Stanton Bird Club to examine relationship between nature, humans

LEWISTON — The Stanton Bird Club of Lewiston and Auburn will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 7, in room 285, USM Lewiston-Auburn College, 51 Westminster St. The subject will be “Relationship Between Nature and Humans,” presented by Laura Sewall. This will be the last meeting with a speaker until the club begins again in the fall. The meeting is free and open to everyone.

Sewall is director of Bates Morse Mountain Conservation Area, 600 acres that serve as a center for research. Students and faculty engage with state agents and community members on such topics as coastal change, rise in sea level and public policy. The coastal area is abundant in wildlife.

Sewall holds a PhD in visual psychology and neuroscience and a master’s in environmental law. She has called herself “a kind of mystic scientist” and is interested in benefits and healing that nature provides to the human soul. Negative impacts on the environment in turn affect human lives in these areas also, as well as in physical ways. The ideas have directed her work into the areas of environmental policy, law and action.

The club will host nine field trips this month. All are free and open to everyone. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather. The leaders identify and comment on birds seen and heard, with everyone pointing out birds they notice.

The Tuesday Lewiston/Bates Bird Walks, beginning April 24, are early morning walks in the Bates College area, continuing May 1, 8, 15 and 22. They offer a way to see returning songbirds, including warblers. The walks will meet at 6 a.m. at the front of Hathorn Hall, Bates College campus. They will go past Mt. David to Riverside Cemetery. The trips will finish by circling Lake Andrews, frequently seeing Mallard ducklings, Red-winged Blackbirds and sometimes an Osprey. The trips return by 8:30 a.m. The walk leaders include Judy Marden, Doug Boyd and Steve Reed. For any questions, call Steve at 207-319-6630.

A water activity on Saturday, May 5, will be Birding on the Basin. Participants should bring a canoe or kayak and life jackets. It is also an opportunity to watch for water plants. The group will meet at 7 a.m. at the Promenade Mall, 855 Lisbon St. Meet at the end of the parking lot by Staples across from Marquis Signs. The group will plan to return at 10 a.m.The trip leader is Rick Speer and he can be reached at raspeer@gmail.com.

A second weekend activity will be held Saturday, May 19, when the Warren Warbler Walk will meet at 7:30 a.m. at J.C. Penney’s, Auburn Mall, 550 Center St., Auburn, and return to the mall parking lot at 11 a.m. They will carpool to multiple locations, with short walks through prime habitat, including riparian, woodland and farm fields in search of warblers during spring migration. This is Stanton’s longest continually offered walk. The leader is Doug Boyd at dougboyd9@gmail.com.

Wednesday Guided Bird Walks will begin again in May. These are held every other Wednesday from spring into the late fall in a variety of diverse local habitats. This is the 11th year of the walks led by Stan and Joan DeOrsey. The walks are about two miles on a fairly even, dry surface. Participants will meet at the walk locations. Call 207-406-4741 for information.

The first Wednesday Walk will be a trip to the Papermill & Ricker Farm Trail in Lisbon on May 2. It is a smooth paved trail running along the river, through wooded areas and by farmland. As treetops line both sides of the path for much of the way, it is fairly easy to hear and see the new spring migrants. Meet at the boat launch parking lot at Frost Hill Road on Route 196 in Lisbon at 8 a.m. and return about 11 a.m.

The May 16 Wednesday Guided Walk will be birding at the Sylvester and Benjamin Farms in Auburn. This is a yearly Stanton walk at the two local farms. Participants will meet at the Sylvester farm at 7:30 a.m. and later continue down the road to the Benjamin farm. The May 30 walk will be at Chuck Peter’s home in New Gloucester, meeting at 8 a.m. Both walks will end at 11 a.m. See the Stanton website or call the DeOrseys for details.

For more information, visit www.StantonBirdClub.org. The results of the various trips are posted there, often with photos. The club also has a Facebook page.