Legacy Storehouse the Nature Conservancy

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f Maine Legacy Storehouse The Nature Conservancy

WORKING TOGETHER: Maine and Canadian Conservancies protect Brier Island sanctuary Haycock

Carl

Stern

R.B. Brier Island’s ponds and wetlands are important resting and feeding areas far thousands of migrating birds.

Set far out in the lower Bay ofFundy, owner. The land turned out to be one of organization. We are grateful to this Brier Island, Nova Scotia is a magnet for the most important waterfowl habitats person, who prefers to remain anony thousands of seabirds, waterfowl, hawks in Nova Scotia. mous, for making the property available and songbirds. Birds migrating to and Mason agreed to act as intermediary, to us on such advantageous terms. from eastern and arctic Canada are and spent the next eight months To date, funding for the Canadian drawn to this remote island, the last land negotiating the Conservancy’s purchase. Conservancy’s purchase has come from on the eastern edge of the Gulf of Maine. All that hard work paid off, for in Wildlife Heritage Canada, the govern Bird watchers, also drawn to the island in February of this year the Maine Chapter ment of Nova Scotia, Ducks Unlimited, large numbers, have spotted more than bought the 1,200-acre tract for $255,000, Bowater Mersey Paper Company, and 150 species here. a price well under half the original asking The Friends of Nature. Because the Last summer, one of those watchers price. The Chapter then resold the land Canadians still have to raise approxi was Chapter executive director Mason to the Nature Conservancy of Canada mately $50,000, interim financing was Morfit, who traveled to Brier Island at for the same sum. obtained in the form of a loan from the the request of the Nature Conservancy By selling to an American conservation Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce of Canada. The NCC staff asked him to group, the seller could qualify for the in Halifax. look at a piece of property that had just income tax benefits associated with a "Protection of key areas of Brier been put on the market by its American below-market sale made to a nonprofit to page four MAINE STATE LIBRARY APR 2 # W SPECIAL CONTEST! Name the the director's corner Maine Chapter’s by J. Mason Morfit, executive director new boats The Conservancy’s role in protecting A boat without a name is unthinkable. Brier Island, described on the front page We have two new boats; they need new of this issue, represents a resumption of names. We hope you’ll help us out; most active cooperation with the Nature of the names we’ve thought of have been Conservancy of Canada—a completely either atrocious puns or too mundane to independent organization, but with the grace the transoms of these noble craft. same basic objectives—after an effective Just settle in next to the stove, cast hiatus of a decade. your mind over the bounding main, and In the 1970s, the Conservancy (TNC) write your two suggestions (one for the assisted its Canadian counterpart organi dory, one for the 16-footer) on a zation (NCC) with several important postcard. Deadline for entries is May 20. land protection projects. (See summary Send your entry (one per person, please) on page four.) As was the case with Brier to Boat Names, Maine Chapter, The Island, all involved acquisitions of Nature Conservancy, 122 Maine Street, Canadian lands owned by Americans Brier Island P.O. Box 338, Topsham, Maine 04086. which were then transferred from TNC The inventor of the best name for each to appropriate Canadian conservation In addition, senior TNC staff are boat will win either a copy of the agencies. helping NCC develop greater organi Chapter’s preserve guide, Maine Forever, Recently, TNC has engaged in a more zational support and capacity through or a TNC t-shirt (your choice). comprehensive and systematic effort to consultations on strategic planning, assist NCC. For its first 25 years, NCC institutional development, staff training, was primarily a volunteer organization, membership recruitment, fund raising, with an active board of trustees, but no and myriad other components of TNC’s paid employees. Coincident with its successful experience in the United Maine Legacy 25th anniversary this year, NCC is States. Two of the big players in TNC’s Published six times yearly by the Maine Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, 122 Main Street, P.O. making a conscious effort to "bootstrap” "delegation” have close ties to the Maine Box 338, Topsham, Maine 04086; telephone itself into a larger, more effective Chapter: former TNC national president (207) 729-5181. Submissions of articles, illustra tions and photographs are welcome; please address organization. Through becoming a and current Maine Chapter trustee Bill queries to Ruth Ann Hill, editor. membership-supported, professionally Blair; and former Chapter executive Subscriptions to this newsletter are available to staffed enterprise, NNC hopes to be director and subsequent vice president members. Membership dues are as follows: Life, $ 1,000 (one-time); Acorn, $ 100; Supporting, better able to deal with the enormous for development John Jensen. $50; Contributing, $25; Family, $15; Subscribing, conservation challenges across Canada’s While Canada doesn’t have the biotic $10. More than 12,000 members currently support the Conservancy’s work in Maine. vast expanse. diversity of the tropics, where the vast majority of TNC’s International Pro Board of Trustees Last fall, Executive Director Gerry Officers: Chairman: Sherry Huber, Falmouth; Glazier from NCC’s offices in Toronto gram’s resources are focused, Canada Vice-chairs: Peter Corcoran, Seal Harbor and visited TNC’s national headquarters in has a greater chance to protect major, Carol Wishcamper, Freeport; Treasurer: William B. (Tony) Owens, M.D., Cape Elizabeth; Secre metropolitan Washington, D.C. to intact ecosystems than is generally tary: Donald Mairs, Oakland. discuss matters of mutual interest. One possible in the United States. For Trustees: Linda Alverson, Oxbow; Michael Aube, Bangor; William D. Blair, Jr., Vinalhaven; result was an agreement between the two example, Canada’s enormous and little- George W. Cochrane, III, West Southport; organizations whereby TNC will provide developed far north is breeding habitat Malcolm Coulter, East Holden; Minnette Cum mings, Portland; Elizabeth Donnan, Northeast training and technical assistance to NCC for some 20 percent of the entire bird Harbor; Louis Hilton, Greenville; Alan Hutchin over a broad range of activities, from population in North America. son, Bangor; Howard C. Johnson, Freeport; Our northern neighbors, like our Bodine Lamont, Falmouth; Cherie Mason, Sunset; science to fund raising. Ralph Robins, York; Marilyn Moss Rockefeller, As an important first step, following neighbors to the south, play a crucial Camden; Douglas Smith, Dover-Foxcroft; David joint NCC/TNC meetings with Canada’s role in maintaining the health of "our” G. Stanley, Cumberland Foreside; Ellen Wells, bird populations—many of which we Falmouth. Minister of the Environment, TNC has Staff begun helping NCC initiate computerized enjoy only during migrations or for just Executive Director, J. Mason Morfit; Associate data management systems for rare and part of the year. Director, Kent Wommack; Director of Science & Stewardship, Barbara St. John Vickery; Heritage endangered species and natural com It’s not clear at this time what the Program Director, John Albright; Assistant to the munities like the Conservancy-developed Maine Chapter’s role will be in future Director, Deborah Clark; Assistant Stewardship Director, Julie Henderson; Communications Coordi Heritage Programs now functioning in NCC/TNC relations, but we hope to be nator, Ruth Ann Hill; Heritage Program Data 48 states. Each province will eventually of assistance, particularly in Quebec and Manager/Botanist, Amy Forrester; Heritage Pro- have its own Heritage-type program; the Maritimes. Buckle up your mukluks, gram Community Ecologist, Lissa Widoff; Adminis trative Assistant, Jeanne Desjardins; Membership Quebec will begin the first this spring. mes amis: we may be heading North! Secretary, Barbara Clark; Secretary, Karen Douglass.

