Schedule:

May 17, 2024

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Natural History Walk Settlement Quarry Preserve, 191 Oceanville Rd, Stonington
Join Mike Fedosh from Isle Au Haut for an inspiring walk at a protected, abandoned quarry to learn about geologic, human, cultural and natural history. Bring binoculars,a bag lunch, and enjoy the scenic views!

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM. Found Object Sculpture 598 Sunshine Rd, Deer Isle
Peter Beerits demonstrates how he makes bird sculptures from "junk" at his Nervous Nellie's Jams & Jellies studio. Using scrap wood and metal, Beerits captures the essence of birdness in unexpected ways.

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Happy Hour Welcome 420 Sunset Rd, Deer Isle
Join IHT Staff and Volunteers for snacks and refreshments in the Barn. WWW hats
and reusable bags will be available. Stick around to learn from Oskar Matte's talk about Loon Restoration (below) to follow directly after Happy Hour Welcome.

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Lookout for Loons! Maine Lakes Loon Restoration Project
Presentation with Oskar Mattes 420 Sunset Rd, Deer Isle

7:30 PM - 8:30 PM Timberdoodles and Night Flights Mariners Memorial Park, FireRoad 506A, Deer Isle
Join Gordon Russell and Jane Rosinski for an evening seeking the elusive and
secretive American Woodcock as they vocally "peent" and perform their unique
spiraling flights to attract a mate. Also enjoy listening for thrushes, sparrows, and
other night migrants. This walk will take place at Mariners Memorial Park, owned by the Evergreen Garden Club; Bring flashlights and listening ears. Coordinates:4.214873709308556, -68.67016451828647

Island Community Happenings

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Rabbit Hill Tulip Show 148 Barbour Farm Road, Stonington

Hop on Over to Rabbit Hill! Rabbit Hill, an Emily Muir designed cottage, boasts expansive views of Rabbit Island and Crockett Cove. Nestled in the treetops with the 200 acre nature preserve behind the granite boulders, the land is abundant with birds, native pollinators, fox, deer and wild rabbits. Owners Cheryl Wixson and Phillip McFarland have created a self-sustainable homestead and rabbit farm planted with over 800 tulips.
The Tulip Show, a glorious showcase of nature, happens every spring. Birders of all ages are invited to hike to shore, explore the adjacent Crockett Cove Woods Preserve, bring a picnic, and be surprised!

10am and 2pm start times Osprey Echo Sea Kayaking

Register at www.OspreysEcho.com
Osprey's Echo Sea Kayaking is hosting a unique opportunity to appreciate the birds and other wildlife in the Stonington archipelago. Seeing the wildlife from the quiet and relaxing bow of a kayak can be a dreamlike opportunity to see bald eagles, osprey, guillemot, cormorant, and a number of other interesting natives, including local nesting habitats. In a kayak you can always get a unique and beautiful view! The odds of seeing one of our curious seals are also good, especially during their experienced kayak guide who has a deep knowledge of the area and history of our beautiful island.

10 am and 2 pm start times

$50 a person

May 18, 2024

7:00 AM - 9:00 AM Pressey Village Bird Walk 94 Pressey Village Road, Deer Isle
Bonnie Bochan leads a walk in this mixed habitat neighborhood that has proven to be a hot spot for migrants: Orioles, Scarlet Tanager, and many warblers.

7:00 AM - 9:00 AM Settlement Quarry Bird Walk Settlement Quarry Preserve, 191
Oceanville Rd, Stonington
Join Bob and Sandi Duchesne for this walk to help beginning birders improve their birding-by-ear skills, including tips for recognizing and remembering what you hear.

7:00 AM - 9:00 AM Scott's Landing Bird Walk 823 North Deer Isle Rd, Deer Isle
Naturalist and educator, Nathaniel Sharp and naturalist photographer, Sandra Mitchell explore the 22-acre Scott's Landing Preserve, a birding favorite: brushy habitat, hardwood stands, and a tidal shore offer diverse species.

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Chase Emerson Memorial Library 17 Main St, Deer Isle

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Nature Apps and their Application 420 Sunset Rd, Deer Isle
Join naturalist and educator Nathaniel Sharp in the IHT Barn for a presentation about the many tools available on your smartphone or computer that can help you identify, document, and connect with nature. From eBird and Merlin to Seek and iNaturalist, Nathaniel will demystify how these tools work and how you can use them to document your adventures in the outdoors and explore vast online biodiversity databases with ease. Download and start to explore these apps prior to attending so you can come with questions from your own experience! Take-home handouts will be provided.

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM SPL Story Time at the IAH Boat Company Dock 27 Seabreeze Ave,
Stonington Captain Garrett Aldrich reads Big Truck, Little Island by Chris Van Dusen. Step aboard the Otter, one of the Isle au Haut Boat Services vessels, for a short spin in Stonington Harbor and a whale of an adventure. Space is limited to 50. Reservations required. Email [email protected] to reserve your spot. Depart from Isle au Haut Boat Services, 27 Seabreeze Avenue, Stonington

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Thoroughfare Lighthouse Cruise 27 Seabreeze Ave Stonington
Bob & Sandi Duchesne and photographer, Sandra Mitchell will be aboard to draw
attention to bird sightings, and Captain Garrett Aldrich will share history and anecdotes as we tour the Stonington Archipelago. From the Isle au Haut Boat Service Landing, the cruise will go up to Barred Island, to Eagle Island light, and then back to seal ledges ending at Mark Island light. Depart from Isle au Haut Boat Services. Online Registration Required. $60 per person.

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Insect Safari Mariners Memorial Park - Fire Road 506A, Deer Isle
Explore the wide world of winged wonders of the non-avian variety, from moths and beetles to bees, butterflies, and flies. Naturalist and self-proclaimed bug-enthusiast Nathaniel Sharp will guide you through the process of searching for, safely handling, and identifying the diverse and fascinating insects all around us.

