Two Turkey Vultures were soaring high above Portland’s Dragon Field this morning – yet another sign of the mild season. Turkey Vultures are an increasingly early migrant, heading north in warm spells that provide south winds to fuel their journey, and also provides the warmth that makes things like Raccoons, Opossums, skunks, etc more active. When these mid-sized mammals become more active, they begin to cross roads and are commonly killed. Roadkill is the major food source for Turkey Vultures. And, with warmer temperatures and suburbanization species like possums and raccoons are increasing, and so are Turkey Vultures. Good thing to, as scavengers such as Turkey Vultures do us a significant service by cleaning up dead stuff, slowing the spread of disease and the unsightly sights and smells of dead stuff on the side of the road.

If the recent signs of spring (such as migrant Turkey Vultures) are not yet welcome, let’s at least talk about winter – the winter forest to be exact. This Saturday, instead of our regular free birdwalk here at the store, we will be joined by forester Si Balch and Programs Director Roxie Miller, from the New England Forestry Foundation for a Winter Forest Ecology Walk. We will discuss both bird and tree identification, forest ecology, conservation, sustainable forestry, and other winter woods topics as we visit one of NEFF’s Freeport properties. (Hot Coffee and homemade treats will be served when we return). Meet here at the Wild Bird Center of Yarmouth at 8:00am.

Now, if you rather think warm thoughts, I definitely encourage you to see Drew Fulton’s Everglades photography exhibit at Bowdoin College now through the 16th. Jeannette and I went to the opening on Saturday and were most impressed. The female Painted Bunting and the eye of the Double-crested Cormorant were our favorites!

And, if you’re already thinking about summer – and summer vacations to be exact, I welcome you to join me for a few weeks in Alaska! In July, I am co-leading a three week trip with my friends at New Jersey Audubon’s Sandy Hook Bird Observatory from July 8th through the 28th.

“Experience one of the most magnificent wilderness areas in North America in summer and search for Alaskan avian specialties, mammals and other arctic and subarctic flora and fauna. The tour will begin and end in Anchorage and will follow a pre-tour extension to St. Paul on the Pribilof Islands for views of the magnificent nesting alcid and seabird colonies. Locations visited on the tour will include: Nome, Denali National Park, Fairbanks, Valdez and the Kenai Peninsula. An internal Alaska flight to and from Nome will be provided with the package as well as a boat and a ferry ride surveying the marvelous Alaskan coast and its remarkable fjords. This trip of a lifetime will offer spectacular photographic venues and opportunities to experience the grandeur of this spectacularly scenic state. Target Species will include: Pacific Loon, Northern Fulmar, Short-tailed Shearwater, Red-faced Cormorant, Trumpeter Swan, Spruce Grouse, Willow and Rock Ptarmigans, Arctic and Aleutian Terns, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled and Kittlitz’s Murrelets, Cassin’s, Rhinoceros Auklets, Horned and Tufted Puffins, Northern Hawk-Owl, Three-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers, Northwestern Crow, Arctic Warbler, Bluethroat, Northern Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, Golden-crowned Sparrow. The Pribilofs extension will target: Rock Sandpiper, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Parakeet, Least and Crested Auklets, Red-legged Kittiwakes, Ancient and Marbled Murrelets, Red-faced Cormorants, and possible Asian rarities.” (Read more about the tour)

There is some space available, so contact me or Pete Bacinski at the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory for more info!