 21-26, 2020. This intensive 6-day, 5-night program on Hog Island allows enthusiastic young birders to work with some of the country's best-known birders and ornithologists on field identification, bird ecology and conservation. This program includes the unique opportunity to see Audubon's seabird restoration work in action and visit Eastern Egg Rock during the puffin breeding season (weather and sea conditions permitting).

Program details and descriptions are available at http://hogisland.audubon.org/bird-studies-teens.  This scholarship covers 100% of the recipient’s cost to attend. In return for this scholarship we ask that the recipient write a short summary of their trip and what they learned. Applicants must be 14-17 years old by to attend.

The Maine Young Birders Club to provide a safe environment for youth in Maine to experience the wonder of birds and nature with other teens through birding-related events and activities and to promote engagement with our natural world by empowering young Maine residents to study and enjoy birds and birding. 

MYBC Change in Leadership

Lena Moser, Co-Founder of MYBC

Lena Moser, Co-Founder of MYBC

Marion Sprague, MYBC's newest Co-Coordinator

Marion Sprague, MYBC's newest Co-Coordinator

By Lena Moser

With spring unfurling into full bloom, the Maine Young Birders Club is also going through some changes.  Lena Moser, who co-founded the club and ran it as a Co-Coordinator for almost two years, is leaving the club due to some big life events.  She has a baby boy on the way (any day now!), and this August, she will be moving to Deerfield, Massachusetts, where her husband will be working as a Physics Teacher at Deerfield Academy.

Lena feels extremely grateful that she and Nathan Hall collaborated in building MYBC from the ground up.  Starting a new organization with the mission of getting young birders out into the field has been incredibly rewarding work, and Lena is thankful for the many blessings she has experienced along the way through MYBC, including the support of many individuals and organizations, the new friendships, meaningful interactions with parents, and especially the joy of seeing young birders' faces light up as they are having fun birding together.  Lena has truly enjoyed creating opportunities for young birders to spend time out-of-doors, where they can learn more about birds, make lasting memories, and forge new connections with peers. 

While Lena is sad to be leaving the club, she is also excited about its future.  Fortunately, MYBC was able to find the perfect Co-Coordinator to continue MYBC's mission and work.  Her name is Marion Sprague, and with her leadership, combined with that of Seth Davis, MYBC will continue to flourish and do great things.

Marion grew up in with the boreal forests of Downeast Maine as her backyard.  She moved to Portland in 2001 to finish her BA in English Literature at the University of Southern Maine, and she now lives in Westbrook with her fiancé.

Marion has loved birds as long as she can remember.  Her passion for nature was influenced heavily by her grandparents who taught her to appreciate the birds, trees, and wildflowers of Maine.  Initially a casual birdwatcher, this changed when Marion bought her home in 2014.  Once she began to carefully study the diversity of birds visiting her feeders, a true bird nerd was born!  Marion is currently undertaking in-depth natural history training through the renowned Maine Master Naturalist Program.

The mentors in Marion's life have helped deepen her appreciation, knowledge, and love of birds, and she is excited to help ignite this same spark in Maine’s young birders.

MYBC couldn't be more thrilled to have Marion join the club as one of its capable and passionate leaders!

Marion's favorite birds: Baltimore Oriole, Northern Parula, and Great Blue Heron.

MYBC Featured in Maine Audubon's Newsletter

By Lena Moser

Maine Audubon featured the Maine Young Birders Club in their Spring 2018 newsletter!  Click the fullscreen button in the bottom right hand corner below to read it:

Maine Audubon also created this very nice video about our birdwalk on Gilsland Farm last November.  Click on the image below (or this hyperlink) to connect to the video.

HUGE thanks to the Director of Communications, Jeremy Cluchey, and Photographer Ariana van den Akker for authoring, editing, and illustrating the wonderful newsletter article and video. We can't thank you enough!

MYBC Change in Leadership

Nathan Hall: Co-Founder of MYBC

Nathan Hall: Co-Founder of MYBC

Seth Davis: MYBC's newest Co-Coordinator

Seth Davis: MYBC's newest Co-Coordinator

By Lena Moser

As we prepare to usher in the New Year, the Maine Young Birders Club will be seeing a change in its leadership, as MYBC’s co-founder, Nathan Hall, will be stepping down as the club co-coordinator.
 
MYBC would like to take a moment to thank Nathan for his dedication, hard work, and steadfast commitment to the club and its mission to get more youth out birding.  Nathan contributed greatly towards shaping the club’s vision, our concrete goals, financial plan, and legal details.  Without Nathan’s persistence and numerous contributions, this club would unlikely have come into being.    
 
Nathan, thank you for all the hard work you did to co-found this club.  From all of us at MYBC: best of wishes to you in your future endeavors! 
 
Stepping in as co-coordinator of MYBC will be Seth Davis, and we are excited to have him join our cause.  Seth serves on the Board of Directors at York County Audubon, and many of you have already met Seth when he joined us on our outings to Florida Lake and Mount Agamenticus/Center for Wildlife.  A little bit about Seth:
 
Seth grew up in Oregon spending much of his time outdoors in the woods behind his house.  Having always had a curiosity about nature and biology, Seth pursued a career in science, and he is now a post-doctoral research associate in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of New England.  Seth’s spark for birding came while hiking at a reservoir near his apartment in Colorado and seeing a Mountain Bluebird for the first time.  It was at this point that he recognized there was far more to the world of birds than the sparrows and finches that frequented his feeders!  
 
Since moving to Maine in 2015, Seth has been active in the birding community and hopes to share his love of birds and nature with others.  MYBC is the perfect opportunity to do so, and Seth is eager to serve as co-coordinator of the club.  He is looking forward to sharing his abundant passion for birding with the young members of Maine’s proud birding community.
 
Seth’s favorite birds: Magnolia Warbler, Wood Duck, Common Loon, Snowy Owl

Our Official Logo is Here!

By Lena Moser

The Maine Young Birders Club now has an official logo!  Lena Moser designed the logo, while Nika Samsonenko is the talented digital artist who brought it to life.  We are thrilled to have our very own, slick design now.  

Thanks to Fyn Kynd for suggesting the Black Guillemot as our mascot.  Fyn observantly pointed out that Maine is the Black Guillemot's southernmost breeding range.  Approximately 3,000 pairs nest on Maine's coastal islands every year, while 6,500 more pairs nest throughout the Gulf of Maine and Bay of Fundy.  The Black Guillemot certainly stands out in its black-and-white simplicity and symbolizes Maine's richness and diversity of seabirds.  We are proud to call ourselves The Guillies!  

MYBC Logo by Nika Samsonenko