SHAKEDOWN CRUISE is an hour and a half trip on the waters surrounding Hog Island. The cruise passes through the Hockomock Channel into Greenland Cove through rich lobstering areas. This introductory boat trip proceeds up the wild shore of Hog Island before returning through the channel, visiting the remains of the Cora F. Cressy, a locally built 5 masted turn of the century schooner.

Notable birds: Bald Eagle, Osprey, Double-Crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron , Common Eider, scoters and Laughing, Herring, and Great Black-backed Gulls.

What to wear and bring: Binoculars and field guide, camera. Sunhat and sunscreen, windbreaker, sweater, raincoat depending on weather.

BINOCULARS AND GUIDES provides information for both beginning and experienced birders about selection and use of binoculars, spotting scopes and field guides. The class includes discussion of note-taking techniques, along with an opportunity to try out a wide variety of binoculars by sharing optics and other birding gear within the class. The session covers how to focus, spot birds and communicate to others how to find the birds which you see.

What to wear and bring: Binoculars and field guide, notebook.

HOG ISLAND is one of the best examples of spruce-fir forest on a Maine coastal island. Most of our 333 acre island has mature forest and younger spruce forest in hurricane blowdowns. The forest is interrupted only by fragrant fields of hay-scented fern and the occasional sphagnum bog. On this trip, we will offer various length hikes to explore the more remote parts of the island. In addition to its varied birdlife, Hog Island has a rich human history, including the summer cottages of Mabel Loomis Todd, editor of Emily Dickinson’s poetry and Millicent Todd Bingham, her daughter who donated Hog Island to Audubon.

Notable birds: Osprey, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, White-throated Sparrow, Blackburnian, Parula, Magnolia, Black and White and Black-throated Green Warblers; Golden-crowned Kinglet, Red-breasted Nuthatch

What to bring: Binoculars, field guides, insect repellent, hiking boots, day pack, water bottle.

MUSCONGUS BAY ISLANDS is an all day boat trip. The trip cruises down the east shore of Hog Island, past Wreck Island on its way to Eastern Egg Rock, a restored puffin and tern nesting island, located 8 miles south of Hog Island. We will circle Eastern Egg Rock and if weather permits, the island supervisor will row out and come on board to tell us the latest seabird news. The trip will continue past Franklin Island Light, an automated light house that was originally commissioned by Thomas Jefferson in 1805. The island is presently managed as a National Wildlife Refuge. We will also land on Harbor Island, a 100-acre private sanctuary, which is owned in part by Audubon. We will have lunch here and hike through spruce forest to spectacular views looking over Muscongus Bay.

Notable birds: Bald Eagle, Osprey, loons, eider, Atlantic Puffin, Black Guillemot, Laughing Gull, Arctic, Common and Roseate Terns. Possible Razorbill, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, Northern Gannet and Shearwaters. Black-throated Green Warbler, Parula Warbler, American Redstart, Swainson’s Thrush.

What to bring: Binoculars, field guide, camera, notebook; sunhat, sunscreen, wind breaker, raincoat, hiking boots or sneakers.

WRECK ISLAND is a 15 acre state-owned wildlife sanctuary located 4 miles south of Hog Island. We will visit Wreck Island and land on its north shore for the rare opportunity of close-up views of Great Blue Herons. About 50 pairs of Great Blue Herons nest in the interior of the island with occasional Black-crowned Night-herons. A walk through the edge of the colony will show the dramatic impact of the birds on the island vegetation. We will also look for nesting gulls and eiders. The island is home to several pairs of Ospreys and a pair of Bald Eagles.

Notable birds: Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Common Eider, Herring Gull

What to bring: Hiking boots with good grip for landing on slippery rockweed and maneuvering over irregular rocky shore. Windbreaker and raincoat. Sunhat, sunscreen, notebook, binoculars, camera.

WESKEAG MARSH is a tidal saltmarsh located near Thomaston, Maine and one of the great birding hot spots for mid-coast Maine. Camp vans will travel 45 minutes to this state wildlife preserve, with a stop along the way to look for American Bittern and Sora and Virginia Rail in a freshwater marsh outside of scenic Waldoboro. Weskeag Marsh is an excellent habitat for watching shorebirds, waterfowl wading birds and grassland birds.

Notable Birds: Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow; Savannah Sparrow, Snowy Egrets, Glossy Ibis, shorebirds and waterfowl, Merlin and Peregrine.

What to bring: Sunhat, Sunscreen, windbreaker. Spotting scopes, binoculars, field guide, camera.