Down East Spring Birding Festival

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Birding Festival Results

|| 2009 || 2008 || 2006 || 2005 || 2004 ||
|| Bird Sighting List for All Years ||

Bald Eagles

American Bald Eagles
Bob Duchesne Photo

2009 Birding Festival Results

During May 2009, 80 people from Maine, 15 other states, and New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island attended the Sixth Annual Down East Spring Birding Festival in Maine’s Cobscook Bay area and the associated Fifth Annual Birding Elderhostel program on Campobello Island. Participants and staff found (saw or heard) 154 different birds. The festival was well timed this year to the warbler migration, and participants and guides reported seeing a great diversity of migrating warblers. During the festival’s first six years now, birders have found a total of 214 different bird species. 

During three days of the festival, the America’s Birdiest City/County (ABC/C) birdathon also was held — and Washington County retained its title as America's Birdiest Atlantic Coast County, initially won in 2007 and maintained in 2008. In 2009, participants found 154 different birds for the ABC/C birdathon, 2 fewer than the total festival count since birds spotted in Canada are not included in the ABC/C competition. 

As usual, festival participants reported that they enjoyed the trips to Machias Seal Island, Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, and the little-known and less-visited sites around Cobscook Bay. Folks also appreciated meeting up with other birders from all around the country. According to one participant, “There were so many excellent options that it was difficult to decide on a schedule. But that is what makes this festival so good. Next year we can do other things.”

We were pleased that Fiep Debie of Stratford, Prince Edward Island, won the Framed Limited Edition Print of Northern Maine Birds, donated by Fred Hartman, DownEast Drawings. Fiep and a group of friends were the first folks from PEI who participated in the Down East Spring Birding Festival. We welcome folks from all provinces and states to the 2010 festival.

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2008 Birding Festival Results

During May 2008, 110 people from Maine, 19 other states, and New Brunswick attended the Fifth Annual Down East Spring Birding Festival in Maine’s Cobscook Bay area and the associated Fourth Annual Birding Elderhostel program on Campobello Island. This was a record attendance; 80 birders participated in the festival itself and 30 participated in the Elderhostel program.

Participants and staff found (saw or heard) 175 different birds. Six new birds were added to the festival’s running total (Gadwall, Long-tailed Duck, White-rumped Sandpiper, Black-legged Kittiwake, Eastern Screech Owl, and the Orchard Oriole). During the festival’s first five years now, birders have found a total of 214 different bird species. All the species found are identified in the list below.

During three days of the festival, the America’s Birdiest City/County (ABC/C) birdathon also was held — and Washington County retained its title as America's Birdiest Atlantic Coast County. In 2007, Washington County, Maine, won its first title, after finishing third the two previous years. In 2008, participants found 165 different birds for the ABC/C birdathon, 10 fewer than the festival count because the counting rules are a bit different. This year’s ABC/C count also includes 7 birds found only on Machias Seal Island, claimed by both the U.S. and Canada.

This year during the festival, two birders from Connecticut found the most birds by individuals. Adrian Nichols, from Chester, found 116 different birds, and Bill Asteriades, from South Glastonbury, found 108. 

The planning committee determined that the rarest bird found this year was the Eastern Screech Owl.  Barry Southard, from Machiasport, ME, the birding Elderhostel’s resident bird guide this year, heard the owl one evening during an “owl prowl” on Campobello Island, NB.

Tom Finlay, of East Machias, ME, won the Framed Limited Edition Print of Maine Warblers, donated by Fred Hartman, DownEast Drawings. Ila Post, an Elderhostel participant from Dallas, Texas, won the One Year Maine Audubon Membership and tote bag full of goodies, donated by Maine Audubon. The highest bidder on the $300 Swarovski Extremadura Backpack, donated by Swarovski Optik North America LTD for a fund-raising auction, was Ann Vassey of Winslow, ME.

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2006 Birding Festival Results

During May 26-29, 2006, 90 people from Maine, 21 other states, and New Brunswick, Canada, attended the third annual festival. We had 60 people sign up for the festival itself and 30 people attend the associated birding Elderhostel program.

Festival participants and staff found (saw or heard) 167 different birds this year. All these species can be found in the 2006 sighting results list posted below.

Once again, Washington County came in third place in the America's Birdiest Coastal Atlantic County birdathon, with 151 species.

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2005 Birding Festival Results

During May 27-30, 2005, 84 people from Maine, 14 other states, and New Brunswick attended the Second Annual Festival. Besides Maine and New Brunswick, participants came from California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, and Wisconsin. 64 people signed up for the festival itself, and another 20 signed up for a new birding elderhostel program that included the festival in its activities.

