Originally published in the October 2020 issue of the Harpswell Anchor By Kara Douglas Sixty acres of clam flats and 68 acres of eelgrass beds, a fringing salt marsh, wading bird and waterfowl habitat strewn with rockweed, an iconic view from the town office looking south into Harpswell Sound: the intertidal zone and shoreland at… Read more
From left to right: Craig, Ellie, Kara and Nora Douglas (Tim McCreight photo). What’s the hardest part?” I asked. “Hardening!” came the instant answers from Nora and Ellie Douglas, ages 14 and 11. Along with their parents, Kara and Craig, they are stewards of the Curtis Farm Preserve. When I asked their favorite part, Ellie… Read more
Fred Gay is delightful. Not too many people deserve that moniker, but Fred does. From his engaging smile, to his Amish hat, to—and this is how I became acquainted with Fred—his immunity to poison ivy, Fred is one of a kind! Over the summer Fred offered to remove poison ivy from the McIntosh Lot Preserve… Read more
As the wild turkeys headed toward the log where I rested, I froze in place, hoping to avoid spooking these wary birds with wonderful eyesight. Out in the open with no cover to shield any movement, I gave up the idea of snapping photos as the birds came closer. Feeding actively on seeds and insects… Read more
We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of our fundraising campaign for Strawberry Creek! Thanks to the support of more than 300 individuals and three grants, we have raised the $350,000 needed to preserve these spectacular properties. Click here to read an article about the project that was published in the Times Record. Click… Read more
Our eyes are often drawn to the flashiest creatures around us, and this is particularly true with birds. This explains the ongoing popularity of the Northern cardinal, the indigo bunting and the Baltimore oriole. But birds with more subtle coloring have their own beauty and may have distinct personalities that make them worthy of your… Read more
Looking for a simple, fun and educational project? Make your own tree identification wheel to practice your ID skills. Read more
If I had to nominate the 10 birds on my most popular list, the red-winged blackbird would certainly be near the top. Over the years I have come to appreciate these showy and gregarious birds not only for their beauty but also for their generally friendly personalities. Often I have been in the field planting… Read more
If you enjoy observing the natural world, if you’re curious about cycles and changes in living things or the environment, if you’re interested in the waters of Casco Bay and the organisms living in it, then you can help scientists with their research. Modern scientists work with such large amounts of data that some ask non-scientists… Read more
“I love the plants and the land, it is an organism to be fostered,” Laura Grady stated as she tried to explain her engagement with the 100 acres upon which Two Coves Farm rests. Laura continued “We listen to the land, we work with it by spreading compost and we try to determine the best… Read more