Pausing to Give Thanks - PRESIDENT'S COLUMN: Penobscot Valley Audubon
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Newsletter of the Penobscot Valley Chapter of Maine Audubon
September–November 2021
PRESIDENT’S COLUMN:
Pausing to Give Thanks
BY GORDON RUSSELL, PRESIDENT
PENOBSCOT VALLEY CHAPTER OF MAINE AUDUBON
PVC ANNUAL BENEFIT AUCTION
The fall season approaches and we rush to NOVEMBER 1 TO DECEMBER 3
enjoy the remaining warm days of summer.
It’s that time we try to take care of things It is almost time for the Penobscot Valley Chapter’s Annual Benefit
we haven’t been able to get to, like a special Auction! Bidding will be conducted online at https://pvc.maineaudubon.
birding trip with friends or that house painting org, starting on Monday, November 1, and continuing through 12:00 noon
you’ve been avoiding. After being constrained EST on Friday, December 3. Successful bidders can pick up and pay their
by the pandemic for so many months and eager items at the annual PVC Holiday Party, starting at 6:00 p.m. on December 3.
to get back to normal, it’s easy to get caught For remote bidders and those unable to attend the party, we will arrange an
up a flurry of activity without pausing to feel alternative pickup or delivery time. Additional items will be offered for live
thankful for a few things. and silent auction during the Holiday Party. Please share the auction website
Hopefully, you’ve remained healthy and link with family and friends far and near, so they can join in the fun!
active and able to get outdoors. Many have Chapter board members are currently soliciting auction donations from
been able to bird and enjoy nature on their local merchants, artisans, and nature lovers in our community. If you have
own, despite lingering concerns and caution items or services you would like to contribute to help promote grass-roots
regarding the virus. We were excited to be able environmental outreach and programming in eastern Maine, please contact
to resume our Neighborhood Bird Walks in Auction Chair Ellen Campbell at ellencamp47@gmail.com . You may also
May, and thrilled with the response. Over 200 drop off donations at Fields Pond Audubon Center during open building
people came on these outings, which have been hours; call ahead to 989-2591 to make sure someone is there to take in your
going on for over a dozen years. We recorded donation and get your contact information. If you track annual charitable
donations for your federal tax return, let us know and we will gladly provide
nearly 100 species with some truly memorable
you with a receipt on PVC letterhead so you can document the estimated fair
moments. For those who attended the bird
market value. Thank you for your support!
walk to Essex Woods and marsh, it was a treat
to see elusive Virginia rails close up and in the
open (and no one with a camera!). As we’ve
said before, these walks are not only a chance
to see birds, but to connect with like-minded
birders in our community. We can all be
thankful for the renewed opportunity to enjoy
these special moments.
We’re also grateful that there has been
solid support for Maine Audubon over these
past months. Memberships and donations
have been strong, and we look forward to
serving new members as well as long-time
supporters. Hopefully, you will be able to
participate in our annual online auction this
November, something we were not able to do
last year. In any event we are here to serve
you. I look forward to receiving your input
and comments. Please send your ideas to
penobscotvalleyaudubon@gmail.com . Cadillac Hawk Watch 2019. Photo credit Bob Duchesne
FIELDS POND JOURNAL
BY DAVID LAMON, FPAC MANAGER
FIELDS POND AUDUBON CENTER
For the month of July, the FPAC
staff were based out of downtown
Bangor. The Fairmount School
on 13th Street became our
headquarters and classroom, as
we extended the “River In My
Newsletter of the Penobscot Valley Chapter of Maine Audubon
Backyard” ecological outreach
program into a month-long
camp called “River Explorers.”
Natural Selections is published four times a Working with fourth and fifth-
year by the Penobscot Valley Chapter of Maine grade students, Maine Audubon
Audubon. Maine Audubon members living in the education staff provided hands-on
Penobscot Valley region automatically become STEM learning, focusing on the
chapter members and receive Natural Selections complex ecology of the Penobscot
at no additional charge. Membership in Maine River Watershed.
