LEWISTON – Work on the Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary’s expansion kicked off Thursday with crews concentrating on removing stumps around the Montello Street entrance.

The southeastern portion of the sanctuary along Montello Street will remain closed during the construction. It should reopen by Memorial Day, according to Stanton Bird Club President Susan Hayward.

“If they go there now, all that they’ll be able to see is snow fences blocking them off,” Hayward said.

The park will remain open. Only the Montello Street entrance and the area around it will be closed. Hayward said snowshoers, winter hikers and birdwatchers are being directed to the sanctuary’s western entrance, along East Avenue.

“A lot of people use that as the main entrance, anyway,” she said. “It still has an information kiosk and maps for anyone that wants to use it.”

That entrance is at the end of East Avenue, past the old city reservoir.

The work includes building a parking lot space for 23 cars, including two handicap spaces. The club has until the end of 2007 to build the lot, part of the first phase of expansions.

It’s the first part of a bigger expansion, that includes building a gazebo shelter, a kiosk, bathrooms and a handicap accessible trail loop.

“We’re still doing fundraising for that,” Hayward said.