Knox-Lincoln Conservation District plant sale canceled

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In response to the national emergency created by COVID-19 and Maine Governor Janet Mills’ Executive Order of March 31, 2020, which mandates that Maine citizens “Stay Healthy at Home” through at least April 30, the Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District’s Board of Supervisors made the difficult decision to cancel our Spring Plant Sale, scheduled for May 2 and 3, 2020, at Union Fairgrounds. This includes the public sale and all pre-order sales. Although the sale itself falls outside the current mandate, the preparation for the sale would require hundreds of hours of labor by numerous volunteers in close, sustained contact during the period covered by the mandate.

This decision reflects what districts around the state and country are also doing and, still, it is a great disappointment to all. Providing food plants for home gardens and native plants for pollinators, other wildlife, as well as soil & water conservation benefits for home landscapes is extremely important to the District. In the end, however, we did not feel we could hold the sale and ensure the health of volunteers, customers and staff.

All customers who placed a pre-order will receive a refund. Thank you for your understanding in supporting this decision and look forward to a healthy and prosperous sale in 2021. Our office is currently closed but we are monitoring phone messages and email. If you have any questions or concerns, please call 596-2040 or email info@knox-lincon.org and we will respond as soon as possible. Please check our website at www.knox-lincoln.org for more information about this and other programs and to receive a plant sale catalog in 2021.

Sprucing up Fairfield’s temporary Police Department

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Seven-year-old Keira Knight, of Fairfield, displays the poster she created in response to the Fairfield Police Department COVID-19 art challenge, as part of her homeschool art class, to help decorate the walls of the Fairfield Police Department temporary offices. (photo courtesy of Mark Huard)

Chefs volunteer time and resources to feed the young

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Chef Matt Crate, culinary arts instructor of the Somerset Career and Tech Center, bags loaves of bread. (photos courtesy of Mark Huard)

by Mark Huard

Desiree Sirois, left, and Jay Coelho, owners of GRUB, on College Ave., in Waterville, who offered to pay for the ingredients to bake the loaves of bread. (photos courtesy of Mark Huard)

The Alfond Youth Community Center reached out to Chef Matt Crate, Culinary Arts Instructor of the Somerset Career & Tech Center to see if he had any ideas on how he or anyone else could assist our food needs for our After School Backpack Program.

Without hesitation, Chef Crate offered to bake 200 loaves of bread! With his connection, Desiree Sirois and Jay Coelho, owners of GRUB on College Avenue, in Waterville, jumped on board and offered to pay for all the ingredients to bake the bread!

Later, word came that Chef Heidi Parent, Season 16 Hell’s Kitchen Fame and Chef Instructor from Capital Area Tech Center, in Augusta, wants to lend a hand in the bread production!

Alfond Youth & Community Center cranks out meals for the needy

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Prepared meals are lined up waiting to be delivered to various locations. (photo courtesy of Mark Huard)

by Mark Huard

In response to the necessary closures and call for self-isolation, the Alfond Youth & Community Center, in Waterville, is getting creative in finding ways to continue serving community members now unable to walk through their doors on a daily basis.

As schools began to close their doors on Monday, March 16, the AYCC was forced to follow suit. To the question:What about all the evening meals served to 250 at risk youth populating our programs, Ken Walsh, CEO rallied with a far reaching solution. Starting that Monday, the AYCC skeleton staff, lead by kitchen Manager Shawn Forkey, and a group of amazing volunteers led by Volunteer Coordinator Josie Skelley, began preparing 1,000 dinners and evening snacks daily and delivering them to community members curbside, not only at their own facility but five additional locations: Waterville’s South End Teen Center and North End Boys & Girls Club, the Fabian Oil Parking Lot, in Oakland, Fort Halifax Park, in Winslow, and at the Fairfield Community Center.

Families simply drive up to the servers, tell them how many meals they need, and are handed that number of individually packaged dinners with five nutritional components each, no questions asked. And on Thursday and Fridays families also receive weekend meal supplements at the AYCC location. The response has been overwhelming, as evidenced by this one of many such Facebook posts, “This is amazing! This world is so crazy right now! This just filled my heart! With three kids, two missing school this has helped lesson my stress a bit! Don’t always have to worry about dinner! And the staff distributing was super friendly! AYCC is amazing! So happy my kids get care here.”

