Nature preserves and other places to go bird watching

Regions below: Southern Coast, Greater Portland, Midcoast, Downeast/Acadia, Western Lakes & Mountains, Kennebec Region, Katahdin/Moosehead.

Greater Portland

Capisic Pond Park
Capisic Street, Portland
This 18-acre park is home toPortland's largest freshwater pond.
More information: Portland Trails

Evergreen Cemetery
Stevens Avenue, Portland
Urban "oasis"; spring migrants (especially warblers).

Fore River Sanctuary
Maine Audubon Society property that has a two-mile trail system along an old canal route, through wooded ravines and a salt marsh to Jewell Falls, Portland's only waterfall.
More information: http://www.maineaudubon.org

Fort Williams Park
1000 Shore Road, Cape Elizabeth
Headland, ocean; seabirds, wintering waterfowl
More information: www.portlandheadlight.com

Gilsland Farm Environmental Center
20 Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth
Maine Audubon Society property with estuary, salt marsh, fields; migrating shorebirds, wintering waterfowl, open-country species.
More information: http://www.maineaudubon.org

Mast Landing Sanctuary
Upper Mast Landing Road, Freeport
Maine Audubon Society property of open fields, salt marsh, apple orchard, freshwater stream and mature evergreen forest.
More information: http://www.maineaudubon.org

Scarborough Marsh Nature Center Route 9, Pine Point Road, Scarborough
Maine Audubon Society property including estuary, barrier beach, salt marsh, freshwater marsh; wading birds, waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors.
More information: http://www.maineaudubon.org

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Southern Coast

East Point Sanctuary, Wood and Stage Islands
Off Route 208 on Lester B. Orcutt Boulevard, Biddeford Pool
Maine Audubon Society property on rocky coastal headland with open meadow and low shrub vegetation. Considered one of the state's best birding spots especially during migration seasons.
More information: http://www.maineaudubon.org

Mount Agamenticus
Off Mount Agamenticus Road, York
This small mountain and former downhill ski are is popular with mountain bikers and birders. It includes deciduous forest and pocket wetlands and is a great place to look for upland passerines, migrating hawks.
More information: click here

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge
321 Port Rd., Wells
This refuge is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System and includes ten separate divisions along a 50-mile stretch of southern Maine coastline. All the refuge areas protect salt marshes and estuaries, important habitat for migratory birds. The one-mile trail loops around the perimeter of a small peninsula, offering excellent views of the salt marsh.
More information: National Wildlife Refuge
Phone: (207) 646-9226

Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
Off Route 1, on Laudholm Farm Road, Wells
Seven miles of hiking and cross-country skiing trails provide access to woodlands, fields, wetlands, beach, and dunes. More information: www.wellsreserve.org

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Midcoast

Steve Powell Wildlife Management Area, Swan Island The island management area, about 1,755 acres in size, is located in the Kennebec River between the towns of Richmond and Dresden. It includes Swan Island, Little Swan Island, and several hundred acres of tidal flats. You need a reservation to visit the island. The Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department provides transportation to the island, which is a great spot for migratory birds and bald eagles.
More information: www.state.me.us/ifw/education/swanisl.htm

Morse Mountain Preserve
Phippsburg
Owned by Bates College, this area is accessed from Route 209 in Phippsburg. A long walk takes you through spruce forest and salt marsh to a barrier beach and the ocean; good viewing of northern warblers, wintering water birds (including red-throated loon), shorebirds.
More information: Morse Mountain

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Downeast/Acadia

Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge
Off Route 1, southwest of Calais
The easternmost national wildlife refuge, this is a breeding ground and refuge for migratory waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, upland game birds, songbirds, and birds of prey.
More information: Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge
Write: RR 1 Box 202 Suite 1, Baring, ME 04694
Phone: (207) 454 - 7161

Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge
Pigeon Hill Road, seven miles off Route 1 in Steuben
Petit Manan NWR is a coastal Maine refuge which covers 130 miles of coastline and includes three mainland parcels and 15 offshore islands. More than 300 bird species have been recorded on Petit Manan Point. The islands are important for colonial nesting sea birds including puffins.
More information: US Fish and Wildlife or
US Fish and Wildlife Northeast Region

Acadia National Park
Mount Desert Island
Maine's only national park has 47,633 acres of granite-domed mountains, woodlands, lakes and ponds, and ocean shoreline. Aside from the portion of Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, the park aslo includes Isle au Haut and a part of the Schoodic Peninsula, both good areas for wintering waterfowl, winter pelagic birds and boreal species.
More information: www.nps.gov/acad

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Western Lakes & Mountains

Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary
Off Route 126 in Lewiston
A 310 acre wildlife preserve.
More information and a list of birds you can see there: Stanton Bird Club

Brownfield Bog
Brownfield
This wildlife management area encompasses the towns of Brownfield, Fryeburg, and Denmark; between Fryeburg and East Brownfield and has primarily wetland habitats, including emergent marshes, shrub wetlands, and bogs. Look for waterfowl, rails, lowland passerines, including willow flycatcher, yellow-throated vireo, blue-gray gnatcatcher.
More information and a map of the area

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Kennebec Region

Pine Tree State Arboretum
Augusta
The Arboretum is open from dawn to dusk, seven days a week, free of charge and includes 224 acres of fields and woods for birders and naturalists to explore.
Visit their web site for more information.

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Katahdin/Moosehead

Sunkhaze National Wildlife Refuge
Milford
Maine's second largest peat bog; look for northern wetland species.
More information: Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Or check the Web site of the Friends Of Sunkhaze
Office: 1033 South Main Street, Old Town, ME 04468-2023
Phone: 207-827-6138

Fields Pond Nature Center
216 Fields Pond Road, Holden
Maine Audubon Society property including fields, wetlands, and forest, lakeshore, a 22-acre island in Fields Pond, a beach, a brook and a ravine.
More information: www.maineaudubon.org

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Maine's state parks and beaches are also great spots to look for nature, wildlife and birds. In Travel, check the list of Maine's beaches and state parks.

Profiles of places to go for outdoor recreation.
Birding at Capisic Pond Park:
This 18-acre park, home to Portland's largest freshwater pond, is a favorite with birders.
More places...

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