Audubon costs per year: River Explorers students were
$50 household; $40 individual able to get close-up with Maine’s
$30 senior/volunteer endangered Atlantic Salmon, to
Membership benefits include a discount on learn how restoration and research Campers restore habitat with native plantings.
programs and purchases at all Maine Audubon efforts have been working to
Photo credit David Lamon
stores as well as a subscription to the quarterly
help restore these iconic fish to
periodical Habitat.
their native habitats. Viewing
issues through the wide lens of
The chapter offers a weekly email service to
remind members about upcoming events in our a watershed gave students an
region plus electronic delivery of this newsletter understanding of how each part
upon request. Please email Jim Zeman, was connected to the overall
kjzeman@hotmail.com to sign up for these health of the Penobscot River
services. -including their own school.
Using our “Bringing Nature
Chapter Officers Home” program model, students
President.............................................Gordon Russell completed habitat restoration
Vice President....................................Ellen Campbell projects on their school grounds
Secretary.................................................. Sean Trahan and at the Fields Pond sanctuary,
Treasurer.....................................................Jim Zeman using native Maine plants. These
Chapter Representative, Maine Audubon Board of plants provide erosion control and
Trustees................................ Sandi McRae Duchesne host a multitude of native insect
pollinators, which in turn support Preparing a salmon for tagging and
At-Large Chapter Board Members other local wildlife. measurement. Photo credit David Lamon
Bruce Bowden, Timothy Conmee, Bob Duchesne, Since water was the overarching
Tim Dunlea, Sean Malone, Bob Milardo, Gloria theme that connected everything
Vollmers, and ex-officio board member David within the watershed, students
Lamon.
visited a variety of streams,
ponds and rivers throughout the
Chapter Committee Chairs
month-long program. Hands-
Programs & Field Trips....................Ellen Campbell
Communications & Education....... Gloria Vollmers on experience with water quality
Advocacy.................Sandi Duchesne, Tim Conmee testing in these various freshwater
Stewardship........................................... Tim Conmee systems enabled students to
compare and contrast the various
Natural Selections factors that influence overall water
Editor................................... Sandi McRae Duchesne quality within the Penobscot River
Design & Layout........................... Donne Sinderson Watershed.
Webmaster...........................................Bob Duchesne We will be continuing the
Facebook Coordinator......................... Jane Rosinski “River In My Backyard” after
school program with the Bangor
Visit us on the Web school system this coming school
https://pvc.maineaudubon.org year, and are looking forward Campers plant cardinal flowers to attract
www.facebook.com/penobscotvalleyaudubon to more adventures with the pollinators. Photo credit David Lamon
students!
2 Natural Selections • September–November 2021
BOB TALKS BIRDS:
Thankful for Turkeys in Maine
by Bob Duchesne
The Butterball that might grace your since that subspecies is the only one with Until 2006, hunting permits were
Thanksgiving dinner is a far cry from white tail tips. The tail tips on all other allocated by lottery. Once Maine had
what the Pilgrims ate. Indeed, this turkey subspecies, including our eastern wild far more wild turkeys than prospective
tale is complex, worthy of reflection while turkey, are brown. The pure white color of hunters, the lottery was discontinued.
you set the holiday table. the modern domestic turkey is no accident. Today, you can buy a turkey permit either
Technically, Maine has four big game White pin feathers are less visible on a over-the-counter or online, and roughly
species: deer, moose, bear, and wild dressed bird, so selective breeding and 6000 turkeys are harvested annually
turkey. That poses some immediate consumer demand eventually produced across the state.
questions. Why is a turkey considered big an all-white turkey for our Thanksgiving Fast-forward to 2021. Maine’s wild
game? No other upland game bird is in feasts. turkey flock is robust, and occasionally
that category. And when did the turkey As for when the wild turkey became a annoying. Whether they are snacking in
become a game species at all? game animal in Maine again, that history backyard vegetable gardens or pooping
The big game designation has much can be traced back to reintroduction under bird feeders, their presence is not
to do with regulation and management. efforts that started in 1942. The first always appreciated. Some would argue
Larger game species tend to need more state-sponsored attempt failed. During that Maine now has too many turkeys.
attention in order to assure sustainability. the 1960s, several private fish and game But, with a turkey population estimated to
Generally, that requires tagging for each clubs tried their luck. These attempts also be somewhere between 50,000 and 70,000,
animal harvested, so that biologists at the failed. Finally, in 1970, MDIFW trapped the number is comparable to moose and
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries 41 turkeys in Vermont and released them bear.
