A barred owl with large dark eyes perched on a branch in a tree with bright green leaves.

Black-capped Chronicle Issue 12 Summer 2023

A new (and final) issue of the Maine Bird Atlas’ newsletter, Black-capped Chronicle, is now available!

Purple blooming flowers as far as the eye can see across a grassland.

One Million Purple Plants

Late summer pours a tide of purple flowers across the sandplain grassland of Kennebunk Plains Wildlife Management Area.

spotted salamander

Maine Amphibian & Reptile Atlas Project Final Year

Accurate mapping of reptiles and amphibians is a challenge, but community scientists can make important contributions through the Maine Amphibian and Reptile Atlas Project (MARAP).

Great blue heron landing on tree branch with stick in its bill.

Excitement is Building as the Heron Observation Network Enters Year 15!

Our 2022 results show a slight increase in the number of nesting pairs of great blue herons in Maine, the first time since 2015. We are gearing up for our 15th year of monitoring heron colonies with the help of so many AMAZING volunteers. We will also be conducting an aerial survey to bolster our numbers and hopefully find some new colonies. Spring is coming!

Maine wildlife that would benefit from RAWA

Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA)

Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is an opportunity to protect and enhance fish and wildlife in Maine and the United States for future generations.

MDIFW Biologists conducting wood turtle surveys

Wading for Wood Turtles

MDIFW Biologists conduct wood turtle surveys to verify and track occurrences of the Species of Concern, improve knowledge of habitat use and home range, and effectively map them for conservation planning.

salmon

Chesuncook Lake Salmon Fishery Update

We’ve invested a lot of time since implementing a new management strategy on Chesuncook Lake back in 2018. We are getting close to our harvest goal, and the fish are starting to respond.

rusty patched bumble bee

BEE on the Lookout for the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is looking for the federally Endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee and we need more eyes!

gray treefrog

Mapping Maine’s Salamanders, Frogs, Turtles, and Snakes

Maine’s wildlife biologists rely on community members to share their observations, including you!

red-winged blackbird

Maine Bird Atlas Final Season

The Maine Bird Atlas is in the home stretch but there is a lot of work to be done in the final season! We’ll get there, block by block, but we need your help. This 5-year statewide project will guide Maine’s future bird conservation efforts, and every submission helps!