Land Stewardship
Cute Don’t Cut It
MCHT land steward Kirk Gentalen thinks flowers are just fine. Even cooler are the insects 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.
Committing to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Injustice and systemic racism pervade all aspects of our society, including the land conservation community, and we cannot leave the obvious unsaid and unexamined.
Life at the Farm
Aldermere Farm’s General Manager Heidi Baker offers an update from Aldermere Farm in the midst of COVID-19 and calving season.
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.
My Favorite Preserve – Harriman Point
A frequent visitor to Maine Coast Heritage Trust preserves tells us why Harriman Point in Brooklin is his favorite.
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.
Early, Edible, Poisonous, Rare
Naturalist and land steward Kirk Gentalen reviews some of the questions he’s most commonly asked, including, “Is it early for [insert creature name]?”
Maine’s Native Roundleaf Sundew: A Profile
Essay and illustration by MCHT land steward Amanda Devine, 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.
Learning with Kids – On Ice!
Kirk takes local fifth and sixth graders on an adventure to his favorite place—the marsh behind his house in St. George.
Tracking Animals at Erickson Fields
Bloody adventures from a winter tracking walk at Erickson Fields Preserve in Rockport.
Marsh Revisited
MCHT Land Steward Kirk Gentalen pays a visit to his local marsh in February and finds some pretty cool creatures, including a beaver and a water boatman (that’s an aquatic insect).
Ice-fishing Spiders
How’s this for a headscratcher: hundreds of Six-spotted Fishing Spiders making their way across the ice in January? Kirk has more.
Fighting Distraction During the Christmas Bird Count
MCHT land steward Kirk Gentalen takes part in the Christmas Bird Count and, as always, resists the temptation to track mammals.
Creating More Public Access to the Bold Coast
Small in acres, big in impact: a conservation project at Bailey’s Mistake in Lubec improves access for recreational and commercial use on the Bold Coast.