& Wildlife (MDIFW) have the numbers in York County. This reintroduction Wild turkeys are big – and fast. They
they need to track population trends. succeeded in establishing a breeding can weigh up to 25 pounds, and fly
Fortunately, wild turkeys have been doing population, but the flock grew slowly. up to 60 mph. When wild turkeys first
so well that tagging is only required for More turkeys taken from Connecticut disappeared from the state in the early
the spring season. were added to the York County flock in 1800s, much of Maine had been converted
As for when wild turkeys became 1982, boosting the population and genetic to farmland or clear-cut forest – not the
classified as big game, it’s a success diversity. However, the first attempt to best places to raise a family, if you are a
story that’s perhaps been too successful. relocate some of the York County birds turkey. As agriculture waned and forests
A lot happened between the first to Hancock County also failed, probably returned, Maine’s reintroduced turkeys
Pilgrim Thanksgiving in 1621, and the because poachers couldn’t resist them. were free to feel right at home again.
reintroduction of turkeys to Maine during By 1986, the turkey population had And apparently, they’ve gotten quite
the 1970s. At one time, the wild turkey was increased sufficiently in York County comfortable here. Whether you are a
the primary game bird in North America. to permit a limited hunting season. 500 bird-hunter or a bird-watcher, every wild
But unregulated hunting and habitat loss initial permits were issued, but just nine turkey you see is a chance to celebrate the
drove their numbers dangerously low turkeys were bagged. By 1992 the turkeys successful reintroduction of this iconic
everywhere. Turkeys were completely had expanded their range northward, and native species.
extirpated in Maine by the early 1800s. Cumberland County was added to the
Turkey species are exclusively legal hunting zone.
native to the New World. The eastern
wild turkey has the widest range, but
four more distinct subspecies of wild
turkey exist in Florida, southern Texas,
southern Arizona and New Mexico,
and mountainous regions of the west.
A smaller, brilliantly-colored turkey
species, the ocellated turkey, is native to
southern Mexico. Wild turkeys were an
important component of the traditional
Native American diet. They intentionally
burned forest patches to create meadows
filled with turkey forage.
The domestic turkey is a direct
descendant of North America’s wild
turkey. Early Spanish explorers brought
wild turkeys back with them to Europe
in the 1500s. These were probably
turkeys captured near what is now the
US southwestern border with Mexico, Wild turkeys. Photo credit Bob Duchesne
Natural Selections • September–November 2021 3
P E NOB SCO T VALLEY CH APTER
P R O G RAMS - FALL 2021
We invite you to join us as we explore Maine’s natural history and environmental concerns, with special attention to the abundant wildlife
and diverse ecosystems within the Penobscot Valley region. Free monthly programs that follow the school year calendar (October-May, no
January) are one of the many benefits of your membership in the Penobscot Valley Chapter of Maine Audubon. All chapter programs are
open to the general public, so feel free to bring a friend or an out-of-town guest!
At press time (August 2021), we are Friday, October 1, 7:00 p.m. at FPAC Friday, November 5, 7:00 p.m. at FPAC
planning to offer both Fall 2021 programs A Citizen’s Guide to Helping the Birds Best of Bob: Ten Years of Work as the
live at Fields Pond Audubon Center. of Maine: Lessons from Avian Haven BDN Bird Guy
All attendees are requested to mask Laura Suomi-Lecker, Education & Ten years ago, Bob Duchesne began
regardless of vaccination status, and we Outreach Director and long-time writing a weekly birding column for the
request that you also maintain adequate volunteer with Avian Haven Wild Bird Bangor Daily News. Many of his columns
spacing between chairs unless you share Rehabilitation Center in Freedom, will were based on his unusual and far-
a household. If on the other hand the discuss common reasons why sick and flung adventures in the Maine outdoors,
pandemic worsens in the Bangor area injured birds are admitted to Avian Haven. pursuing his passionate interest in birds.
this fall, we do have the option to return She will offer suggestions for ways that All were captured in photos, many in
to an online format via Zoom. We will concerned citizens can help to protect the videos. Join us for a magical evening of
let members know about the switch to birds in their community. In addition, story-telling and pictures, as Bob shares
Zoom at least five days in advance of each Laura will discuss the available facilities what he considers to be his best work over
program, via the chapter listserv (send an and noteworthy recent cases at Avian ten years of extreme birding in Maine.
