Maine Audubon

09/02/2026

Common Boneset 🦴 (Eupatorium perfoliatum)

In the fall, the leaves of Common Boneset turn a lovely, deep crimson red before dying back. The white flowers, which last until the end of September, provide nectar for butterflies, bees, wasps, flies, and beetles. This is a perfect match for a rain garden.

Fall is the best time to plant native plants. Pick up this plant and many more at our Native Plants Sale. Order online, then pick up your plants at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth (now at our new Ann & Jim Hancock Native Plants Education Center!) and Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden on select days.

We also have two brand new plant pickup locations! You can choose to pick up your plants at Washington Academy, 66 Cutler Road, East Machias, on Saturday, September 12, from 10 am to 1 pm, and at Valentine Farm, Mahoosuc Land Trust, 162 North Road, Bethel, on Saturday, September 19, from 10 am to 1 pm.

Shop and learn more below.

https://shop.mainenativeplants.org/

09/02/2026

Missing our Wildlife Wednesday content? Don't worry, we're working on some new videos with our naturalists that we'll be releasing soon! In the meantime, can you spot this semiaquatic animal seen in our pond at Gilsland Farm 👀? Take a guess in the comments!

Here are some clues to help you figure it out:

🌾You might see them munching on the native plants in and around rivers, lakes, and ponds throughout Maine. And while their eating habits may look destructive, that animal is keeping those plants in balance.

⌛️ They have a long tail and webbed feet to help them swim (they can even swim backwards!) and can stay underwater for up to 15 minutes!

🪹 They will build nests for protection from the cold and predators, and dig underwater entrances to tunnels in the banks of water bodies.

Think you know what animal it is yet 🐀? Swipe to see if you got it right!

09/01/2026

It's officially September, which means Autumn Equinox with Portside Real Estate Group is almost here! It also means TODAY (9/1) is the last day to get Early Bird pricing 🐦, so head to the link below to register and learn more.

🍂 LAST CHANCE FOR EARLY BIRD TICKETS! 🍂

Early Bird pricing for the 9th Annual Autumn Equinox at Maine Audubon ends today, September 1! 🎟️

Join us September 24 for live music, local food trucks, Maine beer + wine, lawn games, and a silent auction — all in support of Maine Audubon’s conservation + education efforts.

Your ticket includes:
🥂 One drink voucher
🍕 Bites from five local food trucks
🎶 Live music from Clifford Cameron
🎟️ Silent Auction + Getaway Raffle access

A huge thank you to our event partners ❤️

✨ Cyndi Veroneau of New American Funding, our Autumn Equinox co-host
🚐 Matt Neuman of Absolute Title, our Arrive in Style Sponsor, welcoming guests aboard the shuttle to Gilsland Farm

📅 Thursday, September 24 | 4–7 PM
📍 Maine Audubon, Falmouth

Early Bird pricing ends TODAY! Grab your tickets while you can! 🍁

🎟️ bit.ly/autumnequinox2026

09/01/2026

New England Aster 🪻 (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

This week, we’ll be featuring some native plants that put on their best show in fall. From brilliant foliage to beautiful flowers, don’t miss out on these colors—and as always, wildlife benefits too!

The vibrant, crayon-purple color of this aster is unique among others in its genus. It’s no surprise that New England Aster is one of our most popular native plants! These late-season blooms are a critical fall nectar source for monarchs and many other pollinators. In late fall and winter, the flowers become a feast of seeds for overwintering birds and mammals.

Fall is the best time to plant native plants. Pick up this plant and many more at our Native Plants Sale. Order online, then pick up your plants at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth (now at our new Ann & Jim Hancock Native Plants Education Center!) and Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden on select days.

We also have two brand new plant pickup locations! You can choose to pick up your plants at Washington Academy, 66 Cutler Road, East Machias, on Saturday, September 12, from 10 am to 1 pm, and at Valentine Farm, Mahoosuc Land Trust, 162 North Road, Bethel, on Saturday, September 19, from 10 am to 1 pm.

Shop and learn more below.

https://shop.mainenativeplants.org/

08/31/2026

Who knew time could go that fast 🦉! There's only one week left to get a glimpse of “Flight Path,” an exhibition featuring works by Maine artist Melissa Sweet!

You have until September 6 to see Melissa's original art from the book Goldfinches by Mary Oliver, whimsical birds in flight, and natural history pieces. Stop by the Visitor Center at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth from 10 am–5 pm for a final look at this amazing artwork.

Please note that the Visitor Center will be closed on Labor Day (September 7). But don't worry, up next, we'll have original art by Spindleworks Art Studio artists opening in mid-September!

To stay up to date on artist receptions, new exhibitions, and more, sign up for our newsletter.

https://maineaudubon.org/news/subscribe-for-updates/

08/31/2026

Exciting! We hope to see 👀 everyone taking advantage of these deals at our Nature Store!

Fall migration has begun, which means...we've extended our Optics Sale!

Get 15% off all optics at the Maine Audubon Nature Store at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth. That means 15% off binoculars, scopes, and monoculars by Nikon, Zeiss, Kowa, Vortex, and Swarovski!

The Optics Sale runs through the end of September. So gear up for fall migration and your future outdoor adventures today!

The Maine Audubon Nature Store is open daily from 10 am–5 pm.

08/27/2026

Say it ain't so! It's the last episode of Bird of the Week with WGME CBS 13 News, Portland's Stephanie Grindley TV!

To wrap up season 4, we're talking all about the Pine Warbler — how it might sound like some other birds commonly found in Maine and where you might be able to spot one in the forest. Plus, if you keep watching, you can see our very own Nick Lund rapid-fire ID some of the other 30 warblers seen in the state.

We're sad the season is coming to an end, but you can always sign up for one of our walks with a naturalist until Bird of the Week returns.

Photo by Kirk M. Rogers.

https://wgme.com/news/arc-maine/meet-the-pine-warbler-a-little-burst-of-sunshine-in-the-treetops

08/27/2026

Guess what, Downeast Mainers? We've added a new pickup location for our Maine Native Plants Sale! You can now order native plants online and pick them up at Washington Academy in East Machias on Saturday, September 12, from 10 am to 1 pm.

Planting native is a great way to restore and rebuild natural biodiversity in Maine, and we're excited to offer native plants to our supporters who live in Downeast Maine.

Maine Native Plants Sale online order pickup will be at Washington Academy, 66 Cutler Road, East Machias, on Saturday, September 12, from 10 am to 1 pm.

Learn more at https://shop.mainenativeplants.org/

08/25/2026

More than birders. More than birding.

To take flight, the Maine Bird Atlas required a multi-talented team from planning through publication. Directed and funded by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, with coordination, editing, and publication led by Maine Natural History Observatory in partnership with Maine Audubon and Biodiversity Research Institute, the completed Atlas reflects nine years of collaboration.

Finding birds was just one piece of the puzzle. It took a village for protocol development, administrative and technological support, data management, web development, outreach, editing, publication, and more.

The result:
📊A powerhouse dataset that propels Maine bird conservation forward with the rigor of current science.
🏆A demonstration of scientific leadership as the largest natural history collaboration and statewide resource assessment ever undertaken in Maine.
📖An indispensable resource for biologists, educators, policymakers, and birders alike.

From knowledge needed to safeguard species and protect habitat, to fuel for curiosity and community engagement, the Maine Bird Atlas is a must-read for anyone invested in the future of Maine birds. The window to preorder begins next month!