How do different plants or animals grow and develop? What stages of life can you see around you? Do young plants and animals always look exactly like their parents? Step outside or peek out your window and you're bound to see new life this time of year. Birds are laying eggs or caring for their …
Environmental Education
Connections: The Darling Buds of May
Now that the temperature outdoors is moving up, it's starting to feel like spring has really sprung! One of the things that I look forward to each spring is the blooming of flowers. As I sit on my front porch writing this, I can see dandelions, violets, and wild strawberries in bloom on my lawn just …
How can I help baby birds?
It's nesting season for many birds now, and you may come across an abandoned nest, an egg that has fallen out of the nest, or baby animals that--to you--are just crying for help. What should you do? The same question will come up in mid- to late-summer, prime time for hatching and fledgling …
Connections: Observation Conversation 2
At the beginning of April, Early Childhood Education Program Manager Molly Woodring and Youth Programs Manager Catherine Griset had an Observation Conservation, where they shared tips on close observation of wildlife, making a “sit spot,” tools they use, surprises they have seen looking out their …
Family Fun Connections: Exploring Texture
If you've ever been in a store, public bathroom, or museum with a young child, you know their urge to touch everything is strong. The good news is that, barring exceptions like poison ivy, nature is full of opportunities for truly hands-on exploration! Touching and manipulating the natural world …
Elementary Connections: Nest Building Season
What do birds use nests for? How do they build them? What can we observe in our own yards and neighborhoods as birds enter nesting season? It's that time of year! Many birds are gathering materials, starting construction, and even starting to care for their young around the state of Maine. Even …
Connections: Great Migrations, Part 2
Something's Fishy! Last week we looked at the current migration of millions of birds through the air, all making their way to seasonal feeding and nesting areas in our part of the world. This week, we'll be exploring another one of Maine's great migrations. This one is a bit more hidden from our …
Connections: Releasing the turtle into the pond!
In case you missed it, Catherine Griset did a live broacast at 10 am Tuesday morning (May 12) to release a baby snapping turtle into the pond at the Gilsland Farm Audubon Center. Catherine Griset wrote about her seven months fostering the baby snapping turtle. Watch this video to see her release the …
Seven Months in the Life of a Snapping Turtle
Seven months ago, a nest of Snapping Turtle eggs hatched at the edge of the parking lot at Gilsland Farm. You can read about that eventful day and the decision to overwinter one of the hatchlings in a previous blog post, Introducing Our New Roommate: A Baby Snapping Turtle. After consulting …