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Rare Mud Plant Walk |
| Join trip leader Andy Cutko of Friends of Merrymeeting Bay [FOMB] and the Maine Natural Areas Program as he leads a rare plant walk at Choice View Farm in Dresden. The tidal shores of Merrymeeting Bay are home to nearly a dozen types of rare and endangered plants -- one of the largest concentrations of rare plants anywhere in Maine. Some of these species grow in only a few places in the world, and Merrymeeting Bay has healthy populations of many of them. Learn about the importance of this habitat and how to identify some of these elusive "muddly cruddlies" at one of the Bay's most scenic spots and a particular “hotspot” for these plants. Cutko is a botanist, ecologist and forester and a former FOMB Steering Committee member. Participants must pre-register with Cutko at 666-3162. Choice View Farm near the mouth of the Eastern River offers one of two spectacular views of Merrymeeting Bay from a state road. The 25 acres of fields and wetlands were protected several years ago in an effort led by Friends of Merrymeeting Bay and are now owned by the state and managed by the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife [IF&W]. Choice View Farm not only offers a spectacular view of the Bay but also valuable songbird habitat, unique populations of rare plants, proximity to bald eagle nesting habitat and shortnose sturgeon over-wintering habitat. The Farm is also the site of a 9-11,000 year old paleo Indian encampment discovered by archaeologists from the Maine Historic Preservation Commission and excavated in a cooperative effort with Friends of Merrymeeting Bay during the summer of 2003. This one site, blending the land protection, research and education efforts of FOMB, illustrates well the diversity of work this local organization has developed a statewide reputation for. The FOMB Summer Outside! Series is the warm weather counterpart to FOMB’s popular Winter Speaker Series. All events are free and open to the public. The next FOMB Outside 2010! event will be a Mushroom Walk with Michaeline Mulvey, held Sunday, September 26, 2-4pm. Please pre-register with Misty Gorski at 737-8508. Merrymeeting Bay, at the junction of 6 rivers drains nearly 40% of Maine and is recognized as an internationally significant resource for its migratory waterfowl, anadromous fish populations including sturgeon and salmon, as well as its bald eagles and rare plants. Friends of Merrymeeting Bay works to protect and improve the Bay through land protection, education, research and advocacy. Photo Credit: FOMB |
Watercolors by
Sarah Stapler
Sarah Stapler
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