With its unique variety of habitat and climate, Maine is a great destination for any birder looking to add to his or her life list.  Did you know Maine is the only state where you'll find breeding colonies of Atlantic Puffins?  Or that, Maine has 500 pairs of the bald eagle? According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, this is the largest population in the Northeast. A variety of Maine hotels and resorts offer Maine Vacation Packages and can help you find your way to the best local birding areas.

Summer is the perfect time to paddle some of the state's inland waterways in search of the common loon. To hear the sound of a loon across a misty Maine lake is to hear the sound of prehistoric time.

Summer is also the time to catch a glimpse of the Atlantic Puffin. These birds spend most of their lives on the ocean but come ashore in summer to nest on rocky islands. Though they are somewhat common in Canada and other regions near the Arctic Circle, these birds are rarely found nesting in U.S. waters.

To help you plan your trip, a new Maine Birding Trail brochure highlighting the best bird watching spots in Maine is now available. The brochure, designed for both the casual and serious birder can be found at tourist information centers, select state parks around Maine and at the Maine Tourism website.