Festival participants and staff found (saw or heard) 176 different bird species during the four days. All these species can be found in the 2005 sighting results list posted below. 
Swamp Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow
Bob Duchesne Photo

The festival offered three prizes.  The raffle prize, a beautiful framed color print of Atlantic Puffins on Machias Seal Island drawn by Fred Hartman, was won by Theresa Lindsey of Tennessee. The prize for the "most species found" was won by the local team of Frank Marenghi and Barry Southard (101).

The prize for the "rarest bird species found" was awarded to Mel Hochhalter of North Carolina for his sighting of a Worm-eating Warbler.  After considerable deliberation, the planning committee decided that that was a slightly rarer find in this area over the Memorial Day Weekend than the other two special sightings that also were in contention — the Orange-crowned Warbler and the Yellow-throated Warbler. Congratulations to all for these unusual sightings.

As part of the festival, we entered Washington County, Maine, in the national contest for America's Birdiest City and County. Because the "counting rules" were different, our ABC count was 153 species. For that effort, we made third place in the category America's Birdiest Coastal Atlantic County - behind King's County, NY (169) and Richmond County (aka Staten Island), NY (161).

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Common Yellowthroat

Common Yellowthroat
Bob Duchesne Photo

2004 Birding Festival Results

Over 75 people from Maine, 8 other states, and New Brunswick, Canada, attended the First Annual Down East Spring Birding Festival over Memorial Day Weekend 2004. In total, 151 different bird species were found (seen or heard). All these species can be found in the 2004 sighting-results list posted below. The festival offered two prizes — one for the rarest species found and one for the most species found. These prizes were won by Tom and Lindsay Hodgman (Three-toed Woodpecker) and by Bob and Sandi Duchesne (114 species).

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FESTIVAL BIRD SIGHTING RESULTS

List of Birds Found
Down East Spring Birding Festival

KEY:
  • "Possibly" — representatives usually here in late May, depending on migration timing or population status.
  • "Unlikely" — representatives infrequently here in late May.
  • "(X)" — seen on Campobello Island, only; not counted in Birdiest City/County competition.
Birds Found

BIRD LIST
2004
MAY
28-31
2005
MAY
27-30
2006
MAY
26-31
2007
MAY
25–30
2008
MAY
23–26
2009
MAY
22–25
  
LOONS - GREBES
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Common Loon
 
X
 
 
X
 
   Red-throated Loon - Unlikely
X
X
X
X
 
 
   Pied-billed Grebe
 
 
X
 
 
 
   Horned Grebe - Possibly
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Red-necked Grebe
SHEARWATERS - STORM-PETRELS
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Manx Shearwater - Unlikely
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Greater Shearwater
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Sooty Shearwater - Possibly
 
 
 
X
 
 
   Northern Fulmar
 
X
 
 
 
 
   Wilson's Storm-Petrel - Possibly
 
X
 
 
 
 
   Leach's Storm-Petrel
GANNETS - CORMORANTS
X
X
 
X
X
X
   Northern Gannet - Possibly
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Double-crested Cormorant
X
X
 
 
X
 
   Great Cormorant
BITTERNS - HERONS
X
X
X
X
X
X
   American Bittern
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Least Bittern - Unlikely
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Great Blue Heron
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Great Egret - Possibly
 
 
X
 
 
 
   Snowy Egret
X
 
X
 
 
 
   Green Heron
 
X
 
 
X
 
   Black-crowned Night-Heron
GEESE - DUCKS
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Snow Goose - Possibly
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Canada Goose
 
 
X
 
 
 
   Brant - Possibly
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Wood Duck
X
X
X
X
X
 
   Mallard
X
X
X
X
X
X
   American Black Duck
 
 
 
 
X
 
   Gadwall - Possibly
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Northern Pintail - Possibly
 
 
 
 
 
 
   American Wigeon - Possibly
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Northern Shoveler - Unlikely
X
X
X
 
X
 
   Blue-winged Teal
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Green-winged Teal
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Lesser Scaup - Possibly
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Ring-necked Duck
 
X
 
 
 
 
   Greater Scaup - Unlikely
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Common Eider
 
 
 
 
 
 
   King Eider - Unlikely
 
 
 
 
X
 
   Long-tailed Duck - Possibly
 
X
X
X
X
 
   White-winger Scoter - Possibly
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Surf Scoter - Possibly
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Black Scoter - Possibly
 
 
X
X
 
X
   Common Goldeneye - Possibly
 
 
X
 
 
 
   Barrow's Goldeneye
 
 
X
X
 
 
   Bufflehead - Possibly
X
X
X
 
X
 
   Hooded Merganser
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Red Breasted Merganser
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Common Merganser
OSPREY - EAGLES - HAWKS - FALCONS
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Turkey Vulture
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Osprey
X
X
X
X
X
 
