RANGELEY HIGHLANDER • December 22, 2025
Across the state, from coastal towns like Portland and Boothbay to interior communities such as Farmington and Jay , cold-weather species arrive, behaviors shift and familiar birds become easier to observe in the quiet of the season. For many residents, getting outside to look for birds is both a mental-health boost and a way to stay connected with the natural world when the days are shortest. Across Maine, wildlife officials and conservation groups encourage residents to get outside even briefly during winter. Maine Audubon stresses that time outdoors supports mental health and strengthens people’s connection to the natural world, benefits that become especially important during the darkest part of the year.