email request to kjzeman@hotmail.com Haven. This year’s summer admissions
if you wish to receive weekly updates include orphaned and injured eagles,
and reminders from PVC), and on our owls, hawks, loons, bitterns, herons,
website, https://pvc.maineaudubon. ducks, and many species of songbirds.
org, both with a link to register for the
Zoom program. Maine Audubon has a
500-person Zoom account that it shares
with the chapters, so you don’t have to
worry about not getting a space if you
register at the last minute. Purple Finch
Photo credit Donne Sinderson
4 Natural Selections • September–November 2021
F IE L DS P ON D AUD UBO N CEN TER
P R OGRAMS - FALL 2021
Register for all programs online at maineaudubon.org/events.
Wednesdays, September 15 - Saturday, October 2 teaches courses on myth, Saturday, October 16
November 10, 9:30-10:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. psychology, and spirituality 9 a.m. to Noon
Family Fun at Fields Pond Mushrooms of Maine for Acadia Senior College. Annual Fall Stewardship Day
Ages 2-5, siblings under 2 Join local favorite David David Lamon, FPAC Join the Fields Pond staff for
free Spahr as he takes you on a Manager, has been a lifelong a morning of stewardship
$120/member journey through the world contemplative hiker. activities focused on improving
$150/non-member per child of fungi. Time will be spent $7 Members, our trails and public spaces.
Young children and their both indoors and outdoors $10 Non-members Bring work gloves and sturdy
grown-ups are invited to learning about mushroom footwear. Snacks provided!
spend an hour exploring identification, folklore, Tuesday, October 5
nature together through collecting, and cooking. 3:00 – 5:30 pm
stories, songs, art, and play. David’s book will be available Wildlife On the Move:
Each week will include for purchase. Be prepared for a Using MOTUS technology
outdoor activities and moderate amount of physical in the classroom with your
adventures designed to activity while outdoors. students
foster a connection to nature, Leader: David Spahr, author of Teachers (grades 4, 5, &
encourage stewardship, and Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms 6) and Administrators are
provide an introduction of New England and Eastern invited to this Professional
to group learning settings. Canada. Space is limited, pre- Development Workshop
Advanced registration is registration required. that will introduce activities
encouraged! Drop-ins are Cost: $20 Members / and resources related to
welcome if space is available. $30 Non-members wildlife migration. Discover
how to engage your
Saturday, September 18 Saturday, October 2 students with real-time
11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. 9 – 11 a.m. data collection and analysis.
Foraging: Finding Wild Contemplative Hiking Workshop is free, and food
Edible and Medicinal A contemplative hike is an is provided! Reserve your Top: Peregrine Falcon
Plants with David Spahr invitation to slow down and space today. Bottom: Hooded Merganser
There is an abundance of spend time in the outdoors Photo credit Bob Duchesne
wild plants, mushrooms and enjoying the natural world; Saturday, October 9, 10 a.m.
other natural treasures in it’s a way to be present Fall Foliage 5K Trail Run
Maine that can be foraged with yourself and your Join us for our annual
for food, medicinal use and surroundings. This kind trail running event. This
other purposes. We will of hike is not about going challenging course will
learn about what you can higher, farther, or faster than take you up through Welcome to PVC New
find, how to differentiate the last time, but about being our beautiful, wooded and Rejoining Members!
the safe from the toxic, and fully present with whatever trails, onto the adjoining
different ways to use what lessons nature offers us Holden Land Trust trail
Stephanie Chesley, Holden
you forage. Leader: David moment to moment. Guided system and down scenic
Heidi Crosier-Sypitkowski, Bangor
Spahr, author of Edible and explorations and insightful roads for the perfect
Medicinal Mushrooms of New inspirations will help facilitate foliage tour! Danielle D’Auria, Orrington
England and Eastern Canada. our journey. Group size will $25 registration (member) Karen Greenlaw, Orrington
Space is limited, pre- be limited, and participants $30 registration (non- MacKenna Homa, Gorham
registration required. are asked to bring some member)includes Mia Khavari, Glenburn
Cost: $20 Members / type of notebook to write in. commemorative race
Logan Kline, Old Town
$30 Non-members Leaders: William Bigelow is a t-shirt.