2—Maine Legacy, April 1988 in the news

published next year. To make the guide as accurate and up-to-date as possible, we need your help. Areas that especially need additional survey work are the extreme northwestern part of the state, and places that represent significant range extensions for each species. MARAP’s success has been largely due to the perseverance of its many volunteer herpers—both young and old. If you would like to join them, or have questions about where to search, please contact John Albright at the Chapter Memorial gifts Things that go peep office (729-5181) or Jane Arbuckle at Gifts in memory of the following Maine Audubon (781-2330). individuals have been received by the in the night Maine Chapter: Get out your boots, raincoat and Botanical excursions Barbara Adams-Pedersen flashlight, and limber up your back—it’s Mary Hale Chase time to go out in search of Maine’s Each summer, the New England Wildflower Society offers an extensive John Dudley reptiles and amphibians, otherwise Mary E. Chase Guild known as herps. Whether you take the list of botany field trips and courses. This year’s program includes wildflower Gail Hausis kids out for a night of looking for Frederick C. Hillman peepers and wood frogs in the backyard, photography with Thomas Arter, a gifted artist who has done extensive Albert W. Moulton, Jr. or wander throughout York County in Kendall R. Powers search of rarer specimens, herping is one photography for the Maine Chapter. (Course to be held at the University of Eleanor H. Smith of the best ways to enjoy the spring. Dorothy Wheelwright While you are out happily wading in Southern Maine.) Sally Rooney, one of ponds and crawling through alder TNC’s consulting biologists and former Corporate memberships thickets, you can help the Maine Chapter chair, will be leading a trip to Any gift of $100 or more qualifies a Amphibian and Reptile Atlas Project Orono Bog. Botanist Les Eastman, business as a corporate member of the (MARAP), a joint volunteer effort president of Josselyn Botanical Society Maine Chapter. We are pleased to have coordinated by the Maine Chapter’s and frequent TNC consultant, will be received support from the following, Natural Heritage Program; the University leading trips to Mount Agamenticus in and welcome them as members of the of Maine Wildlife Department, Maine York and Evans Notch in Oxford Chapter. Department of Inland Fisheries and County. Goodridges Screen Printing Wildlife; and the Maine Audubon For more information and a complete Voyagers Whitewater Society. listing of courses, please contact the New England Wildflower Society, Garden in Foundation support For the past four years, volunteers We are pleased to recognize and thank have searched throughout Maine, the Woods, Hemenway Road, Framing ham, Massachusetts 01701. the following foundations for their recording their finds of Maine’s herps. support of the Maine Chapter. The project is now in its final year of data The Allene &c Jerome Lapides collection, and we would like to add Foundation your finds. OPENING Laird, Norton Foundation The MARAP effort has already O’Donnell Iselin Foundation yielded important new information NEW CHAPTER POSITION Rosamund Thaxter Foundation about Maine’s herps. We have docu mented significant range extensions for Director of New life members some species; discovered that species Land Protection Any gift of $1,000 or more to th considered rare are actually more Maine Chapter Land Preservation Fun common; and, conversely, learned that provides a life membership for tl some species thought to be common are For more information donor and spouse in The Natu' unfortunately quite rare. Other efforts and an application, Conservancy. All such gifts furnisf have yielded new taxonomic information please contact the long-term source of support to help sa that will help us clarify relationships Chapter office, land here in Maine. between species. 729-5181. We are pleased to welcome as new 1 All of this new distributional and members: taxonomic information, as well as a Frank W. DeLong complete natural history for all Maine’s Cherie and Kenneth Mason herps will be assembled in a guide to be Jane Kimball Quesada

