Cranberry Marsh is part of a 1,350-acre block of undeveloped land in Southern Maine.

In early March, MCHT worked closely with the Saco Valley Land Trust to protect Cranberry Marsh, an area that provides essential habitat for threatened spotted and endangered Blanding's turtles in Biddeford.

In April, MCHT transferred three nationally significant seabird nesting islands and a portion of a fourth island to the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge. At the same time, the Refuge, with help from MCHT, Maine's Congressional Delegation, and the Friends of Seabird Nesting Islands, was able to establish a new home and visitor center in downtown Rockland.

In June, MCHT secured a conservation easement on a 54-acre parcel that abuts Maquoit Bay in Brunswick. The property includes 2,000 feet of shoreline frequented by wading birds, waterfowl, and migratory shorebirds.

In recent years, MCHT, the town of Brunswick, and other partners have protected 220 acres on Maquoit Bay.

One of many stunning views enjoyed on Frenchboro

The sky was blue and the temperature ideal for the eight o'clock ferry to Frenchboro. A small but energetic group of travelers joined MCHT Regional Steward Terry Towne and Public Policy Coordinator (and bird enthusiast) Jeff Romano for the 45-minute voyage. Arriving in Frenchboro before 9:00 am, the participants quickly began the day's scheduled "Bird Hike" on the island. It did not take long to be rewarded. Within minutes, binoculars were focusing on an assortment of migratory songbirds, from a scarlet tanager to a Baltimore oriole, from a chorus of bobolinks to fourteen species of warblers. By the end of the day, the crew encountered 59 different types of birds, highlighted by the elusive black-backed woodpecker. In addition to bird life, the field trip included many stops to scenic ocean vistas along the 967-acre preserve's coastal trails, with views of Cadillac Mountain, Isle Au Haut, and the Camden Hills.

Yellow-rumped warblers were frequently seen and heard throughout the weekend.

On Saturday, May 22, the bird theme continued farther Downeast in MCHT's Hamilton Cove Preserve in Lubec. More than a dozen folks arrived to search for avian life along the thickets and scenic outcrops that line the preserve's trail network. Once again, the weather cooperated nicely and the birds, as well. Led by MCHT Regional Steward Deirdre Whitehead and local bird expert, Jennifer Multhropp, field trip participants were treated to views of 39 unique bird species that included twelve species of warblers, a northern harrier, eastern towhees, loons, and a bald eagle. Plant life was also on display. While the shadbush flowers were past peak, elder was blooming and the flowering bunchberry was spectacular.

Getting a closer look at Aldermere Farm's plant life.

The weekend's last adventure took place at the Trust's Aldermere Farm Preserve. While famous for its resident cattle, the farm hosted fifteen guests on the afternoon of Sunday, May 23 to uncover the preserve's diverse plant life. Trip leader and MCHT Regional Steward Amanda Devine led the group around the farm, answered questions, provided in-depth ecological information, and even told some jokes. The two-hour walk led to numerous plant species common to Maine's coast, including: starflowers, pink lady's slippers, wild sarsaparilla, American beech, red pines, low sweet blueberries, Canada mayflowers, bid-leaved asters, blue bead lilies, meadowsweet, cinnamon ferns, New York ferns, rock polypody, as well as various mosses, lichens, and algae.

Upcoming Trips

There are a full slate of trips scheduled for June, July, and August. Check out the current listing, mark your calendar, make reservations (where necessary), and join us to get a more intimate view of some of the special places MCHT has worked to protect over the past four decades.

More Information on MCHT Field Trips

Field Trip Video

Andy Cutko led a field trip to Bradley Pond Farm in Topsham to showcase natural communities

In the afternoon, while about 20 conference goers joined Maine Forest Service entomologists Allison Kanoti and Colleen Teerling for an informative discussion and tour focused on insect pests, more than 60 people filed into Brunswick’s Frontier Café for a lively session devoted to the topic of public uses of land trust lands. Panelists Tim Glidden, Land for Maine’s Future Program; Judy Anderson, Community Consultants; Nancy Sferra, The Nature Conservancy; Joy Harding, ATV Maine; and Larry Totten, All Outdoors Guiding each provided their unique perspective on public use. After initial discussion, facilitator Caroline Pryor invited audience members to join the panelists. The session concluded with presentations on case studies by Nancy Perlson, Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust; Jim Dow, Blue Hill Heritage Trust; and Jane Arbuckle, MCHT.

