March

Travelers' Club: Wyoming

Join Jack Flanagan as he shares photos and stories from travels in and around the fabled Yellowstone area of northwestern Wyoming. Highlights include family travel in Yellowstone National Park, solo backpacking in the alpine wilderness of the Absaroka Range, and touring the geologic wonders of the Big Horn basin. This is one of the largest contiguous roadless areas in the United States and home to the wolf, grizzly bear, mountain lion, and other icons of wilderness.

Thursday, March 2

7 p.m.

Free

No registration necessary

Family Nature Walk: Signs of Spring

Maine Audubon educator Rebecca Minnick will lead this exploration of Gilsland Farm in search of signs of spring and wildlife. In early March, it's possible to see woodchucks, chipmunks, and even some migratory birds that have already returned from their wintering grounds.

Saturday, March 4

10-11:30 a.m.

Members: $6/adult, $3/child

Nonmembers: $8/adult, $4/child

Advance registration necessary

Family Program: Good Night Nature

Bring your children ages 3-6 to Gilsland Farm for the evening to listen to the bedtime story Night in the Country. Snacks and activities will accompany the program. Don't forget to wear your PJs! Adults must accompany children.

Thursday, March 9

6:30-7:30 p.m.

$9/member child, $13.50/nonmember child

Advance registration necessary

Yoga: Spring into Spring

Enjoy the beauty and peace of Gilsland Farm's woods and meadows as you relax your body and mind with gentle movement, breathing exercises, and meditation. The day of nourishment—inside and out—includes morning tea and a wholesome, vegetarian lunch.

Saturday, March 11

10 a.m.-1 p.m.

$15/member, $20/nonmember

Advance registration necessary

Nature Book Discussion Group: A History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage

Standage hypothesizes that each epoch, from the Stone Age to the present, has had its signature beverage. Early agriculturalists saved surplus grain and made beer. The Greeks took grapes and made wine, later borrowed by the Romans and the Christians. Arabic scientists experimented with distillation and produced spirits. In Britain , tea was “the lubricant that kept the factories running smoothly.” Coffee also spread quickly from Arabia to Europe, and, finally, the rise of American capitalism is mirrored in the history of Coca-Cola. This is an extraordinary trip through world history.

Monday, March 13

7 p.m.

Free

No registration necessary

Course: Winter Tree Identification

Learn the skills and joys of winter botany in this workshop investigating our native trees. With a little practice in the use of a “tree key” you'll be able to identify all the common and not-so-common trees of New England . ID keys not only help to identify species but allow for close investigation into the structures and details of these interesting plants. We'll look at both deciduous and evergreen trees and practice and test our skills on twig specimens from native woody plants. Be prepared to be outside for at least part of the program.

Saturday, March 18

11 a.m.-3 p.m.

$24/member, $30/nonmember

Advance registration necessary

Junior Naturalists' Club: Owls

Drop off your kids ages 10-13 to learn with their peers about owl ecology and breeding behavior. They'll learn the calls of great-horned, barred, and saw-whet owls and then travel to a few local spots to call in and listen for some. This time of year is the best to hear and see owls since both great-horned and barred owls are on territories and actively pursuing a mate, making them very likely to respond to imitations of their call. Participants should bring a flashlight and snack and be prepared to be outside.

Saturday, March 25

6-10 p.m.

$24/member, $32/nonmember

Limited to 8 participants

Advance registration necessary

April

Family Nature Walk: April Fools!
Plants and animals have many ways to outmaneuver or trick each other. Maine Audubon educator Rebecca Minnick will teach you about adaptations such as mimicry, playing possum, tasting bad, and other things that help ensure plants and animals survive.

Saturday, April 1
10-11:30 a.m.
Members: $6/adult, $3/child
Nonmembers: $8/adult, $4/child
Advanced registration necessary

Be an Earth Advocate

Join Maine Audubon's grassroots coordinator Stephanie Cox to learn how you can be a voice for Maine 's wildlife. Concerned people like you are key to helping Maine Audubon promote sound wildlife conservation policy in the state.

Monday, April 3

7 p.m.

Free

No registration necessary

Travelers' Club:Castello di Spannocchia

Lisa Mack and Erin Cinelli from the Spannocchia Foundation will show slides of the sixteenth-century villa and farm in Tuscany that is a model for sustainable agriculture and a haven for artists and nature lovers. Encompassing 1,200 acres of vineyards, olive groves, fields, and mountain forests, Spannocchia was one of the first privately owned wildlife sanctuaries in Italy .

Thursday, April 6

7 p.m.

Free

No registration necessary

Oiled Wildlife Response: An Introduction for Volunteers

International Bird Rescue and Research Center instructors will give an overview of an emergency response should an oil spill impacting wildlife occur in Maine . The training will briefly describe the effects of oil on wildlife, the components of a response, and the management system that would be put in place for oiled wildlife response. The training will also provide information regarding safety issues for volunteers, volunteer roles in a response and tips for working in a crisis situation, as well how to become a volunteer.

Saturday, April 8

9:00a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Free

Advance registration necessary. Please contact Nicole Munkwitz , Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, to register or for more information. Email: Nicole.Munkwitz@maine.gov or by phone (207) 941-4448.