Maine Legacy, April 1988—3 take the ferry from Bar Harbor. After stops in Digby on its way to Halifax and Brier Island arriving in Yarmouth, we will drive up the rest of Canada. After leaving the from page one the west coast to our inn located in the TNC trip, you could be enjoying a fine Island, a migration resting and feeding fishing village of Sandy Cove. While on meal in Quebec’s old city or boarding stop of international significance, has the tip of Nova Scotia, we will explore the ferry for Newfoundland the following been a top priority of the provincial Brier Island and go out to sea in search of day—or in Vancouver by the following government,” said John Mulally, Nova whales and oceanic birds. On the last weekend. Car rentals and other vacation Scotia’s Deputy Minister of Lands and day, we will bird our way back to necessities are available in either Digby Forests. "The preserved area, with its Yarmouth, leaving some time to visit and or Yarmouth. Take out your atlas, open water and diversity of habitats, is shop in Yarmouth before catching the consider the possibilities, and let us considered to be far and away the most ferry back to Bar Harbor. know if your plans will require changes important part of the island from the Or, if you’d rather, the Chapter’s in the ferry tickets when you register. point of view of wildlife.” Brier Island weekend could be the Please see the field trip brochure in The Conservancy sanctuary encom beginning of a longer trip in Canada. The this issue for more details and registration passes most of the southwestern third of Canadian passenger train, VIA rail, information. Brier Island, a large expanse of maritime forest, fields, marsh, bogs and ponds WORKING TOGETHER: bordered by more than six miles of open coastline. The ponds and marsh are A history of wildlife protection especially popular resting and feeding areas for the thousands of migrating In 1974, The Nature Conservancy to the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) waterfowl that visit the island each year began its International Program. Since and made a small gift to the Nature during their spring and fall migrations. then, the Conservancy has helped its Conservancy of Canada. At the same Accessible by ferry, Brier Island is a Canadian counterparts with projects time, the U.S. Nature Conservancy popular destination for naturalists and that have protected important wildlife received over $2 million in company sightseers. The island’s rugged cliffs and habitat and natural lands throughout shares, which was used to buy 5,648 cool, foggy climate remind visitors of Canada. Below are just a few examples: acres on the point. This land was then Scotland. In addition to the island’s large Long Point, Ontario transferred to the CWS. The CWS and and diverse bird life, four species of great This 25-mile-long sand spit jutting out TNC also hold restrictive covenants on whales, including the endangered right into the middle of Lake Erie is within the remaining 7,840-acre marsh managed whale, can be seen in this part of the Bay 100 miles of millions of people, yet it by the company. of Fundy. Brier Island Ocean Study, a remains an unspoiled vestige of the Outer Bald Island, Nova Scotia whale-watching and marine mammal continent before human settlement. The This tiny four-acre island has breeding research station, offers boat trips from peninsula includes more than 7,000 populations of arctic, common and Westport, a small fishing village located acres of marsh, 20 miles of beaches, and roseate terns, Leach’s storm petrels, on the island’s northeastern shore. associated uplands. At least 45 species of bank swallows, and savannah sparrows. animals and plants that are rare, The island was donated to TNC by its threatened or endangered elsewhere in American owner; the Conservancy then Canada exist at Long Point. transferred it to the Nature Conservancy Long Point is one of the world’s of Canada. The island is now managed hottest spots for birds. More than 200 by the Nove Scotia Bird Society. species have been banded here. In the McCormick Park, Cape Breton, spring, it is a prime staging area for Nova Scotia whistling swans. During both migrations, A small forested property with hundreds of thousands of birds assemble excellent frontage on Lake Bras D’Or here. Approximately one-third of all the was also donated by its American canvasbacks and redheads in North owners. TNC transferred this land to the America stop at the point, making it NCC, and the property is now managed perhaps the single most important as a nature park by the provincial staging area for these seriously threatened government. ducks. They are joined by many other Nels Bight, Cape Scott, Vancouver waterfowl species, including dabbling Island, British Columbia Humpback whale breaching in the waters ducks like black ducks, and increasing A partial interest in a critical 65-acre off Brier Island. numbers of Canada geese. inholding in Cape Scott Provincial Park The point’s beaches are home to many was given to the Conservancy, which nesting shorebirds. Six raptor species Join us for a trip donated it to the province government. also nest here; rough-legged hawks and The heavily wooded parcel fronts on to Brier Island snowy owls are seen in winter. nearly two miles of spectacular white The Maine Chapter will be offering a The 15,000-acre point was originally sand beach and abuts Hansen Lagoon, a field trip to Brier Island at the end of owned by the Long Point Company, a prolific resting and feeding ground on August. Led by noted ornithologist group of businessmen-hunters who the Pacific Flyway. Peter Vickery and intrepid Chapter bought it in 1866. More than a century executive director Mason Morfit, we will later, the company donated 2,617 acres