   Northern Goshawk
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Sharp-shinned Hawk
 
X
X
X
X
X
   Cooper's Hawk
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Northern Harrier
X
X
 
X
X
 
   Red-shouldered Hawk
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Broad-winged Hawk
 
X
X
X
X
X
   Red-tailed Hawk
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Rough-legged Hawk - Unlikely
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Bald Eagle (threatened species)
X
X
X
X
X
X
   American Kestrel
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Merlin
 
X
 
 
X
 
   Peregrine Falcon (threatened species) - Possibly
 
 
 
 
 
 (X)
   Northern Goshawk
GROUSE - RAILS - COOTS
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Ruffed Grouse
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Spruce Grouse
X
X
X
X
X
 
   Virginia Rail
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Sora
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Yellow Rail - Unlikely
PLOVERS - SANDPIPERS - PHALAROPES
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Black-bellied Plover
 
 
 
 
 
 
   American Golden-Plover - Unlikely
 
X
X
X
X
 
   Killdeer
X
X
 
 
 
 
   Semipalmated Plover
X
X
X
X
X
 
   Greater Yellowlegs
 
X
X
 
X
 
   Lesser Yellowlegs
 
X
 
X
X
 
   Solitary Sandpiper
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Spotted Sandpiper
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Willet
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Whimbrel - Unlikely
 
X
X
 
 
 
   Upland Sandpiper
 
 
 
X
 
 
   Ruddy Turnstone
 
X
X
X
X
 
   Purple Sandpiper - Unlikely
 
 
 
X
 
 
   Sanderling - Possibly
 
X
 
 
X
 
   Red Knot
 
 
X
X
 
X
   Dunlin
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Pectoral Sandpiper - Possibly
 
 
 
 
X
 
   White-rumped Sandpiper - Unlikely
X
X
 
X
 
 
   Semipalmated Sandpiper
X
X
 
X
X
X
   Least Sandpiper
 
X
 
X
X
 
   Short-billed Dowitcher
X
X
X
 
X
X
   Wilson's Snipe
X
X
X
X
X
X
   American Woodcock
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Wilson's Phalarope - Unlikely
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Red-necked Phalarope (threatened species) - Unlikely
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Red Phalarope - Unlikely
SKUAS - JAEGERS - GULLS
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Parasitic Jaeger - Unlikely
 
 
 
 
X
 
   Black-legged Kittiwake
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Black-headed Gull - Unlikely
X
 
X
X
X
 
   Bonaparte's Gull
 
X
X
X
X
 
   Laughing Gull
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Ring-billed Gull
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Herring Gull
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Iceland Gull - Unlikely
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Glaucous Gull - Unlikely
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Great Black-backed Gull
TERNS
 
 
X
 
 
 
   Black Tern - Possibly
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Common Tern
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Arctic Tern
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Roseate Tern (threatened species)
ALCIDS
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Razorbill
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Common Murre
 
X
 
 
 
 
   Thick-billed Murre - Unlikely
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Black Guillemot
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Atlantic Puffin
DOVES - CUCKOOS
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Rock Dove
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Mourning Dove
 
 
 
X
X
 
   Black-billed Cuckoo
OWLS
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Long-eared Owl - Possibly
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Short-eared Owl - Possibly
 
 
 
 
X
X
   Eastern Screech-Owl - Possibly
 
 
 
X
X
X
   Great Horned Owl
 
X
X
X
X
X
   Barred Owl
 
X
X
X
X
X
   Northern Saw-whet Owl
NIGHTHAWKS - SWIFTS - KINGFISHERS
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Common Nighthawk
X
 
X
 
X
X
   Whip-poor-will
X
X
 
X
X
X
   Chimney Swift
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Ruby-throated Hummingbird
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Belted Kingfisher
WOODPECKERS
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Downy Woodpecker
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Hairy Woodpecker
X
 
 
 
 
 
   Three-toed Woodpecker
 
X
X
X
X
X
   Black-backed Woodpecker
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Northern Flicker
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Pileated Woodpecker
FLYCATCHERS
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Olive-sided Flycatcher
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Eastern Wood-Pewee
X
X
X
 
 
X
   Willow Flycatcher
X
X
X
X
X
(X)
   Alder Flycatcher
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Least Flycatcher
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Eastern Phoebe
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Great Crested Flycatcher
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Eastern Kingbird
SHRIKES AND VIREOS
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Warbling Vireo
X
 
X
X
X
 
   Philadelphia Vireo
 
 
 
X
 
 
   White-eyed Vireo - Unlikely
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Red-eyed Vireo
 
 
 
X
 
 
   Yellow-throated Vireo - Unlikely
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Blue-headed Vireo
JAYS - CROWS - LARKS - SWALLOWS
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Blue Jay
 
