Hog Island Audubon Camp Experience
By: Mathew Krohn
ABAS gave Mathew a grant of $1,690 to fully fund the cost of the camp
Excited out of my mind but not exactly sure what to expect, I arrived at the dock in Bremen, Maine on a dark, soggy afternoon after a morning full of driving. Shaking hands with some instructors and fellow young birders who had also just arrived, I prepared to depart for the island life. The birds I was about to interact with, the new knowledge I was about to absorb, and the young birders I was about to meet would ultimately make this journey a life-changing experience.
In June, I was given the incredible opportunity to travel to Maine for a week to participate in Hog Island Audubon Camp’s Coastal Maine Bird Studies for Teens. Here, twenty teens learn from researchers, bird banders, and Audubon staff about seabird conservation in Maine, birds, birding, and nature in general. This program ran concurrently with the adult program The Joy of Birding, which resulted in a fun mix of presentations and activities between the two. If I could meticulously type out every moment of camp I found meaningful or memorable, I would, but it would be a lengthy article. Instead, here are my favorite memories and takeaways of the week:
Eastern Egg Rock:
There is no better way to learn about seabird conservation than to set foot on a productive breeding area for terns, puffins, and gulls. Five brave biologists are stationed on Eastern Egg Rock all summer to conduct surveys to monitor bird populations and statistics. We had the rare chance to visit the researchers and learn about their protocols, from nest surveys to banding to how they prepare dinner. In between being dive-bombed and pooped on by Common Terns, we sat in blinds watching Atlantic Puffins enter and exit burrows, held a Q+A session with a few of the biologists, and even touched a Common Tern chick!
Mainland Birding:
The day after our Eastern Egg Rock adventure, we piled into a couple of vans and set out for some of Maine’s best habitats for breeding birds. We didn’t have to travel far before my group heard a Veery from inside the van. The area looked promising, so we stopped to bird the sides of the road. In just a few minutes, we racked up over twenty species, including Marsh Wren, Alder Flycatcher, and our favorite: an American Bittern flying over. Following the tradition set by a previous Hog Island instructor for when a great bird is seen, one of our leaders attempted a headstand in the middle of the road! The rest of the day was filled with more interesting stops, including the Damariscotta Mills fish ladder, which Alewives use in their
migration, and Salt Bay Farm, an excellent area for breeding Bobolink.
Bird banding:
I have always been interested in the science behind bird banding but had never seen it in person until now. Master bird bander Emma Rhodes taught us about bird migration, her banding work with the Banding Coalition of the Americas, and how to set up mist nets and band birds. After I helped set up the station early in the morning, we didn’t have to wait long until a young male Purple Finch found its way into the net. Seeing the precise process banders go through when documenting a bird proved to be fascinating. As the morning continued, our luck died out as a pesky Northern Parula narrowly dodged the net and American Goldfinches landed on it as if to taunt us. Still, we banded a second Purple Finch, a female this time, and everyone was eager to watch the banding process once again.
Observation:
Our first night, along with several campers and an instructor, I explored the collections of the Queen Mary Lab, a building near the dock that houses books, specimens, and room to study them. For almost half an hour, we pulled bird specimens from the shelves, fascinated by the ability to study the birds so closely that are sometimes tiny specks in our binoculars. Throughout camp, I found myself returning to the Queen Mary Lab to further explore its resources. For example, camp staff set up the “Mystery of The Day,” an activity where campers must use their knowledge and the knowledge of others to complete a short quiz. I tried my hand at a few of these and won an Arctic Tern decoy and journal for being the camp’s “mystery birder.” Perhaps the most memorable part was an instructor’s entrance dressed as a UPS worker to deliver the prize (thanks, Torri!).
What I didn’t expect were all the campers who had extensive knowledge on nature outside of birds; many campers taught me about the various mosses, insects, and plants we saw throughout the week. On several occasions during our free time, I went with a small group of teens to a boggy area on the island, and while I can’t say I’ve ever been so excited about finding a tiny plant, I learned a ton about close observation and appreciating even the smallest of details in nature.
People:
This was probably my favorite part of camp. It’s refreshing being surrounded entirely by people who love birds as much as I do. I made a point to talk to everyone I could during mealtimes, field trips, and downtime, and I’m glad I did! I made countless friends, from campers my age to adults in The Joy of Birding. Not only was everyone on the island well-versed in birds and nature, but they were also enthusiastic about it. Everyone at camp wanted to learn and see more; even when events such as 5:30a.m. birding were optional, most people showed up ready to have fun. By the time we made it to the airport on the final day, it was hard to leave. Well, partially because my flight got delayed. Seriously, though; by the end, it felt like I had known these people for years, and I am grateful to now have strong connections with young birders throughout the US.
I cannot thank Amos Butler Audubon enough for allowing me to have this experience by fully covering the cost to attend. I would also like to thank those who give to Amos Butler Audubon; it is because of YOU Amos Butler can fund impactful research grants, conservation efforts, programs, and scholarships. I encourage everyone in search of the powerful impact this program brings to explore Hog Island’s many camps and programs for all ages: https://hogisland.audubon.org/
I am proud to be a part of such a strong community of people who care about birds and the natural world.
All photos courtesy of author Mathew Krohn.
Above Featured Image: A biologist on Eastern Egg Rock is surrounded by Common Terns.
Photo 1: The Queen Mary Lab
Photo 2: Shown in the center of the photo, the Eastern Egg Rock “Hilton,” a rickety structure weakened this winter by storms, is used mainly for storage. Each biologist has a small individual tent.
Photo 3: Atlantic Puffins on Eastern Egg Rock. Like the bird on the left, many puffins on the island are banded by the biologists.