Goodbye Michelle

Goodbye my friend and friend of Peaks Island

Michelle Brown is leaving the island, ready to cruise to new horizons in her Winnebago, Travato – named Gloria.

Michelle has given her time, services, and creativity of ideas to Peaks Island. Over ten years ago, as a Peaks Island Land Preserve Board Member and Head of the Stewards, she offered bird walks. I joined one of her walks and afterwards, I asked to be a volunteer Steward on the City owned property – the Backshore. PILP has an easement on it requiring overseeing the property. As a new Steward, my monthly reports on the Backshore were given to Michelle, including photographs of birds along the shore. Based on these observations, she suggested that we write a bird blog for the PILP website. She and Butch Sullins had already put bird photographs and the List of Birds of Peaks Island onto the website. She envisioned that a bird blog would be a continuation of learning about the birds on Peaks Island.

So, with Marty’s tutorial on navigating the website builder, we started the Backshore Bird Blog in February 2015. With Board approval the Backshore Bird Blog was up and running, ten years to date.

Several years ago, on a venture to Ferry Beach, ME during the Piping Plover Festival, Michelle cleverly introduced another project for us to explore: A Backshore Bird Guide. After several months working together on the bird illustrations, descriptions, and graphic design (Beth Rand), a bird guide was completed and available to interested birders.

Michelle is not only interested in our native species, but her love of all animals steered her to overseeing the welfare of Peaks Island’s domestic geese. In 2012 there were nine geese hanging-out near Picnic Point – feasting on apples.  

With cold winters and snow-covered grounds there was little green grass for the geese to replenish their energies. But there are domestic waterfowl pellets. Michelle asked if we could share in the responsibilities of feeding the geese in the winter months. And we did. In 2021, there were just three geese: Missy, Bully, and Gabby.

Lisa observed one of the remaining three geese (Gabby) smashing into a pole while flying, injuring his bill and foot/leg. This injury made him vulnerable to predators, and a weak link in the goose trio. The other two geese were, sort of, a pair (white male and brownish female). The male, we called Bully, actively attacked Gabby, banishing him from the group. We needed more volunteers to help find and feed Gabby, twice a day. Volunteers, Claudine, Kathy M, Nancy and Sharon came to our rescue.

Gabby healed and rejoined the ‘couple’, as a ‘sidekick’. The female disappeared leaving Gabby and Bully who are now tolerant buddies. Michelle will be leaving her ‘friends’ the geese as well as the rest of us.

Michelle not only worked with PILP, but also, she was a volunteer on PEAT’s Earth Day cleanups – always ready to provide a helping ‘hand’. And most recently she was voted into the Board of Oceanside Conservation Trust.

Michelle came up with ideas, gently presented them, and professionally orchestrated the process. Those ideas came to fruition – providing help, guidance, and new knowledge to Peaks Island. We will miss you, Michelle.

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By: Patty Wainright.

Photos: PW and SW
Reviewed by: Sam Wainright, Michelle Brown, Michael Lacombe, and Marty

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