Before I explore this week’s species, I wanted to respond to the thoughtful letter from Claire Yackel in last week’s paper. Claire wrote about the lack of Lincoln County-based resources for wildlife. The only wildlife rehabilitation center in our area is Avian Haven in Waldo County. Located in Freedom, Avian Haven assists injured and orphaned wild birds, as well as turtles. They can be reached directly at 382-6761.

Samuel L. Miller, founder, editor, and publisher of The Lincoln County News, served as a private, sergeant, and lieutenant in the legendary 20th Maine regiment of Gettysburg fame. In 1876, 11 years after the Civil War ended, Mr. Miller and his comrades established the 20th Maine Regimental Association and in 1882 held their second annual reunion in Portland. (Other reunions were held in subsequent years in various places, including Waldoboro in 1896.) Mr. Miller became historian of the group and a driving force behind these reunions.

While running outside in Bremen recently, I noticed two broad-winged hawks at the edge of the woods near the shoulder of a busy road. As one loudly called from a perch, the other disappeared into the brush. Stopping to look, I suddenly felt a raking sensation on my head.

People have been keeping track of the changing seasons by naming full moons for eons. Of course, different people in different times had different names. That gives me an excuse to invent some moon names of my own. My “Egg Moon” is just passed, or perhaps a “Wild Baby Moon,” though there are some second broods and late nesting birds still to go. Goldfinches, for example, are strict vegetarians, so they wait for an abundance of seed.

The 330-acre National Audubon Todd Wildlife Sanctuary is located on Hog Island in Bremen. A smaller portion is on the mainland, where Hockomock Nature Trail is located. Hog Island lies about a quarter-mile offshore, just south of Keene Narrows. The closest public access is from the town landing on Medomak Road in Bremen.

Ticks have one focus and one focus only: to find a host and feed. I often receive phone calls and emails asking, “What kind of tick is this?” or “I took a tick off of me but it was a teeny, tiny one so I’m ok, right?” and “What should I do now?”

I am drawing a picture of a father. His name is Milton Herbert Christian. The oval face, which I accent with a smile and sprinkles of freckles, no hair on top, is the dearest face in all the world to me. It is my father’s face.