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3 • Great Wass Island Archipelago boat trip 5 * Downeast seabird and whalewatch boat trip (Jonesport) (Northeast Harbor) WHEN: Saturday, June 11, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. WHEN: Sunday, June 26, 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. (rain date Sunday, June 12) MEET AT: Cranberry Isles ferry dock, Northeast MEET AT: Jonesport Public Boat Landing, just off Harbor Route 187 about one mile east of bridge to Beals. COST: $30 members, $35 nonmembers COST: $35 members, $40 nonmembers LIMIT: 30 people (At sea/on shore optional) LIMIT: 14 people (At sea/on shore) We will head out into the Gulf of Maine in search of Join us for a full day of boating, birding, and botanizing. seabirds (shearwaters, alcids, gannets, and storm petrels) and We have an excellent chance of seeing bald eagles as we travel marine mammals (porpoises, dolphins, finback, and minke to the islands east of Great Wass. At Head Harbor Island, we whales). On the way back, if sea conditions permit, those will take a short hike up Black Head, a promontory ready and able to hop from a small dinghy to slippery cobbles well-known for its magnificent view of the Great Wass will hike around Great Duck Island Preserve, while the rest Island Archipelago. After a lunch break we will head to of us circumnavigate the Duck islands and enjoy close views Mistake Island, a TNC preserve protected for its distinctive of grey and harbor seals, as well as many young eiders and heath community and sub-arctic plant species. This trip is gulls recently hatched on the islands. Bring binoculars and timed to catch the bright blooms of the bird’s-eye primrose ample protection from cold winds, spray, and sun. and Hooker’s iris. LEADERS: Bob Bowman, Maine Whalewatch; Lissa Widoff, LEADER: Dr. Charles Duncan, Director of the Institute far Field Chapter Heritage Program Community Ecologist. Ornithology, University of Maine at Machias. (This trip is bring offered jointly with Maine Audubon Society.) 6* Rafting the Kennebec River (The Forks) WHEN: Friday, July 1, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 4. Great Heath/Pleasant River canoe trip MEET AT: Voyagers Whitewater Headquarters (cedar (Columbia) shingle house) on the left side of Route 201 in The WHEN: Saturday, June 18, 10 a.m. to Sunday, Forks June 19, 5 p.m. DONATION: $65 per person MEET AT: Junction of Route 1 and Route 182 in LIMIT: 12 people (Moderate: no experience required) Cherryfield Once again, Voyagers Whitewater has generously offered to COST: $20 members, $25 nonmembers donate a whitewater raft trip to the Maine Chapter. This year LIMIT: 5 canoes, 12 people (Moderate: some we will take on the Kennebec Gorge, a mile of continuous canoeing experience desirable) rapids between steep rock walls. Magic Rapids, one of the The 4,300-acre Great Heath is New England’s largest biggest holes amidst a series of standing waves, promises to be peatland and Maine’s greatest expanse of open bog. Last fall the high point of the trip. After the rapids we will enjoy a the Maine Chapter acquired a right-of-first-refusal on 1,000 more relaxed paddle down the Kennebec, returning to acres, securing the last unprotected portion of this significant Voyager’s headquarters for a late lunch. Snacks on the river natural resource. The Pleasant River meanders through the also provided. Heath, making it one of the state’s most beautiful canoe LEADER: John Kokajko, founder of Voyagers Whitewater. trips. We will spend Saturday afternoon and Sunday paddling leisurely down the river, with time out for a hike on the domed heath. This special peatland supports an enormous population of dragon-mouth orchid (Arethusa bulbosa), which should be in full bloom. Participants must provide their own canoes, camping gear, and meals. LEADER: Sue Gawler, teacher of botany and ecology at Unity College. 7 * Natural and human history of 9. Brimstone Island boat trip (Vinalhaven) Damariscove Island (Boothbay) WHEN: Saturday, July 23, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. WHEN: Saturday, July 9, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain date Sunday, July 24). Arrive promptly; (rain date Sunday, July 10) parking is limited and the ferry leaves at 8:30 a.m. MEET AT: Shaw’s Wharf, Route 32, 1/2 mile east of MEET AT: Maine State Ferry Terminal, Main Street, New Harbor. (Park at baseball field with sign Rockland reading "Hardy Boat Parking”) COST: $15 members, $20 nonmembers COST: $30 members, $35 nonmembers (ferry ticket not included) LIMIT: 20 people (At sea/on shore) LIMIT: 18 people (At sea/on shore optional) We will spend the morning investigating Damariscove’s Located four miles southeast of Vinalhaven, the low, ruins and learning about nearly four centuries of life on the shrub-covered Brimstone Islands are nesting habitat for island. Our teacher will be Dr. Faith Harrington, who worked eiders, black guillemots, herring gulls, and black-backed gulls. on archaeological studies of Damariscove with Dr. Alaric Most of these seabirds will have completed nesting before our Faulkner of the University of Maine. For those more visit and we will see signs of their presence everywhere. Once interested in the natural and geologic history of the island, used to pasture sheep, Brimstone Island Preserve is now a there will be an alternate walk to visit geologic points of wild and windswept place, with a beautiful tombolo beach interest, allowing us to birdwatch and botanize along the way. and a magnificent view of the coast. In the afternoon, we will be free to explore the long, Hurricane Island Outward Bound School has generously treeless island on our own, or take a shorter version of the donated the boat transportation for the trip from Vinalhaven. morning walks. Those not wishing to go ashore may remain on board, circling LEADERS: Dr. Faith Harrington, Professor of Archaeology, Boston the offshore ledges for close-up views of harbor seals. University; Bob Gerber, consulting geologist; two TNC resident caretakers LEADER: Noted seabird ecologist and botanist Dr. William Drury, will also be on hand to interpret the natural history of the island. College of the Atlantic. (This trip being offered jointly with Maine Audubon Society.)

10. The ecology of Atlantic white cedar (Appleton/Northport) This trip is offered in two parts to accommodate individual interests. You are welcome to join us for both trips at the single price. Please specify which trip(s) when signing up. (A map will be sent to participants.)

