Far Winde-A-Way Nature Preserve

06/05/2024

A reminder... this FB page is not being updated any longer. Please visit us at www.fwawnp.com instead!

Hike along the shore of Mud Pond and climb the rocky slopes of Patch Mountain in Greenwood Maine. Far Winde-A-Way Nature Preserve offers scenic, dog-friendly trails that vary in length and ruggedness.

04/08/2024

We have a website! Hopefully, everything will work. There will probably be a few glitches. Going forward, all posts and new information will be on the website. Nothing new will be posted here on Facebook. At some point, this page will go away.

Welcome!

fwawnp.com

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04/02/2024

Hello Folks! I've been unable to post for awhile, due to some bug between Facebook and my account that I can't seem to diagnose or fix. I've found a workaround for now. Also - BIG things are happening. Within a few days, the Preserve will have a web page! The web page will be more functional and useful than Facebook. Once the web page is up and running, I'll post a message here. For now, since access to Facebook is still awkward, if you want to contact me, please don't do it here. Instead, email me at [email protected].

Send a message to learn more

03/16/2024

If you're thinking of checking out the trails, we still have a fair amount of slippery ice and snow. Cleats are recommended. I slipped and slid the Cakewalk today without cleats, and came close to wiping out a few times. It was worth it, though. Blackbirds and song sparrows are singing on the pond, and the brooks are running noisily. If you come out in the next few days, you'll be treated to the sight of Crystal Falls with both running water and great slabs of ice. Both Scramble trails are mostly snow-free, so who'll be the first to brave them?

03/15/2024

Are you ready for The Big Night? Last year, it was the night of April 17. Many dozens of spring peepers and spotted salamanders were heading to Mud Pond across Greenwood Road, along with wood frogs, green frogs, pickerel frogs eastern newts, and American toads. I helped lots of them traverse the asphalt for a few hours. It was great fun, and very rewarding!

Amphibians, community, science

03/13/2024

Got owl pellets?

Project summary The Maine Owl Pellet Project (MOPP) is a collaboration between the University of New …

03/12/2024

Several weeks ago, I came across the shed skin of a dragonfly nymph that had blown off the pond into the woods.

Dragonfly nymphs are aquatic predators, and they don't look much like adults. For one thing, they have no wings. When nymphs are ready to become adults, they climb out of the water onto reeds and other handy vegetation, shed their larval skin, and emerge as dragonflies. It's not quite as spectacular as the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly, but it's still magical. This generally happens in the summer, but the dry, husk-like skins can remain attached to vegetation for months.

This little remnant of last summer, lying in the snow, kindled anticipation for the green leaves, birdsong, and flower-filled days to come. Let's hope we have better summer weather than last year!

03/08/2024

The first red-winged blackbird of the year is claiming a spot on Mud Pond this evening!

As migrating birds continue to return, you may discover (like me, every year) that you're a bit rusty on their calls and songs. If so, Merlin can help jog your memory.

And, if you've got ears that aren't as young as they used to be (like me), Merlin may bring your attention to birds that are too quiet or high-pitched for you to notice.

It's free and it's fun. It's also satisfying to have an authentically good use for a smart phone.

Bird ID Wizard—Step-by-step Answer three simple questions about a bird you are trying to identify and Merlin will give you a list of possible matches. Merlin offers quick identification help for all levels of bird watchers and outdoor enthusiasts to help you learn about the birds in any country i

02/29/2024

Coyote tracks or dog tracks? I ran across this interesting video which points out a few differences to look out for.

Join me as I walk through a few basic ID features of domestic dog and coyote tracks. ID tips mentioned won't hold true for every single track, but it should ...

02/27/2024

Red squirrels are messy eaters. Their dining habits are particularly noticeable in winter. In areas dominated by hardwoods, you're likely to find holes in the snow where squirrels have dug up a cache of nuts. If the squirrels eat the nuts right then and there, you may be able to look at the discarded shells and figure out what was on the menu. In areas dominated by softwoods, you're more likely to find well-used dining areas, where squirrels bring freshly-harvested cones to pry out the seeds. Again, by looking at the debris, you may be able to determine what the squirrels have been snacking on.

02/24/2024

A fresh crop of snow rolls appeared on the Cakewalk yesterday. They must have formed within a few hours, after a light, fluffy snowfall. Sadly, the warmer temperatures later in the day reduced them all to snow blobs.