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Faster Bird Identification 420 Sunset Rd, Deer Isle
Join Bob and Sandi Duchesne for a presentation in the IHT Barn to learn how to use visual clues that anyone can master to quickly identify birds. Learn what to look for in just a few minutes!

5:00 PM - 6:45 PM Birder's Dinner is Served
Limited seating available with an advance ticket for $55 per person which includes appetizers, a dinner option of meat, fish, or vegetarian with dessert, refreshments,and tax/gratuity.

6:45 PM - 7:45 PM The Curious Case of 3 Billion Lost Birds: Looking for Culprits in Northern Maine
Join Ecologist, Sage Levy, for an interactive and educational presentation exploring the harmful factors that have contributed to the loss of bird populations in Maine and across North America. Get an in-depth look at Sage’s findings after studying bird habitat in the Maine North Woods.

Island Community Happenings

10am and 2pm start times Osprey Echo Sea Kayaking

Register at www.OspreysEcho.com
Osprey's Echo Sea Kayaking is hosting a unique opportunity to appreciate the birds and other wildlife in the Stonington archipelago. Seeing the wildlife from the quiet and relaxing bow of a kayak can be a dreamlike opportunity to see bald eagles, osprey, guillemot, cormorant, and a number of other interesting natives, including local nesting habitats. In a kayak you can always get a unique and beautiful view! The odds of seeing one of our curious seals are also good, especially during their experienced kayak guide who has a deep knowledge of the area and history of our beautiful island.

10 am and 2 pm start times

$50 a person

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Evergreen Garden Club Plant Sale Old Deer Isle Elementary School

The plants for this annual sale are grown by Evergreen Garden Club members. Plants include perennials, veggie seedlings, flower seedlings, fruit trees, and herbs. The funds raised will help support Mariners Memorial Park for another year's worth of mowing, insurance, road repair, and maintenance. A raffle will also be held. Old Deer Isle Elementary School is across from the Congregational Church, Route 15, Deer Isle. Rain site is Deer Isle Town Hall.

May 19, 2024

7:00 AM - 9:00 AM West Side Bird Walk Gilmore Lane, Deer Isle
Join Bob and Sandi Duchesne to explore a private property that includes a meadow, woods, fresh water, and shore. Such diverse habitats promise some great birding! From Route 15 in N. Deer Isle, turn onto Gilmore Lane (about 0.3 miles north of The Galley and high school). Follow signs to bird walk parking.

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Birding by Boardwalk DISES School Nature Trail, 249 N Deer Isle Rd, Deer Isle
Join educator, Mickie Flores, student, Naomi Duke, and birders, Gordon Russell and Jane Rosinski for a unique adventure across a winding boardwalk, through a red maple swamp at the Deer Isle Stonington Elementary School Nature Trail. Bring binoculars! Trail entrance is straight back on your left, past tennis courts. “Birding by Boardwalk offers the opportunity to visit a unique habitat on the island. With a lush understory of skunk cabbage amongst a red maple swamp, this trail offers birds such as Northern Waterthrush, Canada warblers, Vireos and others without the threat of getting wet feet!” - Jane Rosinski

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Landscaping for Wildlife 94 Pressey Village Rd Deer Isle
Professional landscapers Bonnie Bochan and Guillermo Diaz, who specialize in bird and butterfly gardens, invite you to this workshop! Discuss creating gardens, share resources, and look at native species that are important for wildlife on the property. Bring binoculars; carpooling encouraged.

10:00 AM - 2:30 PM Pelagics and Puffins Cruise 27 Seabreeze Ave, Stonington
Take a trip with birders Bob and Sandi Duchesne and naturalist photographer, Sandra Mitchell through the archipelago to remote Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge, a nesting site for thousands of pelagics, puffins, arctic and common terns, great cormorants, razorbills, and murres. We may also spot gannets, Wilson's storm petrels, shearwaters, seals, dolphins, and possibly whales en route. While landing is not permitted, there will be many opportunities for viewing and photographing. Dress warmly for an open boat on the ocean. Depart from Isle au Haut Boat Services. Online Registration Required. $75 per person.

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Wild Medicinal Plants of Deer Isle 823 N Deer Isle Rd, Deer Isle
Come for a walk with community herbalist Brighid Doherty at Scott's Landing
Preserve in Deer Isle. Brighid is the founder of The Solidago School of Herbalism,located on Deer Isle. On this walk, you will learn how to identify, ethically harvest, and prepare medicinal plants.

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Learn to Sketch Mallard Ducks 420 Sunset Rd, Deer Isle
End the festival with Local Artist, Jadyn Ladeau, in the Island Heritage Trust barn in this artistic workshop where you will learn the basics of how to sketch birds! Art supplies provided. Limited spots. Phone Registration Required. Call the IHT Office at 207-348-2455. Suggested Donation of $10.

Island Community Happenings

10am and 2pm start times Osprey Echo Sea Kayaking

Register at www.OspreysEcho.com
Osprey's Echo Sea Kayaking is hosting a unique opportunity to appreciate the birds and other wildlife in the Stonington archipelago. Seeing the wildlife from the quiet and relaxing bow of a kayak can be a dreamlike opportunity to see bald eagles, osprey, guillemot, cormorant, and a number of other interesting natives, including local nesting habitats. In a kayak you can always get a unique and beautiful view! The odds of seeing one of our curious seals are also good, especially during their experienced kayak guide who has a deep knowledge of the area and history of our beautiful island.

10 am and 2 pm start times

$50 a person

Date: May 17 - 19, 2024

Location: Various Venue in Deer Isle, ME 04627

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