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.
WISCASSET, Maine (WMTW) – A Maine man has been arrested after police say he intentionally set a bed on fire after a dispute with his girlfriend, while they were still in it.
Police responded Monday, March 9, to a report of a fire that had been intentionally set inside a home on Beechnut Hill Road, according to the Wiscasset Police Department.
Investigators say the homeowner, Terry Couture, 41, set the bed on fire following an argument while both he and his girlfriend were in it. Authorities said the fire was extinguished and no serious injuries were reported.
Couture was arrested and charged with attempted murder, arson, aggravated criminal mischief, and domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon.
The investigation is ongoing.
Copyright 2026 WABI. All rights reserved.
CLIFTON, Maine (WABI) – Maine Maple Sunday is less than two weeks away, and the Williams Family Farm in Clifton is gearing up for one of the sweetest seasons yet.
A long stretch of frost and snow meant a late start this year, but the first boil of sap has finally run through the evaporator, and maple season is officially underway.
At Williams Family Farm, everything is done by hand:
- Fresh maple syrup, bottled on-site
- Maple sugar, carefully extracted in small batches
- Baked candied pecans, cashews, and more
The Williams family has spent years working with whatever weather sends their way.
Long winters, surprise warmups, and everything in between—they’ve learned how to adapt so community members can enjoy their products.
As co-owner John Williams explains, the key is in the temperature.
“You need to have it warm during the day and still freezing at night, so typically that’s the middle of February,” said Williams. “We have a lot of trees, so we have to start tapping them before the conditions are ideal, so we start tapping way before it’s time for it to run just so we can get them all tapped. If you have ten trees in your backyard, you want to wait until roughly now, the middle of February to now, and when it’s actually running and put them in then because you can put all your taps in, in one day.”
They’re excited to welcome the community during Maine Maple Weekend on March 21 and 22.
They will be boiling up sap, hosting demonstrations, and providing free samples.
Locals can also join them for their third annual pancake breakfast where all proceeds are donated to Holbrook Recreation.
Follow the link to find out their hours for March and more.
Copyright 2026 WABI. All rights reserved.
The ad begins with a woman standing in a department store who sort of looks like Gov. Janet Mills, but not quite.
“Introducing the Janet Mills collection, featuring a confusing choice that forces girls to compete against biological males,” the female narrator says over banal instrumental music as the video cuts to “Mills” holding a stopwatch by an outdoor track.
The Mills collection comes “with a no-parent-permission-required estrogen kit,” the narrator continues, as the imposter holds a kit of syringes while patting a boy’s hair, which seems suspiciously stiff. The commercial ends with a real picture of the governor.
As far as ads generated by artificial intelligence go, the one from the National Republican Senatorial Committee is not very convincing. But the commercial serves as a reminder about how the emerging technology is being integrated into political campaigns and other areas of life in Maine.
If state Democratic leaders get their way, AI-generated ads like this won’t be allowed in Maine without a disclaimer.
As AI technology rapidly improves, state policymakers are weighing a variety of measures that could affect how Mainers interact with it. They are taking a two-pronged approach to protect people, especially children, from potential harms — while also preparing for the possible benefits.
The technology comes in the form of virtual personal assistants, internet search results and targeted advertising by businesses. It’s being used by governments for things ranging from traffic signals to budgets and policymaking to facial recognition to surveillance.
Mills said in a written statement that AI could help improve lives, drive economic growth and solve complex problems, but that it must be used in a “prudent, responsible, and ethical manner.”
“As AI becomes more prevalent in our society, its considerable promise must be balanced against harms — known and unforeseen — that can emerge from its widespread use,” she said. “It’s clear we’re only at the beginning of AI’s evolution.”
The governor has proposed $6.7 million in her supplemental budget to begin implementing some of the recommendations of a 21-member task force she created last year to study the issue.
Her proposal, which is being reviewed by lawmakers, would create a statewide AI literacy campaign; fund local and state partnerships to help municipalities use the technology and offer grants to support job training programs to keep Maine’s workforce competitive and productive in AI-enabled workplaces, among other things.