IOA. Appleton Bog (Appleton) WHEN: Saturday, July 30, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. MEET AT: Intersection of Routes 17 and 131 north, Union COST: $5 members, $7 nonmembers LIMIT: 12 people (Moderate) Appleton Bog, a National Natural Landmark, is the northernmost occurrence of Atlantic white cedar, a species threatened throughout its range. We will visit the densely forested portion of the bog owned by the Maine Chapter with Dr. Aimlee Laderman, a national authority on Atlantic white cedar, comparing this stand to others found throughout the Plovers and terns of Seawall Beach (Phippsburg) 8. east. WHEN: Friday, July 15, 9:30 a.m. to noon MEET AT: Corner of Routes 209 and 216, IOB. Knights Pond and St. Clair Preserve Phippsburg (Northport) COST: $5 members, $7 nonmembers WHEN: Saturday, July 30, 1:30 to 3 p.m. LIMIT: 15 people (Moderate) MEET AT: Town landing on Knights Pond Seawall Beach is critical nesting habitat for two of Maine’s COST: $5 members, $7 nonmembers most endangered birds, least terns and piping plovers. Using LIMIT: 12 people (Easy) telescopes to avoid disturbing the birds, we will get a good After lunch on the shore of beautiful Knights Pond, we will view of the least tern colony and should also spot some newly canoe along the shoreline of the St. Clair Preserve to visit a hatched piping plover chicks. We will learn about the dangers stand of Atlantic white cedar very different from the one at nesting terns and plovers face (predators, high tides, and Appleton Bog. Here on a floating bog mat between Knights beach visitors especially), and how the Maine Chapter and and Pitcher ponds the trees are stunted and widely scattered. Maine Audubon Society have joined forces to protect the Pitcher plants, sundews, and bladderworts ring the bog’s open nesting colonies. pools. If you like, bring a lunch and spend the afternoon birding Participants must bring their own canoes and equipment. and botanizing on the beach. LEADERS: Dr. Aimlee Laderman, Director, Swamp Research LEADERS: Peter D. Vickery, research ornithologist; Barbara Vickery, Center, Woods Hole; Barbara Vickery, Chapter Science and Stewardship Chapter Science and Stewardship Director. Director and botanist. 11. Flora of the Kennebunk Plains (Kennebunk) 13. Old-growth forest ecology of Big Reed Pond WHEN: Friday, August 26, 9 to 11:30 a.m. (T8R10, T8R11, WELS) MEET AT: 1-95, Exit 3 southbound, West Kennebunk . WHEN: 13A: Saturday, September 24, COST: $5 members, $7 nonmembers 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. LIMIT: 15 people (Easy) 13B: Sunday, September 25, The Kennebunk Plains is a sandplain grassland that 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. supports a variety of plant species uncommon or rare Please indicate which day. elsewhere in Maine. One of these, northern blazing star, grows MEET AT: Chris’ Motel, Presque Isle Road, Ashland in greater numbers here than anywhere else in the world. (Please call 435-2011 for overnight reservations.) When the blazing star blooms in the fall, the Plains become a COST: $20 members, $25 nonmembers waving sea of purple blossoms. Join us in appreciation of this LIMIT: 15 people (Strenuous) beauty as we botanize around the Chapter’s Kennebunk Please see description for Trip #1. Plains Preserve. LEADERS: Lissa Widoff, Chapter Heritage Program Community LEADER: Barbara Vickery, Chapter Science and Stewardship Ecologist; Julie Henderson, Chapter Assistant Stewardship Director. Director and botanist. 14. "Mud plants” of Merrymeeting Bay (Bath) 12. Brier Island whale and seabird expedition WHEN: Saturday, October 1, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Nova Scotia) MEET AT: Shaw’s parking lot, off Route 1 in Bath WHEN: Friday, August 26, 7:30 a.m. to Monday, (Shaw’s end of the lot, side farthest from stores) August 29, 9:30 p.m. COST: $5 members, $7 nonmembers MEET AT: Marine Atlantic Ferry Terminal, Bar LIMIT: 12 people (Easy, but muddy rocks Harbor. Take Route 3 south from Ellsworth, can be slippery) terminal on left 1/4 mile before College of the Maine’s largest estuarine system, Merrymeeting Bay is a Atlantic. complex of tidal habitats ranging from fresh to saltwater. We COST: $300 members, $325 nonmembers will focus our attention on the narrow band of fresh to (all meals, lodging and transportation included brackish mud flats, a unique habitat supporting ten species of except meals on ferry) rare plants. Our first stop will be Whiskeag Creek, after LIMIT: 10 people (At sea/on shore) which we will caravan to other sites as the tide allows. Come Set far out in the lower Bay of Fundy off Nova Scotia’s prepared to get muddy as we search for the tiny blooms of western shore, Brier Island attracts thousands of migrating Parker’s pipewort, estuarine monkey flower, and Long’s seabirds, waterfowl, hawks, and songbirds. The highly bittercress. productive waters surrounding Brier Island are a major LEADERS: Amy J. Forrester, Heritage Program Botanist; Barbara feeding ground for several species of endangered cetaceans, Vickery, Chapter Science and Stewardship Director and botanist. including humpback, fin, and right whales. In order to protect this area of international significance, the Maine Chapter assisted the Nature Conservancy of Canada in buying a Save this brochure as a reminder 1,200-acre sanctuary on the island. (Please see related article of places and times. in newsletter.) Reservations: Much of our first day will be spent crossing the Gulf of Make your reservations early. They will be accepted on a Maine, leaving the cares of the mainland behind as we watch first come, first served basis; members of The Nature for seabirds and marine mammals from the ferry. Conservancy have first preference for trip space. During the weekend we will explore Brier Island and its Reservations with payment must be made in writing diversity of habitats. One afternoon will be spent on a guided or in person, not by phone, at least five days before the whale/seabird cruise offered by Brier Island Ocean Study, a trip. You will receive a letter confirming your marine mammal research station. We will have an excellent reservation(s) and providing you with any additional chance of seeing whales, as well as puffins, phalaropes, directions you may need for each trip. shearwaters, and jaegers. Monday will be spent birding our way back from Digby to Yarmouth, allowing time to shop for Rates: traditional Nova Scotian goods in Yarmouth before catching To secure your place on any trip, we must have received the afternoon ferry home. your fare at least five days before the trip. The prices Accommodations will be at The Olde Village Inn in the reflect the direct costs of the trip and indirect costs of fishing village of Sandy Cove, located 30 minutes from Brier processing reservations. Same rates apply for children Island. We will have a private passenger van for and adults. transportation from Yarmouth to the Digby peninsula. LEADERS: Peter Vickery, research ornithologist and veteran Brier Cancellations: Island trip leader; Mason Morfit, Chapter Executive Director, who negotiated the Conservancy’s purchase of the Brier Island sanctuary. The Nature Conservancy reserves the right to cancel any trip. If we must do so, reservation fees will be refunded and we will make every effort to notify you. Due to minimal registration fee, cancellations made by you will not be Questions: refunded but may be considered a gift to TNC if you notify Contact Jeanne Desjardins at the Chapter office the Chapter Office at least five days before the trip. Land (207-729-5181) during business hours. trips will be held rain or shine. Boat trips are weather-dependent. It’s time for the Annual Meeting

