Maine
How to spot the menagerie of birds even in the dead of a Maine winter
Barred owl at Deering Oaks Park in Portland on Jan. 11, 2019. Jeff Cherry photo
Maine winters can be dark and barren, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great time to see birds.
The colder months herald the arrival of dark-eyed juncos, the snowbirds, and other visitors such as finches (pine siskins and pine grosbeaks), which follow the cyclical crops of conifer tree cones. And they aren’t alone. Plenty of cold-adapted resident species, such as crows and blue jays, stick around, too.
For those unwilling or unable to venture out, snow can draw birds to backyard feeders en masse, making them easy to observe from the warmth of indoors. Plus, they are easier to spot. With few leaves on many trees and a monochrome landscape, winter birds often make themselves known.
The menagerie of winter species can vary depending on the weather, what your yard looks like and where you live. But there’s often a nest hidden nearby. And one might wonder how they manage to survive.
“The more people become aware of the birds around them, the more they awaken to the natural world,” said Nick Lund, Maine Audubon advocacy and outreach manager. “[They gain] an improved understanding of their habitats, which trees particular birds prefer, how they move based on the weather, what they like to eat and how they eat.”
Staying curious can make a difference.
For those embarking on Audubon tours or birding at their leisure this winter, Lund pointed to phone apps like eBird and Merlin Bird ID, resources he said have broken down barriers to ornithological pursuits.
Now, people can track avifauna while contributing to a broader scientific database. Researchers receive data from millions of worldwide users, leading to information on bird movement and trends. Among the findings: Some species in Maine that used to head for warmer climates are staying put.
Eastern bluebird (sialia sialis) at Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust Salt Bay Farm in Damariscotta on Dec. 13, 2016. Jeff Cherry photo
Pemaquid Peninsula birdwatching
Jeff Cherry, president of the Midcoast Maine Audubon Chapter, lives in Newcastle, where he spends most of his time birding within a 15-mile radius of his home.
A retired woodworker and antiques dealer, his passion for avifauna began as a Bowdoin College student pursuing ornithology. In 1976, his class visited Damariscotta Mills, where they spotted bald eagles — a rare sighting before the population rebounded from its seriously endangered status.
From that moment on, he was hooked.
Yellow-bellied sapsucker (sphyrapicus varius) on Lewis Point Road in Newcastle. Jeff Cherry photo
The Midcoast Maine Audubon Chapter aims to facilitate two monthly bird tours, which Cherry often leads in Knox, Waldo and Lincoln counties.
Sometimes, there are only a handful of participants, and others, upwards of 30 people tag along. While attendance fluctuates depending on the destination, time of year and weather conditions, Cherry said the variety of enthusiasts’ skill levels stays consistent.
“We have regulars who join us,” Cherry said. “But we also welcome newcomers. There’s nothing better than watching their eyes light up their first time out.”
He described winter as one of the most magical times for birding, grouping common species into three categories: those that are present year-round (chickadees, crows, blue jays, various seagull species, and mallard and black ducks), migratory breeds (warblers) that migrate south but return to breed, and others (common goldeneye and the American tree sparrow) that arrive from farther north.
“This time of year, downy woodpeckers with their tidy red caps frequent the feeder,” Cherry said. “They swoop in to feast. If I ever get around to hanging a garland this year, I will try to arrange it to mimic the arc of their flight.”
In Cherry’s opinion, the blue jay’s plumage appears even bluer against the backdrop of snow. One of his favorite events is when dark-eyed juncos return to snack on safflower seeds that the tufted titmouse pushed out of the feeder in search of sunflower seeds, which they prefer.
In neighborhoods along the Pemaquid Peninsula, hawks perch in the bare branches of trees, in plain view. Meanwhile, the crows, aware of their presence, remain in constant surveillance.
Lesser black-backed gulls (larus fiscus) in New Harbor, Bristol, on Feb. 20, 2024. Jeff Cherry photo
Watch, learn and snap a photo
When birdwatchers understand the habitats and behaviors of species, they can identify specific trails for spotting them. To find a scarlet tanager, one might hike through mature deciduous forests where these birds are known to breed.
That said, various factors, like weather, can hinder that predictability.
“You will always find something if you approach birdwatching with an open mind,” Cherry said. “It’s almost impossible not to spot birds — even rare species. Forty years ago, eagles were uncommon. If you spend time outdoors now, you’ll notice they’re everywhere.”
