Maine Audubon Perspective

Milestones in Education

It's the summer of Audubon milestones in Maine. During the next few months, Maine Audubon's statewide loon monitoring project and our Southern Maine plover protection program both turn 20 years old. Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center marks its 30th anniversary. Further up the coast, the project to restore Maine's Atlantic puffin population and other seabirds also marks 30 years of work and success. Behind each of these projects are case-by-case wildlife victories that create, like a mosaic, a whole and fascinating picture of research, education and achievement in the history of Maine's wildlife conservation. The projects' successes and longevity owe much to visionary past and current Audubon scientists and other staff, and to thousands of hours of assistance from passionate, dedicated volunteers eager to learn and contribute.

Many young adults who currently work or volunteer for these and similar wildlife conservation and restoration projects in Maine and beyond first learned about this kind of work as teens or children. This summer, in Audubon camps in Maine, hundreds of young participants will follow in their footsteps. Others, such as the 49 adults Maine Audubon recently honored for assisting our annual statewide loon count every year for 20 years, learned later in their lives about how individuals can make a difference in protecting wildlife and its habitat. No matter when it happens, as the City of Wells' volunteer coordinator for piping plovers notes in this Habitat, "When you educate people, they become soldiers in the battle. . . ."

That outlook is at the core of why Maine Audubon offers year-round public programs and field trips as well as summer camps for children and adults. Our goal is to offer people diverse ways to enjoy and learn about nature. Our thinking is that if we connect people with nature, they'll learn to love it-and they'll help take good care of what they love.

Access to enjoyable environmental education may become even more widely available in Maine as the result of a bill passed recently by the Maine Legislature. It calls for the state to examine how Maine can encourage, as states such as Texas and Missouri do, economic development based on nature-related tourism.

According to the most recent data available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, more than 400,000 nonresidents came to Maine to watch wildlife in 2001, while about half a million Mainers said they, too, watch wildlife here at home. Already, Maine earns more than $105 million in annual revenue from nonresident wildlife watchers. Maine Audubon receives hundreds of phone calls and e-mail inquiries throughout the year from residents and visitors seeking tips on birding and the state's best birding sites.

The bill establishes the Commission to Promote Jobs and Economic Development through Ecotourism. Composed of 20 members, the commission will include representatives from Maine Audubon and other environmental organizations, members of the Maine House and Senate and representatives from Maine government departments such as the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Department of Conservation. The commission is charged with examining ways to promote economic development through the "protection, designation and promotion to tourists of wild natural areas."

If strategies that work well for other states go forward in Maine, we may see more wetland boardwalks and bird blinds, along with highway signs and other promotional material to enhance residents' and visitors' awareness of local wildlife. In addition, Maine may establish birding trails and birding and other wildlife festivals.

More positive news came out of Augusta during this year's first legislative session. In particular, Maine Audubon commends Department of Conservation Commissioner Pat McGowan and Deputy Commissioner Karin Tilberg for assisting Governor Baldacci's move, early in his administration, to make good on his campaign promise to address the complex and alarming problem of timberland liquidation.

Maine Audubon looks forward to many more wildlife conservation milestones. Perhaps 20 years from now, the citizens of Maine will take a look back at how the internationally renowned annual Maine Birding Festival began. Continuing to find innovative ways to conserve Maine's wildlife and wildlife habitat is by far the best way for the state, its residents and visitors to ensure the economic and environmental health of Maine.

Kevin P. Carley, executive director