Kennebec Estuary Land Trust is hosting an owl prowl on Friday, Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. (Photo courtesy Chris Cabot)
Kennebec Estuary Land Trust invites the public to explore the Carl and Barbara Segerstrom Preserve at Squam Creek on Westport Island for owls on Friday, Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. Led by Maine master naturalist Kit Pfeiffer, participants will walk the habitats of the preserve scouting for owls and exploring what makes these nocturnal birds so fascinating. This walk is appropriate for adults and children age 10 and older.
At 159 acres, the Segerstrom Preserve includes field, forest, wetlands, and edge habitat, making it an attractive spot to potentially hear an owl. The well-established two-mile trail is relatively flat and is appropriate for snowshoes. Prowlers should bring snowshoes and a headlamp and dress to spend 1–1½ hours outdoors. Space is limited, so registration is required. Sign up at kennebecestuary.org or call 442-8400.
This owl prowl is part of Kennebec Estuary Land Trust’s new volunteer bird monitoring program. This past year, the land trust received funding from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to establish a bird monitoring program and promote the use of eBird, an online birding observation tool. The land trust plans to incorporate bird conservation into more of its work by developing inventories of bird species and monitoring bird populations on land trust preserves. For more information about this citizen science project, contact Kennebec Estuary Land Trust Land Protection Coordinator Anna Christie-Carnicella at acarnicella@kennebecestuary.org.
To get to the Carl and Barbara Segerstrom Preserve: from Route 1, take ME-144 South for approximately 6.5 miles. Turn right on West Shore Road (Upper) and drive approximately 0.5 miles to the property. The parking lot and kiosk is located on the left after crossing the causeway over Squam Creek.
The Kennebec Estuary Land Trust is a membership-supported organization dedicated to protecting the land, water, and wildlife of the Kennebec Estuary. It maintains 11 preserves for public enjoyment and has protected 3,500-plus acres of land since founding in 1989. For more information, go to kennebecestuary.org or call 442-8400.