Alfond Youth and Community Center staff gathered ingredients to provide meals to many at-risk children in the Waterville area. (photo courtesy of Mark Huard)

Four local businesses immediately jumped on board to help fund the meals program. The Proper Pig, in Waterville, offered affordable curbside meals and donated half of the proceeds, which was matched by GHM Insurance. Amici’s Cucina is continuing to offer curbside meals every Thursday – Saturday and donating a portion of the proceeds to the Free Meals Program, and Campbell’s True Value Hardware is matching the funds dollar for dollar. The cost of the program is $25,000 per week and the AYCC is committed to providing meals for as long as necessary. If you would like to join the growing list of donors making this service possible visit clubaycc.org to make a donation.

In addition, the Center is responding to the childcare needs of healthcare workers by offering the MaineGeneral Emergency Childcare Camp, which started on March 23, running from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., every weekday for 125 youth ages 3 to 12 years old. Participating kids will be served breakfast, morning snack, Lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner, and participate in small group activities throughout the facility that includes: swimming, art, computer fun, homework lab, gym games, Gronk Zone fitness and wellness activities and outdoor play.

“We are so concerned about the welfare of our afterschool kids that can no longer take advantage of our in-house services,” explains CEO Ken Walsh. “We are reaching out to them every day to make sure their needs are being met.” Youth Advancement Coordinator Bobbi Pelletier has been placing Well Care calls to every family and Facebook live sessions have included How to Draw with Ms. Jesika, Story Time with Avery, and The Name Challenge with John, as well as online wellness classes (Hips with John, Legs with Maggie & Sawyer, Enhance Fitness with Jamie), Coffee Talk Community Chats every morning at 10 a.m., and emailed packages full of resources, educational, creative and enrichment materials.

Erskine Academy second trimester honor roll (Spring 2020)

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(photo credit: Erskine Academy)

Grade 12

High Honors: Lucy Allen, Jay Austin, Alec Baker, Julia Basham, Derek Beaulieu, Haley Breton, Kole-Tai Carlezon, Norah Davidson, Vincent Emery, Alyssha Gil, Annika Gil, Boe Glidden, Joshua Gower, Clara Grady, Tori Grasse, Alyssa Hale, Summer Hotham, Nicholas Howard, Emily Jacques, Sarah Jarosz, Brandon LaChance, Benjamin Lavoie, Cole Leclerc, Eleena Lee, Madison Leonard, Stephanie Libby, Jordan Linscott, Brandon Loveland, Reece McGlew, Jakob Mills, Krysta Morris, Nathaniel Mosher, Lyndsie Pelotte, Matthew Picher, Hunter Praul, Miina Raag-Schmidt, Benjamin Reed, Mitchel Reynolds, Andrew Robinson, Dominic Rodrigue, Alyssa Savage, Shawn Seigars, Santasia Sevigny, Taylor Shute, Katelyn Tibbs, Cameron Tyler and Richard Winn.

Honors: Pedro Albarracin, Adam Bonenfant, Bridget Connolly, Abigail Cordts, Summer Curran, Colby Cyr, Lily DeRaps, Michael Dusoe Jr, Dominick Dyer, Cheyann Field, Mitchell Gamage, Bryce Goff, Emma Harvey, Nicholas Hayden, Julianna Hubbard, Ashley Huntley, Cameron Johnson, Colby Johnson, Kyle Jones, Luke Jordan, Marisa Klemanski, Tristan Klemanski, Benjamin Lagasse, William Leeman, Gabriel Lewis, Sydney Lord, Shawn Manning, William Mayberry II, Lexigrace Melanson, Kaytie Millay, Adalaide Morris, Isaak Peavey, Chloe Peebles, Jasmine Plugge, Jennifer Reny, Katelyn Rollins, Serena Sepulvado, Nicholas Shelton, Danielle Shorey, Ryan Sidelinger, Kayla Sleeper, Lily Solorzano, Matthew Stultz, Jacob Sutter, Nicole Taylor, Courtney Tibbetts, Ashleigh Treannie, Hailee Turner, Tanner Watson and Amber Wysocki.