He pointed to the cardinal, red-bellied woodpecker, turkey and bluebird populations, which have also significantly rebounded.
In Cherry’s opinion, witnessing the return of northern shrikes — whether through binoculars, cameras or the naked eye — is an inspiring experience. He encouraged locals to familiarize themselves with neighborhood birds this winter and to track their observations.
A pair of evening grosbeaks at William Broussard’s backyard feeder. Purportedly, their eastern population has decreased substantially, but they can be found in small numbers breeding in New England, and their numbers will swell in some winters during “irruptive” years. William Broussard photo
Brunswick, Topsham, Bath birdwatching
Brunswick birder William Broussard dates his love for birds back to childhood. He used to identify birds for fun — a hobby that, although solitary, “felt very social.”
“Birdwatching means observing how species interact with the environment and studying their behavior,” Broussard said. “Growing up, my mother was a gardener, so I spent a lot of time tuning into the insects and flowers — and, of course, birds. At my home now, I’ve arranged shrubs and bird feeders to attract birds to my space, so I can watch them from inside, too.”
Putting his garden to rest this winter, Broussard admired blue jays storing seeds under bark and in the ground.
“In the fall, their brains increase in size to help them remember where they stashed their seeds for winter,” Broussard said. “In the spring and summer, they’ll grab a peanut from the feeder and eat it immediately. But when the weather turns, they’ll take one, fly off, dig a hole in the ground and bury the peanut. They can remember where it was buried after snowfall and dig it up months later.”
Behavior isn’t the only thing that changes. In winter, birds’ diets change from insects or worms to fruits and nuts, as do their nesting habits.
Before snipping goldenrods or weedy plants, Broussard urged locals to consider the white-throated sparrows that seek refuge. He has seen Carolina wrens create homes in even the strangest spots — like coffee pots and canoes left outdoors.
“We play a role in advocating for the birds,” Broussard said. “What we do in our yards matters.”
Brunswick, Bath and Topsham residents can attract tufted titmice, black-capped chickadees and northern cardinals by placing sunflower seeds in their feeders this winter. Adding suet can also attract hairy, downy and red-bellied woodpeckers.
Even without feeders, the Midcoast will inevitably witness the arrival of dark-eyed juncos, pine siskin and pine grosbeak finches searching for spruce and pine tree conifer seeds.
William Broussard’s favorite duck, the wood duck, breeds in Maine and winters farther south — a few stick around the Lewiston-Auburn area. William Broussard photo
‘It’s not like having pets; it’s more like reverence’
Like Cherry, Broussard has recorded his observations on eBird since 2013, which has allowed him to track notable shifts.
For example, most sparrows tend to leave during winter, although he has noticed that they have stayed for the past three years, which he attributes to a warming climate.
“It’s not like having pets; it’s more like reverence,” Broussard said. “When you notice the birds in your backyard, you realize you coexist with something much greater. Seeing them evokes joy, and studies have found that observing birds in nature can reduce stress and improve your mood — it’s a natural form of medicine.”
To ensure birds remain in the environment, Broussard has planted native plants and shrubs in his yard to create a suitable habitat.
“Birding moves you beyond people and politics,” Broussard said. “It allows you to enjoy the presence of other beings even in the harshest of seasons.”
For those hoping to embark on their expeditions, Broussard shared some of his favorite local trails:
• The Bowdoin College Schiller Coastal Studies Center in Harpswell, abundant with sea ducks, shorebirds, eiders and gulls.
• Green Point Wildlife Management Area in Dresden, which offers access to brackish tidal water habitats along Merrymeeting Bay.
• Sabattus Pond, purportedly an excellent spot for duck watching.
First-time users of eBird can start a free account to chart their observations or follow along with Cherry’s adventures near the Twin Villages @JeffCherry or Broussards’ Brunswick-Bath outings @WillBroussard.
Portland’s skyline is changing.
First, the iconic B&M Baked Beans brick smokestack came down. Then the 190-foot Casco building went up. And soon, the city will add a sweeping new Roux Institute campus and an “architecturally significant” expansion of the Portland Museum of Art.
But perhaps no change will have as much visual impact as the 30-story, nearly 400-foot tower the planning board approved earlier this month.