With Friday’s informative programs complete, nearly one hundred conference goers turned to the Welcome Reception for more casual networking, tasty food, and lively music by Dark Hollow Bottling Company, a local five-piece “Americana” band. It was the perfect way to wind down and reenergize for Saturday’s full agenda.

On Saturday, May 1 380 attendees arrived at this year’s new venue, the Mount Ararat Middle School and Orion Performing Arts Center in Topsham. They were treated initially to an engaging and informative keynote address by Maine’s own Colin Woodard. The self-employed writer, award-winning journalist, and author of numerous books provided a vivid picture of Maine’s history, as well as how land and land conservation continues to shape it.

Author Colin Woodard signed books for conference attendees after his stimulating keynote address on the history of Maine’s people

The morning’s plenary session also included a presentation of the 2010 Espy Land Heritage Award. This year’s award was presented to Don Hudson, President of The Chewonki Foundation, a position he is retiring from this year. MCHT President Tom Ireland summed up his achievements by stating, “Don is a truly outstanding conservationist, and his enthusiasm and passion are contagious. He is a tireless leader who has worked to integrate land conservation with environmental education and outdoor recreation in a number of settings.”

The plenary session also featured a celebration of MCHT’s Legal Counsel Karin Marchetti-Ponte in honor of her twenty-five years of service to the organization, our partner land trusts, and the State’s conservation efforts in general. Fortunately for all of us, Karin continues to work on our behalf to make Maine a better place to live and visit.

Activities on Saturday eventually turned to the 33 topical, concurrent workshops organized through three sessions. The wide-range of topics included something for everyone including core subjects such as easement drafting and management plans, but also more specialized topics like identifying important bird habitat, addressing alternative energy projects, and email marketing. For those who could not get enough information, throughout the day 40 organizations displayed their expertise during land fair and there were casual discussion groups organized at lunch, too.

In the end, more than 400 people participated in this year’s conference. Participants represented over 150 organizations, including about 60 land trusts. In addition, while most participants were from Maine, the conference also lured attendees from at least eight other states.

Maine Coast Heritage Trust would like to thank all who attended this year’s conference; the many experts that agreed to serve as panelists, presenters, and speakers; and all others who helped make it possible including Lead Sponsor L.L. Bean and Friday Reception Sponsor Oakhurst Dairy. There were also a number of friends and hosts instrumental in our success this year: Baker Newman & Noyes LLC, Sarah’s Café, Mount Ararat Middle School and the Orion Performing Arts Center, Comfort Inn, Franklin Printing, Frontier Café, Cinema and Gallery, the Land Trust Alliance, the Maine Coastal Program at the State Planning Office, the Gulf of Maine Coastal Program of the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Hope to see you in 2011!

“This is easiest way to find the salamanders,” Gentalen said. “Their migratory paths cross the road in several spots. We just drove slowly to see what we could find.” And they certainly did find the spotted ones – the one-hour trips resulted in spotted salamander counts of 20 and 40 respectively. “They go all night,” he added. “There were undoubtedly hundreds that crossed the roads each night.” Two spring peepers and a single red-backed salamander were found as well.

Vernal Pools are special habitats where insects and amphibians are free to mingle and breed in relative peace. For a pool to be considered “vernal” it needs to dry up each year or every other year. This drying eliminates any chance of predatory fish establishing a population. Without fish, amphibian eggs and young can develop in a (somewhat) safe environment. However, since these pools disappear, it can literally be a “race against the dry” as adults hope to breed, lay eggs, and have their young hatch and develop before the water is gone. Several sets of eggs have already been found on MCHT properties on the island this spring.

The nocturnal salamanders are close to impossible to find at any other time, so getting out on these nights is imperative for any salamander enthusiast. Many folks on the island have never seen these creatures, even though they number in the 1,000s (if not 10s of thousands).

The trips inspired some passionate responses, summed up in the comments of Vinalhaven resident Susan Raven regarding her 2 ½-year old daughter’s reaction to the outing. “Last week we went on the salamander night with Kirk, and my daughter, Isa, is now enamored with salamanders. She is drawing them, asking for books on them, wants to go find some vernal pools, and is trying to work out the differences between amphibians and reptiles and why salamanders are different than her cousin's iguana.” Isa has become a salamander enthusiast in the making!

