1. January-March 2011 Volume 27, Number 3
H A B I TAT News, events, and activities from Maine Audubon
Windpower Choices By Douglas Rooks
W ind energy has become
a major new industry
in Maine over the past
ļ¬ve years, with turbines spinning
in a growing number of regions
clean air, Maineās working landscapes
should have plenty of room for wind
power and wildlife to coexist in a
more sustainable energy future.
On a recent tour of the Stetson
On Kibby Mountain near the
Canadian border in western Maine,
things look different. TransCanada,
a major energy conglomerate based
in Alberta, has built Maineās largest
and counties. Public awareness has Mountain wind farm built by First wind farm on sites exceeding 3,000
also increased dramatically, and Wind, a relatively new company with feet in elevation. Maine Audubon and
windpower was a signiļ¬cant issue ofļ¬ces in Massachusetts and Port- other conservation groups supported
in recent political campaigns for the land, Vice President for Develop- the ļ¬rst phase of development, 44
governor and the Legislature. ment Matt Kearns pointed out some towers on several adjacent ridges.
Ever since the Board of Direc- of the operating features that have But TransCanada is also propos-
tors adopted a wind power policy in made wind perhaps the Northeastās ing an expansion onto the higher ele-
2005, Maine Audubonās position has fastest growing source of renewable vations of Sisk Mountain nearby. Of
remained consistent. It is strongly power. Several Audubon staff and the proposed 15 towers, Audubon
supportive of appropriately-sited re- board members attended. opposed seven that would encroach
newable energy, including windpow- Stetson was built in two phases, on sensitive habitats on the southern-
er, as a step toward combating global in 2008 and 2009, and is located amid most part of the site.
climate change and avoiding the del- the low ridges that dominate this The area of concern is home
eterious effects of fossil fuel mining Penobscot and western Washington to Bicknellās thrush, a rare bird that
and combustion. County landscape, none much more breeds only in alpine areas and whose
āWe favor conservation above than 1,000 feet above sea level. Its numbers have been declining sharply.
all other techniques,ā says executive predominant hardwood timber has āThis is rare subalpine terrain that
director Ted Koffman, ābut we also been cut over repeatedly during the has never been logged or disturbed,ā
recognize that we have to replace our past two centuries, and the site con- said Audubonās staff biologist Susan
dirty, fossil-fueled energy status quo tains no rare species or unusual habi- Gallo. The organization pressed for
with lower-impact alternatives.ā tat. The migratory bird studies First a scaled-back project that would
But the organization also in- Wind continues to conduct have still increase renewable energy
sists that wind power sites should shown minimal impact, Kearns said. production, but avoid the mountainās
be limited to locations that wonāt Maine Audubon Executive Direc- sensitive habitats. A scaled-back,
harm Maineās most vulnerable wild- tor Ted Koffman summed it up: āItās 11-turbine proposal seems likely to
life species and habitats. On several part of Maineās legacy that we rely gain approval in January, but even in
occasions, Maine Audubonās staff on our local natural resources. For this compromise, Maine Audubon
biologists have spoken out to revise generations, this has been a working believes that three of the proposed
or protest proposals that might have landscape, where forestry and wildlife turbines unduly encroach on sensitive
harmed sensitive habitats. have been able to coexist. These wind habitats.
Fortunately for rare birds and turbines are just the next chapter.ā Continued page 8
3. Stonyfield Farm āCE-Yoā
GARY HIRSHBERG
O n October 20, Maine
Audubon welcomed
its Corporate Partners
to Gilsland Farm in an evening
recognition event that featured a
presentation from Gary Hirshberg,
President and āCE-Yoā of
Stonyļ¬eld Farm.
