Maine Lakefront Property Owners Can Make Difference as Citizen Scientists

Bridie McGreavy, PhD, to Lead LEA’s Maine Lake Science Center
November 6, 2014
Out and About for the Bangor Lakes Region of Maine Nov. 14-20
Out and About for the Bangor Lakes Region of Maine Nov. 14-20
November 12, 2014

Maine Lakefront Property Owners Can Make Difference as Citizen Scientists

Maine Lakefront Property Owners Can Make Difference as Citizen Scientists

Bird’s Eye View of the Five Kezars, Waterford, Maine


by Leigh Macmillen Hayes
Maine lakefront property owners are in a position to take part in two very special citizen science initiatives–the Christmas Bird Count and the Loon Count.

 

 


The Christmas Bird Count is an organized continent-wide survey that takes place from December 14 through January 5. On a given day, from sunrise to sunset, folks armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklists keep an eye on the sky, trees and shrubs, bird feeders and grounds in a specified area.
Since 1900, this data has been collected, thus creating a knowledge base of wintering birds in North America. The information contributes to the wildlife census and helps organizations such as Audubon assess the health, fluctuations and trends of bird populations.
Once you register with the group in your area, you’ll be assigned to a section of town or you may become a feeder-watcher, thus you won’t have to leave the comfort of your home on a winter day. You’ll soon get caught up in this friendly competition–who can see the most variety, etc. But you’ll also make a difference for science and bird conservation.
Here’s how it works. Sign up with the leader in your area. That person will notify you of the actual date for the bird count–weather is not a factor. Then, with binoculars, guide and a checklist, either join a seasoned bird watcher or keep an eye on your home feeder for at least one hour.
Typically, this is an all day affair and at the end of the day, all volunteers in a particular area meet, share a meal and tally their observations, which are then sent to the state and national counts.
Likewise, it’s not too early to think about joining the annual Maine Audubon Loon Count. Since 1983, lakefront property owners have been counting the number of loons on their lakes and ponds.
Launched as a joint effort between Maine IF&W and Maine Audubon, the Maine Loon Project assesses the status of this iconic bird. For larger lakes, it typically takes several people to tally the number of loons.
More than a thousand volunteers regularly dedicate the early morning hours of the third Saturday in July to find and count loons. And it only takes a half hour. The count is typically conducted from shore or boat at 7am. Once you’ve completed the count and form, you’ll share it with your regional coordinator and it will be sent to Maine Audubon.
These are just two ways that as a lakefront property owner you can make a difference by helping scientists in their research.
To learn more about lakefront property for sale on Five Kezars in Waterford, click on the green box above.
To learn more about the Waterford area of Maine, check out the blog links below.
Back Pond, Little Mud Pond, Middle Pond, Mud Pond and Jewett Pond Make Up the Five Kezars Ponds in Waterford, Maine
Waterford, Maine, the Quintessential New England Town in the Sebago Lakes Region

 

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