We are delighted to introduce David Heald as Avian Haven's new Board President.

There's a reason so many of us stop mid-conversation when a chickadee lands on a nearby branch, or feel our shoulders drop when a hawk circles overhead. It turns out that reaction isn't just sentimental — it's backed by a growing body of science.

Four different anti-coagulants. That's what was found in the bloodstream of Flaco, the Eurasian Eagle-Owl whose escape from the Central Park Zoo captivated New Yorkers — and whose death one year later has become a rallying cry for wildlife advocates everywhere.

If you haven't heard Flaco's story yet, a new documentary, Wild Inside, tells it in full. We think it's worth your time, and we think it says something important about the work we do here at Avian Haven.

It is high summer, and in the newsletter this week we’re sharing more about birdwatching in Maine (something you might be doing a bit more of right now) by asking a few questions of Derek Lovitch, owner along with his wife Jeannette of Freeport Wild Bird Supply.

There is a Thick-Billed Murre sitting on a beach in Scarborough out of season. You’ve been calling with questions, so we asked a professional for answers.

Every year, our rehab team makes thousands of decisions most people never see: whether a bird will be able to heal from a presenting issue and thrive in the wild, when it's ready for release, and where exactly to let it go. We asked readers what they wanted to know about that process, so I sat down with Senior Rehab Tech Athena Furr to walk through it.

Every year, thousands of Mainers find themselves staring at an injured, orphaned, or simply out-of-place bird, phone in hand, unsure what to do next. If you've ever made that call to Avian Haven, you know it's the beginning of a process — one built to give that bird the best possible chance. If you haven't, here's what to expect, and why we ask what we ask.

Here's how to help the young people in your life discover a lifelong connection to nature.

At Avian Haven, we don't name our patients — and that this small practice is one of the most important things we do.

Rodenticide poisoning is one of the most widespread — and least visible — threats to birds of prey and other wildlife. When a mouse or rat consumes rodent poison, the danger doesn't end there. It travels up the food chain.

It's fledge season in Portland and across Maine, and young gulls are everywhere right now: on rooftops, in parking lots, wandering around on the ground. They can't fly yet. That's normal. It takes them several weeks to build the strength to get airborne, and during that time they'll walk, flap, and rest in places that make people worry.

Birders, and those who dedicate their life to wildlife, have a story about the moment a bird stopped them cold. A bird that made them look up, lean in, or turn the car around. We call that bird a "spark bird" — the species that lit the match.

This week, we asked members of the Avian Haven team to share theirs.

Every spring and summer, our phones ring with concerned callers who've discovered a nest tucked into a wreath, a gutter, a porch light, or a hedge — sometimes in the most inconvenient places imaginable. And every time, we share the same message: please leave it alone. That's not just our advice. It's the law.

Right now, Avian Haven is caring for more than 100 baby birds. Crow fledgelings, gull chicks, and goslings. Owlets and eaglets. Ducklings and Woodcocks tinier than a fist. Each one arrived injured or orphaned — and each one carries a hidden vulnerability that shapes every decision we make about how we feed them, house them, and interact with them.

This week, Avian Haven will cross a milestone: our 1,000th patient of 2026. That number represents a thousand birds found injured, orphaned, or ill — and a thousand decisions by people across Maine to stop, pick up the phone, and ask for help.

11 bird documentaries that will delight you, make you laugh, and show you the magic of birds

Maine's swallows are disappearing. Learn why aerial insectivores are in steep decline and what you can do to help — from your backyard to your barn.

Avian Haven supports birds from along the Atlantic Flyway who are injured or get sick on their stopover in Maine

North America has lost nearly 3 billion birds since 1970. This post looks at what Maine’s Breeding Bird Atlas is telling us about the birds that are holding on, the species that are struggling, and why rehabilitation matters.

Found a baby bird on the ground? Before stepping in, learn when a fledgling is exactly where it should be, when rescue is needed, and how Avian Haven can help you make the right decision.