Birders viewing the Upper Barn Meadow Marsh; USFWS File Photo; 5/29/2005

Participants at the fifth annual Down East Birding Festival and the associated Birding Elder Hostel program found several unexpected birds over the Memorial Day Weekend.  According to the festival planning committee, participants observed 175 species of birds. Unusual sightings included an orchard oriole in Lubec and an Eastern screech owl at Roosevelt Campobello International Park on Campobello Island in New Brunswick, Canada.

Seventy-three people registered for the entire festival. Nine individuals participated as "day trippers", in addition to the thirty Elder Hostel participants.  Festival participants came from 20 states and New Brunswick, Canada.

The birding festival was organized by the Cobscook Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, Friends of Moosehorn Refuge, the Cobscook Community Learning Center, Fundy Chapter of the Maine Audubon Society, and Down East Drawings Wildlife Art Gallery.

Moosehorn NWR was the birding festival headquarters during the f irst two days of the event which featured hikes and activities in the northern part of the region.  Refuge personnel led eight activities including bird walks, a woodcock banding demonstration and an owl prowl.

It is estimated that the festival results in over $30,000 of economic impact to the local area.