Hirshberg, who has close ties
to Maine, opened his speech by
telling the audience the story of
how he had interviewed to lead
Maine Audubon in the early 1980s,
when the organization had been
searching for a new executive Gary Hirshberg, Stonyļ¬eld Farm President
director. When that opportunity and āCE-Yoā speaking at Maine Audubon
went to someone else, Hirshberg
went to New Hampshire to help a instead of by truck, and establishing
small dairy farm get started - and cost-cutting sustainable agricultural
the rest is history. practices at supplier farms.
Stonyļ¬eld Farm has enjoyed Hirshbergās stories clearly
double-digit compounded annual resonated with the other Corporate
ITāS NOT TOO LATE! growth for nearly two decades to Partners who attended. āGaryās
2010-11 ANNUAL FUND become the worldās leading organic a true champion for taking
yogurt producer. Hirshberg stressed sustainability to the next level,ā
Thereās still time to make a gift to that his companyās success would said Ann Armstrong of Gorham
Maine Audubonās Annual Fund. not have been possible without a Savings Bank.
strong commitment to sustainable āWhat an incredible
Annual Fund gifts provide essential business practices. opportunity it was to share an
support for our education and con-
He argued that Stonyļ¬eld evening with one of the pioneers
servation work.
Farmās aggressive efforts to reduce of sustainable business,ā agreed
Give online at maineaudubon.org, energy use and climate impacts Joe Walsh of Green Clean Maine.
or call (207) 781-2330, ext. 230. have been integral to its success, āThe Corporate Partners program
Your increased gift may qualify for matching funds from by instilling a working culture of is truly a partnershipāour business
the Elmina B. Sewall Foundationācall for details! efļ¬ciency and stewardship. āYou do supports an organization whose
the right thing ecologically, and you work we value deeply, and in return
make more money,ā he said. we receive generous recognition and
Hirshberg offered the example are welcomed into a community of
of the high-tech water treatment environmental stewards unlike any
plant Stonyļ¬eld installed at its other in Maine.ā
factory. Although the up-front costs Maine Audubon also took the
were higher than the conventional opportunity to recognize and thank
alternative, its super-efļ¬cient the 67 businesses that joined the
operation generates 90% less waste Corporate Partners in 2010. Special
that needs to be hauled away, and thanks and recognition went to
uses 40% less energy. Adam Lee of Lee Auto Malls, for
Other cost-cutting green his prominent role in founding the
initiatives include shipping yogurt Corporate Partners program.
to Midwestern markets by train
JANUARY-MARCH 2011 WWW.MAINEAUDUBON.ORG 3
4. Conservation
Updates
Loon Count Broadens Its Focus in 2010
The 27th annual Maine Audubon Loon Count was on
July 17, when over 900 volunteers took to Maineās lakes and
ponds to count adult loons and their chicks.
While the Loon Count gives a half-hour snapshot of
Maineās loon population, Maine Audubon and about a
hundred of its longtime volunteer counters undertook a
more detailed study of loons this past summer, in an effort
to determine whether nesting loons can successfully sustain
Loon Photo Contest 2010 their population from year to year.
For the second year in a row, Maine Audubon collected Other studies in remote regions of Maine have
entries for a Loon Count Photo Contest. Our judges had uncovered surprisingly low levels of reproductive success,
an enjoyable challenge choosing the winners, which are raising questions about the sustainability of local loon
shared on this page. populations. Early in 2010, Maine Audubon wildlife
First place (above): āSpreading His Wingsā biologist Susan Gallo recruited longtime Loon Count
by Gail Smith of Etna, Maine. volunteers to undertake a summer-long study of loons in
Photo taken on Otter Pond in Pierce Pond Township the stateās more developed regions, in southern and central
on June 18, 2010. Maine.
Following training workshops in three different
communities this spring, these volunteers identiļ¬ed loon
nesting territories at more than 50 lakes, then monitored
whether or not loons nested, whether eggs hatched, and
whether their chicks survived to the crucial age of six
weeks, when loons can become self-sufļ¬cient. This close
monitoring required committed volunteers who could visit
nesting sites at least every other week over the course of
the entire summer.
