As a young man just out of college, I was thrilled by my maiden visit to the Rockies for a backpacking trip in Montana’s stunning Glacier National Park. On our third day in remote country, we hiked to a large lake and rested along the shore. Suddenly overhead we spotted a huge, dark bird with… Read more
Houghton Graves Park is a place of peace and memory you might have missed while traveling along Route 24 between the library and post office on beautiful Orr’s Island. It’s definitely worth a stop. The location holds memories for me because it is next to the site of the former Green Anchor gift shop, a… Read more
Sitting around the dinner table with friends a few months ago, conversation turned to the large bird feeder visible through picture windows. Our host clearly enjoyed watching his many visitors, but complained about losing song birds to a fast flying raptor. He told of seeing one sparrow being swept away in a burst of feathers…. Read more
The settlement of America and the huge population growth of the last 150 years has resulted in significant impacts on most wildlife species. In some of mankind’s worst moments, we caused the extinction of the passenger pigeon, and nearly wiped out the American bison. In other cases, our actions have allowed species to expand their… Read more
I know that many readers of this column are observant of the natural world around them, and can imagine that you sometimes wonder about signs of wildlife activity that leave parts of the story untold. It might be those unfamiliar tracks along a hiking trail that pique your interest, or a pile of feathers in… Read more
If there is a wild creature with a serious public relations issue, it is the skunk. When I was a kid, the word skunk was used as an insult against dirty, rotten, low-down liars. You have probably come upon a malodorous wetlands plant called skunk cabbage, and not because of its coloration. How many of… Read more
By Christine Farrell What an experience to grow up on the coast of Maine. What a charmed life for a child to spend summers on Harpswell Neck or on the Islands. Great, Bailey or Orr’s, that is. Anne Satterthwaite, a Philadelphia health care professional, had such a childhood. Spending summer weeks on Bailey Island, Anne… Read more
For the last few years, 9-year-old Scottie and 7-year-old Elliot Larsen have explored tide pools, mud flats, salt marshes and other habitats, while learning about the animals and plants that live there, thanks to programs offered by Harpswell Heritage Land Trust (HHLT). “Especially living in Harpswell, to understand and appreciate our environment is really important,”… Read more
Every spring when the snow on our lawn finally melts, we find a series of tunnels in the dormant grass, along with some woven nests. If we are unlucky, we also find damage to our ornamental and fruit trees, with the bark chewed at the base of the trunk and on exposed roots. The likely… Read more
There is a discernible lift in Deirdre Strachan’s already cheerful voice when the topic of conversation turns to Harpswell, her adopted home and the town she loves. “It’s such a beautiful community, with so much to offer,” she says. Strachan, who moved to Harpswell from Massachusetts in 1998 after a distinguished international career in public… Read more