Birders to hold program
PRESQUE ISLE — A presentation titled “Maine’s Herons and Cranes,” by Wildlife Biologist Danielle D’Auria of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, will be held on Thursday, Feb. 28, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Aroostook State Park Lodge in Presque Isle. The talk, which is a free and open to the public, is sponsored by Aroostook Birders, a bird watching club.
D’Auria works in the bird group of MDIF&W, with special emphasis on colonial wading birds, marsh birds, black terns and loons. She also serves as a coordinator of the Heron Observation Network, a statewide program where volunteers monitor wading bird colonies. Information collected helps biologists understand trends in bird populations and prioritize conservation efforts.
The presentation will focus on two of Maine’s largest birds, great blue herons and sandhill cranes. According to D’Auria, Maine’s great blue herons have been experiencing localized declines while sandhill cranes have increased in number. The talk will cover both the similarities and differences of these two long-legged, long-necked birds, including information about their natural history, their status in Maine, current monitoring and conservation efforts.
For further information, call Sue Pinette at 764-1801 or e-mail thearoostookbirders@gmail.com.
