]Eirwin Soltesz photo In an earlier article, I described the lovely Cooper’s hawk. Here we will learn more about the smallest member of the same family, the sharp-shinned hawk. These birds, along with the sparrow hawk and goshawk, are members of the genus Accipiter from the Latin word accipere, meaning “to grasp.” The Accipiters are… Read more
By Monique Coombs, Director of Marine Programs for the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association On November 28, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission voted to extend the moratorium on Northern Shrimp for a fifth year in a continued attempt to allow the stock to rebuild. After receiving a scientific update that showed declines in the health… Read more
For many of us, working at a desk eight hours a day, working outside is a joy and an antidote to looking at a computer screen. For Ron Davis, a retired Navy engineer and current piano tuner, building and maintaining Harpswell Heritage Land Trust (HHLT) trails is a delightful way to enjoy nature and meet… Read more
Look around you at Skolfield Shores Preserve and consider all the history that has occurred at this site over the centuries. For 10,000 years this place has been a stopping place for Native Americans along their travel route from the forest, down the rivers and along the shore to Cape Cod. To travel from inland… Read more
The lending library is located inside the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust office at 153 Harpswell Neck Road. Our hours are variable. You’re welcome to stop by whenever you see a car in the parking lot or give us a call before you come to make sure we’re there to let you in. Our number is… Read more
November finds us enjoying the last of the foliage season, but it can be a busy time getting our homes and lawns cleaned up for winter. It is also a time for action if you have valued deciduous trees. Once the weather turns colder, we will begin to see large numbers of the invasive winter… Read more
Partner Profile: Mary Ann Nahf, Harpswell Conservation Commission By Victoria Boundy, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership All communities have their conservation champions. The Town of Harpswell is fortunate to have Mary Ann Nahf as one of theirs. Mary Ann moved to Maine in 2000 and joined the Conservation Commission a few years after that, in order… Read more
As children, we learned at school that deciduous trees grow new leaves each year, dropping their old leaves in autumn, bringing bright colors to our forests. The conifers or “evergreens” have needles that remain on the trees all year long. It turns out that there are conifers that are also deciduous, and the one closest… Read more
While each of the trails in Harpswell has something to offer, I always look forward to time spent at Long Reach Preserve. Not only does the Preserve offer the longest hike in town (nearly 2 miles in total), but you can enjoy a wide diversity of terrain and genuine solitude on this walk. The… Read more
When he was about 10 years old, Robin Brooks cruised on a 56-foot sailboat from the mouth of the Connecticut River to Cutler, in far Downeast Maine. The trip made quite an impression. “After that, I always knew I wanted to live on the coast of Maine,” recalled Brooks, now 82. That desire ultimately brought… Read more