NEW GLOUCESTER, Maine — Many humans began preparing for the April 8 total solar eclipse years before. Within hours of the August 2017 eclipse that passed through Maine, a "Millinockeclipse" group was formed on Facebook.
For every other species, however, the afternoon blackout will come as a surprise. Just how much of a surprise is yet to be seen.
At Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, folks that NEWS CENTER Maine met on Tuesday weren't expecting too much commotion in the barns when things go dark. But education director Cathryn Anderson said the animals—and the chickens, in particular—might think it’s bedtime and head in for the night, only to see the glaring sun again in a few minutes.
"I would love to say that something really neat would happen, like the goats would stand up and start walking on their back legs. But, to be honest, I don't think it's gonna be that dramatic," Anderson said. "We might see them kind of start to bed down for the night, a little bit, and find their spaces where they typically go to for the end of the day. But, because it’s such a short period of time, I really don’t know."
Wild animals might show more life. Zach Olson, an animal behavior professor at the University of New England, told NEWS CENTER Maine drivers should watch out for turkeys, deer, and moose believing dusk has arrived and heading for bed.
Temperatures will also drop during the event, Olson explained, and any insect activity might diminish. Nocturnal animals, on the other hand, could very well emerge from the wilderness.
As they do, he continued, daytime birds might sing—either their bedtime or morning songs. It could be a sonic experience.
But one animal, in particular, would make this professor's day.
"I'm going to be listening for owls," Olson smiled. "I would love to hear an owl announce itself during totality. I think that'd be really cool."