Lawmakers, meanwhile, are considering bills to address potential harms. In a rare bipartisan move, Republicans and Democrats voted unanimously last month in support of a bill (LD 524) making AI-generated child sex abuse material illegal. But that bill must receive about $55,000 before it can be sent to the governor.
They are also considering bills:
- To require political ads in state and local elections to include a disclosure when AI-generated or altered material is used (LD 517).
- To stop human-like chatbots or social AI companions from interacting with children (LD 2162).
- And to regulate how the technology is used in mental health settings (LD 2082).
Last year, lawmakers passed a measure including AI-generated images in the state’s ban on so-called “revenge porn,” and one requiring companies to inform consumers when they’re interacting with an AI assistant. Mills signed both into law.
Other proposals regulating AI use in medical and dental insurance claims and in setting rents died in committees. So did one prohibiting the use of AI in “dynamic pricing,” in which businesses use the technology to offer different real-time prices to different consumers.
Over 1,000 measures focusing on artificial intelligence were debated in state capitols last year, the National Conference of State Legislatures said.
Some states, such as Colorado and California, are taking steps to enact a broad regulatory framework for AI. California has provisions preventing discrimination in the workplace and requiring watermarks on AI content and transparency around data used to produce reports.
But Maine lawmakers are seeking to address potential harms on a case-by-case basis — at least for now.
“I think of it as almost a whack-a-mole type of approach where we are developing legislation that very narrowly addresses specific harms of AI,” said Rep. Amy Kuhn, D-Falmouth, who is taking the lead for House Democrats.
“That sort of overarching regulatory framework just feels a little premature for Maine to me right now. I want to see that work its way through the states and let some other states take a swing before we get in there.”
Republicans, however, are worried about overregulation.
Rep. Jennifer Poirier, R-Skowhegan, said her caucus is focused on protecting children from potential harms associated with AI, but she worries that regulation will never keep up with AI’s evolution.
“You can’t always legislate your way out of everything,” Poirier said. “If you have a minor that has access to AI, and it can be used to harm them in any way, it’s our responsibility as adults to keep them safe. … But we are adults, and we need to use our own common sense.”
A recent poll from Pan Atlantic Research showed widespread concern about AI, with 66% of the 810 Mainers surveyed saying they’re mostly concerned about the potential problems of AI, while 25% were mostly optimistic.
More advanced programs can generate text, analyze reports and create increasingly lifelike images and videos. A recent AI video purporting to show Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt throwing down over the death of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein raised alarm bells in Hollywood over its realism.
Other programs have been used by businesses in ways critics say can be exploitative. Consumer Reports recently published a story about how the online grocery shopping service Instacart used AI to charge certain customers higher prices — up to 23% more — if they were flagged as having higher incomes. Instacart reportedly stopped offering stores this option for “surveillance pricing” after the story was published in December.
A lobbying effort is underway to promote AI regulation in Maine. The “Protect What’s Human” campaign launched a website earlier this year, and a spokesperson said they have invested about $210,000 in ads supporting AI regulations. The commercials are targeting Republicans voters in the Bangor and Portland regions. The group is planning to spend another $110,000 on TV, streaming services, social media and podcasts.
Other proposals passed by the Legislature reflect lawmakers’ attempts to get ahead of the AI issue in indirect ways.
The House and Senate have each recently passed a strict data privacy law that would greatly restrict the amount of data — a person’s location, browsing and shopping histories and biometric information, for example— that companies can collect, store and sell. One of the main arguments was that such data can be used to train AI models. However, the chambers will have to iron out the differences between their two versions of the measure, LD 1822, if it is to become law.
And local residents are beginning to grapple with proposed data centers, which have been controversial in other parts of the county because they consume large amounts of water. This is especially true for centers powering AI.
Lawmakers are considering a bill, LD 307, to create a moratorium on such centers and establish a state council to study and review the impact of building them in Maine.
Construction is underway on a data center in Aroostook County, while another is being proposed in Sanford. Others have been proposed in Wiscasset and Lewiston, but did not move forward.
“This whole world is shifting to computer everything,” Poirier said, “and it’s important that we keep up with the times on that.”
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