Grade 11

High Honors: Philip Allen, Nicholas Barber, Abbygail Blair, Jane Blanchard, Samantha Box, Trevor Brockway, Anthony Chessa, Cody Devaney, Jacob Devaney, Amelia Evans, Addison Gamage, Margaret Gamage, Avery Henningsen, Emma Hutchinson, Bryan Joslyn Jr, Madyx Kennedy, Sierra LaCroix, Isabela Libby, Emily Lowther, Gamboa Medina, Michael Nicholas III, Ian Oliphant, Olive Padgett, Courtney Paine, Elek Pelletier, Aiden Pettengill, Anna Pfleging, Sydni Plummer, Kristin Ray, Mollie Wilson, Samuel York and Kelby Young.

Honors: Mara Adams, Brooke Allen, Paris Bedsaul, Rylee Bellemare, Isabella Bishop, Everett Blair, Joshua Bragg, Hailey Brooks, Eleanor Brown, Emma Burtt, Zoe Butler, Ashley Clavette, Joshua Cowing, Nolan Cowing, McKayla Doyon, Abigail Dumas, Jake Emond, Cameron Gifford, Avril Goodman, Patrick Hanley, Hailey Haskell, Braydon Hinds, Paeshance-Rae Horan, Nathan Howell, Delaney Ireland, Haley Laird, Marina Lavadinho, Joanna Linscott, Colby Lloyd, Chiara Mahoney, Eva Malcolm, Xavian Marable, Jonathan Martinez, Hailey Mayo, Mikala McIntyre, Tyler Ormonde, Brian Ouellette, Daniel Page, Isabella Parlin, Annaliese Patterson, Logan Rizzardini, Hailey Sanborn, Acadia Senkbeil, Alessandro Smith, Noah Soto, Carly Spencer, Hanna Spitzer, Ariel Stillman, Riley Sullivan, Logan Tenney, Joshua Tobey, Gage Turner and Dylan Wing.

Grade 10

High Honors: Griffin Anderson, Isaac Baker, Julia Barber, Gabriella Berto-Blagdon, Autumn Boody, Lilian Bray, Emily Clark, Tabitha Craig, Colby Cunningham, Isabella DeRose, Emma Fortin, Wyatt French, Josette Gilman, Samantha Golden, Hayden Hoague, Grace Hodgkin, Rachel Huntoon, Emma Jefferson, Grace Kelso, Aidan Larrabee, Lili Lefebvre, Christian Moon, Adam Ochs, Abigail Peaslee, Devon Polley, Sarah Praul, Riley Reitchel, Mackenzie Roderick, Abbey Searles, Andrew Shaw, Hannah Soule, Lily Thompson and Lily Vinci.

Honors: Alana Beggs, Jacob Bentley, Jack Blais, Evan Butler, Abrial Chamberlain, Nathaniel Collins, Jesse Cowing, Jasmine Crommett, Daniel Cseak, Jacob Cunningham, Caleb Cyr, Luke Desmond, Kaden Doughty, Alexander Drolet, Jacob Fisher, Chase Folsom, Jenna Gallant, Bryce Garcia, Ciera Hamar, Trace Harris, Larissa Haskell, Skye Havey, Isaac Hayden, Hannah Huff, Hunter Johnson, Taidhgin Kimball, Tanner Klasson, Mallory Landry, Shawn Libby, Madison Lully, David Martinez-Gosselin, Calvin Mason, Robert McCafferty, Wes McGlew, Kaden McIntyre, Rebecca Morton, Garrett Peebles, David Pierpont, Kaden Plourde, Lilly Potter, Paige Reed, Parker Reynolds, Shawn Searles, Natalie Spearin, Hannah Strout-Gordon, Hannah Torrey, Samuel Worthley, Emily York and Hannah York.

