Nature Lovers
Walking a Little Different Through the Woods
Questionable ice leads MCHT Land Steward Kirk Gentalen to a Fisher discovery that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.
Once upon a Christmas Bird Count
MCHT Land Steward Kirk Gentalen takes part in the annual Christmas Bird Count, yielding quality interactions and distractions and a surprisingly Owl-less day.
Midcoast Dusting and a Tracking Trifecta
MCHT land steward Kirk Gentalen loves winter, and so far the 2020 – 2021 hasn’t seen much snow and ice. But he’ll take what he can get and get out tracking when he can.
The Hunt for Woolly Alder Aphids
A hunt for woolly alder aphids leads MCHT land steward to find some rad mushrooms in alder wetlands.
The Transitive Property of Trifectas
MCHT land steward Kirk Gentalen ponders the prevalence of trifectas in nature observation.
Not Networking
MCHT land steward Kirk Gentalen does not appreciate being accused of networking. He does, however, love to hear about the cool stuff in nature you’ve been seeing.
A Jewel of a Distraction
MCHT land steward Kirk Gentalen tells us about one of his favorite fall flowers and the hummingbirds you’ll find taking in its nectar.
The Abol was Hairball (Kinda)
MCHT Land Steward Kirk Gentalen heads inland for a mushroom-filled trip to the top of Mount Katahdin.
Creeks Were Made for Walking
MCHT land steward Kirk Gentalen explores his local creek one August day and finds a wide variety of cool critters.
Clocking Changes at Calderwood
MCHT land steward Kirk Gentalen has learned to love walking the same trails over and over again (it’s part of the gig). And Calderwood Island has been one of his favorite places to return to for all the changes that have occurred there over the past decade-plus.
Cute Don’t Cut It
MCHT land steward Kirk Gentalen thinks flowers are just fine. Even cooler are the critters they attract.
Plant Strategies for Survival
MCHT Land Steward Kirk Gentalen shares information about the survival strategies of several plants found in June in Maine—the pink lady slipper, the bunchberry, and the one-flowered cancer root.
The Friends of Oophila Amblystomatis
In his ongoing salamander egg studies, MCHT land steward Kirk Gentalen learns about the super special algae that turns salamander eggs green.
Alewives
Essay by Susan Hand Shetterly, part of the Voices from the Coast project to celebrate peoples’ deep connection to the Maine coast and MCHT’s 50 years of land conservation.
Staying Local
Rather than traveling far afield to spot wildlife this spring, Kirk is sticking to his hood for the greater good. But still, there’s plenty to see—from muskrats to woodpeckers to spotted salamander egg masses.
Spermatophores Ring in Spring
MCHT land steward Kirk Gentalen is on the lookout for the harbinger of mid-late early spring (yes that’s confusing) and finds it in spermatophores.