The past few months have been unusual to say the least. Restrictions due to COVID-19 has made some aspects of training difficult and quite different. The original K9 school which was scheduled to run from March to June was canceled.

By Wildlife Biologist Sarah Spencer

If you’re a regular reader of the MDIFW Blog, then you’re already familiar with the New England cottontail. If you’ve joined us more recently, welcome! Here’s a quick recap on some of the New England cottontail-themed blogs we’ve shared with you to date:

By Wildlife Biologist Phillip deMaynadier

As of June 10, we are now within the safe dates of all species. Yes, that means all possible codes can be used with needing to refer to your Maine Breeding Birds Safe Dates Chart, hurray! No more charts! No more paper cuts flipping to page 20 of your volunteer handbook! This is a good time to brush up on your Acceptable Breeding Behavior Codes by Species though.

By Natural Resource Manager Jack Chappen

This summer is a great opportunity to explore all Maine has to offer and try something new. But sometimes it can be intimidating to go to an area you aren’t familiar with or learn something you have never done.

As we move into the heart of the Atlasing season, it is important to remember to associate a breeding code with every bird observation. The goal of the Maine Breeding Bird Atlas is to create a map for each species showing a snapshot of the current breeding population in Maine.