Events & News
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ATV Municipal Grant applications are due by May 30.
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All ages and abilities can enjoy this birdwatching weekend filled with walks, talks, educational displays, live bird presentations, and the hawk watch at the summit of Bradbury Mountain.
- Saturday, April 27 the event is held at Bradbury Mt. State Park.
- Sunday, April 28 the event is held at Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park.
- View all current information at the event web page: www.maine.gov/dacf/feathersoverfreeport
(Photo of osprey on the nest at Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park by Jim Knox.)
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The Bradbury Mountain Hawkwatch was initiated by Jeannette and Derek Lovitch, owners of Freeport Wild Bird Supply, in 2007. The Hawk Watch provides valuable annual data about the extent and duration of the northbound raptor flight over Bradbury Mountain State Park.
You are welcome to visit the biologists during the count at the top of Bradbury Mt. The most direct route is the Summit Trail, a short and somewhat steep 15-minute hike from the parking lot. (West side of Route 9/Hallowell Rd.)
Hawk Watch Days & Hours
Days: March 15 to May 15, 7 days per week
Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
For More Information:
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Upwards: The Story of the First Woman to Solo Thru-paddle the Northern Forest Canoe Trail
An amazing account of an adventure of a lifetime, and of the courage and conviction it took to complete the trip. Whether you paddle or prefer to armchair travel, read this book by Laurie Apgar Chandler. You will not regret it!
Quoting Master Maine Guide, Gil Gilpatrick, "Think about it. 740 miles of canoe travel, 150 miles upstream, 67 portages totaling 125 miles. Chandler accomplished this alone in 53 days. After I read Upwards I could't wait to see her again... she certainly earned my admiration and respect."
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The Wild Woods Guide: from Minnesota to Maine, the Nature and Lore of the Great North Woods
This book by Doug Bennet & Tim Tiner with illustrations by Marta Lynn Scythes is a treasure trove of interesting facts about the North Woods. Included are details about the plants, mammals, birds, rocks, fishes, insects, the night sky and other natural phenomena. Its sure to pique one's curiosity and inspire a trek to the North Woods.
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Guided kayak tours are offered May through October, at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site, by Maine Kayak. These are very popular paddles are a great way to see the historic site from the perspective of long-ago sailors. On the guided tour paddlers are accompanied by a licensed Maine guide with a wealth of knowledge about the sport of sea kayaking and the coast of Maine.
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Love being outside in Maine’s outdoors and want to make your opinion heard? Participate in the Maine SCORP Survey and share how you enjoy Maine’s outdoors and what really matters to you. The survey will help inform planning and funding priorities for everything from neighborhood playgrounds to snowmobile trails and soccer fields to backcountry campsites.
This survey is directly linked to developing the next Maine State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan - a requirement for eligibility in the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Program (LWCF), which has injected $43 million into non-federal projects in Maine since 1966. Municipalities, public schools, tribal governments, and the State of Maine are all eligible to receive LWCF grants for a wide variety of outdoor recreation acquisition and development projects.
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Shaded snow rests deep.
Sun-facing slopes reveal earth-
Feeding swelling streams.
April presents the chance to experience Maine’s climate diversity. On a regional scale, traveling from the south coast to the mountains and northern Maine showcases how spring arrives and winter leaves on very different timescales depending on geography and elevation. Even in the same general area, April-especially early April- is an ideal month to see how south-facing slopes and areas open to the spring sun melt away much sooner than shaded and north-facing lands.
Word of caution - despite the excitement of getting outside in spring, consider trail conditions. Be prepared for wet trails and wear waterproof footwear. Avoid circling around puddles, which widens trails. If trails are extremely wet and muddy and your feet churn up the trail surface, you may want to simply wait for things to dry up or find a firmer trail.
Text to subscribe to Park & Trail Condition Alerts
(Hike-ku & article by Rex Turner, Recreation Specialist for the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.)
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Camp Stove Frittata -
Basic and Mushroom, Sausage & Cheddar
This is such a basic recipe that you can add the items of your choice.
Ingredients - the basics are listed; experiment as you wish. And, see the additional list for the version shown here.
- 6 large eggs
- 1/4 cup half & half
- 3 Tbs milk
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
In a medium bowl, whisk together: eggs, half & half, milk, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until blended. Set aside. This is the base for your frittata. After this, you can add just about any items, along with cheese, to make your frittata. I am going to give you a recipe for mushroom, sausage and cheddar frittata.
Additional Ingredients
- Mushrooms
- Sausage
- Cheddar cheese
Add olive oil to a 10-inch non-stick skillet and heat over medium heat. Add mushroom slices and cook approximately 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally. When the mushrooms are slightly browned, add sausage crumbles to pan, heating approximately 1-2 minutes. Pour egg mixture evenly over the top of the mushrooms and sausage and let cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the egg begins to set on bottom.
Reduce heat to just above the "low" setting and cover. Cook 8-9 minutes, then remove cover and add the cheddar cheese. Cook for another 5-6 minutes, or until the egg is cooked through and the cheddar has just begun to melt. Remove from heat and carefully transfer to a serving platter and cut into wedges.
(Contributed by Jen Neumeyer, Boating Facilities Secretary, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.)
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The Bureau of Parks and Lands Boating Division tracks ice out on Maine's lakes each spring and the information is available through our Ice Out web page, where you can also:
- Sign up to receive the updates as a text or email message.
- View Maine lake webcams.
- Report your ice out observations.
- View previous years ice out dates.
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Feathers over Freeport
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park
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Send article suggestions or newsletter comments to Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist, webmaster, and newsletter editor for the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.
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