Tag Archives: Wildlife

North American Birding Trails

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Since their inception in 1996, birding trails now wind throughout the United States. Much of the major migration flyways in the U.S. are covered. Texas was the first of now almost 40 states to create birding trails. The trails were the inspiration of Ted Eubanks and Madge Lindsay. Their inspiration resulted in the first trail, the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. The list continues to grow as birders and other nature lovers discover this great way to enjoy our wildlife resources.

The trails are created using existing highways, byways and county roads to link prime public and private birding areas. Distinctive signs mark the way and detailed maps are available for each of the trails (some are free and some have a small charge). Both can be a big help to birders unfamiliar with an area.

Expert birders and beginners alike are drawn to the trails. A boost to local economies and a boon to birds – birding trails are a win-win situation for all involved. Not only do birders spend money while traveling along birding trails, the trails also help communities become aware of the treasures they may have in their own back yard – and the need to protect those treasures.

The National Audubon Society and the American Birding Association both have extensive lists of birding trails on their web sites. Plan a birding road-trip to somewhere you haven’t been in a while or explore someplace totally new to you. Discover and enjoy what our wildlife resources have to offer.

SpeakBeak.com helps birders discover information about birding, bird identification, migration, habitat, conservation, tours, optics and much more. Find out more at http://speakbeakblog.blogspot.com/

This content is provided by John Wilton. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Wilton

Robinson Woods Cape Elizabeth, ME

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Sign at entranceTrail sign

Many people follow Shore Road in Cape Elizabeth to see the ocean and visit Fort Williams State Park. However, there is a small gem of preserved land with an easy trail and many vernal pools along this road and only a short distance from the better known state park. Robinson Woods, part of the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust (C.E.L.T.) has 87 acres of fairly level packed dirt path that winds its way around a nice a loop where you can smell the ocean while checking out the local flora and fauna and hopefully catch a glimpse of wildlife. There is a self-guided tour book available at the entrance, please be sure to return it for others to enjoy.

Trail Blaze with Derby

Open dawn to dusk, no fee, hiking, bird watching, dogs allowed on leash and under total voice control, mountain biking, no trash, no toilet.

For more information: http://www.capelandtrust.org/

Robinson Woods Boundry TrailBoundry sign

To get there: From RT 77 take a left on to Shore Rd toward Portland Head Light/Fort Williams State Park. Trail access on Left just after Pond Cove on Right. The sign above on this post will be visible. There are also trail entrances at Dyer Road and Rock Crest Drive.

While not a Portland Trail trip for us, this was an exploratory trip as our dog had minor surgery and we decided to find some trails less traveled; Robinson Woods turned out to be just what we were looking for. We dedicided to take the boundry trail on this 1.4 mile loop trail. Most of the trail is packed dirt, fairly level, and a few small bridges to help you over vernal pools. We saw many old trees of different varieties and found the trail marked well with white blazes as well as signs with the greenbelt where the paths overlap. The website says that there are deer, owls, fisher and woodpeckers residing in Robinson Woods as well as Eider Ducks that raise young near the protective waters. There is also fresh water that goes through the woods and is a tributary to the ocean at Pond Cove.

Vernal PoolVernal pool Sign

Notes: During our visit in July 2008, we found the trail to be quite nice and we only saw two people walking a dog so there was a lot of solitude. However the misquitoes were of a different hybrid breed that we have never encountered before. We both sprayed ourselves down before entering the woods and came out with many a swollen bite on us. Even our poor dog was “bugged”. One of my favorite moments though, was rounding the path on the way back parallel to Shore Road and smelling the ocean. With the proper bug spray, I would think this would be a fabulous place to take children and take the self guided tour to educate them about the local flora and fauna. We didn’t see the book until we were on our way out, but next time I would certainly take it along as there are many well marked spots along the trail and I would like to know what they are.

Have you been here? Send us a comment and tell us about your experience.

Derby enjoying Robinson Woods

Cougar, Catamount, Puma, Panther, Mountain Lion? In Maine?

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The Portland Press Herald had an article about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seriously examining the the status of the Eastern Mountain Lion. I guess they are officially examining whether it should stay on the endangered species list. But, it has brought the number and frequency of reported sightings to our attention.

Read more of the Portland Press Herald on Mountain Lions in Maine.

Canada Lynx found in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom

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A Canada lynx is now roaming Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. State wildlife biologists from Vermont and New Hampshire identified a set of lynx tracks in one of Vermont’s large Essex County state wildlife management areas on February 7.

The Canada lynx is native to Vermont, but the species has always been scarce in the state, according to historic accounts. The last time there was a confirmed occurrence of a lynx in Vermont was 1968.

On a day off from work, Will Staats, a New Hampshire wildlife biologist discovered the lynx tracks and called Paul Hamelin, a Vermont wildlife biologist in the St. Johnsbury office of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.

Both men confirmed the identity of the Vermont lynx tracks and discovered where the lynx had traveled near a set of bobcat tracks, making it possible to take photos of the two sets of tracks. The lynx tracks are noticeably larger and spaced further apart. They also have other unique identifying features.

Looking a lot like their cousin, the bobcat, Canada lynx have ear tufts and facial ruffs on their cheeks that are larger than those of bobcats. Canada lynx have longer legs and larger, heavily furred feet that enable them to travel easily on snow. Lynx generally have more gray and less red color in their fur than bobcats.

“It is great to see this once-native species again in Vermont,” said Hamelin. “There have been a few unconfirmed reports of lynx in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom in recent years, and we know they occur in Canada as well as in New Hampshire and Maine, so it wasn’t a big surprise to find the tracks of this animal.”

Canada lynx are noted for roaming great distances in their search for food. Their specialized dependence on snowshoe hare as prey links their sustaining populations to areas where young, low-growing spruce, balsam fir and cedar provide good hare habitat. Both timber harvest and natural disturbances such as fire, insect infestations, major wind events, and disease outbreaks can provide excellent habitat for snowshoe hare and lynx.

Historic accounts of Canada lynx in Vermont reveal that they were never as numerous as bobcats. Lynx numbers declined in Vermont by the mid-1800s, when only about 25 percent of the state was covered by forest due to the land being cleared for farming.

“We can’t expect Canada lynx to be abundant in Vermont, because the amount of suitable habitat is very limited as much of our forest is now growing older and less suitable for snowshoe hare as well as lynx,” said Hamelin.

Protected by state and federal law, the lynx also is listed as a furbearer species in Vermont. It is federally listed as a threatened species and listed by Vermont as endangered. Federal law provides a six-month jail sentence and $25,000 fine for killing one.

The Great Backyard Bird Count, Feb 16-19

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Do you like sitting at the kitchen window watching birds over a cup of coffee in the morning? How about participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count?

Go to the Great Backyard Bird Count for a printable checklist, ideas on how to participate and a chance to win prizes.

It could be as easy as noting the most birds your see of any kind…

1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes during February 16–19, 2007. You can count each day or just some of the days and you can count in different places. Just be sure to keep a separate list of birds for each day and each location.

2. For each type of bird you see, count the most you see at any one time. For example, maybe you see two chickadees when you start watching, then five chickadees a few minutes later. The number you put on your list for chickadees is five. Do not add two plus five. (That way you won’t accidentally count the same bird twice.)

3. Enter your results on the Great Backyard Bird Count web site! Then watch the maps as more and more people enter their reports.