The Connor Mill Trail in Unity offers a great opportunity to see the dynamic shoreline of Sandy Stream come to life in spring. We are weeks away from the leaf out shown above, but check it out in March and early April to see the buds pop and look for hints of ferns and wildflowers as they begin their movement upward where the woodland meets the edge of the stream. The loop trail is open, although be prepared for some muddy sections. The bridge across Bacon Brook will be reinstalled on our volunteer work day on April 28 .
NATURE CORNER
NATURE IS WAKING UP
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Nature is even more in tune with the seasonal progression so once the days lengthen significantly in mid- to late February, animals and plants begin to revive themselves from their low activity winter periods. Plant buds begin to swell in preparation for the increased solar radiation which will allow their emergence later in the season. Hearing a ruckus up above you? Some birds like Great Horned Owls and ravens begin to pair and find nesting sites.
One of the most exciting events is witnessing increased activities among central Maine’s mammal populations...
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Mink on Sandy Stream, photo by Tom Aversa.
THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS!
Thank you to our volunteer crew for helping to clear trails of downed trees at the Freedom Forest Preserve (above) and Kanokolus Bog Preserve (below). Storms this past winter took down trees at many of our properties, and we will focus additional workdays on clearing trails at Richardson Memorial Preserve and the Connor Mill Trail. Hopefully you can join us in the future - it’s hard work but fun and always good to be outdoors! Learn more about volunteering.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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APRIL 17, 6:30 - 8 pm
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Understanding Land Surveying
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Benton Grange Hall
29 River Rd., Benton
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Professional land surveyor Frank Siviski will shed light on the seemingly mysterious world of boundary determinations and help landowners understand how surveys are created and how their goals shape the outcome.
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Thursday, May 9, 6:30 - 8 PM
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Bird Migration in Central Maine
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Unity Community Center
32 School St., Unity
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The Sebasticook River watershed provides a diversity of habitats that host well over 200 species of birds annually. Tom Aversa will lead us in an evening of fun and exploration as we learn when and where to find this vast array of species. Tom has studied our avian friends for over 50 years, having penned several books on birds, serving on the Maine Bird Records Committee, and traveling worldwide in pursuit of natural history.
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Saturday, May 11, 7 - 10 AM
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World Migratory Bird Day Walk at Rines Preserve
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Bird life abounds along this trail at Rines Preserve on the west side of Bog Brook. The timing will allow us to enjoy
arriving spring migrants before the foliage dominates the view. The round-trip walk is a mile and a half and departs from the trailhead parking lot on Rt. 139 2.3 miles west of Main St. SRLT board chair Tom Aversa will lead the walk. SPACE IS LIMITED, please RSVP here.
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Volunteer Work Days are typically held on the Last Sunday of the Month
(locations vary) but we will be adding an extra day mid-month to clean up from recent storms.
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APRIL 28
Connor Mill Trail
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Our schedule has been updated. Check our events page for details and newly scheduled events
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All of our programs are open to the public. For a list of 2024 speaker series programs click here or contact info@sebasticookrlt.org or 948-3766 for more information.
