BANGOR DAILY NEWS • October 27, 2022
It’s starting to look like an interesting winter ahead. Northern birds are departing Canada faster than Patriots fans leaving at halftime. Some of the more common birds have already washed over Maine, including blue jays, black-capped chickadees and red-breasted nuthatches. It appears likely that Maine will enjoy another finch-filled winter. But all this finch stuff pales in comparison to what could happen with owls. I’ve heard two astounding reports of rare owls already in Maine. A great gray owl was photographed just this side of the Canadian border in Aroostook County. Two days later, a northern hawk-owl was photographed near Eagle Lake. Both owls are rare visitors to Maine. Rare owls irrupting in October may be an omen of more to come. Likewise, we’re about due for an influx of snowy owls. Finches and owls! Bring on winter. ~ Bob Duchesne