I took this short video in late August on Megunticook Lake. The eagle swooped down and snatched a fish off the water’s surface. At the end of the video notice a second eagle flying into the picture in the upper left corner. – Ken

For more information about the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program visit: http://www.mainevlmp.org

Filmed, Directed & Edited by Stephen Underwood & Christopher Nagel

Fawn rescued from Fernald's Neck

Lincolnville resident and Megunticook Watershed Association Member Kate Cole had heard the bleating for over a day. She had seen the female (doe) deer and knew a young fawn must be nearby. When the bleating continued, coming from the same spot, Kate went to investigate. She found a young fawn with its foot wedged between two rocks. She freed the frail youngster, stepped back and watched. It struggled, but could not stand. It was evident the leg that had been stuck between the rocks was injured, but it was unknown to what extent.

Kate called me and I contacted the good folks at the Wildlife Care Center in Vassalboro. Don and Carleen Cote, owners of Wildlife Care Center, care for dozens of wild critters each year. Some have been orphaned, some injured and some kept in illegal captivity. I called Carleen, and without hesitation she said, “Bring him over.”

I arrived at Kate’s to find a deer so small that it would fit in the palms of both hands. He was curled up in a straw-filled box, seemingly unafraid of his human caregivers. Kate and neighbor Jackie Harkness gave the youngster a final pat on his soft forehead and then helped me carry the box and fawn out to my truck.

Fawn at rest

I arrived at Wildlife Care Center 45 minutes later and was met at the door by Don. I had interrupted his dinner, but he said,” Don’t worry it happens all the time, especially this time of year.”

The fawn, now named Number 7, was taken to a small barn. Although he was alone in the straw-filled stall at the time, the six other fawns that Don and Carleen were caring for would join him later in the evening. Don will feed Number 7 and observe him during the night and then schedule an X-ray for to see if there was any permanent damage to the deer’s leg.

After we left Number 7 in his new, temporary (we hope) home, Don gave me a tour of the facility. There were red fox, bobcat, a silver fox, raccoons, deer, ducks, geese and other wild critters. Some would be released as soon as they were able to fend for themselves, and others, because of their injuries, would have Wildlife Care Center as a permanent home.

Wildlife officials advise us not to disturb or pick up young animals that appear to be abandoned. In most circumstances, the parent or parents are nearby waiting for you to leave. Kate knew after hearing the bleating for an extended period of time that something was wrong, and went to find the young deer. She did the right thing once she knew it was weak and injured. Don said the fawn was most likely three to five days old and would not have survived much longer in the wild.

After its first week at the Wildlife Care Center the young deee was doing well. Tests showed the leg was no broken, and within days it was out in an open pen playing with the other fawns at the center.

A special thanks to Kate Cole and to Don and Carleen Cote.

   The official filing with the Maine Secretary of State gave the following as the purposes of this new Association: “The purposes of said corporation are scientific, educational and agricultural, and to improve and preserve the environment and the quality of Megunticook Lake and Norton Pond in Knox County and Waldo County in the State of Maine, and to conserve the natural resources in the watershed of said Norton Pond and Megunticook Lake so that such natural resources may be devoted to the scientific and social use of the residents of said watershed; to test the waters of said Pond and Lake, to discourage pollution thereof, to disseminate information about safety in boating and other water sports and to circulate printed information about the laws of Maine concerning sanitation and safety. To acquire and hold real estate for the purpose of preserving same in its natural state, maintaining the same for nature study.”

  The original trustees/directors signing the state certificate were: A. H. Chatfield, Jr., E. Clifford Ladd, Carlton F. Dougherty, Bernard Frankel, A. Margaret Bok, Lester Meyerhoff, Charles W. Chatfield, Arthur E. Spellissy and Stillman F. Kelley. Carlton Dougherty remains on the Board of Directors today, dedicating more than 40 years to the watershed.

  MWA has been testing water clarity in Megunticook Lake and Norton Pond since 1975 for the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program.

  Les Fleck resigned as Lake Warden in 1984 after 10 years of service.

  Ken Bailey hired as part-time Lake Warden in the fall of 1984.

  A few years after forming as the Megunticook Lake Association, the organization changed its name in 1985 to the Megunticook Watershed Association realizing that along with Megunticook Lake, the Megunticook River, Norton Pond, Moody Pond and the entire 32-square-mile watershed were of equal importance and should be included in all activities.

  The Megunticook Watershed Association purchased (1984-85) the two outlet dams at the lake and donated them, plus a $20,000 endowment fund, to the Town of Camden.

  Watercraft inspections for milfoil and other invasive aquatic plants have been conducted since 2001. In recent years, over 1,000 watercraft have been inspected annually.

  In conjunction with Camden Partners in Monitoring, water tests for bacteria have been conducted at multiple locations on the lake, pond and river for over 11 years.

  Ken Bailey was hired as full-time Executive Director/Lake Warden April 4, 2004 after many years in a part-time position with MWA..

  A Nonpoint Source Pollution Survey was conducted from 2005-2006.

The membership was surveyed in the spring of 2010 in an effort to assist the MWA Board of Directors plan for the long-range future of the Association.

MWA ended is 2010-2011 fiscal years with 317 members.

As we end our fiscal year, we have nearly 317 paid members. Our recent membership drive has already added many new members to the MWA family for the 2010-2011 fiscal year that ended on April 30.

 On behalf of the board of directors, I thank all of you for joining , or in some cases rejoining, MWA . As in our past newsletters we have said that we to strive to maintain a membership of 300 or more.  Please support MWA with your paid membership.

Membership dues and contributions are what sustain the Megunticook Watershed Association. Without everyone’s continued support , we would be unable to do all the work that we do.

The board of directors will continue to be conservative with our available funds, but must continue with our most important programs aimed at protecting and preserving our waters. We need everyone’s continued financial support through membership dues and contributions for this current fiscal year in order to help us meet our operating expenses.

Invasive plants continue to be on everyone’s minds, especially with the infestation discovered last fall on Damariscotta Lake – just miles from our watershed. We need to be able to continue with our summer intern program. At the time this report is being written, we have not received word on our grant money for this watercraft inspection program. More than 1,000 watercraft were inspected last summer.

Water quality monitoring has become a large expense – more than $20,000 dedicated for this year – especially with the high bacteria counts experienced in Norton Pond last summer. Testing has already begun this year in several new locations.  We must continue to look for the source or sources of the pollution.. We encourage anyone who may be so inclined to contribute to this dedicated fund.

We have been extremely lucky to have Ken Bailey as our  full time executive director. Many thanks to all who contributed to his Holiday Bonus.

 So it goes without saying: we all must remain highly vigilant and do all we can to  protect our entire Watershed.

Jill Glover, Treasurer

glovwjjs@tidewater.net

Volunteers counting loons on the state’s annual Loon Count Day, sponsored by Maine Audubon, found stable numbers. On Megunticook Lake, 16 adults were counted along with 2 chicls. The chicks are doing well. Norton Pond had chicks hatched, but were killed by predators within days. Most days pond residents are seel 2 or 3 adult loons. The loon Pair on the Megunticook River had two eggs taken and there was fear that there would be no loon chicks again on the river.

Much to the excitement of river residents, the  pair nested again on the floating loon platform and a chick hatched and is still doing well.

MWA Executive Direetor/Lake Warden Ken Bailey is taking part in a new Audubon projecet – “The 2010 Loon Productivity Study.” We are monitoring loon pairs throughout the nesting season. Results will be posted when avaliable. For other information go to Audubon’s website at: www.maineaudubon.org.