Natural History Week at Bearnstow 2015

Held June 22–26

Download the 2015 Natural History Week Brochure (PDF)



Bearnstow Launches Natural History Week 2015, Monday, June 22
With Bob Cook, Wildlife Ecologist, National Park Service, Cape Cod National Seashore
     “Amphibians and Reptiles of Cape Cod National Seashore” — Download PDF flier



The afternoon hunt for reptiles and amphibians at Bearnstow re­sulted in five different species of salamanders and two species of frogs from Uncle Daniel’s Brook and a young snapping turtle from Parker Pond. Pictured here, Bob Cook holds up a young snapping turtle he trapped in Parker at the mouth of the brook, assisted by Harper Foote.

Photo by Anabel Sagrero



Tuesday, June 23:
Justin Waskiewicz, Lecturer, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources,
University of Vermont
     “Forests as Dynamic Ecological Systems” — Download PDF flier


Justin Waskiewicz with group on the woods walk, illustrating the different strategies trees have developed to ensure their suc­cess in the forest environment

Photo by Anabel Sagrero




Wednesday, June 24:
Julie Brigham-Grette, Dept. Head, Geosciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
     “Understanding New England’s Glacial Landscape” — Download PDF flier



Julie Brigham-Grette with group at the Lodge porch—her discus­sions covered glacier activity in Norway and Alaska, illustrating the processes that helped form our Maine lakes and landscapes, including Parker Pond.

Photo by Anabel Sagrero




Thursday, June 25:
Eric Jones, Assistant Professor of Plant Biology, University of Maine, Machias
     “Citizen Science: Using Natural History Skills to Support Scientific Research” — Download PDF flier



Eric Jones illustrates herbarium techniques—methods for presev­ing plant species—to the group.

Photo by Anabel Sagrero



Friday, June 26:
Kevin Doran, Natural Science Educator, Maine Forest Service
     “Maine Woods: Finding the Right Balance” — Download PDF flier



Kevin Doran about to take core sample from the trunk of a hemlock to estimate its age

Photo by Anabel Sagrero


Bearnstow lies on 65 acres of nearly pristine woodland alongside 2,400 feet of Parker Pond’s rocky shoreline. In a walk along the trails beside the lake and the brook, we can see a vast variety of vegetation—according to one state forester, “more than any other site I have visited.” Since 1922 the property’s natural environment has been carefully protected, first by Colby College biology professor Webster Chester, and then by Bearnstow.

We have a registered State of Maine “Big Tree” (an Alle­ghany service berry), erratic boulders, clay subsoil, ground pines, trailing arbutus, five kinds of native ever­greens visi­ble from one vista, reindeer moss, and lichen once used to make lavender dye. Parker Pond’s pure water is phenome­nal: over the years it has never failed to test safe to drink.