Birding Extravaganza this April and May‏

Five Conservation Organizations offer series of birding walks in the Midcoast Region

The public is invited to attend a series of free bird watching adventures sponsored by five conservation organizations in Midcoast Maine this April and May. Merrymeeting Audubon, Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust, and Phippsburg Land Trust have collaborated to offer seven opportunities to get outside to watch and learn about birds, while visiting beautiful natural places, including forests, farms, and ocean shoreline.

On Saturday, April 18 at 8:00 a.m. join us for a walk through the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust's

Sewall Woods Preserve in Bath led by Merrymeeting Audubon's Ted Allen. The group will hike along Whiskeag Creek, a tidal influenced stream that flows into the Kennebec River. Birders will seek migrating waterfowl including Canada geese, black ducks, mallards, blue- and green-winged teal, and common mergansers.  Participants can meet at 7:30am at the CVS in Bath to carpool. For more information: Ted Allen, 729-8661.

On Sunday, April 26 at 9 a.m., join the Phippsburg Land Trust and experienced local birder, Robin R. Robinson, for “Birding The Burg.” As a peninsula, Phippsburg is a birding hotspot during migration seasons because of varied habitats that support a wide variety of species. Old growth deciduous and coniferous trees, fresh and salt water, intertidal zones, beaches, and wetlands are attractive to diverse species of birds. Bring your binoculars, your boots, and high spirits for a walk through the McDonald Preserve on Spirit Pond to see what's on the water and what's in the trees! Participants can meet at 8:30am at the Phippsburg Town Hall to carpool. For more information: Robin R. Robinson, 207-389-1609.

On Sunday, April 26 at 1 p.m. join us for a special birding outing designed for kids and families at Harpswell Heritage Land Trust’s Curtis Farm Preserve. Birding for kids is designed to help children recognize common birds in their neighborhoods, as well as to introduce them to simple ways they can try to identify birds that are unfamiliar to them. Families will learn some simple bird songs, how the shape of a bird can tell you about what it eats and how a bird’s habitat can help you figure out what it is. This event is part of a series of Harpswell Family Outings, a collaborative effort of the Harpswell Recreation Department, Harpswell Community Nursery School and Harpswell Heritage Land Trust. For more information, visit www.hhltmaine.org or contact Julia McLeod, 207-837-9613, outreach@hhltmaine.org.

On Saturday, May 2 at 7:30 a.m. join us for a walk at Harpswell Heritage Land Trust’s Skolfield Shores Preserve. John Berry will lead participants through fields and forest and along the shore to look for spring birds. With fields, saltwater marsh and more than 4,000 feet of shoreline on Middle Bay Cove, Skolfield is well suited to spotting a wide range of birds. For more information, visit www.hhltmaine.org or contact Julia McLeod, 207-837-9613, outreach@hhltmaine.org.

On Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 a.m. join us for a walk through the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust’s Crystal Spring Farm in Brunswick. Jan Pierson will lead participants through a variety of habitats including fields, forests, and ponds.  We hope to see sparrows, bluebirds, boblinks, and several species of warblers.  For more information, visit www.btlt.org/birding-csf or contact Lee Cataldo, 207-729-7694, lee@btlt.org.

On Wednesday May 20 at 7:00 a.m. join Jan Pierson at a Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust preserve on upper Middle Bay to watch for migrants along the preserve edge, listen for residents already back, and check the marsh and cove with a scope. Upper Middle Bay is a vibrant migratory area with hundreds of species passing through each spring. Parking is limited for this event, so please RSVP at www.btlt.org/birding-middle-bay for details, or contact Lee Cataldo, 207-729-7694, lee@btlt.org

On Saturday, May 30 at 8:00 a.m. Ted Allen from Merrymeeting Audubon will lead birders through the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust's Thorne Head Preserve in Bath. Overlooking Whiskeag Creek as it converges with the Kennebec River, the preserve is located on the Maine Birding Trail and is rich in migrating warblers and vireos.  Participants can meet at 7:30 am at the CVS in Bath to carpool.  For more information: Ted Allen, 729-8661.

Visit the web addresses of the five hosting organizations for more information on these fantastic chances to observe our feathered friends: Kennebec Estuary Land Trust: www.kennebecestuary.org; Harpswell Heritage Land Trust: www.hhltmaine.org; Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust: www.btlt.org/birding;Phippsburg Land Trust: www.phippsburglandtrust.org; Merrymeeting Audubon: www.maineaudubon.org/merrymeeting/.