Birders flock to waterfront
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
The Aroostook Birders took advantage of recent good weather, spending a Saturday observing a variety of winged specimens fond of the water.
“Twenty area birders gathered on Saturday, April 23, at 8 a.m. at the Fort Fairfield boat launch for a morning of caravan bird watching in the Fort Fairfield and Easton areas. Ducks, geese and other waterfowl were the focus of the field trip, organized by our newly-formed group, the Aroostook Birders,” said Sue Pinette, publicity chair.
Photo courtesy of Aroostook Birders
MEMBERS OF THE AROOSTOOK BIRDERS gathered for a waterfowl watching field trip recently along the river in Fort Fairfield. Pictured in the circle, from left: Group leader Bill Sheehan, Judy Roe, Alice Sheppard, Tammy Piper, Dian Shaw, Sue Pinette, Kathy Braeuninger, Mark Bloomer, Ted Roberts, Bob Pinette, Carl Gagnon, Denise Gagnon and Scott Belair.
According to Pinette, the excursion began at the boat launch as the group spotted a double-crested cormorant flying low and a common loon making its way down the river.
“Birders traveled next to a low-lying wet area along the Russell Road known as McCrea Flats, a popular nesting and feeding spot for waterfowl, where osprey, geese and a variety of ducks, including two pairs of northern pintails and an American wigeon, were seen. A visit to Puddledock Pond on the Dorsey Road produced a close-up look at a large flock of Canada geese joined by several ring-necked ducks,” she said.
Pinette noted a short stopover along the Aroostook River in Fort Fairfield provided birders a look, with the aid of a spotting scope, at a nesting bald eagle.
“The field trip wrapped up at Lake Josephine Reservoir on the Station Road in Easton, where birders located, among other waterfowl and birds, a pair of redheads and a northern shoveler duck,” said Pinette.
Aroostook Birders president and trip leader, Bill Sheehan, said he was pleased with the turnout and enthusiasm of the group.
“Everybody was able to see most things we wanted to see in each location, and even with a group of 20 birders, things worked out very well,” said Sheehan.
According to Sheehan, most who attended had some birding experience, but there were a few who were new to bird watching as well.
One area birder, George Montee of Fort Fairfield, said he found the outing very enjoyable – a good way to locate and learn about birds.
“There’s so much knowledge to be shared. You’re always find new birds with a group like that. Now I find myself looking for ducks in low-lying and wet areas where once I would have just driven on by,” said Montee.
The outing proved to be a great opportunity to meet like-minded people. Fort Fairfield resident and longtime birder Kathy Braeuninger said she appreciated a morning spent with those who share a common interest.
“It’s nice to be with others who enjoy bird watching, especially people of different (experience) levels who share what they know. I was so pleased with the number of birders that we saw,” Braeuninger said.
Aroostook Birders met on May 12, at the Aroostook State Park, front lodge. The program covered basics of birding in time for the arrival of spring songbirds. A May field trip will be held on Saturday, May 21. All interested individuals are invited to attend. For information about Aroostook Birders, call Pinette at 764-1801 or visit www.facebook.com/AroostookBirders.
