The rockbound coast of Maine is home to a greater variety of birds in winter than in summer. Many waterfowl nest on freshwater across northern Canada. Before those waterbodies freeze up in December, the birds come south to find food and shelter. Some are uncomfortable in the turbulent waters offshore, and find Maine’s bays, coves, and harbors ideal.
Some birds seen along the waterfront have nested in Maine. Common loons and common goldeneyes make a short jump from Maine’s lakes and ponds to the coast in late autumn. However, most of the wintering birds nested north of Maine. Harlequin ducks, buffleheads, long-tailed ducks, red-breasted mergansers, and three species of scoter will head back there again in April. Horned and red-necked grebes will do likewise.
Mallards and American black ducks are freshwater puddle ducks, but even they can sustain themselves in the shoreline seaweed all winter. Since all these birds hug the coastline, this is the season to go look for them.
Bob Duchesne serves as vice president of Maine Audubon’s Penobscot Valley Chapter. He developed the Maine Birding Trail, with information at mainebirdingtrail.com. He can be reached at duchesne@midmaine.com.