This winter's discoveries on Vinalhaven have been aided by a group of four high school students that has now been affectionately dubbed the 'Otter Crew.' Always ready to go exploring, the 'Otter Crew' has been active in the island's land trust activities for years, having risen up the ranks of the Vinalhaven Land Trust's Outdoor Explorer's adventure program. Through the years, they have done all kinds of discovering, including: vernal pools, salamander migration, whale watching, and owling overnights. The 'Otter Crew' has yet to find an outdoor adventure not to their liking. When they got wind of a project to track Vinalhaven's river otters, it was a no brainer; they were going to help.

An Otter Superhighway

The quest to learn more about Vinalhaven's river otter population centered on a handful of areas, including Folly Pond, a place where tracks and trails have been seen for years. Kirk and the students have visited the area twice this winter. On the second trip they followed an otter trail from Vinal Cove, at the head of Winter Harbor, across Folly Pond, up and over a hill to the west, and then down onto MCHT's Basin Preserve property. One of the crew members proclaimed, "It's an Otter superhighway!" The otter using the trail clearly moves at a steady pace, as the route was essentially one big, beautifully purposeful slide. At just under 1.5 miles, most of it over land, the trail eventually ran along Long Pond and into the Basin itself. The otter did not stray or stop along the trail, other than a brief pause at the old beaver lodge along the pond. And who can blame him for checking out the lodge?

The only other place where the trail was interrupted was at an opening into the ground through some exposed roots along the Long Pond outlet. The crew quickly recognized this area as an active otter den. Why else would an otter go into the ground? Feeling honored to be the steward of a preserve that was home to one of the island's top predators, Kirk and company paused for a moment after realizing the distinct possibility that their new furry friend may actually be at home. This was only the second den Kirk has found on Vinalhaven and to find it along a connector trail linking two sides of the island made the day well worth celebrating.

He had no idea at the time, but this was the start of something even more special. Over the next 11 days Kirk would end up finding 3 more otter dens, 2 of them on the MCHT Basin Preserve. One was found along the southeastern Basin shore itself and one along the northern shore of Old Harbor Pond. The den in the Basin was beautiful with entrances through duff and sphagnum into the root system of a huge spruce tree along a creek bed. Seems like the river otter population in the Basin is doing quite well these days.

An Otter's Winter Home

There is much more to the Basin than just the otters of course and another recent sighting of note illustrates this point perfectly. While the past winter was one that left many feeling somewhat shortchanged as far as snow is concerned, there was a series of frigid, windy days (great days to be a turbine) where shallow, tidal water froze up in many of the coves around the island. Kirk spent one of those days snowshoeing (yes, there were a few snow storms on the island) through the Basin Preserve. Upon arriving at a frozen saltwater cove where Long Pond feeds into the Basin, he stopped to take a few photos of the sun reflecting off the ice. There, Kirk noticed a less familiar looking seal on the ice a few hundred feet from the closest edge. It turned out to be a harp seal, the first one ever recorded at the Basin. MCHT has been supporting an ongoing wildlife survey for the area and while it is not unusual to spot harbor seals in the area, catching a glimpse of their more northern neighbors is indeed special.

This harp seal likely made its ways to Vinalhaven from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. They are an ice loving bunch (Harp Seals that is) and are the only species in the Genus (Pagophilus), which is translated as "lover of ice." The Harp Seal's range extends from the Gulf of St. Lawrence through the North Atlantic and along the Arctic Ocean shores of Scandanavia and much of Russia. Harp Seals regularly venture down into the northern Gulf of Maine and most tend to be young seals referred to as "Beaters." Their fur is mostly white with distinct black pots. If there is no ice, they will readily haul out on beaches and they were spotted on several beaches around the island this winter. The Harp Seal was seen just that one time in the Basin, even with a handful of return visits.

This spring and summer, Kirk is planning to lead a number of field trips on Vinalhaven and to the Basin Preserve. More information about these and other adventures will be available on our website in the weeks ahead. If you can find the time, take the one hour and fifteen minute ferry from Rockland and join Kirk on one of his nature walks. Who knows what critter will be lurking around the bend?

On January 12, ‘The Big Read’ kicked off with a distribution of theCall of the Wild at local libraries. Ten days later, the event began the first of many outdoor and indoor activities designed to capture the setting of the book and the experiences of its characters.

