The Wrack

Uncommon goose makes a brief visit to the Little River marsh and becomes the latest addition to the Wells Reserve bird list.

Over the past three years, it has been the practice of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm to publish a bit of make-believe each April Fool's Day. We have posted hoax articles to draw attention to real issues like staff changes, invasive species, and the health of local rivers. Unfortunately, this year the truth-blurring antics of President Trump and his staff have convinced us that adding "fake news" to the local scene, even if only in jest, would be counter-productive and irresponsible.

Paddle on calm and quiet waters while observing wildlife and learning about the natural history of estuaries, our treasured habitats.

Here are two petitions to sign, one to express your support of the Wells Reserve and another to extend that support to the National Estuarine Research Reserve System.

The AmeriCorps team spending the next five weeks at the reserve arrives on the beach at low tide. Its windy, raw, and the snow has started, but they seem in no hurry to leave. They shrink the chilly gap between their shoulders and their ears and face the ocean.

We are putting teachers on the estuary again this summer by offering a free workshop that will give educators data-driven climate change activities to bring back to their classes. The workshop will train up to ten educators in reserve-style environmental monitoring, "coastal blue carbon" concepts, and ways to understand and address climate change.

An open letter to all lovers of nature, science, beauty, and Maines coast.

The President's budget eliminates funding for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018. The complete budget process includes Congress, however, which is demonstrating it has its own spending priorities.

Last update: March 22, 2018

We like the sound of a new caucus announced this week. The Congressional Estuary Caucus is a bipartisan group focused on the importance of estuaries to the nation's environment, communities, and economy.

Last update: February 2019

For seven years strong, the Reserve has partnered with Center for Wildlife and York County Audubon to offer Winter Wildlife Day during Maine's school vacation week. Last week, on a balmy February morning with 50 degree temperatures, nearly 200 people attended this family-friendly free event. Some even stayed into the afternoon to sled down the farmhouse hill on the fast disappearing snowpack, and observe a snow sculpture artist in action.