The proposal has ruffled feathers, with many bemoaning what they say sticks out like a sore thumb (or middle finger) on the city’s idyllic skyline. They fear if more high-rises pop up across the city, Portland might slowly morph into a northern version of Boston.
So will this project usher in an era of skyscrapers for Maine’s largest city?
Experts say that’s unlikely.
“We’re not expecting a windfall of 30-story buildings,” said Kevin Kraft, the city’s director of planning and urban development.
Under new zoning laws, only a small section of downtown along Temple, Federal and Union streets allow buildings as tall as the tower. That means even if there was an appetite for more high-rises, there simply isn’t much undeveloped space.
Furthermore, much of Portland ‘s peninsula is covered in historic districts, and “contributing buildings” can’t be torn down, Kraft noted.
Chapter 14 Land Use Code – Revised 12-3-2025 (PDF)-Pages by julia
GROWING UP
Vertical development, experts say, is a sustainable way to squeeze more housing into a smaller footprint, something cities have been doing for decades. And Portland needs housing in spades.
Last year, city leaders updated its zoning laws with the goal of allowing growth while preserving character. The overhaul included an increased maximum height for buildings in some of the city’s major corridors, permitting buildings up to 380 feet in a section of downtown.
That part of the city has always allowed the tallest buildings, but until last year’s recode, the maximum height was 250 feet. And that height cap was in place for nearly 30 years before it was even remotely tested when Redfern Properties built the 190-foot Casco in 2023, currently the tallest building in Maine.
The new proposal from Portland developer East Brown Cow Management LLC, tentatively called Old Port Square tower, would be twice that tall. It would include more than 70 residential units, commercial space, an 88-room hotel and a restaurant at the top, and is just one piece of a development project that could fill an entire city block.
Whether any other developers follow suit with similar proposals could depend more on market conditions than Portland’s updating zoning.
“People aren’t going to build speculative high-rises,” Kraft said.
If the building ends up being successful, though, it could be an important “proof of concept” for other developers in the area, said Tim Love, assistant director of the Master in Real Estate Program at Harvard University.
Love is generally supportive of the project, which he said is in a great location.
“A lot of these proposals don’t happen because at the end of the day, the financing doesn’t work or the numbers that were plugged in for rents aren’t supported by the underwriting,” he said. “So I think it would be good for Portland if this project is a success,” because it could lead to additional residential development downtown.”
And more people living downtown is exactly what the city needs, he said.
“I hope this is a model for more residential mixed-use development at densities that can extend the kind of not 24/7 but 18/7 life of the city all the way to the museum,” he said.
If Portland is going to get an influx of high-rises, it won’t be for some time, said Jeff Levine, a former planner for the city of Portland who now divides his time consulting and teaching urban studies and planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“I don’t think you get instant results in anything,” he said.
Real estate is complicated. Beyond just zoning changes, there are building regulations, financial restrictions and even simply individual personalities that impact whether a building will go up, Levine said.
FEAR OF CHANGE
Nancy Smith, CEO of GrowSmart Maine, a nonprofit that helps communities grow in sustainable ways, says the Old Port Square tower will certainly be symbolic for the city, but it’s not a “game-changer.”
Game-changers, she said, were the Franklin Arterial and the demolition of Union Station — projects that transformed the city (though arguably not for the better) and made a statement about what Portland wanted to be in the future.
But some feel like the tower could do that, too. It just might take time.
“We’re not (just) trying to capture the current moment, we want to anticipate the growth we could see in the next 15, 20, 30 years,” Kraft said. “We want to accommodate that growth (and) be more proactive than reactionary.”
Cities are constantly changing and evolving, he said. At one point, the Time and Temperature building on Congress Street seemed to dwarf those around it, including the Fidelity Trust building, which was once known as Maine’s “first skyscraper.” Now, they blend in.
Additionally, Smith said, the uses intended for the proposed tower area already commonplace downtown: a hotel, restaurant, apartments and shops.
Still, a big element of early opposition to the tall tower is fear of change, and that’s natural, she said.
“The challenge is moving beyond that deeply personal response to actually consider what you’re looking at,” she said. “This building has a lot of symbolic value. Portland is changing, but stopping the building isn’t going to stop that change.”
