Hirundo Wildlife Refuge

Hirundo Wildlife Refuge Hirundo is a 2,400 acre nature preserve located only 10 miles from the University of Maine, Orono.

All are welcome to hike the trails, free of charge, and enjoy the beauty of Maine seven days a week, year round!

*NOT A WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER*

June is National Pollinator Month. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 1 out of every 3 bites of f...
06/01/2026

June is National Pollinator Month. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 1 out of every 3 bites of food we take is dependent on pollination.

🌬️ Wind
One pollinator that we don't usually think of is the wind. Pollination by wind is known as anemophily. Many trees release their pollen in early spring, long before most insects appear and bird populations begin migrating. Luckily, this occurs during the windy spring season. Grasses such as oats, wheat, corn, and rice also depend on the wind for pollination. As any allergy sufferer can attest, great volumes of tiny pollen particles float through the air in search of a flower to pollinate.

💧 Water
The process of water pollination is called surface hydrophily. According to the US Forest Service, this is a relatively rare occurrence, accounting for just 2% of plant pollination. Pollen drifting along the water's surface may accidentally contact an aquatic plant that is normally insect-pollinated. Invasive aquatic plants take full advantage of surface hydrophily.

Can you name these peculiar little spring visitors? Fiddlehead ferns, named for their resemblance to the scroll of a vio...
05/30/2026

Can you name these peculiar little spring visitors?

Fiddlehead ferns, named for their resemblance to the scroll of a violin, inhabit damp, shaded forest floors, where they can grow together in large numbers. Traditionally, Wabanaki peoples have been known to use fiddlehead ferns in cooking, harvesting them before they unfurled into more mature ferns, as only the young fiddleheads are palatable. Today, fiddleheads are typically steamed, boiled, or sautéed, and some people describe them as having a taste similar to spinach or asparagus. However, as with all foraged plants, be sure to completely research fiddleheads and their proper preparation before consuming them. Not all ferns found on the forest floor are edible, so it is important to be absolutely sure of a plant's identification before plucking it.

⚠️ REMEMBER: Foraging is not allowed at Hirundo except during guided programs. Members of the Wabanaki community are welcome to forage at Hirundo with prior approval.

If you’ve heard the classic “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all?” echoing through Hirundo’s woods, you’ve likely e...
05/27/2026

If you’ve heard the classic “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all?” echoing through Hirundo’s woods, you’ve likely encountered a barred owl. With their deep brown eyes and bold, streaked plumage, these owls are year-round residents in Maine and are a familiar presence throughout Hirundo.

While often described as nocturnal, barred owls at Hirundo can be active at almost any time of day. They may be seen perched quietly in the morning light, calling in the afternoon, or hunting as evening sets in. During quieter moments, they rest in dense trees, blending into the bark, but they’re never strictly “off-duty.”

They thrive in mature forests near wetlands and streams, which are just some of the habitats Hirundo provides in abundance. Their diet is varied, including small mammals, amphibians, and even crayfish, which they catch with silent, precise flight. Instead of building their own nests, barred owls use natural tree cavities or old nests from other birds.

At Hirundo, keep your eyes and ears open along wooded trails near water at any time of day, you might hear their call or spot one watching silently from the trees.

✏️ Thanks to our Avian Monitoring and Education intern, Riley, for this Nature Note!

Our Sunset Paddle on Dead and Pushaw Streams is this Friday! Join us for a group paddle to experience the beauty and pea...
05/26/2026

Our Sunset Paddle on Dead and Pushaw Streams is this Friday! Join us for a group paddle to experience the beauty and peace of nature on the water at dusk.

🎟️ Register by Wednesday: www.hirundomaine.org/upcoming-events-and-programs

05/25/2026

Our game cam recently caught this gorgeous great blue heron just off of Pushaw stream at the refuge!

Great Blue Herons are one of Maine’s most recognizable wetland birds, often seen quietly hunting along ponds, marshes, rivers, and coastlines. Unfortunately Maine’s heron populations have seen significant declines in recent years. But we can help! Here are a few simple ways to support herons and other waterbirds:

Pack out your trash: Fishing line, hooks, plastic, and other litter can seriously injure or kill waterbirds.

Use non-toxic tackle: Lead sinkers and jigs can poison herons when ingested. Safer alternatives include tin, tungsten, or steel.

Manage runoff: Properly dispose of pet waste and chemicals to help keep wetlands and waterways healthy.

Small actions can make a big difference for Maine’s wildlife. 💙

Summer is almost here and spots in our Nature Explorers Summer Day Camp are filling fast! ☀️ Open to kids ages 8–12, wit...
05/22/2026

Summer is almost here and spots in our Nature Explorers Summer Day Camp are filling fast! ☀️ Open to kids ages 8–12, with flexible options to register for two, three, or five days across multiple weeks.

Don't wait, register today at hirundomaine.org/summercamp!

📢 ONE WEEK AWAY: Sunset Paddle on Dead and Pushaw Streams! Join us for a group paddle to catch a glimpse of wildlife and...
05/22/2026

📢 ONE WEEK AWAY: Sunset Paddle on Dead and Pushaw Streams! Join us for a group paddle to catch a glimpse of wildlife and enjoy spectacular colors painting the sky!

🎟️ Register today: www.hirundomaine.org/upcoming-events-and-programs

Ever used "chrysalis" and "cocoon" interchangeably? They're actually very different things.You may be familiar with the ...
05/21/2026

Ever used "chrysalis" and "cocoon" interchangeably? They're actually very different things.

You may be familiar with the life cycle of the monarch butterfly. The eggs hatch and the caterpillar eats and grows for 2 to 3 weeks. When it's time for the next stage, it finds a secure spot to hook onto and sheds its outer skin to reveal the chrysalis, or pupa, beneath.

A chrysalis is made up of chitin, protein, and waxy cuticles. Inside this protective case the insect seems to magically reassemble itself.

A cocoon is the sleeping bag spun from silk and sometimes leaves that acts as protection for the pupa. They are generally spun by moth larvae prior to making the transformation to the pupa stage.

In short: a chrysalis is the pupa of a butterfly, and a cocoon is a moth's protective covering during the same stage.

📝Thanks to Trustee Laura for this Nature Note!

The water is calling, and we have canoes and kayaks ready to go! 🛶 Reserve a FREE Saturday rental by Thursday or book a ...
05/20/2026

The water is calling, and we have canoes and kayaks ready to go! 🛶 Reserve a FREE Saturday rental by Thursday or book a $10/hour rental on other days based on availability.

- Saturday Rentals (requests placed by Thursday each week): https://form.jotform.com/241095930038051

- Other days: Email [email protected]

Address

1107 West Old Town Road
Old Town, ME
04468

Telephone

+12073942171

Website

https://www.bonfire.com/store/hirundo-shop/

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