X
X
X
X
X
   Gray Jay
X
X
X
X
X
X
   American Crow
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Common Raven
 
 
 
X
 
 
   Horned Lark
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Barn Swallow
X
 
X
X
X
X
   Cliff Swallow
 
X
X
 
X
 
   Northern Rough-winged Swallow
X
X
 
X
 
X
   Bank Swallow
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Tree Swallow
 
X
 
 
X
 
   Purple Martin
CHICKADEES - NUTHATCHES - WRENS
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Black-capped Chickadee
X
X
 
X
X
X
   Boreal Chickadee
X
X
 
X
X
(X)
   Brown Creeper
X
X
X
X
X
X
   White-breasted Nuthatch
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Red-breasted Nuthatch
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Marsh Wren
 
 
X
X
 
 
   House Wren
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Winter Wren
KINGLETS - THRUSHES - THRASHERS
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Golden-crowned Kinglet
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Ruby-crowned Kinglet
 
 
X
X
X
 
   Eastern Bluebird
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Swainson's Thrush
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Veery
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Bicknell's Thrush
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Gray-cheeked Thrush
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Hermit Thrush
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Wood Thrush
X
X
X
X
X
X
   American Robin
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Gray Catbird
 
X
X
X
X
X
   Northern Mockingbird
 
X
 
 
X
X
   Brown Thrasher
 
 
 
 
 
X
   Northern Water Thrush
STARLINGS - WAXWINGS
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Cedar Waxwing
X
X
X
X
X
X
   European Starling
WARBLERS
X
X
X
X
X
   Tennessee Warbler
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Nashville Warbler
 
 
X
 
 
 
   Golden-winged Warbler
 
X
 
 
 
 
   Orange-crowned Warbler - Unlikely
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Northern Parula
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Yellow Warbler
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Chestnut-sided Warbler
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Magnolia Warbler
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Cape May Warbler - Possibly
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Blackburnian Warbler
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Black-throated Blue Warbler
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Yellow-rumped Warbler
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Black-throated Green Warbler
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Palm Warbler
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Pine Warbler
 
X
 
 
 
X
   Prairie Warbler - Unlikely
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Blackpoll Warbler
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Bay-breasted Warbler
 
X
 
 
 
 
   Yellow-throated Warbler - Unlikely
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Black and White Warbler
X
X
X
X
X
X
   American Redstart
 
X
 
 
 
 
   Worm-eating Warbler - Unlikely
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Common Yellowthroat
X
X
X
X
X
 
   Mourning Warbler - Possibly
X
X
X
X
X
 
   Northern Waterthrush
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Ovenbird
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Canada Warbler
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Wilson's Warbler
TANAGERS - SPARROWS - TOWHEES
 
X
X
X
X
X
   Scarlet Tanager
 
 
X
 
 
 
   Blue Grosbeak - Unlikely
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Rose-breasted Grosbeak
X
X
X
X
X
 
   Indigo Bunting
 
X
X
X
X
X
   Northern Cardinal - Possibly
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Eastern Towhee
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Chipping Sparrow
 
 
X
 
 
X
   Field Sparrow
X
X
 
X
 
X
   American Tree Sparrow - Unlikely
 
 
X
 
 
 
   Vesper Sparrow
 
 
 
 
 
X
   Grasshopper Sparrow - Unlikely
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Savannah Sparrow
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Song Sparrow
X
X
 
X
X
X
   Lincoln's Sparrow
X
X
X
 
X
X
   Swamp Sparrow
X
X
X
X
X
X
   White-crowned Sparrow - Possibly
X
X
X
X
X
X
   White-throated Sparrow
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Dark-eyed Junco
 
 
 
 
 
X
   Fox Sparrow
ORIOLES - BLACKBIRDS - GRACKLES
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Baltimore Oriole
 
 
 
 
X
 
   Orchard Oriole
X
 
X
X
 
 
   Eastern Meadowlark - Possibly
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Bobolink
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Red-winged Blackbird
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Rusty Blackbird - Possibly
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Common Grackle
 
X
X
X
X
 
   Brown-headed Cowbird
FINCHES
X
X
X
X
X
X
   House Sparrow
X
X
X
 
X
X
   Evening Grosbeak - Possibly
X
X
X
X
X
X
   American Goldfinch
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Pine Siskin
X
 
 
 
 
 
   Common Redpoll - Unlikely
X
X
X
X
X
X
   House Finch - Possibly
X
X
X
X
X
X
   Purple Finch
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Pine Grosbeak - Possibly
 
 
 
X
 
 
   White-winged Crossbill
 
 
 
X
X
X
   Red Crossbill
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