From my one and only trip out East. This is from a foggy fall morning at Camden Harbor, Maine.
maine
Ended up shoveling snow twice today. It looks like we might have gotten 6 inches/15 cm of snow in a 5 hour stretch. It was cold enough I developed icicles on my facial hair.
The forecast claims we're due for roughly the same amount on Sunday. At least on Sunday we don't need to go anywhere by car and can take our time with the shoveling.
#maine #snowstorm #snow
The forecast claims we're due for roughly the same amount on Sunday. At least on Sunday we don't need to go anywhere by car and can take our time with the shoveling.
#maine #snowstorm #snow
So, I signed up for "alerts" from the #MaineDepartmentOfAgriculture, and they sent me an update about #BirdFlu here in #Maine. Oh boy... It's here.
SITUATIONAL REPORT: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza [#HPAI]
Date: Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Prepared by: Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Current Situation: The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (#DACF), and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (#MDIFW) are urging agricultural stakeholders to take precautions following recent confirmations of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in multiple wild birds in York and Cumberland Counties. While no cases have been detected in domestic flocks since March 2024, the virus remains in the environment."
Recent HPAI Activity
- MDIFW confirmed HPAI in multiple #WildBirds, including Canada geese, red-tailed hawks, and a great horned owl.
- Cases have been reported in Kennebunk, Kittery, Ogunquit, South Berwick, South Portland, and York.
- Four New England states have reported recent HPAI cases in domesticated #poultry.
- Officials have raised the risk level and strongly encourage #flock owners to implement strict #biosecurity measures.
- While HPAI has the ability to infect people and cows, there are no known infected persons or dairy herds in Maine and New England.
Biosecurity and Flock Protection Measures
To minimize the risk of HPAI transmission, all commercial and backyard poultry owners are urged to:
- Keep birds indoors or in enclosed outdoor spaces to limit contact with wild birds.
- Maintain strict biosecurity, including sanitizing equipment, wearing clean clothing, and washing hands before and after handling birds.
- Avoid equipment sharing and disinfect tools between uses.
- Provide clean drinking water from municipal or well sources—avoid surface water that may be contaminated.
- Store feed securely to prevent access by wild birds and #rodents.
- Minimize farm visits and avoid areas where birds congregate.
- Monitor flocks for signs of illness and report any unusual cases.
Signs of HPAI in Birds
- Sudden death without prior symptoms
- Decreased energy and appetite
- Drop in egg production or misshapen eggs
- Swelling and discoloration of head, comb, wattles, and legs
- Nasal discharge, coughing, sneezing, or diarrhea
- Neurological symptoms such as incoordination
Reporting Sick or Dead Birds
- Dead or sick wild birds should be reported to MDIFW at (207) 287-8000 or via the online wildlife disease reporting form.
- Three or more dead birds in a localized area are of particular concern for statewide surveillance efforts.
- If you handle dead birds, use gloves and masks, dispose of birds properly, and wash hands immediately afterward.
- Sick or dead domestic poultry should be reported to USDA, 866-536-7593.
Public Health and Food Safety Considerations
"The human health risk from HPAI remains low, but precautions should be taken:
- Avoid contact with sick or dead birds and use personal protective equipment (PPE) if exposure is necessary.
- Cook poultry, eggs, and beef to safe internal temperatures to eliminate bacteria and viruses.
- Choose pasteurized milk and dairy products for added safety.
- Monitor for respiratory symptoms if exposed to potentially infected birds or environments.
Source:
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MEDACF/bulletins/3d1cb0a
#HPAINews #AvianInfluenza #NewEngland #BirdFlu
Every (*) winter I fall 0 or 1 times while walking on ice. This winter it'll be 1 time.
I am thankful to say I feel better having fallen. I'm of an age and condition where every joint cracks and pops and clicks and grinds. Somehow the fall popped a whole bunch at the same time. I feel like I've had a really good stretch.
Please don't fall on ice instead of stretching.
#maine #ice
(*) Slight exaggeration; I'm sure there are years when I've fallen more than one time. But I like the pattern so I pretend it's universal, and it's close to being true. After falling once I'm 10x more careful from then onward.
I am thankful to say I feel better having fallen. I'm of an age and condition where every joint cracks and pops and clicks and grinds. Somehow the fall popped a whole bunch at the same time. I feel like I've had a really good stretch.
Please don't fall on ice instead of stretching.