The annual meeting will be held on Mount Desert Island and will feature field trips followed by a business meeting, social hour, and dinner at the Bar Harbor Club. Our special guest speaker will be Geoff Barnard, Director of the Latin American Division of The Nature Conservancy’s International Program. Mark your calendars; we hope to see you there.

Schedule of events Registration, 4 p.m. Coffee, tea and hot chocolate available. Main Lobby, Bar Harbor Club. Business meeting, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Election of new trustees; reports of the Chairman, Treasurer and Executive Director; presentation of Chapter awards. Social hour, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Cash bar and hors d’oeuvres. You are cordially invited Dinner, 6:30 to 8 p.m. to attend the 1988 Annual Meeting Your choice of chicken cordon bleu or crabmeat au of the Maine Chapter gratin served with soup, salad, rice, vegetable, and of The Nature Conservancy dessert. Saturday, June 25 Evening talk, 8 to 9 p.m. from 4 to 9 p.m. Our special guest speaker Geoff Barnard, Director of at the Bar Harbor Club the Conservancy’s Latin American Division West Street, Bar Harbor (International Program), will present a slide program (Field trips begin at 9:30 a.m.) highlighting the Conservancy’s recent projects in Latin America.

FIELD TRIPS Registration: REGISTRATION: (required of all participants) The fee includes afternoon coffee, business meeting trip # amount and social hour. Please register early; last minute arrangements are difficult and expensive, and we # members due must request an additional fee for registrations received after June 15.

timely registration =______X $5.00 (Due by June 15) registration subtotal______late registration — ______X $10.00

______chicken cordon bleu dinner(s) X $18______DINNER

______crabmeat au gratin dinner(s) X $18 ______

dinner subtotal______field trip total______FIELD TRIP subtotal ------

TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED:______

Clip and mail name ______with check to: address ______Maine Chapter The Nature Conservancy 122 Main Street P.O. Box 338 telephone (home) (work)______Topsham, Maine 04086 Phone: 729-5181 (Please list phone numbers accurate from mid-April to mid-June) over Annual Meeting field trips

