The world of aquatic macroinvertebrates is a wild one. These creatures lack a backbone (think insects, snails, and crayfish), are “macro” because they’re big enough to see with the naked eye, and they are definitely worth a closer look! For starters, there’s the Water Scorpion, a predatory insect named for its long breathing tube that […]
Sanctuaries
Join us on Earth Day: Every Little Bit Does in Fact Help
The first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970, the brainchild of Gaylord Nelson, a senator from Wisconsin. He wanted to “get the nation to wake up and pay attention to the most important challenge the human species faces on the planet.” Designed as a day to sponsor “teach-ins” at college campuses across the […]
March Is Here: It’s Time to Get Excited for Spring Programs at Maine Audubon
It may not look or feel like spring outside this year yet, but March 1 always marks the beginning of our busy spring programs season at Maine Audubon. In 2026, we are thrilled to announce a robust slate of events and programs for people of all ages all around the state. Our offerings feature the […]
Call it a Big Night!
In a few short weeks the Earth will mark its journey around the sun with equal sunlight for both its southern and northern hemispheres, also known as the vernal equinox or “spring” in our northern hemisphere. You may have been noticing that the sun sits higher on the horizon these days (called the “solar altitude […]
Visitor Center Improvements Aim to Increase Energy Efficiency
Visitors to the Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth have no doubt seen the construction taking place in the northern section of the campus. We’re thrilled to announce that in May, we’ll be opening the Ann and Jim Hancock Native Plants Education Center. This building will expand our capacity for conservation horticulture and native plant […]
Gilsland Farm Summer Camps: What’s new for Summer 2026?
We love that a new summer camp season always means new (and familiar) faces, new friendships, and of course, new nature discoveries! We offer summer day camps at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth (Greater Portland) and at Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden (Greater Bangor). This year we’re excited to share a few small […]
Introducing New Lottery System for Gilsland Farm Summer Day Camps
It’s time to think about summer camp! We recognize that the demand for Gilsland Farm summer day camps has been overwhelming and that past registration processes have caused stress for your families and our team. Over the past few years, we have observed that the number of families attempting to enroll in camp when registration […]
Winter Seed Sowing: why and how to do it
As winter settles across Maine, the landscape may look dormant, but it’s a vital and active season for native plants. Many Maine native species rely on cold, moist winter conditions to break seed dormancy and prepare for spring growth. By sowing seeds in winter, we’re working with nature’s timing — just as these plants have […]
Homeschool Naturalists: Nature Learning Through the Seasons
Busy immersing themselves in the natural world, the Homeschool Naturalists at Fields Pond Audubon Center started the fall session in T-shirts, and ended in down jackets. The dropping temperature wasn’t the only seasonal change these students experienced. This fall’s Homeschool Naturalist program at Fields Pond was packed with curiosity, discovery, and hands-on science! This is […]