Paddling with Friends
Paddling Merrymeeting Bay is always interesting, but it's always more interesting to do it with Friends. Such as Friends of Merrymeeting Bay, the 700-member organization that's dedicated to preserving and protecting the fascinating waterbody at the confluence of the Androscoggin and Kennebec rivers.
Yesterday I joined one of FOMB's outdoor interpretive trips, led by volunteer Anne Hammond, an old paddling pal. She began with maps and charts of the bay, and explained how the Lower Kennebec Regional Land Trust, an independent sister organization, owns several key properties on the bay.
Anne Hammond, a volunteer trip leader with Friends of Merrymeeting Bay, talks about ecology and land preservation yesterday.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO
Seven of us total, including John Eder, FOMB's executive coordinator, paddled out to Bird Island for a short visit, followed by lunch on nearby Brick Island.
Heading out from the Butler Cove put-in yesterday.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO
Anne seemed particularly interested in the wild rice, which abounds in the bay, and provides forage for many thousands of ducks, especially in the fall.
Paddling amidst the wild rice that is so abundant in the bay.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO
Exploring Bird Island, a tiny islet that is owned by the State of Maine.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO
We saw two eagles, one sitting proudly in a pine tree on Parker Head, and another flying about a quarter mile away.
Several short-nosed sturgeon jumped for us.
Paddlers show their enthusiasm after lunch on Brick Island.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO
Several of yesterday's participants mentioned that they were looking to join a group of like-minded people for recreational activities such as paddling, and I passed out some brochures for the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club.
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Great to have you along Scott. What a wonderful day it was!
Folks can email me at fomb@gwi.net and I'll be glad to enlighten them as to where they can put-in and get out on this gem called Merrymeeting Bay.
You'll soon see why Freinds of Merrymeeting Bay is working so hard to protect and perserve it.
Look us up at www.friendsofmerrymeetingbay.org to learn all about The Bay.
We have two more of our educational outdoor programs this summer that are free and open to the public. Sign up and join us for a Mud Plant Walk later in August and a Mushroom Walk in late September.
See you on The Bay!
John Eder,
Friends of Merrymeeting Bay
871-0317
Posted by
August 12, 2007 10:32 AM
Bird Island was once the center of a thriving duck-hunting industry. Live ducks were tethered off the rocks to draw down more birds until the practice was outlawed.
We studied the deep pit duck blinds in the center of the island and a wall on the west shore overlooking places where birds congregate as migration begins. In former years the sky was black with birds, according to local residents.
Today the paddler approaching quietly can nearly always find birds in residence; sandpipers walk the ledges, song sparrows, yellow warblers glean the small trees, black duck swim along the shore. Eagles soar overhead, blackbirds perch on the brush. Canada geese flock offshore. Bird Island is a state-owned island, an important observation point for the ecological gem we know as Merrymeeting Bay.
What a pleasure is was to share our natural heritage with other paddlers.
Anne Hammond
Vice President
Lower Kennebec Regional Land Trust
Posted by Anne Hammond
August 15, 2007 07:56 AM
Scott Andrews
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