Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters, the nonprofit organization founded to raise private funds for Maine’s new national monument, has published a Bird Checklist for Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Compiled and designed by Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters board member Anita Mueller, the checklist provides an inventory of over one-hundred fifty avian species likely to be observed in the monument.
“Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters has chosen to release their newest publication May 11, 2019 in observance of World Migratory Bird Day," Mueller says, "During the month of May, migrating birds around the globe are returning to their seasonal nesting territories. That includes Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument!"
“Spanning three ecoregions with a complex matrix of microclimates, the monument provides breeding habitat for an exceptionally wide diversity of bird species," Mueller continues, "As a result, the monument is quickly becoming known as a birding hotspot particularly for the rarer boreal species,”
She concludes:“Located at the southern range for several boreal species, the monument provides excellent breeding habitat for Black-backed Woodpecker, Boreal Chickadee, Canada Jay, Rusty Blackbird and Spruce Grouse, as well as, Blackpoll and Bay-breasted Warblers.”
Monument Superintendent Tim Hudson adds, "The availability of a detailed listing of birds that occur within the Monument makes a nice addition to the other interpretive materials available to visitors.”
The checklist is available free at the Monument’s Millinocket and Patten Visitor Contact Stations, in addition to the Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce and along the Loop Road. An electronic version can be viewed here and on the free-for-download Discover Katahdin visitor’s app.