An initial look at the data suggests that loons in the
more populated part of the state may fare as poorly as their
northern Maine counterparts. Despite steady growth in
the loon population over the last 25 years, as estimated by
Second place: āStretchingā Maine Audubonās annual loon count, a preliminary analysis
by Larry Warļ¬eld of Burlington, Massachusetts. of this summerās research shows that each territorial
Photo taken on Buganut Lake in Alfred. pair in this study produced an average of 0.46 chicks - a
surprisingly low number. Gallo hopes to repeat the study
next year, in order to gain more certainty in her results and
address some unanswered questions.
Notwithstanding those troubling ļ¬ndings, the
preliminary data from the 2010 Maine Audubon Loon
Count looks promising for Maineās overall loon population
āunlike past years, when wet weather ļ¬ooded nests, this
summer was relatively warm and dry, and more conducive
to successful breeding. Look for the ofļ¬cial 2010 results
later this winter, both in the next edition of Habitat and
online at www.maineaudubon.org.
Maine Audubonās loon research relies on volunteers like you.
If you would like to help, email: sgallo@maineaudubon.org
Third place: āSmooth as Silkā
by Peter Agnes of Wayland, Massachusetts.
Photo taken on Long Pond in Belgrade Lakes.
4 JANUARY-MARCH 2011 WWW.MAINEAUDUBON.ORG
5. Invasives at Gilsland Farm Legislative Preview By Jenn Burns Gray
If you havenāt been to Gilsland Farm for a while, you As Maine Audubon prepares for the 125th Legislative
might notice some substantial changes in the landscape on session, we are looking at a vastly changed landscape. As
your next visit. Under the leadership of Bob Bittenbender, Maineās Republicans take control of the Legislature and the
assistant property manager, Maine Audubon is undertaking Blaine House, there are many new people to meet. We look
a ļ¬ve-year project to eradicate invasive plants from the forward to reconnecting with old friends and making new
sanctuaryās meadows and forests. ones.
In some areas, the changes have been dramatic. Some We can draw a number of conclusions from this fallās
visitors have been disappointed to see large Norway election, but one fact is especially clearāMainers support
maples being removed, but Bittenbender points out that protections for wood, water and wildlife. Voters strongly
these fast-growing trees arenāt as benign as they look: approved of the Land for Maineās
through a process called alleopathy, their roots actually Future bond, which received
leach naturally-occurring toxins that prevent other seeds 327,947 votes (59%) statewideā
from germinating nearby. far more than any gubernatorial
Thatās the kind of competitive evolutionary strategy candidate.
that makes invasive plants a bit too successfulāespecially Conservation is not a partisan
when they are transplanted across oceans to places, like issue, and Maine Audubon is truly
Maine, where native species havenāt evolved their own ways a bipartisan organization. When
to cope with them. āLots of Maine insects, birds, and other you get down to it, Mainers of both
wildlife have adapted to a pretty speciļ¬c range of plants. parties want to have clean water to The State House, Augusta, Maine
Exotic species donāt provide much nutritional or habitat drink and recreate in. We want to
value for our wildlife, and they also crowd out the plants conserve our favorite places to hunt and hike. We want
that our wildlife do need,ā explains Bittenbender. to see wildlife when weāre ļ¬shing or kayaking, or to hear
the loons call when weāre nestled in our camp in the early
Bob Bittenbender, the assistant property manager for morning. Mainers of all political inclinations can agree that
Maine Audubon works to eliminate these nonnative these values are worth protecting.
species at Gilsland Farm: Part of our job this winter, as always, will be to ensure
that new ideas from the State House do not undermine
Norway maple
our basic protections for Maineās woods, waterways, and
Bush honeysuckle(s)
wildlife.
