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Portland, Maine

UNE birders flock to see rare Redwing in Portland

A rare Redwing bird seen in Capisic Pond Park in Portland, only the second such sighting of a bird of this kind in Maine
A rare Redwing bird seen in Portland's Capisic Pond Park, only the second such sighting of a bird of this kind in Maine.

Eight members of the University of New England Birding Club recently faced the cold to observe and photograph a rare bird in Portland’s Capisic Pond Park.

The Redwing’s typical breeding grounds lie in northern Europe, Iceland, and Russia, but one has flown the coop and arrived in Maine for only the second time, according to Noah Perlut, Ph.D., professor and assistant academic director of the School of Marine and Environmental Programs.

The Redwing was first spotted in the Rosemont neighborhood park, not far from UNE’s Portland Campus, on Jan. 29, according to the Maine Audubon, and reportedly remained through 4 p.m. on Feb. 1, though it could not be spotted on Tuesday. The small bird, with its yellow base, orangey flanks, and whitish brow took to the sumac and multiflora rose fruit found in the park.

Club member Morgan Quimby (Animal Behavior, ’21), said it was an exciting experience to see the Redwing pop up from the bushes at the edge of the pond.

“When I heard that a European bird was in Portland, Maine, I knew I had to get there and see it,” said Quimby, who captured photos of the bird. “Being with my fellow UNE birders made it even more special. Even with masks on, I could tell how happy everyone was to see such a rarity in Maine despite the frigid temperatures that morning.”

 

Redwing photos courtesy of Morgan Quimby. Group photo courtesy of Xander Vitarelli.

From left: Dani Jewell, Xander Vitarelli, Morgan Quimby, Dean Hernandez, Sam Fuller, Garrett Hooper, Harry Wales, and Julia Mast
From left: Dani Jewell, Xander Vitarelli, Morgan Quimby, Dean Hernandez, Sam Fuller, Garrett Hooper, Harry Wales, and Julia Mast.
The Redwing is most commonly found in Europe, Iceland, and Russia.
The Redwing is most commonly found in Europe, Iceland, and Russia.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.