Grade 9

High Honors: Carson Appel, McKenzie Berry, Abigail Beyor, Eve Boatright, Katherine Bourdon, Nicole DeMerchant, Lillian Dorval, Grace Ellis, Lilly Fredette, Alyssa Gagne, Reiana Gonzalez, Alivia Gower, Cooper Grondin, Elizabeth Hardy, Kassidy Hopper, Grace Hutchins, Olivia Hutchinson, Beck Jorgensen, Kaiden Kelley, Meadow Laflamme, Aimee Lizotte, Malachi Lowery, Emily Majewski, Lily Matthews, Brooklyn McCue, River Meader, Nabila Meity, Timber Parlin, Kayla Peaslee, Jonathan Peil, Gabriel Pelletier, Kathleen Pfleging, Sophia Pilotte, Alexis Rancourt, Cadence Rau, Samantha Reynolds, Ally Rodrigue, Noah Rushing, Jacob Seigars, Sophie Steeves, Daniel Stillman, Jacob Sullivan, Paige Sutter, Mackenzie Toner, Emma Tyler, Lauren Tyler, Julia Wade and Damon Wilson.

Honors: John Allen, Molly Anderson, Kassidy Barrett, Andrew Bentley, Angel Bonilla, Zane Boulet, Emma Charest, Nicholas Choate, Nickolas Christiansen, Courtney Cowing, Kayleen Crandall, Tianna Cunningham, Breckon Davidson, Myra Evans, Isaac Farrar, Brianna Gardner, Loralei Gilley, Carson Grass, Mallary Hanke, Alexzander Hoffman, Grady Hotham, Hallie Jackson, Hannah Jackson, Acadia Kelley, Brady Kirkpatrick, Casey Kirkpatrick, Matthew Knowles, Emmet Lani-Caputo, Zephyr Lani-Caputo, Dale Lapointe, Dinah Lemelin, Joseph Lemelin, Brenden Levesque, Bryce Lincoln, Gwen Lockhart, Cooper Loiko, Brady Mayberry, Gage Moody, Ethan Ouellette, Maddison Paquet, Angelyn Paradis, Hannah Patterson, Jenna Perkins, Kaden Porter, Sarah Robinson, Conner Rowe, Emmalee Sanborn, Jarell Sandoval, Emma Stred, Hannah Toner, Colby Willey and Aidan Witham.

TIMMY’S TUNES: Maine native’s latest music wins more recognition

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by Tim Forsman
Colby Radio Host

Ellis Paul

The Storyteller’s Suitcase
Rosella Records – 2019

Ellis Paul recently received notification that a song from his latest album, his 20th, The Storyteller’s Suitcase, had received two awards at the 16th Annual International Acoustic Music Awards. His song,I Ain’t No Jesus was the Overall Grand Prize Winner and also claimed first place in the Outstanding Roots/Americana category. In the song, the singer claims no divine powers or assistance in his awkward interactions with the opposite sex. The “Suitcase”album itself also was named the 2019 Album of the Year at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) Conference. In a survey of folk radio DJ’s from across the country, the album was the 8th most played recording of 2019. And that was from an album that wasn’t released until June 2019.

Ellis Paul, who now calls Charlottesville, Virginia, his home base, grew up in Aroostook County, graduated from Presque Isle High School, and traveled to Boston College on a track scholarship. When a injury sidelined his running, his love for music and his writing skills soon led him to become an active member of a surging Boston folk music scene. Over the years, he has won major Boston Music Awards 12 times. And in 2014, he was in the inaugural Maine Music Awards Hall of Fame class, along with David Mallett.

The Storyteller’s Suitcase is a wonderful collection of songs with “story” being the key word. The song, Scarecrow In A Corn Maze tells of the problems faced by a small-time U.S.veteran. The Battle of Charlottesville relates the weekend that a right-wing rally came to Paul’s adopted hometown. Before the weekend was over, three people had died and and the entire country was in an uproar.

There are many Maine name drops throughout, “picking up a “walkin’ man … on a road in Millinocket” and the song Five Alarm Fire on the 4th of July shares a surprisingly humorous story of a huge 1979 holiday fire at the family homestead in Washburn, Maine.

