FREEPORT – The ninth annual “Feathers over Freeport” event will take place on April 27-28. This event is designed to appeal to birdwatchers of all abilities, especially families and children.
Sponsored by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Bureau of Parks and Lands and Freeport Wild Bird Supply, the two-day event will feature a wide variety of activities and presentations, including live-bird presentations, bird walks for adults and children, a hawk watch workshop, and numerous children’s activities.
“With migrant raptors at Bradbury Mountain State Park and the return of nesting Ospreys at Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, there’s no better way to celebrate spring than with birdwatching events right here in Freeport and Pownal,” said Derek Lovitch of Freeport Wild Bird Supply in a news release.
Feathers over Freeport will highlight special birding opportunities at Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal, including the Hawk Watch at the summit, and Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park in Freeport on Sunday, home to nesting ospreys.
Three special live bird and wildlife programs will highlight the event. On April 27, Bradbury Mountain State Park will host the Center for Wildlife’s team of wildlife ambassadors for a Maine Birds of Prey program at 3 p.m. On April 28, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park will host the Chewonki Foundation for a Scales and Tales program at 1:00 pm and a live owl program at 3:00 pm. Both days feature a bird walk from 8-10 am, led by Lovitch. Bring your own binoculars.
Events April 27 at Bradbury Mountain State Park include a “Vernal Pool Exploration,” in which wetland scientists Lauren Leclerc and Dave Brenneman will lead visitors to the temporary pools where frogs, salamanders and fairy shrimp hatch.
Bradbury Mountain State Park also features a “Hawk Watch,” a two-month research project that is in its 12th year of migration data collection. It is a focal point of the park and the weekend events and will run daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through May 15.
A Hawk Watch Workshop will be offered by Lovitch from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday to teach visitors about the project and how to identify hawks in flight.
Saturday’s events end with an “Ask a Ranger” program at Bradbury Mountain State Park from 7:30–9 p.m. Park Rangers will lead an evening campfire chat.
On Saturday and Sunday, Michael Boardman, a North Yarmouth-based wildlife artist, will lead a Drawing Birds Workshop for all levels from 2-3 p.m. This program will include basic instruction, a quick demo and practice time sketching several bird mounts. There is a possibility of sketching live birds at the end of the session.
On Saturday, park rangers will lead a Tree Identification program at Bradbury Mountain State Park from 1-2 p.m. On Sunday, Park Rangers will lead a Springtime Plant Walk at Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park from 11 a.m. to noon.
A food truck will be on site both days from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A bird walk for children will take place on both days at 10 a.m., featuring bird calls, birdwatching basics and a bird call contest at the end. Bird-related activities and crafts geared toward children and families will also be offered both days from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children accompanied by an adult are welcome to come and build a birdhouse. These are available on a first come, first served basis and supplies are limited.
On April 28th, an ongoing Osprey Watch will be featured at Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“The Ospreys returned to Googins Island on April 6th and are busy building a new nest,” said Andy Hutchinson, park manager of Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park.
Event partners are the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Bureau of Parks and Lands, and the Freeport Wild Bird Supply. Sponsors include: Royal River Conservation Trust, Bow Street Market, Freeport Conservation Trust, the Maine Coastal Program, and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
For more information about “Feathers over Freeport” and a complete listing of activities, visit maine.gov/feathersoverfreeport.