Japanese barberry
That said, Maine Audubon is always open to new
Glossy buckthorn ideas and considering different points of view and
Garlic mustard alternative approaches. There will be opportunities to work
Oriental bittersweet collaboratively on a positive agenda.
Purple loosestrife Maine Audubon will be supporting legislation to
Japanese knotweed continue to fund the Land for Maineās Future program,
Autumn olive an award-winning program that has enhanced the stateās
Multiļ¬ora rose long-term economic health by conserving key assets like
commercial farms, forests, waterfronts, and recreation sites
āmore than 500,000 acresā worthāacross Maine.
Bittenbender, an expert horticulturist, has also been Weāll also be advocating, together with the Sportsmanās
spending his own volunteer time working on this issue. As Alliance of Maine and The Nature Conservancy, in support
a board member of the Oceanside Conservation Trust, he of funding for the Department of Inland Fisheries and
has delivered several workshopsāincluding a Naturalist Wildlife (DIFW). The Departmentās existing funding
Forum presentation at Gilsland Farmāto educate people structure has left it chronically underfunded and short-
on the identiļ¬cation and removal of invasive species. changes efforts to protect the stateās ļ¬sh and wildlife.
This is the second growing season that Maine Audubon DIFWās great work for the people and wildlife of
and its volunteers have been removing invasive plants, and Maine translates into signiļ¬cant economic beneļ¬ts. A 2004
Bittenbender says that heās already seeing progress. āItās report said that āDIFW is a virtual mother lode for the
going to take several years, but native plants that donāt have state economically speakingā and highlighted a 2001 survey
to compete against these invasives are starting to stand that shows Maineās wildlife economic contribution is ļ¬fth
up on their own.ā If enough donations can be secured, in the nation in terms of the stateās gross state product.
Bittenbender would also like to begin proactively planting Both of these initiatives are excellent examples of
native trees and shrubs in the areas where nonnatives have how good conservation stewardship translates into healthy
been removed. economic beneļ¬t. We can have both.
JANUARY-MARCH 2011 WWW.MAINEAUDUBON.ORG 5
6. Maine
Audubits
Odette Galli Matt Dubel Kelly Towle Carolyn Findeisen
Maine Audubon
welcomes new staff
Odette Galli Matt Dubel Kelly Towle and Carolyn Findeisen
Odette joined Maine Audubon as Matt is the new Director of Fields Kelly and Carolyn are new additions
our new Director of Advancement Pond Audubon Center. A former to Maine Audubonās education team
this fall, fulļ¬lling a long-standing classroom teacher with wide-ranging at Gilsland Farm. Before coming
desire to dedicate her career to experience teaching students to work for Audubon, Kelly spent
conserving Maineās natural beauty. from pre-school through graduate four years teaching 8th grade science
Odette moved to Portland from school, Matt was instrumental in in New Hampshire and Maine,
New York in early 2009 to join the development of the nationās where she used the environment as
the National Wildlife Federation, ļ¬rst Sustainability Academy, a an integrating context for science
after learning the art of fundraising public magnet school with a education. She is also a board
at Vassar College. Odetteās ļ¬rst sustainability theme in Burlington, member of Ferry Beach Ecology
career was in ļ¬nance, and she has Vermont. Matt also writes about School in Saco. Carolyn, a native of
experience as an analyst, portfolio sustainability and place-based Fryeburg, also brings yearsā worth of
manager, and as a writer for ļ¬nancial education and leads professional experience in outdoor education, and
magazines. She now lives with her development workshops across particularly enjoys working with local
three dogs near Falmouth Town the country. Matt and his wife, students through Maine Audubonās
Landing, and gets away to her cabin Jennifer, live in Bangor, and recently school collaboration programs. She
on Mount Desert Island whenever welcomed their ļ¬rst child, Hunter. is currently pursuing a Masterās in
she can. Education from Prescott College.
6 JANUARY-MARCH 2011 WWW.MAINEAUDUBON.ORG
7. Winter Live Raptors at
Activities
Find additional activity listings, and detailed
Gilsland Farm!
descriptions, online at habitat.maineaudubon.org.