I should mention that Ellis is also a talented graphic artist. The album cover and the booklet of this CD is filled with his charming illustrations. And it is packaged as a CD case-sized hardcover book.

There are travel songs on this album, which is expected when you know that Ellis spends many weeks of each year traveling coast-to-coast, bringing his live performances to audiences in concert halls, church stages, folk coffeehouses, and house concerts. This is presented in song with Kiss Me ‘Cause I’m Gone and truly so in the title song, The Storyteller’s Suitcase. As his notes on the song state: “Suitcases, guitars, journals & pens, Late nights drinking with strangers and friends … Bar and theaters, stages and spots.These are the things that make up the life of a traveling songwriter.”

Live in concert, Ellis Paul keeps his audience spellbound. His songs and the characters within capture the hearts and attention of those listening. His guitar playing is mesmerizing. And then Ellis the Storyteller emerges. Between songs, even during songs, his spoken poetry and stories draw you in and make you wish he could stay all night, telling tales and spinning his magic.

Twenty albums in, Ellis Paul still continues to weave his songs and tell his stories and clearly still has many more to share. The Storyteller’s Suitcase is very deserving of the accolades it has received.

RIYL – (Recommended If You Like) –

  • Ellis Paul “Stories” a very strong song collection – Black Wolf Records 1994. (may be available only as download)
  • Ellis Paul “Live” (2000 – Rounder Records) – Experience a master artist taking his listeners by the hand, and leading them through a memorable performance.

Tim Forsman has had a lifelong love of music and “no talent to create it myself.” I’ve hosted a radio show, “Jigs, Hoedowns & Songs O’Tragedy” at Colby College, on WMHB Radio for over 30 years.

New Dimensions FCU donates over $11K during the COVID-19 pandemic

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Local food banks, food pantries stock their shelves

When faced with unprecedented times, we all want to know that there is help available in times of need. Unfortunately, the resources we have are limited and it is the responsibility of the community to ensure underserved people are able to utilize them when needed. Food banks and food pantries are there to assist every person possible, but they need our help to be successful. Everyone has experienced a time when they were unsure how to find necessary resources to meet their most basic needs, so we need to work together to take care of those who need our help the most.

Because New Dimensions FCU cares about its community and wanted to do something to help, they have donated over $11,000 to seven local food banks and food pantries. Ryan Poulin, CEO, states, “We all must play a role in keeping our community healthy and safe, so we quickly rallied to donate the funds to the quickly dwindling food banks and food pantries that needed it most. Everyone needs to eat, and we are doing our best to help as many people as possible, get through this pandemic.”

If you have any questions or need financial assistance, contact New Dimensions FCU at (800) 326-6190. Stay Healthy!

Diocese of Portland announces directives for Holy Week observances

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The Diocese of Portland has informed Maine parishes of the protocols that will be in place for the celebration of the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter.

All celebrations must be limited to/not exceed ten people or less, including all clergy, and will not be open to the public due to the regulations currently in place in Maine as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Without public Masses and commemorations, there will be unprecedented live-streaming and broadcasting of liturgies from parishes across Maine (information listed below).

Here are some of the changes being made this year specific to certain celebrations:

Palm Sunday (April 5)

To ensure the safety of all parishioners, no plans or provisions will be made at parishes to distribute palms to the faithful. Palm Sunday is the start of Holy Week with the palm branches symbolizing the branches used by the people to welcome Jesus as King during his triumphal entry into the holy city of Jerusalem.

Chrism Mass (April 7)

The Chrism Mass, scheduled for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Portland, has been postponed to a date to be announced. At the Chrism Mass, in the presence of priests, deacons, religious and laity from throughout the diocese, Bishop Deeley blesses the oil of the sick and the oil of the catechumens, and consecrates the sacred Chrism. The oil of the sick is used to anoint the sick. The oil of the catechumens (people preparing for baptism) is blessed to strengthen those preparing for baptism to resist sin and to grow in faith. The sacred Chrism is used for baptism, confirmation, ordination of priests, and the consecration of altars and churches. The Chrism Mass is also an opportunity for the priests of the diocese to renew their commitment to priestly service.

