Outdoors

Published
July 21, 2012

Birding: Albinism may come in many forms, has a beauty all its own

In my last column, I discussed some instances of birds with aberrant plumages, including albinos. In today’s column, I will continue the discussion of albinism in birds. An albino bird is incapable of producing the pigment melanin. Melanin is responsible for most of the black and brown feathers in birds as well as the coloring […]
Published
July 21, 2012

Best Bets

DAILY Learn about nature / 2 p.m. in Freeport Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park is offering free nature programs daily through Labor Day. The programs include nature walks and talks about wildlife. Programs last an hour and are suitable for all ages. Meet at the benches at the park’s second parking lot. Today’s program is about […]
Published
July 19, 2012

Saltwater Fishing Report

If you are a recreational saltwater angler, Maine law may require you to register with the Maine Saltwater Recreational Fishing Registry. To learn more or to register, visit www.maine.gov/saltwater or call 207-633-9505. OFFSHORE The Boomerang, Tanta’s and Trinidad are a few spots where porbeagles and blue sharks have been sighted and hooked up. The minimum […]
Published
July 14, 2012

Getting kids hooked on fishing

The Maine Kids Kayak Fishing Tournament provides young anglers with an enjoyable fishing experience.
Published
July 14, 2012

Deirdre Fleming: State biologist hopes to use local trout strain for Baxter stocks

Everything around Baxter State Park is about keeping it wild. Certainly, it is the go-to outdoor playground for hikers, campers and fishermen, as well as hunters, artists and wildlife watchers. But even this park that defers to the wild critters is stocked in a few places with hatchery fish. However, a state biologist is looking […]

Published
July 14, 2012

North Cairn: Welcomed by surprises in Maine

The first acquaintance I made when I moved to Maine last month was a park ranger. He introduced me to my second: a nesting phoebe. You could have considered it auspicious, I suppose, two ties to the natural world surfacing right off, good connections in a state that still has so much nature left in […]
Published
July 14, 2012

Carey Kish: Five must-visit state parks for hikers

Maine’s amazing state park system includes 40 individual park units on some 67,000 acres of public land. From the Allagash River to Vaughan Woods, Grafton Notch to Cobscook Bay, there’s a lot to see and do on our state park lands, which accommodate a wide variety of recreational uses. Hiking enthusiasts, especially, can delight in […]
Published
July 14, 2012

Allen Afield: At any pace, for many reasons, biking is a joy

On a recent, cloudless morning early enough for long shadows, I was pedaling south on Route 27 in Belgrade, when the outside bank thermo-meter at the Route 135 junction caught my eye — 68 degrees. Before the trip ended three towns later, the temperature would hit the high 80s and humidity would reign, but the […]
Published
July 14, 2012

Worth the Trip: Shawnee yurt provides right amount of comfort

Though I’m an outdoorsy guy, I’d hesitate to call myself particularly hardy. I do plenty of day hikes, but thru-hiking isn’t often on the agenda. I like getting away from my urban environment, but I’m not anxious to go off the grid completely. Call me spoiled, but I like to get the best of both […]
Published
July 14, 2012

Boating: Don’t overload your watercraft

A tragedy over the Independence Day holiday involving a 34-foot Silverton cabin cruiser in Oyster Bay, N.Y., brings to light a hazard that may not be at the top of every boater’s list of concerns: passenger and load limits. The investigation into the Oyster Bay tragedy is far from complete; in fact, the craft was […]

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Outdoors