Location: Baring: Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge
Saturday, May 23
6:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Guides:
Maurry Mills
Refuge Staff
Fee: No additional fee
Description
Join with refuge staff for all or part of this moving evening event.
We will begin with a short introduction to the identification and calls of the rails, snipe, nighthawks, whippoorwills, and owls we hope to find.
Next we will carpool from the YCC Building to the abandoned railroad bed off US 1, that runs between the Lower Barn Meadow and Lower Magurrewock Marshes. There we will walk along the railroad bed in search of Marsh Wren, American Bittern, Virginia Rail, Sora, Wilson’s Snipe, Common Nighthawk, American Black Duck, Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Canada Goose, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Swamp Sparrow, Cedar Waxwing, and Warbling Vireo.
As dusk approaches we will drive to a singing ground on the Refuge and listen and watch for American Woodcock. The male woodcock flies from his daytime cover to an opening where he performs his courtship flights, precisely 15 to 22 minutes after sunset, depending on sky conditions. He begins by making a series of nasal "peents" before ascending several hundred feet in the air and spiraling back to the same spot on the ground. In addition to the "Timberdoodle" listen for White-throated Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, Veery, Common Nighthawk, and several owls. Several species of frogs may also be heard including Spring Peeper, Gray Tree Frog, Green Frog, and Pickerel Frog.
After observing the woodcock we will drive along the Ice House Road to listen for the call of the Eastern Whippoorwill, and play recordings of several species of owls in hopes of getting them to respond. Species that nest at Moosehorn include the tiny Saw-whet and the larger Barred and Great Horned Owls.
We will continue driving along the interior Refuge roads looking and listening for more woodcock, owls, and nighthawks as well as for mammals such as Beaver, White-tailed Deer, Moose, Black Bear, and Bobcat.
We will end the trip where the Refuge road intersects with the Charlotte Road, directly across from the Moosehorn NWR Headquarters driveway.
Meeting Place
Baring: Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge
GPS Coordinates: 45.115029, -67.281115
Meet at the YCC Building at Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge to organize carpooling.
From points west or south take I 95 north to Bangor and follow signs to get onto Rte 9 north. After about 88 miles turn right onto US 1 south; after 3.6 miles turn right onto Charlotte Rd; after 2.4 miles turn right into the Refuge. From points north or east take US 1 north, turn left onto Charlotte Rd (3 miles southwest of Calais), and after 2.4 miles turn right into the Refuge.
Once you are in the Refuge, follow signs to the event. Carpooling from there will be encouraged. Restrooms are in the YCC building.
Meeting Place Map