Nature Book Discussion: Group Environmental Articles

As part of our month-long Earth Day celebration, for this Nature Book Discussion Group meeting we'll read and discuss current articles from periodicals such as Orion, Utne Reader, or your favorite environmental magazine. Please bring an article to the March meeting so we can copy and distribute it.

Monday, April 10

7 p.m.

Free

No registration necessary

Course: Birding By Ear

Birdsong can be one of the most rewarding aspects of birding. However, with the variety of songs, calls, and chip notes, it's no wonder most people are intimidated by the challenge of learning to identify them. Come learn about Maine 's most common songsters and techniques for recognizing and remembering their songs. Suitable for beginners as well as intermediate students, this workshop is timed perfectly to get you in the field practicing your new skill during spring migration.

Tuesdays, April 11, 18, 25 and May 2, field trip, Saturday, May 20
6:30-9 p.m., field trip 7-11 a.m.

$98/member, $120/nonmember

Advanced registration necessar

Birding 101

Designed for beginning birders, this introductory workshop will give you the tools to get started on a lifetime pursuit. Naturalist and avid birder Bob Bittenbender will review some common species and basic bird behaviors, pointing out clues like posture, shape, basic anatomy, and habitat that will help you identify and learn more about them. Bob will also review field guides, optics, and local hot spots in the Portland area for spring and summer birding. Put your new knowledge to use on the Beginners' Bird Walk April 15.

Wednesday, April 12

7-8:30 p.m.

$8/member, $10/nonmember

Advanced registration necessary

Family Program: Good Night Nature

Bring your children ages 3-6 to Gilsland Farm for the evening to listen to the bedtime story Giving Thanks. Snacks and activities will accompany the program. Don't forget to wear your PJs! Adults must accompany children.

Thursday, April 13

6:30-7:30 p.m.

$9/member child, $13.50/nonmember child

Advanced registration necessary

Audubon At Home

Join Maine Audubon naturalist and horticulturist Margi Huber to learn how to create healthy habitat for birds, plants, and other wildlife in your back yard and community. Margi's tips are based on the Audubon At Home program, which helps individuals improve their immediate natural environment. Be personally involved and make a difference!

Thursday, April 13

7-8:30 p.m.

$8/member, $10/nonmember

Advanced registration necessary

Beginners' Bird Walk

Calling all novice birders: come learn how to use binoculars, identify common birds, and choose a field guide as we check out the birds at Gilsland Farm. This walk works well as a follow-up to Birding 101, described above. Be sure to bring your binoculars!

Saturday, April 15

7 a.m.

$6/member, $8/nonmember

Special! Sign up for Birding 101 and the Beginner's Bird Walk is free.

Advanced registration necessary

The Spring Sky

Spring is a terrific time to learn your way around the night sky. In this program timed to coincide with the first-quarter moon and spring constellations Scorpio and Sagittarius, let astronomer Lori Agan guide you through the myriad stars, constellations, planets,

and deep-space objects visible to the naked eye, through binoculars, and with the help of a large telescope. We'll begin indoors with an introduction and then head outside, so dress accordingly. This program is designed for both adults and families with children ages 10 and over.

Wednesday, April 19 (weather date April 20)

7:30-9:30 p.m.

Members: $8/adult, $3/child

Nonmembers: $10/nonmember, $4/child

Advance registration necessary

Advanced registration necessary

Course: Veggie Gardening

Do you ever wonder when to plant your pepper seeds, or whether they should be started indoors or out? Come learn where, when, and how to create your vegetable garden this summer. Topics include fertilization, insects and diseases, indoor and outdoor seeding techniques, and maintenance. Each participant will receive a starter seed packet.

Thursday, April 20

7-8:30 p.m.

$8/member, $10/nonmember

Advanced registration necessary

Earth Day Sunrise Celebration

Earth Day Ceremony will be offered by students of the Tetzkatlipoka Tradition.

We welcome all those who are interested to join in the circle before the ceremony begins. If you prefer, or if you arrive after ceremony begins, you may observe from outside the circle.

Begin Earth Day with a sunrise ceremony to mark this special celebration. Bring a poem or reading to share, if you'd like.

Saturday, April 22

5:30 a.m.

Free

No registration necessary

Naturalist's Forum: A Maine Ornithologist's Search for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker

The discovery of a supposedly extinct ivory- billed woodpecker in Arkansas
in 2004 was kept secret by ornithologists for over a year. During that year,
Cornell ornithologist Dr. Jeff Wells signed a pledge to secrecy and joined
the search to verify the bird's presence.

Come hear Jeff's account of the verification process and see photos of his
secret trips to Arkansas-days of struggling in camouflage and waders through
deep, murky water among cypress trees while trying to avoid poisonous
snakes.

Monday, April 24

7 p.m.

Free

No registration necessary

Junior Naturalists' Club: Vernal Pools

Drop off your kids ages 10-13 to learn with their peers about vernal pools, breeding grounds for many species of reptiles and amphibians. They'll learn the basics of vernal pool biology along with how to identify and survey a vernal pool and how to identify frog calls. The group will explore several different pools in the area, searching for wood frogs, spring peepers, and spotted salamanders as well as counting egg masses. Participants should bring a flashlight and a snack and be prepared to be outdoors.

Saturday, April 29

6-10 p.m.

$24/member, $32/nonmember

Limited to eight participants

Advanced registration necessary