1A * Indian Point-Blagden Preserve (Bar Harbor) 4A ♦ Exploring Sunken Heath (Bar Harbor) WHEN: 12 to 3 p.m. WHEN: 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. MEET AT: Preserve parking lot. From Route 3, take MEET AT: College of the Atlantic public parking Route 190 south. After 1.8 miles, take a right on lot. Take first (and main) entrance to CO A and Pretty Marsh Road and bear right at the first fork drive toward the large greenhouse to visitor parking. (1.7 miles). Go another 200 yards to the sign COST: $5 members, $7 nonmembers marking preserve entrance. LIMIT: 15 people (Moderate) COST: $5 members, $7 nonmembers Sunken Heath is a floristically diverse sphagnum bog. We LIMIT: 20 people (Easy) will learn about the ecology of the peatland community and Bring the family and enjoy a relaxed afternoon on the shore how to recognize the common plants found here. At this time of Western Bay. Watch for harbor seals sunning themselves of year the heath will be liberally sprinkled with the bright on the ledges lying just offshore, or take a walk on the trails pink blooms of several species of bog orchids. It’s a short through a variety of wooded habitats. walk into the heath, but wear boots or expect to have wet feet LEADERS: Stan and Eth Hamblen, resident caretakers of Indian for three hours! Point-Blagden Preserve. LEADER: Dr. Craig Greene, College of the Atlantic. 2A • Blue Hill Bay boat trip (Bar Harbor) WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. MEET AT: Swan’s Island ferry dock, Bass Harbor COST: $15 members, $20 nonmembers LIMIT: 25 people (At sea) As we cruise around picturesque Blue Hill Bay, we will circumnavigate the Ship Island Preserve group, which includes Ship, Bar, and Trumpet islands. These low-lying islands are important nesting sites for common eiders, greater 5A ♦ The Gardens of Mt. Desert (Mount Desert) black-backed gulls, herring gulls, and double-crested WHEN: 12 to 3:00 p.m. cormorants. We will also swing by Placentia Island, a MEET AT: The home of Mr. and Mrs. David Scull, Somes Sound. Mrs. Patricia Scull has generously thickly forested island protected by the Maine Chapter for its offered to serve us a light lunch in their beautiful bald eagle nest site. Bring a lunch and binoculars! home overlooking the Sound, prior to our field trip. LEADER: Al Hutchinson, Chapter trustee and Director of the Maine A map with directions to their home will be sent Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's Nongame and Endangered with registration acknowledgement. Those unable to Species Program. Boat captain Weldon Leonard. join us for lunch can meet us at 1 p.m. at the Asticou Azalea Gardens: From Somesville, take 3A « Frenchman Bay boat trip (Bar Harbor) Route 198 (also Route 3) south. Just before Route 3 WHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. splits off, north of the harbor, look for the Asticou MEET AT: Municipal Pier, West Street, Bar Harbor Azalea parking lot. (same street as the Bar Harbor Club) COST: $5 members, $7 nonmembers LIMIT: 15 people (Easy) DONATION: $5 members, $7 nonmembers We will visit two very different gardens on this trip: the LIMIT: 15 people (At sea/on shore) historic Asticou Azalea Garden, featuring a magnificent We will head straight for Turtle Island, a Maine Chapter collection of azaleas planted in a series of Japanese-style preserve protected for the great blue heron colony on its gardens; and the Wild Gardens of Acadia, an exhibit of over southern tip. As we circle around this end of the island we 400 species of wildflowers native to Maine. may see herons overhead, or harbor seals sunning themselves LEADER: Mrs. Patricia Scull, Wild Gardens of Acadia Committee. on the ledges offshore. After a picnic lunch on the island’s Sargent Mountain hike (Mount Desert) cobble beach, we will boat around the bay keeping watch for 6A • WHEN: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. bald eagles and osprey. Bring a lunch. MEET AT: Jordan Pond House parking lot. From LEADER: Penny Longmaid, Turtle Island volunteer steward. Boat captain John Longmaid. Route 3, take the Stanley Brook Park entrance in Seal Harbor. Drive two miles north on National Park Loop Road to parking lot. COST: $5 members, $7 nonmembers LIMIT: 15 people (Strenuous) The climb up Penobscot Mountain offers panoramic views of Somes Sound and out over the Cranberry Isles. We will have the chance to learn about the stunted flora that inhabit these exposed mountain habitats as we continue our hike up Sargent Mountain, the island’s second-highest point and the summit with the greatest diversity of plant species in the park. Bring a lunch and wear sturdy foot gear. The brave may want to come equipped to take a refreshing dip in Sargent Pond! LEADER: Lissa Widoff, Chapter Heritage Program Community Ecologist. Make it a weekend Things to do on Sunday • Downeast whalewatch (see field trip #5) • hiking in the park • check out the Frenchman Bay boat trips commercially available in Bar Harbor • take the ferry to the Cranberries or Swans Island o stop in at the Jordan Pond House for tea and popovers the in Bar Harbor • join shoppers Barbara • catch a movie at the classic Criterion

theater Vickery • explore the backside of the island: Bass Harbor Marsh, Wonderland, Ship Harbor, etc. Kenneth and Marguerite Huff donated this seaworthy 16-foot boat to the Chapter. • canoe Northeast Creek, a sanctuary of the Maine Audubon Society Downeast Chapter No need to sink, for fire safety, especially for use on • go for a walk at TNC’s Indian Damariscove, Great Duck and Great Point-Blagden Preserve or swim Wass islands; visit the local museums: In our Christmas wish list, we asked • two-way radio with five-mile-plus Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor for a small boat to use in the harbor at range for safety of researchers working College of the Atlantic’s Natural Damariscove Island. We received not in remote regions; History Museum, Bar Harbor one, but two boats—true testimony to • calculator with capability to do ! Wendell Gilley Museum, Southwest the generosity of our members! scientific calculations; Harbor Philip Wysor of Freeport donated a • binocular dissecting microscope for » stop in at the Birdsacre Sanctuary in classic wooden Marblehead dory for use identifying plant specimens; Ellsworth on your way home by the Damariscove caretakers. It will be • a small, light canoe (one- or two- perfect for getting around the harbor, person puddleduck type to help Heritage and is a classy improvement over its biologists explore remote waterways; Places to stay: leaky predecessor. • spotting scope for use of the Seawall The Mount Desert Island area is A 16-foot Chrysler fiberglass boat in Beach plover-tern warden and Heritage mply supplied with accommodations excellent condition, complete with 55 biologists; ranging from tent sites to four-star hp Chrysler outboard and trailer, was • portable, battery-operated marine , inns. Although late June is before the donated by Marguerite and Kenneth band radio for offshore and island use. height of the season, weekend lodgings Huff of York. This boat will be of And those of us who will be (alas) on the island tend to be filled months tremendous use in monitoring coastal working in the office this summer would in advance. This is especially true of preserves and exploring potential island really appreciate the following: the campgrounds in Acadia National projects. • conference table, approximately Park. We would like to offer a special, 44"W x 72* to 96"L x 29"H; The Maine Chapter has reserved a resounding thank you to these generous • correcting heavy-duty business •lock of rooms at the Kimball Terrace people. Thanks to their thoughtfulness, typewriter, with or without memory; nn, Northeast Harbor, for the night of the Chapter staff will be able to keep in • portable drafting board, at least 24" iune 25. (Some rooms also available touch with Maine’s islands, while also x 30", with or without parallel rule. for June 24.) Special TNC member staying above sea level—in style. And... room rate is $48/night for a double Having just become the proud care room for two people, an extremely takers of two boats, our thoughts reasonable rate for MDI in June. If you Our summer wish list immediately turn to all the paraphernalia would like a room, please call the inn necessary to use them. If you have directly at 276-3383, and identify Inspired by the generosity of Philip nautical gear out in the shed that is no yourself as a TNC member. Make your Wysor, the Huffs and everyone else who longer needed, and you would like to reservations early. . . our rooms has answered our prayers, we are sharing donate it to the cause, please take stock disappear on June 5. our summer wish list with you. We’ve and give us a call. Spring fever will strike For more information on lodging got plenty of caretaking and fieldwork us soon, and we will be checking out the and campgrounds on MDI, please planned for the snowless days ahead; boats—and sanding, painting, caulking, contact the Bar Harbor Chamber of you can be of immense help by sending and otherwise getting them ready for the Commerce, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609 us out fully equipped. Thank you! water. We would be extremely grateful if (288-5103). • Indian pumps and water containers you can help us outfit them properly.

