The most comprehensive online source of conservation news and events in Maine and beyond, edited by Jym St. Pierre
MAINE AUDUBON • March 29, 2026
Catch spring migration in action this year. Join beginner-friendly walks around the diverse habitats of Fields Pond Audubon Center. Learn the basics of birding or sharpen your existing skills. Each wave of spring migration will bring new species to learn each week! Drop-ins welcome, binoculars for loan are limited.
MAINE AUDUBON • March 29, 2026
This spring Maine Audubon is taking “Phenomenal: Seasonal Stories from Your Wildlife Community” on the road to Bangor. Join us for an entertaining and invigorating evening of live storytelling at Bangor Public Library on Wednesday, April 1, at 6:30 pm. We’ll hear from biologists, birders, journalists, and foresters as they each share personal stories to help us relate and reconnect to the period of reawakening, rapid change, and false starts that marks early spring in Maine. If you can’t join live, you can watch the live stream over Zoom or watch the recording.
NEW YORK TIMES • March 29, 2026
For 20 years, Paul Christman has been working to restore salmon to the Sandy River watershed in the western Maine mountains, where they were eradicated after dams built in the 1800s blocked their passage. The strategy is producing thousands of juvenile salmon that migrate to the North Atlantic, but just a handful that return to Maine to spawn as adults. Now, a $300 million project to remove or modify four dams downstream on the Kennebec River is infusing the work with new hope, possibly clearing the way for salmon to swim freely up to the Sandy River within a decade.
PENOBSCOT BAY PILOT • March 29, 2026
The Rockport Public Library will host its second annual Seed Fest on Saturday, April 11. This free, family-friendly event will take place on the upper and lower levels of the library. From 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., visitors can browse educational exhibits and activities covering seed-starting, pollinators, soil health, composting, native plants, heirloom vegetables, growing rice and grains in Maine, Wabanaki food sovereignty, and much more. At 12:30 p.m., Petra Page-Mann, of Fruition Seeds, will deliver an interactive keynote presentation. Page-Mann and her nonprofit seed company are strong advocates of “gift culture,” which involves giving away seeds to promote food cultivation and community building. "This ethos aligns perfectly with the theme of Seed Fest," said the Library, in a news release.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 29, 2026
Maine’s maple industry appears poised to become even more valuable in coming decades: demand is still growing amid heightened interest in natural foods and more aggressive marketing, while forest conditions could make producing it in states farther south more challenging. Maine has challenges to navigate, including climate change and access to land, but it’s possible the state will keep producing more syrup for longer than other regions. That’s not noticeably impacting producers now, but could provide more room for growth in coming decades, they said.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 29, 2026
Long Cove Headwaters Preserve in Searsport is a 456-acre patchwork of forest and wetlands. Owned and managed by Coastal Mountains Land Trust, the property was acquired in two pieces, from Central Maine Power Co. in 2010 and the Whitten family in 2014. The preserve has a figure-eight trail system. The Blue Loop, measuring 1.2 miles long, starts from the parking lot. Deeper in the forest, the Orange Loop branches off, marked with orange blazes and measuring 1.4 miles.
WMTW-TV8 • March 27, 2026
Gov. Janet Mills announced Friday that Maine is receiving $43 million in new federal funding to support the installation of high-efficiency heat pump water heaters. The funding comes from the New England Heat Pump Accelerator, a collaborative multi-state initiative supported by a federal grant to rapidly increase the adoption of heat pump technology across the region. More than 70,000 heat pump water heaters have been installed in Maine since 2018, according to Mills, and she said the goal of the new funding is to support the installation of another 30,000 heat pump water heaters.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 28, 2026
We don’t typically think of blue jays as migrating away from Maine in the summer, since they can be seen year-round in the state, but those individuals you see in your backyards and local parks in the winter may be different from the ones that are there in the summer. While most passerines (perching birds) migrate at night, blue jays are primarily diurnal migrants (active in the daytime), and you can often catch them in the act. We see small groups of blue jays actively migrating in the mornings during the “Warbler Walks” I lead at Evergreen Cemetery each May. You can typically tell migrating jays by: their altitude, above the treetops up to 500 feet (think of the Washington Monument for scale); their northward orientation, hopefully; and group size, as they’ll be in groups of 5-10 or larger, rather than singly or in pairs. ~ Maine Audubon Staff Naturalist Doug Hitchcox
MAINE AUDUBON • March 28, 2026
What in the world is a woodcock? Learn about one of the strangest shorebirds around, then join us to witness the spectacle of the “sky dance”. We’ll talk about biology, ecology, and conservation for this amazing bird. The program takes place at dusk, dress accordingly. First 3 Thursdays in April: April 2, April 9, April 16, 7-8:30 pm, at Fields Pond Audubon Center, Holden. Free for members / $8 nonmembers.
MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • March 28, 2026
If you care about our national parks, urge your US Senators to oppose the destructive and deceptive S. 4103, the “Save Our Sequoias Act” Logging Bill. S. 4103 would:
• allow clearcutting of mature and old-growth giant sequoias in sequoia groves;
• create a timber sales program in National Parks for the first time in U.S. history;
• override and nullify the Giant Sequoia National Monument and the 2001 Roadless Rule;
• implement a dangerous sneak attack that could allow logging in Wilderness Areas.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 28, 2026
Maine’s children carry some of the highest cancer rates in the country. South Portland has schools where young ones breathe fumes from the tank farms. Three federal emissions lawsuits confirm these facilities don’t always operate within even Maine’s permissive standards. More than 600 tons of volatile organic compounds are vented into South Portland’s air every year. The cancer-causing fumes’ dangers are compounded by projected sea level rise. A plan that peers only 12 years ahead is not looking nearly far enough. South Portland’s choices today will determine what kind of city stands at the waterline at 2100 and beyond. A new group has proposed a Shipyard Open Space Monument. The sea is rising. The air is compromised. The community has offered a solution rooted in history, health and hard-won wisdom. The only question left is whether the City Council has the courage to choose it. ~ David Field, South Portland
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 28, 2026
As a Bass Harbor resident who fishes out of Portland, I know firsthand the pressure our groundfish fleet faces. Recently, we were on the brink of a premature and unnecessary shutdown. Regulations to increase the haddock allowable catch by 50% were supposed to be implemented last May. Due to bureaucratic delays, those crucial fish remained off-limits. We faced an existential threat to our businesses. The response from Sen. Susan Collins’ office was nothing short of remarkable. We reached out to her staff on a Tuesday morning; by Wednesday afternoon, the rule was published and our season was saved. ~ John Mitchell, Bass Harbor
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 28, 2026
Our scheduled 10 a.m. departure on the Isle au Haut ferry, Stonington Harbor was surprisingly calm. Two captains, three guides and 24 participants climbed aboard without hesitation. This excursion has become one of our most popular offerings, mostly because harlequin ducks are among the cutest birds on the planet. We counted 239 during the three-hour voyage. Long-tailed ducks were also abundant. We tallied 94. We saw all three scoter species: surf (56), black (49) and white-winged (7). There were 32 common eiders, a rather low number, and 25 red-breasted mergansers, a rather high one. Two offshore flocks of Canada geese were a surprise. Who expects to see 57 that far out on saltwater? The 34 great cormorants were less so. They nest on the farthest island, Seal Island, and move closer to shore in winter. The only surprise about the 375 American herring gulls was that we actually counted them. Who counts gulls? ~ Bob Duchesne
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 27, 2026
On a few nights each spring, Mainers help frogs and salamanders cross roads, witnessing the natural pilgrimage in their backyards. Citizens can get involved through the organization Maine Big Night, which has a map of over 100 sites across the state where volunteers can shepherd amphibians across the road. Frogs and salamanders wait for the right conditions to get moving. The nighttime temperature must be above 40 degrees, preferably up to 45 degrees, and there has to be rain. Typically Big Night occurs around mid-April. “It really is a sign that spring has begun and winter is over,” said Greg LeClair, the executive director of Maine Big Night.
MAINE PUBLIC • March 27, 2026
The number of Maine's "species of greatest conservation need" has almost doubled in the latest wildlife protection roadmap released by the state. The 10-year Wildlife Action Plan now includes more than 700 kinds of birds, mammals, fish and invertebrates. For the first time it also includes plants said Alex Fish, endangered and threatened species coordinator with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. "So that increased around 300 species there, including endangered, threatened and special concern plant species," Fish said in an interview.
