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The Stanton Bird Club has been actively engaged in conservation work
in the Androscoggin County area for over 80 years. Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary
in Lewiston, a 357 acre wildlife preserve, has been the primary focus of that
activity through the years. At an elevation of 510 feet, the highest point in
the city, this sanctuary sits as a green capstone, a forested oasis surrounded
on three sides by urban and suburban development. The "Crag", belonging to the
family Thorne in the 1800's, is a familiar and well loved landmark in Lewiston.
The human use of this land over the decades has been as varied as the habitats
and wildlife it has always protected. Uses have included: recreation and scientific
research by Bates College, a sheep and dairy farm, tuberculosis sanitorium, homestead
for the reclusive Elder Thorne, and facility for Highland Spring Bottled Water
Company. 
Today, a revitalized Thorncrag serves as the springboard for several community
outreach programs, and as a significant regional site for wildlife habitat enhancement
demonstrations and forestry practices. Since 1986 a dedicated corps of volunteers
has been working to restore Thorncrag as a safe and educational resource for the
area. Our earliest and strongest alliances were with the Cooperative Extension
and the Soil and Water Conservation District. Through these agencies we reconstructed
all the trails, installed erosion control devices, developed a very comprehensive
Master Plan, assessed our wetlands, established an environmental education outreach
program, and brought the community to a better understanding of the importance
of conservation. Thorncrag is now used as a demonstration and workshop site
for groups such as University of Maine wildlife biologists, college and
high school ecology classes, Boy and Girl Scout troops, professional botanical
societies, garden clubs, arborists, environmental educators with programs such
as Project Learning Tree and Project Wild, wetland engineers, surveyors, soil
scientists, and all the K-12 schools in the Androscoggin County area.
Passive recreation at Thorncrag - birdwatching, picnicking, hiking, walking,
snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding, skating, nature photography - is
actively encouraged. Promotion of these activities is offered through our widely
distributed brochure (at the Chamber of Commerce and Lewiston and Auburn Libraries);
in entries in the AAA guidebooks and the Delorme Atlas and Gazetteer; in environmental
education publications and newsletters, and in the IF &W publication "On Water,
On Wings, In the Woods". Download and Print a Map of Thorncrag
Acrobat Reader required
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Thorncrag encompasses approximately 6 different wildlife habitats: Upland Wetlands,
Mixed Forest, Restored Farm Meadows, Vernal Pools, Coniferous Old growth Forest,
Built Environment (fireplaces, trails, foundations, walls, amphitheaters, etc.).
These six habitats support large, diverse populations of wildlife, trees, and
herbaceous plants. Visitors are encouraged to walk the trails using our
32-page "Self-Guided Nature Trail" interpretive brochure to learn more about the
flora and fauna at the sanctuary. The brochure is available for $3.00 (includes
postage and handling) from: Stanton Bird Club, P.O. Box 3172., Lewiston, ME 04243.
Checks should be payable to: Stanton Bird Club.
Brochures are also available
for $1 at the Customer Service Desk at Hannaford's Supermarket on Sabattus Street.,
as well as both the Lewiston and Auburn Libraries. | GETTING
TO THORNCRAG The City bus stops at the Hannaford Store
bus stop on Sabattus Street, at the corner of Highland Spring Road. From here
it's just a short walk up Highland Spring Road, turn right at the stop sign and
then left into the sanctuary at the gate.
DRIVING
FROM
I-495 - MAINE TURNPIKE, NORTH & SOUTH
Take exit
13 in Lewiston and head west on Rte. 196 (Lisbon Street).
Turn right
onto East Avenue. (the Promenade Mall will be on your left, Martel School will
be on your right). Take East Avenue to the intersection of Sabattus Street (Rte.
126).You will see Rite Aid on the opposite left corner. Turn right onto Sabattus
Street and continue until you see Hannaford's Supermarket on the left. Turn left
there onto Highland Spring Road at the stone pillar with a Thorncrag sign on top.
At the end of Highland Spring Road, turn right, and the Sanctuary parking area
will be on your left.
FROM THE SOUTH and WEST (Gray, Poland
& Minot)
Approach Lewiston along Court Street in Auburn, and cross
into Lewiston over the Androscoggin River at Great Falls onto Main Street.
Head north on Main Street (Rt. 202)
Bear right onto Sabattus Street
(Rt.126. You'll see a building with gold letters saying "287 Main Street"
at that intersection. The Kora Temple will be on your right)
Stay on Sabattus
Street until you come to Hannaford's Supermarket on the left.
Turn left there
onto Highland Spring Road at the stone pillar with a Thorncrag sign on top.
At the end of Highland Spring Road, turn right, and the Sanctuary parking area
will be on your left. FROM THE NORTH (Turner & Rte. 4,
Greene & Rte. 202)
From Rte 4, Turn left at the Auburn Mall onto the
Veterans Memorial Bridge. At the end of the bridge you will cross Rte. 202 (Main
St. Lewiston) onto Russell Street.
From Greene and Rte. 202, you will turn
left onto Russell Street at the intersection of the bridge.
Follow Russell
Street to the intersection of Sabattus Street.
Turn left onto Sabattus Street
(Rt.126.)
Drive on Sabattus Street a short distance until you come to
Hannaford's Supermarket on the left.
Turn left there onto Highland Spring
Road at the stone pillar with a Thorncrag sign on top.
At the end of Highland
Spring Road, turn right, and the Sanctuary parking area will be on your left.
FROM THE EAST (Lisbon and Rte. 196)
Rte. 196 brings you into Lewiston
on Lisbon Street. Once in Lewiston, turn right onto East Avenue. (the Promenade
Mall will be on your left, Martel School will be on your right). Take East Avenue
to the intersection of Sabattus Street (Rte. 126).You will see Rite Aid on the
opposite left corner. Turn right onto Sabattus Street and continue until you see
Hannaford's Supermarket on the left. Turn left there onto Highland Spring Road
at the stone pillar with a Thorncrag sign on top.
At the end of Highland Spring
Road, turn right, and the Sanctuary parking area will be on your left.
OR:
Go straight at the light and stay on East Ave. through the next light (Russell
St.), past Montello School on the right, to the four-way intersection with Montello
St. Go across Montello St., straight up the hill, past the resevoir on your left,
East Ave. will turn into a dirt road, down the hill to our other gate and kiosk
entrance. Park in this cul-de-sac or along the road. FROM THE
EAST (Sabattus and Rte. 126)
Rte. 126 brings you into Lewiston on Sabattus
Street. Once in Lewiston you will see Hannaford's Supermarket on the right.
Turn right there onto Highland Spring Road at the stone pillar with a Thorncrag
sign on top.
At the end of Highland Spring Road, turn right, and the Sanctuary
parking area will be on your left. THE
BIRDS OF THORNCRAG |