The shortest day of the year, also known as the winter solstice, is Sunday. Maine ranks among five states with the shortest winter daylight, with about 8.5 hours. Averaging day length across the year, Maine is also near the bottom, with roughly 11.5 hours, second only to Alaska.
Day length varies strongly with latitude, even within Maine. On Sunday, Fort Kent will see almost a half hour less daylight than Portland, with 8 hours, 28 minutes compared with 8 hours, 56 minutes.
Why acknowledge the solstice?
The winter solstice serves as both a scientific marker of Earth’s orbit and a cultural symbol of the cycle of darkness and light. It is a time to look forward to longer days and opportunities for outdoor recreation, including winter-specific activities.
Watch the sunrise or sunset
With such a short day, take time to appreciate the daylight we do have. Head to a scenic spot near Bangor, such as Black Cap Mountain or the Waterfront, or for a longer drive, visit Bass Harbor Head Light in Acadia National Park or Mount Battie in Camden. Watch the sun rise or set over the winter landscape. Cross-country ski or snowshoe these areas to make the outing even more exciting. Rent equipment if needed, and carry a headlamp. Don’t let the waning light shorten your plans.
Visit holiday-themed lights
The Stillwater River Trail in Orono features a free light display with tunnels and wrapped trees, open nightly from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
For those willing to travel farther, the Gardens Aglow display at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay lights up nature-themed paths with thousands of beautiful lights.
L.L. Bean in Freeport is always decorated with lights and holiday music, and the Cape Neddick Light in York has lights outlining its tower, keeper’s house and surrounding buildings.
Make winter crafts
After the sun sets, residents can mark the winter solstice with indoor activities such as creating seasonal crafts using Maine materials.
A handcrafted Christmas wreath made with Maine balsam fir brings natural holiday cheer to any home, and can be embellished with other natural trimmings like turkey feathers. Credit: Susan Bard / BDN
Options include wreaths and simple candle holders made from evergreens, pinecones and berries.
Many Maine land trusts allow public access to conserved forests and trails, providing materials for crafts with a permit. Creating your own wreaths and decorations is not only rewarding; they also make great gifts and are traditions worth starting.
WALDOBORO, Maine — A freshman at Medomak Valley High School was attacked Wednesday afternoon in a vicious assault captured on video.
The father of the child, who is not being named to protect the privacy of the student, said bullying is rampant in the schools.
The assault occurred outside the school as students were getting on buses. The video shows a larger male student knocking down a smaller male and then repeatedly punching him in the head. Nearby students did not intervene, with some watching and others walking by the assault. Two adults are seen rushing to the scene and the assailant got up and walked away as one of the adults directed him to go to the office.
The father said this was the fourth time his son has been assaulted at the school since classes started this year.
“They have posters throughout the school, saying bullying is not tolerated but they don’t do anything,” the father said.
He said, in one instance, a junior in the gym picked up his son and threw him to the floor, breaking his son’s cellphone. In another, a girl came up from behind him in the hallway and knocked him to the floor.
The father said he is frustrated with the lack of action by the school resource officer throughout the year. He said the officer asked his son if he did anything to provoke the assault and that is trying to shift the blame to the victim.
A student filmed the Wednesday assault and shared it on social media.
Regional School Unit 40 Superintendent Thomas Ambrose issued a letter to parents Thursday morning
“I want to thank everyone who reached out to me about the fight at the high school yesterday. I’m writing this letter to let everyone know the following: 1. Fighting and violence at RSU 40 will not be tolerated. 2. There will be consequences for students who have violated our code of conduct or district policies once the investigation is complete. 3. We are working in collaboration with law-enforcement and our attorney to make sure that the investigation is conducted appropriately and that laws and policies for student behavior and discipline are being implemented appropriately. I’ve received some questions about the process for communication when an incident like this occurs. It is important to remember that students are protected by State and federal privacy laws including FERPA: the Federal Education Rights to Privacy Act. It is very likely that little to no information about the discipline or consequences for situations like this will be shared publicly. Students have a right to confidentiality, and this right often causes people to think that things are being swept under the rug or not addressed. I want to assure everyone that is not the case and we will be dealing with the discipline aspects of this situation as soon as the investigation is complete. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at any time. My email address is Thomas_Ambrose@rsu40.org,” the letter stated.
Medomak serves students from Waldoboro, Friendship, Warren, Union and Washington.
This story appears through a media partnership with Midcoast Villager.
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