Local birding report

In the fall of 2019, the journal “Science” published a startling study that showed North America has lost an estimated three billion migratory birds in the last 50 years. The study, which initially looked to be the spark that would ignite a flame, resulted in hundreds of other TV news outlets, newspapers and websites echoing the alarm bells about the published study.

Unfortunately, 5 years later, there has been no effective federal government policy responses. In 2022 another report was issued by 33 leading science and conservation organizations and published in “State of the Birds” that identified “Tipping Point” species, defined as steeply declining bird species that are not yet protected as endangered despite having lost more than 50% of their populations in the past 50 years. Making matters even worse, these Tipping Point species are predicted to lose another 50% of their remaining populations in the next five decades unless action is taken. This list includes birds that can still be seen in Cape Elizabeth at certain times of year like the Evening Grosbeak, Bobolink, Golden-winged Warbler, Eastern Towhee and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. If we believe it is important for our children and grandchildren to experience the thrill of seeing these birds, local action must be taken before the process of extinction reaches a point of no return.

There is a significant opportunity for Cape Elizabeth as a community to step up to this call to action by reducing window collisions in our neighborhoods and town center. Anyone that has a bird feeder and enjoys watching birds in their backyard should challenge themselves to make an impact at a local level by taking the necessary precautions to ensure that homes windows are bird friendly.

The most effective, proven solution to providing birds a chance to see and avoid glass is by applying 2-inch grids of tiny stickers to the entire glass pane. Over the course of several years, I have managed to protect 2/3rds of the windows in my house including large glass windows facing our bird feeders. If anyone would like to learn more about how to get going with window strike prevention that works, please reach out to me directly at [email address withheld].

Additionally, as part of the planning process for building/upgrading new school buildings and large-scale town center developments that will inevitably be coming, our town should develop local regulations and standards requiring bird-friendly design for all construction and major renovations. New York City’s adopted Local Law 15 of 2020 requires that materials that reduce bird strike fatalities be installed on newly constructed or altered buildings and we should start to look to a similar model for guidance.

As for my notes from the yard and field in early February, on February 7 while looking for the female Pine Warbler that continues to visit my backyard feeders a male Eastern Towhee suddenly appeared atop the feeder! Catbird in size, this large ground dwelling sparrow is striking in appearance, with a white belly vest, cinnamon colored chest and flanks, jet black head/neck and white tail feather corners. Eastern Towhees are infrequent along coastal southern Maine during the winter and classified as irregular winter residents. As short-distance migrants, most Eastern Towhees north of Virginia move to either the mid-Atlantic or southern U.S. come late autumn. Interestingly, so far this year, one other Eastern Towhee was reported to eBird on February 8 in the town of Cumberland. In 2024 according to eBird there were four total reported sightings in Cumberland County during the winter month. The towhee flew back into the tangles behind the house, and I could hear the birds “chewink” call over the next hour or so before it disappeared.

Eastern Towhees are known to breed in Cape during warmer months. Unfortunately, they nest on the ground or close to it, and consequently both the bird and its eggs are subject to greater levels of predation by reptiles, mammals and other birds. Additionally, towhees are not able to distinguish their own eggs from that of Brown-headed Cowbirds who heavily parasitize their nests. Although not yet considered a bird of special concern in Maine, between 1966 and 2019 the North American Breeding Bird survey estimates that a whopping 53% of their population has been lost, primarily due to loss of habitat and predation.

Encountering a bird that typically should not be in our parts during the dead of winter is like finding a rare wildflower, one which I may never find again at this time of year, perchance, like the Fringed Gentian that my grandmother pointed out to me many years ago in November along the edge of a woodland meadow in Jackson, New Hampshire. The encounter with this bird enhanced the wildness and the richness of my perspective for what is possible.

On February 8, tipped off by an eBird report earlier that day I made my way to the Spurwink River Marsh section of Sawyer Road where, after some effort, I was able to locate six Horned Larks hunkered down along a section of the tidal dogleg where marsh grasses were still protruding above the snow.

Although I had seen Horned Larks earlier in the year while walking the back dunes of Crane Beach in Ipswich Massachusetts, this was only the second time I have seen a Horned Lark in Cape Elizabeth. A species of special concern in Maine and the only native lark species found in North America, the Horned Lark is a subtly beautiful, long-bodied songbird. The male larks sport black masks set against a yellow face and throat. Atop its head are two tiny little tufts of feathers which resemble horns.

Once referred to as Shore Larks, this hardy little bird primarily breeds in the artic tundra. Interestingly, there are annually confirmed reports of Horned Larks breeding in potato fields of the Aroostook County Lowlands and very rarely in the “back dune” areas of Cumberland County. According to the North American Breeding Survey, between 1966 and 2015 Horned Larks have experienced and estimated cumulative population decline of 71%. Loss of agricultural fields to reforestation and development along with human encroachment are the primary factors for decline.

Additional observations include: on February 9 a Hermit Thrush in Kettle Cove and along Crescent Beach State Park, eight Long-tailed Ducks, six Buffleheads, four Red-breasted Mergansers and two Lesser Scaup ducks. A solitary Northern Mockingbird was also spotted along Fessenden Road, guarding its Winterberry thrown.

Lastly, on several nights over the last two weeks I have heard Great-horned Owls calling from various locations across Cape Elizabeth including Robinson Woods, the parcel of land behind Town Hall and while cross-country skiing with my son on the back nine of Purpoodock’s golf course. On one outing on the night of February 4, I noted dueting pairs of Great-horned Owls. As for Snowy Owls there was one unconfirmed report of a Snowy Owl sitting atop the facility shed in Kettle Cove in late January and a confirmed report of what likely was the same owl along Pine Point in Scarborough.