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One of coastal Maine’s most distinctive features is its salty essence. At Gilsland Farm, the land is bordered by an estuary, where salt water meets fresh water, so there are days when you can just sense the salt spray on your skin.

Here, the Presumpscot River brings fresh water from Sebago Lake and its watershed into Casco Bay and the ocean. Twice a day, tides push salt water into the marsh and mudflats along the shore, then pull it back out.

This diluted salt water—enriched with nutrients from the surrounding land—creates vital nursery habitat permitting countless species of wildlife to shelter, protect, and feed their young.

Warmer months bring migratory shorebirds, swallows, and birds of prey.

[Osprey sounds]

Ospreys hover over the open water here before diving dramatically with outstretched talons to capture fish.

Ducks and gulls ride out the winter in the ice-free waters.
Mammals such as mink, muskrat, and river otter hunt along the banks.

Even Bald Eagles pay us a visit here!

[Bald Eagle sounds]

Thanks to protections granted through the Endangered Species Act and other laws, Bald Eagles, once almost extinct in the contiguous U.S., now occur regularly in Maine. They soar above rivers and along the coast, hunting for their favorite food: fish.

Due to the large tidal fluctuations in the Gulf of Maine, the state is home to some of the largest and saltiest estuaries in the northeast.
Estuaries play a crucial role for wildlife, serve as a buffer for storm surges, and filter out sediments, nutrients, and pollutants.

To support wildlife that depends on estuaries, we can help by:
monitoring water quality, engaging in habitat restoration,
advocating for dam removal, and reducing or eliminating the use of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers.

With your support, Maine Audubon will continue its advocacy on behalf of clean waters and its programs to engage landowners as stewards of this critical habitat.

Enjoy your visit!

Osprey recorded by the National Park Service, Wyoming
Bald Eagle recorded by Ned Bohman, Connecticut