MCHT’s Regional Steward Terry Towne helped to kick-off MCHT’s participation in ‘The Big Read’ on Sunday, January 24, when he lead a group of six on a 2.5-hour nature awareness snowshoe trek up the Giant Slide Trail on Mount Desert Island. The tour included a general discussion on the flora and fauna encountered and what was similar to the experiences of the gold rushers in the Klondike during the 1890’s. The conditions were perfect and everyone had a great time. Participants were given handouts to help identify trees and were challenged to find an elusive witch hazel shrub.

Hikers scan MCHT’s Babson Creek Preserve for elusive tracks

On Saturday, January 30, Terry led a second group of participants on a tracking walk through MCHT’s Babson Creek Preserve in Somesville.  The preserve, which is open to the public, is also the site of the organization’s new office building.  While much of the early winter snow had washed away the week before, the couple of inches of snow that fell midweek were just enough to expose the critters that had been coming and going.  Although signs were scarce, all enjoyed the views and beauty of the preserve.

Those seeking an indoor adventure on January 30 and 31 were greeted at the Abbe Museum in Bar Barbor by a number of presenters including MCHT’s Regional Steward Billy Helprin. Billy led two sessions focused on survival clothing and materials. More than two dozen people, both kids and adults, attended the sessions. Participants discussed heat conservation while looking at various outdoor clothing and equipment, including a tent that was set up with pads and sleeping bags. Billy also shared photos of animals and books in order to examine the different approaches used to deal with the harshness of winter and the challenges of obtaining adequate food.

Additional events and outdoor activities continue until Sunday, February 21, including a “Tracking and Nature Awareness Hike” on February 13, led by Billy Helprin. The hike, which will take place from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., will tour the Northeast Creek area of Mount Desert Island. Maine Coast Heritage Trust has helped to preserve a number of properties near Northeast Creek; many of these parcels are now part of Acadia National Park.

All events associated with ‘The Big Read’ are open, not only to the reading students, but the general public at-large. For more information on upcoming events, including the Northeast Creek nature walk, visit ‘The Big Read.’

• Eagle and Sheep Islands: Long-time MCHT supporters donated conservation easements on these two gems located north of Swans Island in Blue Hill Bay. They provide valuable bald eagle and seal habitat.
• Treat Island: Lying at the gateway of Cobscook and Passamaquoddy bays, scenic Treat Island has a rich history dating back to Colonial America.
• Ash Island: Just offshore from a popular state park and a public boat launch site in Owls Head, much beloved Ash Island was conserved thanks to the generous support of more than 100 community members.
• Sears Island: When the State and local partners reached a much heralded agreement, MCHT received an easement permanently protecting two-thirds of this 940-acre State-owned island in Penobscot Bay.

Ash Island on a foggy, summer day.

In addition to new land acquisitions, 2009 also saw MCHT make great strides connecting more people to the land. New initiatives resulted in unique partnerships and greater opportunities for people to experience the special places protected over the past four decades. Beyond traditional land conservation, MCHT took on new challenges such as leasing part of our Bog Brook Cove Preserve to local organic blueberry growers and providing grant funding to develop markets for berries in the region. We expanded our network of trails by more than seven miles. MCHT now maintains more than 52 miles of paths along the Maine Coast available for the public to explore. MCHT's Stewardship staff also hosted more than 40 field trips. These adventures, from nature hikes to kayak tours, offered more opportunities than ever for people to get out and learn about MCHT's many conserved treasures.

None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the generosity of our countless members, supporters, and partners. As we begin to plan our activities for the upcoming year, MCHT's 40th, we are looking forward to working closely once again with all who share our love for the Maine coast to ensure conservation successes continue in 2010.

Bar Harbor architect Stewart Brecher designed an efficient office that minimizes water and energy use, incorporates solar energy, and uses materials from local and environmentally responsible providers. “Meeting the design objectives required the active participation of our client, consultants and contractor. Fortunately, we had such a team,” says Mr. Brecher. When compared to local building code, the office achieves 57% energy savings and 42% water savings. In addition, 18% of the building’s energy use comes from renewable sources, including solar.
 Twelve MCHT staff work from the new office building, which is surrounded by a 35-acre preserve where the public is welcome to enjoy walking trails along Babson Creek.

“We’re thrilled to have been awarded LEED gold status on our new office—in addition to the low environmental impact, this building is very energy efficient and reflects our values as a member of the MDI community,” says MCHT’s Director of Land Protection David MacDonald. The Office was constructed by Nickerson and O’Day, Inc. who are based in Bangor and have worked on a number of LEED certified projects in Maine.