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 27, 2026
The Androscoggin River once haunted Mainers with its nauseating odors and clouds of foam. But more than any other river, it inspired Maine Sen. Ed Muskie to push for the Federal Clean Water Act of 1972. Today, we have an opportunity to give future generations a chance to thrive in an uncertain climate by securing a functioning river ecosystem. The Brunswick Dam at the head-of-tide on the river is being reviewed for another 40- to 50-year permit to operate. The dam supplies only about 0.6% of Maine’s power, yet almost completely blocks fish passage, in violation of the Clean Water Act. It is now or never to influence the relicensing process and force the dam owner to adhere to Clean Water Act standards for safe passage of native fish species. The dam has a fish ladder that does not work well. Last year, Free-the-Andro, a grassroots organization of concerned citizens, was formed to influence the federal relicensing process for the benefit of a functioning river ecosystem. We would like to see an outpouring of support for better fish passage. ~ John Lichter, emeritus professor of environmental studies; Scot McFarlane, river historian
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 27, 2026
In the construction business, we deal in realities every day. We know what it takes to build a home, repair a bridge, or expand a local business. We track material costs closely, manage tight timelines, and adjust when prices shift. One factor touches every part of that work: energy. That’s why proposals like Maine’s Climate Superfund bill, LD 1870, raise serious concerns. There is no question that Maine should take steps to strengthen its infrastructure and prepare for the impacts of climate change. Building more resilient communities is something we all support. But how we approach that goal matters just as much as the goal itself. If we want Maine to remain a place where people can afford to live, work, and invest, we need policies that support both sustainability and economic strength. That means focusing on solutions that expand energy options, encourage innovation, and keep costs in check. ~ Larry Grondin, R.J. Grondin & Sons, Gorham, and Associated Builders and Contractors
BANGOR DAILY NEWS • March 27, 2026
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s revised public benefit determination to expand the Juniper Ridge Landfill (JRL) once again fails to fully consider the well-being of Penobscot Nation and Old Town residents, arguing that public health is worth sacrificing for the sake of having somewhere to dump Maine’s garbage. The technology for removing PFAS from leachate is complicated, largely experimental, and varies in effectiveness. What will happen if PFAS treatment doesn’t work? The DEP has failed to accept accountability for the ongoing harm caused by JRL by continuing to push for expansion. The proposed solutions included in the revised public benefit determination amount to an admission that JRL has been violating the rights of our communities for years. We deserve a Department of Environmental Protection that takes our health and environment seriously. ~ Daisy Goodman, Old Town
NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL OF MAINE • March 26, 2026
Lisa Pohlmann, NRCM’s CEO from 2011-2022, passed away on Sunday, March 22. Lisa joined the NRCM team in 2000 as a member of the Board of Directors, later serving as board president and then Deputy Director under Brownie Carson. She brought to her leadership of the Natural Resources Council of Maine a deep passion for the environment and a strong history of advocacy for the people of Maine. She believed strongly in the power of connection—whether visiting members in their homes across Maine, speaking at the State House, or standing alongside community leaders and elected officials. Lisa had a rare ability to inspire action and bring people together, always grounding her work in both compassion and conviction. In 2015, Lisa received one of the first “Women in Conservation” awards from the National Wildlife Federation.
WGME-TV13 • March 26, 2026
Despite a few recent rounds of rain, we’re still running a deficit, and the drought isn’t going anywhere just yet. Drought impacts nearly every part of our lives. Everything in our environment is connected, and water plays a critical role. It supports our communities, our ecosystems and our economy. The drought in Maine has been ongoing since last spring. Every county has been experiencing at least moderate drought conditions. Fast forward to Friday’s drought monitor, there have been only minor improvements. The state is still under drought conditions, with parts of southern Maine remaining in extreme drought. The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting that the drought will persist through at least the end of June, a reflection of the ongoing precipitation deficit. To get out of the severe drought, Maine will need multiple days of soaking precipitation.
