OK, this really is getting a bit ridiculous! Another 4-12 inches (more away from the coast) fell yesterday and last night. Yeesh. Here’s what our street looks like – it would be nice in January, but I’m ready for spring now!

Well, not much value in complaining about it – it certainly doesn’t change anything, does it? So, I got out to enjoy it this morning, taking the dog on my 6-mile Pownal “neighborhood” loop.

Avian highlights included an immature Northern Shrike (getting a bit late), an adult Red-shouldered Hawk (likely one of the local birds that we have been seeing from the Hawkwatch), and a male American Kestrel (no doubt waiting for Lionel to get up to the hawkwatch before continuing on). I also observed a few small flocks of “reverse-migrant” American Robins heading back south, once again forced to retreat from the snowfall.

This weather certainly brings birds into feeders, however, and every feeder I passed by this morning was quite active. Our feeding station was hopping, and the feeders here at the store are also very busy. Lots of folks feeding lots of mealworms, insect and fruit suets, dried fruit, etc to lots of hungry American Robins, Eastern Phoebes (one of our customers has 4 coming in for roasted mealworms each morning!), and others.

Most of our early migrants are tough birds, and they are made to withstand these fluctuations in weather. The strong will survive. However, the next week is not going to get any easier, and the supplement provided by bird feeding will be most welcome by the birds – and the abundance of birds in our yards will be most welcome by us!

What would also be most welcome by our birds is for EVERYONE reading this to own a Maine Conservation License Plate. This is one of the paltry few funding mechanisms for Endangered and Non-Game Species in the state.

Here’s a message from Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife:

MAINE’S CONSERVATION PLATE PROGRAM NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Did you know the Conservation License Plate, more commonly known as the “Loon Plate,” is the primary source of state funding for conservation of endangered and nongame wildlife in Maine? Each year, every vehicle registered with a Loon Plate generates $14 of revenue for the Maine Environmental Trust Fund. Money from this fund is dedicated solely to supporting Maine’s endangered and nongame wildlife programs, and improving our state parks and historic sites.

During its first several years, the Conservation Plate program was tremendously successful – raising over $500,000 annually for the State’s nongame wildlife program. In fact, Maine had one of the highest participation rates in the nation for conservation plate sales! That changed, however, with the introduction of the State’s general issue “Chickadee Plate” in 1999. Unfortunately, this new “free” wildlife plate set in motion a steady decline in Loon Plate sales that has continued unchecked. By 2006, Conservation Plate registrations had declined nearly 40% -- significantly reducing this critical source of funding.

To revitalize participation and express appreciation to current plate holders, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is initiating a new promotional campaign. As a first step, they have produced an attractive bumper sticker to help inform people about what the Conservation Plate supports and how Maine citizens can contribute. To be effective, YOUR help is needed to spread the message! As a strong advocate of Maine’s natural resources, please consider displaying this bumper sticker on all personal and business vehicles that are registered with a Loon Plate; and please share this message with coworkers, family and friends. Finally, if you don’t currently have a Loon Plate on your vehicle, please consider purchasing one the next time you register your car or truck. Join thousands of other drivers in showing how much you care about Maine’s parks and wildlife!

To obtain your free bumper sticker(s) and learn more about Maine’s Conservation Plate Program, please go to www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife/etweb/nongamefund.htm or call 207-287-5252.