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Spring Birding Extravaganza 2020
Join us for this year’s Spring Birding Extravaganza!
Spring Birding Extravaganza 2019
Join BTLT and our conservation neighbors again this year for the Spring Birding Extravaganza!
Birders of all ages and experience levels are invited to take part in the seventh annual Birding Extravaganza, a free series of birding events sponsored by four conservation organizations in Midcoast Maine. Merrymeeting Audubon (MMA), Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, and Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust have collaborated to offer opportunities to watch for and learn about a wide range of birds, both seasonal migrants and permanent residents.
The series is a way to encourage community members to enjoy and learn about the our beautiful natural areas and introduces folks to all of the land trusts’ preserves and trails. The protected areas of the three land trusts cover thirteen towns in a region known as a global hotspot for migratory birds.
“The land trusts work hard to provide a variety of trails for the public to experience the natural wonder of our region. It’s thrilling to showcase these special outdoor places by birding with people of all ages,” said Carrie Kinne, Executive Director of the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust,
“The series gives the perfect excuse to visit and experience a new outdoor place not so far from home.”
“Every year this series is an absolute favorite with our community,” said Lee Cataldo, Outreach and Education Coordinator at Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust. “We truly love this partnership with the neighboring land trusts and MMA. It is such a great way to bring folks from all over the region to new trails and properties, and to get to see some of the amazing migratory birds that pass through the Midcoast.”
This year, we will offer Maine Bird Atlas training, a movie screening, bird walks throughout the area, and more! These walks are accessible to many, including outings for experienced and novice birders, families and those unable to walk great distances.
All events are free and open to the public. You can visit the websites of the four hosting organizations for more information on these terrific treks to observe our feathered friends.
List of Events:
Thursday, April 25th from 7pm: The Messenger film screening at Frontier in Brunswick
Freeport Wild Bird Supply and Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust will present this film screening of Su Rynard’s documentary exploring the beautiful world of songbirds, our connection to them, and their uncertain fate. Tickets may be purchased by clicking HERE.
Saturday, April 27th from 3 – 5pm: Maine Bird Atlas Training Workshop at Curtis Memorial Library’s Morrell Meeting Room
Join the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust for a workshop to develop your birdwatching skills to support The Maine Bird Atlas, an effort to survey and map the distribution and abundance of breeding and wintering birds in Maine. It is a project of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, in partnership with the Maine Natural History Observatory, Maine Audubon, the Biodiversity Research Institute, and the public. The project will run from 2018-2022 and will enable conservationists and researchers to assess changes in the distribution of birds species and populations around the state.
Sunday, May 5th at 7:30am: Bird walk at Brunswick Town Commons with Dale Dorr
Dale Dorr will lead a walk through the Brunswick Town Commons. Please join us for this early migration walk in Brunswick’s Town Commons with its mix of vernal pools, pitch pine stands and old field. This time in the season it is uncertain which species will have made the migration to mid coast Maine, but the Commons have had nesting hawk and owl families in the past and should produce a good mix of the hardier species of songbirds.
Thursday, May 16th at 7:30am: Bird walk at Crystal Spring Farm with Jan Pierson
Join expert birder Jan Pierson for a popular annual outing to Brunswick Topsham Land Trust’s Crystal Spring Farm in Brunswick. This walk is through a variety of habitats, including fields, forests, and wetland. We hope to see sparrows, Bluebirds, Bobolinks, and several species of warblers. Bring your binoculars, and meet at Crystal Spring Farm’s Farmers’ Market Green on Pleasant Hill Road in Brunswick.
Sunday, May 19th from 7 – 11:30am: Bird walk at the Brunswick Town Commons with Gordon Smith and John Berry
Gordon Smith and John Berry will co-lead a walk at the Brunswick Town Commons to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the establishment of the Brunswick Town Commons. This bird walk will be done on easy paths (up to 3 miles total). We will observe a variety of plants, wildlife, and migrating songbirds. 7am start time. For more information call Gordon Smith at 725-0282.
Information for Harpwell Heritage Land Trust and Kennebec Estuary Land Trust events may be found here:
