MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • April 24, 2022
More than 460 bird species have been seen in Maine, including 285 regularly occurring species – 215 of which breed here. But to see all birds native to Maine as well as all the vagrants who happen to land here – like those pink-footed geese – is a tall order. Only 17 birders have seen more than 350 species in Maine, according to eBird. Birders do not need to provide photographic evidence of their species sightings, although some do. In general, the accurate identification of species is based on the honor system. Doug Hitchcox, the Maine Audubon naturalist, is ranked at the top of the Maine eBird list with 398.