Prices listed for Maine Audubon members/nonmembers.
* Indicates that advanced registration is necessary.
Call (207) 781-2330 to register for ļ¬eld trips and Gilsland
Farm activities, or (207) 989-2591 for Fields Pond activities.
Winter Field Trips
Vacation Camp at *Eagles, Gulls, and Goldeneye
from Augusta. Saturday, January 8,
Maine Audubon! $25/$40 ($10 van trip from Falmouth) Peregrine falcon, photo by Jeff Schmoyer
* Live Raptors from
*Wings of Winter: Greater Portland Wind Over Wings
* February Vacation Camp Saturday, January 22, $25/$40
at Fields Pond Audubon See impressive predatory birds,
Center including a golden eagle, peregrine
*Nature in Your Neighborhood: falcon, and others live and in person.
All days include stories, games, Mill Cove and Bug Light
and hands-on explorations of the Friday, February 25, 10 a.m.
Tuesday, January 25, $10/$15
natural world. Join us for one day $10/$15 ($5 discount for children)
or all four! *Southern Coast Birding
February 22-25, $45/$55 per day Saturday, February 19, $55/$70
Valentineās Day
* February Vacation *Nature in Your Neighborhood: Jewelry and Chocolate Show
Camp at Gilsland Farm River Point in Falmouth Saturday, February 12 and Sunday,
Audubon Center Tuesday, February 22, $10/$15 February 13, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free
Kids uncover the secrets of *Full Moon Sculpture Tour
how Maineās wildlife spends the *Winter Ecology at Claybrook
Thursday February 17, 5:30 p.m. Free
winter, hunting for tracks and Lodge March 11-13, $295/$335
traces in the snow, and meeting *Woodcock Watch
live animals. *Owl Prowl: Greater Portland Thursday, March 31, 6:30-8 p.m. $10/$15
February 22-25, $55/$70 per day Saturday, March 26, $35/$50
At Fields Pond Audubon
* *Nature in Your Neighborhood: Center, Holden
April Vacation Camp in
Casco Bay Cruise Thursday Yoga
Falmouth and Holden
Tuesday, March 29, $25/$35 Thursdays, 2-3 p.m.
Detailed program information January 6-March 31, $5/class
and prices will be published on
*Plum Island Van Trip
maineaudubon.org in January. *Yoga and Nature Adventure for
Saturday, April 9, $55/$70
April 18-22 Families
* At Gilsland Farm Audubon Saturday, January 15, 1-2 p.m. $10/family
Look What I Found at Center, Falmouth *Winter Bird Photography Work
Gilsland Farm Weekly Birdwalks shop with Andy Anderson
Full-day drop-off adventures Thursdays January-February, 8 a.m. Saturday, February 12, 1-3:30 p.m.
for kids aged 3-5, during school March-April, 7 a.m. $5/$8 10/$15
vacation weeks. February 24 and
April 20, $25/$38 *Winter Yoga *Nature Journaling Workshop
Mondays, January 3-March 28 Saturday, March 5, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
5:30-7 p.m. $110/$132, or $15/class $15/$20
Nature learning thatās
Naturalistsā Forum *Wild Poetry: a writing workshop for
wicked fun! adults and kids ages 8 and up
Wednesdays, January 26, February 23,
and March 30, 7 p.m. Free Saturday, March 12, 1-3 p.m. $5
Our summer day camp pro-
grams return in 2011 with Nature Poetry Reading with
*Gull Identiļ¬cation Workshop
several one- and two-week Thursday, January 27, 7 p.m. $15/$25
Christina Diebold
sessions in Falmouth and Tuesday, March 15, 7 p.m. Free
Holden. Call for details or *The Winter Sky Doing Wind Right: A Forum
visit maineaudubon.org. Thursday, February 3, 6 p.m. $5/$10 Thursday, March 31, 7-8:30 p.m. Free
JANUARY-MARCH 2011 WWW.MAINEAUDUBON.ORG 7
8. Continued from page 1
Luckily, there are many more in addition to several more in south- thanks in large part to hundreds of
sites like Stetson where clean energy ern New England. Their smokestacks new wind turbines that have been
projects can ļ¬t in well with Maineās send a toxic brew of emissionsāin- come online in the past ļ¬ve years.
