One of my favorite autumn traditions is to paddle my kayak on Casco Bay to watch the sun set and the full moon rise. This week, I did exactly that to celebrate the Harvest Moon. Low in the sky and about 180 degrees apart, the sun and moon sent shimmering beams on the nearly flat bay in the direction …
Andy Beahm
Andy’s Note: Almost infinite
I've had the good fortune to crisscross the state to its four corners over the past few weeks. A combination of both professional and personal travel, interspersed with great hikes and enjoyable paddling, was a delightful reminder of all of the bountiful treasures of wildlife and habitat in this …
Andy’s Note: Mr. Beahm Goes to Washington
Last month, I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC, to take part in the annual gathering of the "Independent Audubons." Around the country, many Audubon organizations -- particularly in the northeast -- predated the creation of the National Audubon Society. Many of those have remained …
Andy’s Note: Once in a Blue Super Blood Moon
I hope that the clouds did not obscure your view of last night's Super Blue Blood Moon. If you missed out, mark your calendar for another Blue Moon on March 31st. If you manage to view both of them, consider yourself fortunate -- we won't see two blue moons in one year again until 2037. My wife …
Andy’s Note: Resolutions We Can Keep
Happy new year, friends! It's the season for making resolutions, which is good timing: We should be resolute in the face of today's many environmental challenges, because we can make a difference. When I first got involved with Maine Audubon, I recall we had around 23 nesting pairs of Piping …
Andy’s Note: Signs of a Dawning Winter
What a difference a month makes. Just a few weeks ago, butterflies were still visiting the late-season wildflowers in the north meadow of Gilsland Farm, and there was a lot of chatter about where the birds were, with activity levels down at the feeders. Yesterday, I took note of the first salt …
The Sea Ice is Back
The sea ice is back. Yesterday Director Andy Beahm took a walk down to the Presumpscot River edge off the North Meadow at Gilsland Farm and noticed the ice forming along the shore, in amongst the tall grasses. The return of the ice is another sign of the progression into winter. Ocean and …
Andy’s Note: The Storm and the Calm
Happy November, friends. If you're reading this, you must have some semblance of electrical power following the humdinger of a windstorm that visited us on Monday morning. Either you are one of the approximately 200,000 folks whose power has been restored...or you are reading my post on a phone …
Andy’s Note: Getting outside in October
Happy October, friends. Two words for you this month: Get outside! It is foliage season and nature is dressed in its brightest colors of the year. Not only that, but the woods have a unique aroma in the fall -- and the mosquitoes get scarce. For my part, I've been taking advantage of the cool …