Mass of the Holy Oils (April 8)

The Mass of the Holy Oils, scheduled for Sacred Heart Church in North Caribou, has been cancelled. The Mass of the Oils includes the distribution of the blessed and consecrated oils to parishes located in northern Maine.

Holy Thursday (April 9)

Holy Thursday Masses of the Lord’s Supper will not include the washing of the feet (already optional) that symbolizes Jesus’ washing the feet of the apostles. The traditional procession with the Blessed Sacrament after communion is omitted. Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples and is a celebration of Christ’s gift of the Eucharist, his true body and blood, and the gift of the Mass to the Church.

Good Friday (April 10)

The cross customarily used for adoration/veneration on Good Friday will be placed in the sanctuary before the commemoration of the Passion of the Lord begins with the traditional processions customarily held eliminated for this year. The priest/celebrant alone will be permitted to kiss the cross as an act of adoration. From the earliest days of Christianity, no Mass has been celebrated on Good Friday, the only day of the year on which that occurs. Instead, the faithful gather for special liturgies focusing on the cross to commemorate the saving passion, crucifixion, and death of Jesus.

Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil (April 11)

The celebration of the Easter Vigil is only permitted in parishes where it can be live-streamed. The initiation sacraments (i.e., that is, all baptisms, receptions into full communion, confirmations and first Communions) will not be celebrated at this year’s Easter Vigils. The lighting and blessing of the Lucernarium (Easter fire) is omitted. The vigil is considered the greatest and noblest of all the Church’s solemnities, as Christians around the world join together in celebrating the resurrection of the Lord.

The Diocese of Portland has created a Coronavirus Response page that lists ways to participate in Maine Masses from home through livestreams, television, and radio; “drive-thru” confessions and other faith opportunities; prayer resources; announcements and much more. To access the section, visit www.portlanddiocese.org/content/response-coronavirus.

A special Lent section is available on the Diocese of Portland’s website with resources to assist individuals and families during their Lenten journey. To visit the site, go to www.portlanddiocese.org/lent-resources.

Please help the light of faith keep shining at your parish by giving online or through your parish app. Your help is needed now more than ever. A list of parishes with links to online giving for each of them can be found here: www.portlanddiocese.org/OnlineGiving.

Maine French Heritage Language program to hold fundraiser

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Students at the program’s Mardi Gras celebration eating les crêpes. Front left, Charlotte Shargo; back left, Libby Grant; back right, Evan Pitcher; middle right, Callan Grant. (photo source: Charlie Hicks)

The Maine French Heritage Language Program (MFHLP) sixth annual Springtime in Paris fundraising soirée is scheduled for Saturday, May 9, at Le Club Calumet, in Augusta, from 5 – 9:30 p.m. Last year’s event raised over $7,500 and it is their goal that this year’s program will continue to support the learning of French and emphasize the importance of the Franco-American culture within our community.

Springtime in Paris features dinner and music, as well as silent and live auctions. There are some extra surprises for everyone attending.

MFHLP is a nonprofit, after-school French language program that is offered by the Augusta Recreation Department and is based at Buker Community Center. Classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays for lively lessons whose mission is to immerse children in the French language, its rich Franco-American heritage in Augusta, in Maine, and in different French countries all over the world. Watching children gain competence in French is amazing. We offer a second language to younger students at a time when many language programs have been eliminated. What these students learn today can help them achieve success in an increasingly multilingual world!

To keep this important program alive in our community, they need your help and support. Purchasing tickets for the soirée or donating items for the live or silent auctions will contribute to the success of this fun-filled evening.

Tickets cost $50 per person or $400 for a table of eight. Please make checks out to “City of Augusta.” For more information, please call Wendy Somes, at Buker Community Center, 22 Armory Street, Augusta, (207) 626-2350.

Tickets are also available online through www.brownpapertickets.com.

Venez célébrer avec nous notre héritage Franco-Américain. Merci, beaucoup.