#maine #ice
(*) Slight exaggeration; I'm sure there are years when I've fallen more than one time. But I like the pattern so I pretend it's universal, and it's close to being true. After falling once I'm 10x more careful from then onward.
Did some back of the envelope math and I'm guessing we've moved several tons of snow after this last storm clearing the two driveways and a path to the propane tanks. All with various forms of shovel. No wonder I'm tired.
(10 feet x 20 feet x 1 foot deep x 10 pounds per cubic foot = 2,000 pounds = 1 ton, and that's only the short driveway)
#Maine #winter
(10 feet x 20 feet x 1 foot deep x 10 pounds per cubic foot = 2,000 pounds = 1 ton, and that's only the short driveway)
#Maine #winter
Edited 60d ago
We had a bit of snow over the weekend (roughly a foot? on top of what was already down), and then two days of winds gusting as high as 25 mph (guess). The snow pack is blue-ish and topped with waves. It's reached the point where we'll need to use snow shoes to walk in it.
#maine #winter #snowstorm #snow
#maine #winter #snowstorm #snow
Looks like we got about 3 inches of snow overnight and there's still a fair number of fluffy snowflakes falling. I ended up shoveling the driveway this morning before I even had my coffee.
#maine
#maine
I felt this M 3.9 earthquake earlier.
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/at00sqr6q8/executive
#earthquake #maine
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/at00sqr6q8/executive
#earthquake #maine
A few pieces I’ve made over the past week. Sharing my little successes. Mostly made from cherry wood. #woodworking #Maine
Hey #California #Oregon #WashingtonState #Minnesota #NewYork #Vermont #Massachusetts #RhodeIsland #Maine and #Connecticut We could form a contiguous nation with Canada. Think of it. Universal Health Care. Cheaper education. Higher alcohol content beer. Real maple syrup. No MAGAs.
Instead of 51st state, let’s start thinking 11th-20th Provinces!
Two Transgender Girls, Six Federal Agencies. How Trump Is Trying to Pressure Maine Into Obedience.
—
Maine said it wouldn’t break state law to follow President Donald Trump’s order barring transgender girls from playing girls’ sports. Then came a barrage of investigations and threats targeting the state’s federal funding.
#News #Maine #Trump #Trans #Sports #Girls #USPolitics #Government #LGBTQ #TransRights
I live not too far from these folks and their farm is amazing. They've won awards from the Maine Cheese Guild. Their CSA is well worth it, if that's your thing, and their goats and lambs are very cute.
https://threecharmfarm.net/csa/
#maine #ThreeCharmFarm #CSA #goat #cheese #MaineCheeseGuild
https://threecharmfarm.net/csa/
#maine #ThreeCharmFarm #CSA #goat #cheese #MaineCheeseGuild
We've gotten about an inch of snow up here overnight and this morning, and it looks like we're in for a bit more.
Last year around this time (Apr 4 2024) we lost power because of a storm a bit like this one. It snowed much more heavily, and since the temperature hovered near freezing the snow was a heavy wet mess that tore down power lines and trees. Our power was out for around 4 days. If I recall correctly over 300,000 people were without power at some point, around 1/4 of the population of the state. We'd had a 2-day power outage only a week earlier, right at the end of March, and were feeling pretty rough by the time the power came back on. We were putting buckets of ice and snow into the refrigerator to keep the food cold that we hadn't put in the coolers on the porch. It's looking like we're in for some more snow yet but I don't think it'll be like the storm last year.
The tree in the foreground of this picture was crushed by the ice and snow of that storm last year. I had to take off a couple of limbs that were broken almost completely through.
#maine #spring
Last year around this time (Apr 4 2024) we lost power because of a storm a bit like this one. It snowed much more heavily, and since the temperature hovered near freezing the snow was a heavy wet mess that tore down power lines and trees. Our power was out for around 4 days. If I recall correctly over 300,000 people were without power at some point, around 1/4 of the population of the state. We'd had a 2-day power outage only a week earlier, right at the end of March, and were feeling pretty rough by the time the power came back on. We were putting buckets of ice and snow into the refrigerator to keep the food cold that we hadn't put in the coolers on the porch. It's looking like we're in for some more snow yet but I don't think it'll be like the storm last year.
The tree in the foreground of this picture was crushed by the ice and snow of that storm last year. I had to take off a couple of limbs that were broken almost completely through.
#maine #spring