More Information

• LEED™
• Babson Creek Preserve
• Nickerson & O’Day, Inc.
• Mount Desert Islander Article (December 2, 2009)

This fall, Maine Coast Heritage Trust purchased the two privately owned halves of Treat Island from families that for decades have cared well for their lands. “Both families were excellent partners dedicated to the project,” notes MCHT project manager Marty Anderson. “They recognized that Treat was a natural fit for conservation, and they understood the importance of conserving both halves of the island simultaneously.”

Treat Island has an interesting cultural history, dating back to when early tribal travelers stopped by the island to harvest the area’s rich resources. The island contains the burial site of island owner and Revolutionary War hero, Colonel John Allan, who served as Military Commander of the Eastern Area (District of Maine) under General George Washington. Col. Allan defended eastern Maine against the British by mobilizing settlers and gaining the support and trust of the Passamaquoddy Tribe. Allan continued his close relationship with the Tribe following the War, establishing a trading post on the island. “He was a friend of the Passamaquoddy Tribe,” notes Tribal historian Donald Soctomah, “providing support in treaty obligations by reminding the President and Congress about the services of the Tribe. The Passamaquoddy Tribal Historic Preservation Office thanks Maine Coast Heritage Trust for its hard work saving this important place of tribal history and national history.”

While the island is largely undeveloped now, Treat supported farming families for generations and served other uses as well. There are remains of an artillery gun battery constructed in the 1860s to repel Confederate raiders. A tidal dike built in the 1930s stretches to Dudley Island, part of a failed tidal power project that sought to harness the 70 billion cubic feet that flow in and out of Passamaquoddy Bay daily. A dock built in 1936 as a Natural Weathering Exposure Station for testing marine concrete still stands on a 3-acre parcel owned and maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Treat Island is readily accessible from Lubec and Eastport, with several natural boat landings that provide access to a traditional picnic destination at the island’s southern end. Even those who never land appreciate views of the island from afar, notes Harold Bailey, Natural Resource and Planning Manager with Roosevelt Campobello International Park. “The Park has an observation deck at Friar Head that looks directly out to Treat Island,” Bailey says. “The Park Commission is pleased to know that this natural vista will remain through time."

Part of what makes the island such a visual asset is its varied upland habitats, with coniferous and hardwood forests, marshes, grassland, shrub land and open ledges. This diversity also makes Treat a rich resource for the area’s abundant wildlife. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has designated Treat a nationally significant coastal nesting island, and one pair of bald eagles has nested consistently on the island for 21 years (using three different sites). The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has documented up to 30 eagles on the island at once when local food is abundant.

“Treat Island is a place on the edge,” says Anderson. “It lies at the entrance to one of the richest wildlife areas along the entire Eastern seaboard, at the far end of the country, and on the leading edge of American history. Yet the island is readily accessible to surrounding communities, and now it will remain a public asset far into the future.”

Donated Easements Preserve Two Entire Islands

Through the efforts of a long-time supporter of island preservation and the cooperation of another landowner, Maine Coast Heritage Trust will hold permanent conservation easements on two privately owned islands in Blue Hill Bay. The easements preserve bald eagle nesting habitat, significant seal haul outs, and the scenic integrity of an archipelago visible from Casco Passage and the Swans Island Ferry. Together, the two conserved islands have more than one mile of wild shoreline.

The easement on 18-acre Sheep Island, a picnic spot long enjoyed by area residents, prohibits all future development while allow for daytime public access. Eagle Island’s six acres is now protected with an easement that allows for a small, screened tent platform set back from the shore (note: the easement does not guarantee public access). Acadia National Park holds easements on all of neighboring Johns and Pond islands, and a small portion of Opechee Island.

Peter P. Blanchard, III, a naturalist who purchased an interest in Sheep more than two decades ago and now owns the island in entirety, says “it’s wonderful to reunite places that have been fragmented.” Sheep is mostly open, providing habitat for nesting yellow warblers and song sparrows. For Blanchard, the conservation easement offers a way to “take right steps for the long term while enjoying the pleasures of ownership and keeping the place open for others to use with respect.” Within this exceptionally beautiful archipelago, he adds, you can enjoy a pristine landscape similar to what early European settlers encountered: “it’s a very magical place.”