The bird man of South China: 100 birdhouses or bust!

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Clinton Hayward at work in his woodworking shop. (Contributed photo)

by Eric W. Austin

“More than a billion birds have disappeared in recent years,” says South China resident Clinton Hayward, a local conservation activist who has established five chapters of Ducks Unlimited across Maine and has spent 70 years birdwatching and following the research on bird populations in North America.

Hayward’s latest project is to build and install 100 birdhouses across the expansive property owned by his daughter and step-son on Three Mile Pond. So far, Hayward has finished 30, but hopes to reach his goal of 100, working mostly on rainy days over the next year.

A look at Hayward’s birdhouse in-progress. (Contributed photo.)

“This has been a lifelong interest of mine,” he says. “[I’ve] always [been] fascinated with anything that has feathers.” Growing up on a farm in Calais, Hayward was constantly surrounded by flocks of chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and pigeons. Over the last half-century, he has watched, with rising alarm, as bird populations have steadily decreased across North America.

Recent scientific research backs up Hayward’s lifelong observations. A 2019 study by researchers, published in the journal Science, found that North America’s bird populations have declined by roughly 30 percent over the last half-century. That’s nearly three billion fewer birds flying in our skies today than in 1970.

“I am convinced this is not a short term cyclical problem,” Hayward says, “but rather a long term gradual decline that may be irreversible.”

According to the referenced study, the most affected species are small birds whose habitat are grasslands. Hayward agrees. “My observations lead me to believe that the problem is more acute with small birds, especially song birds,” he says. Much of the decline is a result of the destruction of important nesting areas that have been converted for agriculture, but Hayward thinks insecticides play a major role as well.

“The spray can affect the birds directly or indirectly when they eat dead insects that have succumbed to the spray,” he says. “Squirrels are also devastating, along with other rodents who very much enjoy eating bird eggs, but insecticides are doing the major damage in my opinion.”

Waterfowl such as ducks and geese have been less affected as a result of early conservation efforts in the U.S. and Canada. “I do not feel that waterfowl are currently under the same threat as most other bird species,” Hayward says, “because organizations like Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy and others responded long ago to the waterfowl population crisis in the dust bowl days of the 1930s and ‘40s, when waterfowl populations were all but wiped out and lack of habitat took its toll. By spending millions and millions on habitat projects in North America, the species have responded and thrived.”

[See related – Welcome home: A Vietnam Experience]

It’s not just the bird population that is at risk, believes Hayward. “Bat populations are also in extreme difficulty,” he says. “Just a few short years ago, I could count hundreds and even thousands of bats doing their work at dusk. Now, I see almost none. I believe the spraying for insects is probably responsible since they live primarily on insects.”

Anyone can help put up birdhouses to provide additional habitat-space for visiting birds, but it’s important to educate yourself about the kinds of birds that visit your property and their specific needs before getting started.

A look at some of the birdhouses Hayward has finished. Contributed photo.

“Many people who put out bird houses do not pay particular attention to the dimensions of the house, the size of the portal hole, etcetera,” says Hayward. “Different species of birds prefer different size cavities and openings. For instance, if you are seeking to attract wrens, you would want a small, four-inch by four-inch house with a one-inch to one-and-an-eighth inch opening and the portal hole about eight to nine inches above the floor.” He adds, “Many fledglings have a problem exiting bird houses when they are getting ready to learn to fly. Placing a strip of screening below the portal will assist fledglings in getting to the portal.”

It’s a good idea to carefully observe the birds that visit your property before deciding which bird houses to install. Hayward recommends that interested readers consult the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service pamphlet For the Birds, which can be found here: www.fws.gov/birds.

Clinton Hayward, a master gardener, often does site visits to provide assistance or offer advice on garden design and proper selection of plants to make a property bird friendly. He is happy to share his experiences or offer advice for others who might be looking to make their own properties more habitable for our visiting feathered friends. He can be reached by email at clntnhayward@gmail.com.

Eric W. Austin writes about local community issues. He can be reached by email at ericwaustin@townline.org.