Beaver Flowage Attracts GPS-Tagged Heron to Nest

July 20, 2021 at 10:10 am

Have you heard of Cornelia, an adult female great blue heron tagged with a GPS transmitter, who nests in Maine and migrates to the Bahamas for the winter? She is one of ten other herons who’ve been equipped with GPS transmitters by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) to learn more about heron movements, habits, and habitats in Maine and beyond. The project began with the help of a Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund grant and many partnering schools, and is part of MDIFW’s ongoing efforts to understand the status of great blue herons in the state – especially along the coast where their population has declined by 89% since the 1980s.

Lessons from a Lynx

July 13, 2021 at 3:53 pm

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Often referred to as the “Gray Ghost of the North,” due to its perceived elusiveness, the Canada lynx is more fittingly described as calm, aloof, and surprisingly tolerant of human presence. Their long legs and thick-furred paws act like snowshoes to hunt in deep snow and their eyes have mirror-like cells allowing an increase of light available for the lynx to see at night. In addition to these adaptations, the lynx has a keen sense of hearing and smell, making them exceptional predators and equipped at living in deep snow environments.

Checking in on Peregrine Chicks

July 13, 2021 at 1:03 pm

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The keen eyes of one of the many MDIFW peregrine falcon surveyors, Trish Berube, and the partnership of Chinburg Properties, led to the discovery of a female incubating eggs in a 14-year-old nest box on a historical building in Lewiston. The exact location of this nest box is being kept private at this time to limit disturbance to the young until they fledge early summer.

Fishing Responsibly for Trout during Warm Weather

July 9, 2021 at 8:58 am

As we emerge from the challenges brought on by the pandemic, with a renewed and growing interest in outdoor recreation, including fishing, we find ourselves in another year of low flows and water levels due to the very early onset of a drought; the second year in a row.  Most areas of Maine are suffering from below-average rainfall and lower than normal water conditions.  Anglers are reminded to consider these conditions and take some personal responsibility when fishing for coldwater fish species such as trout and landlocked salmon.