traditional working landscapes. First cluding acid-rain-causing sulphates, While ļ¬oating offshore wind
Wind alone is studying a dozen pos- greenhouse gases, and mercuryā towers may someday have a part in
sible locations for new wind farms. downwind into Maine. the nationās energy mix, land-based
Other developers are also seeking These pollutants also have mea- turbines are the primary focus now.
permits, making a state goal of 2,000 surable impacts on Maineās alpine āMaine Audubon aims to play a con-
megawatts of windpower by 2015 habitats. As it happens, the Bicknellās structive role in supporting projects
potentially achievable. Thatās the thrush is one of the species recently that are well-sited,ā Koffman said.
equivalent of nearly three Maine Yan- tested for mercury, a well-known neu- But looking beyond individual
kee nuclear power plants. rotoxin by Maineās Biodiversity Re- projects, āitās critical that Maine seize
āWeād like to be able to avoid site- search Instituteāand the tests were its opportunities to lead the transition
by-site reviews of each wind power positive. in how we produce electricity,ā says
project,ā said Maine Audubon staff āWeāre not sure yet how that hap- Koffman. āWe understand the con-
biologist Susan Gallo. āWeād like to pens,ā said Gallo. āThe species weāve cerns about visual and noise impacts
be able to look more at the big pic- studied the longest, such as loons, on humans, and we believe those can
ture.ā bioaccumulate mercury from the ļ¬sh be managed appropriately. But itās the
Part of that big picture is the they eat. Thatās not the case with al- overall effect on the environment,
impact of our existing energy sup- pine birds.ā Fortunately, other both locally and globally, thatās our
ply, and particularly of coal-burning states and nations have already dem- primary concern.ā
power plants, one of the biggest con- onstrated that wind power, combined
tributors to air pollution and global with other cleaner sources of energy,
warming. can replace coal power. The Canadian Douglas Rooks is a freelance writer and a
Maineās power lines are plugged province of Ontario, for instance, re- longtime contributor to Habitat.
into two coal-burning plants just cently announced that the last of its
across the border in New Hampshire, coal plants would shut down by 2014,
Chapter In 2011, Maine Audubonās Habitat newsletter will begin featuring
news and updates from its regional chapter organizations. If your local
Updates chapter has news to share with Maine Audubonās members across the
rest of the state, please send it to habitat@maineaudubon.org.
Eastern bluebird, photo by Leslie Clapp
A Successful Nesting Season
By Leslie Clapp, Downeast Chapter President
C ompared to last year, this summer proved to be a
much better nesting season for birds in our area. It
was warm, sunny and dry with no extended cold,
spells and there were plenty of insect to feed babies.
Over the last two years, Downeast Audubon has placed
people to help monitor them during the nesting season.
If you are interested,
please call (207) 664-4400. FSC logo
45 nesting boxes on seven different properties throughout Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
the areaāthe beginnings of a Bluebird Trail stretching PAID
from Deer Isle to Franklin. This nesting season, these 20 Gilsland Farm Road
Portland, ME
Permit No. 92
boxes attracted a grand total of 20 Falmouth, ME 04105
tree swallows, 7 eastern bluebirds,
and 3 other species.
We intend to put more boxes
up next spring and welcome
suggestions as to where to place
them. We would like to keep the
locations on public land or lands
held by trusts, and deļ¬nitely need
Tree swallow, photo by Leslie Clapp