Maine Legacy, April 1988—7 Thank you! our preserves in top shape. Whether you island three times this summer for four A tip of the hat prefer a day spent working hard or days at a stretch. If you have dreamed of walking easy, we have the volunteer spending time on this beautiful and to our volunteers project for you. Call Julie or Barbara at historic island, and would also enjoy Dennis Myshrall the Chapter office (729-5181) for more greeting preserve visitors, please con Volunteer Dennis Myshrall has strained information. sider becoming one of our substitute caretakers. Amenities include a rolling, and squinted through hundreds of the Douglas Mountain workday, Sebago Chapter’s slides, most of which were Saturday, May 7, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. open 200-acre island located six miles out to sea, and simple (primitive, scattered throughout the office in boxes, raindate Sunday, May 8 actually) living conditions. Plan to bring carousels, files, and notebooks. Thanks Last fall we were snowed out; this to Dennis, we now have a high quality, spring we will return undaunted, armed your sketchpad, camera and a good book well-organized, and indexed slide col with mortar and rubber gloves, ready to for quiet periods between visitors. Dates lection point up the tower on the summit of yet to be determined, but please let us know as soon as possible if you are Although this is the first volunteer Douglas Mountain. All hands welcome— project Dennis has taken on indoors, he free view while your work! interested. has been a cornerstone of several Great Duck Island work-weekend, preserve workdays. His masonry skill Northeast Harbor Preserve monitors came to our aid at Douglas Mountain last Saturday, April 16 and/or Sunday, needed fall, and his general strength and April 17; raindate: Saturday, May 14 willingness to work were invaluable at and/or Sunday, May 15 For each of our preserves, easements our most recent Great Duck Island Join us for a final effort to clean up the and transfers, we have a volunteer clean-up. We are counting on Dennis to island. There’s still a mountain of debris monitor who helps us watch over the site help us out again this year at these waiting to be barged off Great Duck. and who fills out a brief annual report on preserves, and we hope that between Spend the weekend or either day; we its condition. If you live or summer near masonry work and his study of Maine especially need volunteers to meet the one of the following places, and are lichens, he will continue to share his barge in Northeast Harbor and transfer interested in a commitment of several time, skills and energy with us. loads to a waiting dump truck. (An years, please consider acting as our Tom Summer unglamorous but essential task in the monitor for one of the following sites: Tom Summer of Cape Elizabeth has greater process.) East Plummer Island, Addison Long Porcupine Island, Gouldsboro volunteered to help the stewardship staff Seawall Beach workday, Phippsburg get our new conservation action tracking Mullen Woods, Newport Saturday, May 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mark Island, West Penobscot Bay system up and running by entering data As part of our continuing efforts to on the Maine Chapter’s preserves. Simonton Corner Quarry, Rockport protect the least terns and piping plovers Marshall Preserve, Arundel When we are done we will have an that nest at Seawall, we will be putting up efficient system that streamlines identi Sabra Creeper Hill, Stow signs and fencing around the nesting Great Spruce Head Island easements, fication, protection and management of colonies on the beach. Come join us for a lands of concern to the Chapter. Thanks Deer Isle day at the beach. No previous experience This is an important job; please help to Tom’s diligent work, we will be ready necessary; jobs available for all skill much sooner. us out and join the dedicated ranks of levels. Maine Chapter volunteer stewards. NOTE: We also need volunteers to In addition, if you live near and are Stewardship volunteers monitor the tern and plover colonies on familiar with the Kennebunk Plains or sunny weekends during June and July. the Saco Heath and would be interested needed Damariscove Island substitute care in helping out with stewardship of these The summer field season will soon be takers, Boothbay Harbor two new preserves, please call the underway and we need your help to keep Our resident caretakers will be off- Chapter office.

Maine Chapter Non profit Org The Nature Conservancy U.S Postage 122 Main Street PAID The Nature Conservancy P.O. Box 338 Maine Chapter Topsham, ME 04086

0219294J40C014-8902- Maine State Liorary State House Sta ue>4 Augusta ME u4333 Henderson

Julie

Dennis Myshrall bringing order out of chaos.