Brian & Rebecca Mooney, Bangor
retired Protestant minister and
a Jungian Consultant on The Nancy Larson, Orono
Inner Life. He lives on Mount Erin Whitham, Dixmont
Desert Island and sometimes
Natural Selections • September–November 2021 5
Non-Profit Org.
US Postage
PAID
Permit 46
Bangor, ME
c/o Fields Pond Audubon Center
216 Fields Pond Road
Holden, Maine 04429
Mission of the Penobscot Valley Chapter:
Conserving wildlife and wildlife habitat by
connecting people to our regional natural heritage,
through enjoyable and meaningful activities
that educate and promote greater environmental
awareness.
This newsletter is printed on recycled paper.
PENOBSCOT VALLEY CHAPTER FIELDS POND
FIELD TRIPS, FALL 2021 BOOK GROUP
Penobscot Valley Chapter field trips are ESSEX WOODS, Bangor The Fields Pond Book Group meets monthly
fun ways to meet like-minded people, while Sunday, September 19, 8-10:30 a.m. on Thursday nights at 6:30 p.m. At press
enjoying the rich natural heritage of our Leader: Bob Milardo time, the Book Group hoped to invite
region. All of our fall field trips are FREE In late summer and early fall, it’s not
members to participate either on Zoom or
and open to the general public. We hope you unusual to spot transient great egrets and
will come outside and join us! migrating shorebirds at Essex Woods. in-person at a location TBA, facilitated by
At press time, Maine CDC guidance We also will look for multiple species of professional librarian Joyce Rumery. Please
stated that small, socially distanced ducks, green and great blue herons, pied- contact Joyce directly at rumeryj9@gmail.
outdoor gatherings carry virtually no risk billed grebes, and hopefully a few late- com to be added to the mailing list for the
of COVID-19 transmission, although migrating songbirds. Zoom meeting links and the location of in-
anyone who wishes to wear a mask as an Directions: Meet at the entrance to person meetings, and to get a synopsis of
added precaution is welcome to do so. To Essex Woods on Garden Way, off Drew
each month’s featured title. Here are the
further reduce transmission risk, please do Lane in Bangor. Please show consideration
not share binoculars and spotting scopes for neighborhood residents by parking in titles for September through November.
with any participants who are not in your the adjacent business parking lot (largely
household. unoccupied on weekends) at the corner September 9, 2021
of Stillwater Avenue and Drew Lane, and O’Connell, Caitlin. Wild Rituals – 10
CARIBOU BOG CONSERVATION not on the shoulder of Garden Way. Lessons Animals Can Teach Us About
AREA, Orono Connection, Community, and Ourselves.
Sunday, September 5, 8-10:30 a.m. CARIBOU BOG CONSERVATION
2021. 264 pages.
Leader: Gordon Russell AREA, Orono
The restored wetlands in Boulder Sunday, October 3, 8-10:30 a.m.
Pond and Black Pond (formerly known Leader: Jim Zeman October 14, 2021
as the Taylor Bait Ponds) are now being Same location as our walk on Simard, Suzanne. Finding the Mother
actively managed to attract shorebirds September 5th, but with a whole new cast Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest.
and waterfowl. Late summer to of characters. We will look for shorebirds, 2021. 368 pages.
early fall is the best time to come for ducks, and warblers in migration, and
shorebirds, as this is the height of their scan for migrating hawks overhead. What
November 11, 2021
migration through our region. CBCA a difference a month can make at CBCA!
can often be a good spot for mammal Directions: From Forest Avenue Sheldrake, Merlin. Entangled Life: How
sightings as well. in Orono, follow Taylor Road (aka the Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our
Directions: From Forest Avenue “Dump Road”) 0.3 miles to a slight left Minds & Shape Our Futures. 2021. 368
in Orono, follow Taylor Road (aka the onto Putnam Road. We will meet in the pages.
“Dump Road”) 0.3 miles to a slight left trailhead parking area in front of the gate.
onto Putnam Road. We will meet in the
trailhead parking area in front of the
gate.
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