Maine Audubon headquarters, here we come!
With a hotspot list of 255 species, Gilsland Farm—the headquarters of Maine Audubon—is one of the most birded areas in southern Maine. Here is a great description of the area from Maine Audubon’s website:
“Situated along the Presumpscot River estuary just five minutes from Portland, Maine Audubon’s headquarters features a modern environmental education center and a 65-acre sanctuary with more than two miles of trails winding along a pond and through forest, meadow, orchard, and salt marsh.
The variety of habitats and gentle trails at Gilsland Farm are ideal for nature study, wildlife-watching, walking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Gilsland Farm’s meadows are nesting habitat for Bobolinks and Meadowlarks, a winter foraging spot for Canada Geese, and hunting grounds for Red-tailed Hawks and other birds of prey.
Abundant woodland and shrubs attract migrating warblers, thrushes, and finches, while the adjacent tidal flats support large flocks of feeding shorebirds. Mammals include weasels, Red Fox, deer, and a variety of rodents, as well as the farm’s unique population of Black Woodchucks. A small pond is home to frogs and muskrat, and the sanctuary’s gardens and plantings attract scores of butterflies and dragonflies.”
As the state’s oldest and largest conservation organization, Maine Audubon has been promoting public environmental awareness and connecting people to nature since 1843. Maine Audubon has also been instrumental in supporting the mission and activities of the Maine Young Birders Club, for which we are very grateful.
Join us in birding the Gilsland Farm property with Jeremy Cluchey, Director of Communications, and photographer Ariana van den Akker. Jeremy and Ari will be writing a story about the MYBC in Maine Audubon’s newsletter (Habitat), which is received by over 6,000 members! We are excited to spread the word about MYBC and our work with young birders.
LOGISTICS: Dress in layers and wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring the following: filled water bottle, snacks, sunblock, a hat, sunglasses, binoculars, camera (optional), scope (if you have one), notebook & field guide (optional), and a backpack in which you'll keep all your stuff. If you do not have binoculars, MYBC will provide you with a pair.
MEET UP and PICK UP: We will be meeting at 7:00 am in the Gilsland Farm parking area (right next to the building headquarters). We will be done at 11:00 am.
CARPOOLING: If you wish to carpool out of Biddeford with Lena Moser, send her an email at info@maineyoungbirders.org.
DIRECTIONS:
20 Gilsland Farm Road
Falmouth, Maine 04105
From the north: Take I-295 to exit 10 and then left on Bucknam Road. At the light, turn right onto U.S. Route 1 and continue south for one mile. After the blinking light at the intersection of Routes 1 and 88, Gilsland Farm Road is on the right.
From the south: Take I-295 to exit 9. Continue 1.9 miles north on U.S. Route 1 and turn left onto Gilsland Farm Road at our sign, immediately before the intersection of Routes 1 and 88.
