Here I am! Where are you? Way up here! In the tree! So goes the song of the Red-eyed Vireo, heard in nearly every forested area between Kittery and Fort Kent from May until early autumn. True neotropical migrants, Red-eyed Vireos spend the nonbreeding season in the Amazon Basin, especially in Colombia, Brasil, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru. Most depart South America during April, and over the course of a few weeks or a month, make their way up through Central America and the southeastern US, migrating on clear nights and refueling during the day by feasting on the abundance of newly-emerged insects. The first males can reach Maine by the first week of May, but the majority arrive in the second and third weeks, just in time for the emergence of leaves and insects in the canopy of our forests.

These canopy-dwellers are heard far more often than they are seen, and possess a huge vocal repertoire, combining various “syllables” into “phrases” that don’t repeat. In fact, there is often no similarity between the songs of males whose territories are right next to each other. While the males generally sing from treetops, Red-eyed Vireos forage and nest in the mid- and understory, and require forest habitat with layers of native shrubs and small trees. Their nests are usually built at these lower levels, with layers of foliage above to hide the nest from predators. They raise their young on insects, especially caterpillars and other larvae, before eating increasing amounts of fruit later in the summer, which they subsist on throughout the nonbreeding season. The return of Red-eyed Vireos to their breeding territories in Maine is a yearly reminder that conserving healthy forest ecosystems is important not only here at home, but also in the neotropical forests where they spend the rest of their lives.

Backyard Bird of the Month is a feature by Maine Audubon created for the Maine Home Garden News, the newsletter of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard

Photo: Jeff Schmoyer, used with permission

(WMTW) – Maine American Idol contestant Julia Gagnon is now in the top seven on on the show after Monday night’s episode.

During the show, fans voted for the top six performers, and then the judges saved one more singer. Julia was the first person announced as being safe.

After advancing, Julia wrote on Facebook “No words. None. To be in americas vote… it’s beyond my wildest dreams, I owe every vote a hug and a kiss, I truly appreciate all of yall, Maine in particular… let’s do this I’m so proud to be repping you, I have a new wind to keep making you proud. Go blow up @americanidol with pine trees and a share of our New England kindness and of course pride!!! Thank yall”

Monday was the Judges’ Song Contest as the judges each picked a song to be performed. Julia wowed the judges with her rendition of the classic “Over the Rainbow.” Judge Luke Bryan, who chose the song for Julia, said after her performance there is no song too big for her.

As the competition moves forward, there are three ways to vote for Julia during the episodes. You can text 4 to 21523, go to Americanidol.com/vote or vote on the American Idol app. You can vote up to 10 times on each platform for a total of 30 votes for Julia.

Maine has rallied to support Julia. A watch party in South Berwick Sunday night was filled with dozens of supporters who came to cheer Julia on as she advanced to the top eight, including one of her former schoolteachers.

”In fifth grade, Julia was kind of quiet,” Shannon Gallagher, Julia’s former teacher, said. “She was an amazing writer. She was very kind, and she was a student who challenged me in all the best ways.”

From family members to people who are just fans of Julia, the crowd at the party erupted when it was announced that she would be moving on to the next round of competition.

“We grew up together,” said Chase Gagnon, Julia’s cousin. “It was always great, and we always knew she could sing, so it’s great to see her kind of soar out here on American Idol.”

Julia will now compete for a spot in the top five Sunday night.

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Maine’s economy is now one of the strongest in New England. Billions of federal dollars for both state and local governments, business and industry and citizens through direct payments made during and after the pandemic have been invested in Maine. A widely predicted recession has been avoided and economists declare that the U.S. economy is the envy of the world.

The state budget has been showing consistent surpluses as strong tax receipts are used to build the Maine Rainy Day Fund and shore up consistently underfunded child and elder care services. A healthy Maine economy has contributed to some of the lowest unemployment rates ever recorded for the state. Maine will see further benefits from long overdue investments in infrastructure, clean energy and the critical preparations for the impacts of climate change. In no small measure, these funds are an integral part of the current administration’s strategy to stimulate economic recovery and growth in the post pandemic period.

Maine will receive more than $2 billion for infrastructure improvement projects under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Funds are going to state, regional and local governments for road and bridge repair; upgrades to our ports and airports; school and public bus replacements with new electric vehicles (EV); and the installation of EV charging stations across the state. Already underway or in the pipeline are projects in northern Maine, U.S Route 1 road improvement ($27.7 million); Kittery for Tidal Wetland Planning and improvement ($519,900); Winthrop Public Schools, Clean School Bus Program ($1.6 million); and Auburn, improvements to Route 202 ($2 million).

Following the BIL enactment, Maine’s job market was bolstered by the addition of 9,500 jobs between December 2022 and December 2023. Nearly 1,500 jobs were added by the construction industry and specialty trade contractors, many of which offer high wages. Many more infrastructure projects are waiting for the spring and summer season before commencing with the work. The lack of available contractors and a tight labor market throughout Maine however will contribute to project delays and work interruptions.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a hallmark achievement, making visible, long-term investments in America and Maine. These investments are desperately needed after years of political inaction and physical deterioration of the Nation’s critical infrastructure. After repeated failures by previous presidential administrations and Congresses, the current administration has successfully brought together a politically divided Congress to pass a law that will have long term impacts and benefits for the nation.

The Biden administration put forth additional legislative proposals to curb inflation and restore America’s competitiveness. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 will reduce the federal budget deficit, lower prescription drug prices and invest in domestic energy production including clean energy. Significant reductions of inflation measures have already occurred. To strengthen domestic production and supply chains, the Biden administration introduced the CHIPS (Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors) and Science Act enacted in 2022 authorizing $280 billion-plus to restore American manufacturing of semiconductors and invests $174 billion in public sector research in science and technology. In combination, these pieces of legislation are designed to restore America’s strength and leadership in key areas of science and technology.

A recent study by the Political Economy Research Institute (University of Massachusetts-Amherst) estimates that the combined investments of the Biden Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act will support nearly 3 million jobs per year and 19 million jobs over their lifetime, impacting every U.S. state, including much-neglected rural America. Researchers have also concluded that a significant share of the jobs created by these investments will be available to those without a college degree. The median hourly wages of direct jobs created by BIL, Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS combined is $26.20 — exceeding the average hourly wage of $23.20 for the total U.S. workforce.

The combined impact of these investments will generate continued economic growth and benefits for Maine citizens. These benefits will spread across Maine, reaching many rural regions that have been left behind. These federal funds have enabled us to sidestep an impending recession, continue our progress towards a green energy future and prepare us to become more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

But most importantly, these investments will help secure a better future for generations yet to come. Roads and bridges will be safer, school budgets will be enriched, school buses will be safer, childcare and elder care will receive additional support, and Maine citizens will have the opportunity to choose jobs that will give them and their families the opportunity to live the life they deserve.

When the Congress and the administration work together to invest in our people and the nation’s future, we are all better off.

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