CANTON – The Androscoggin Land Trust, in partnership with Stanton Bird Club, will host a tour of the trust’s Stevens Island and Rivershore Preserve from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 28.

Amateur botanist Michael Auger of the trust, and Susan and Tom Hayward of the bird club will lead the tour, which will appeal to botanists as well as birders. Participants will canoe a short distance across the Androscoggin River to Stevens Island.

Stevens Island and Rivershore Preserve is a 220-acre property along the Androscoggin River. It contains a hardwood river terrace forest and silver maple floodplain forest, two state rare natural communities.

The property is also rich in spring ephemerals and wildlife due to the undeveloped forest and floodplain habitat. Spring ephemerals flower before most trees leaf out. Those typically seen on Stevens Island at this time of year include spring beauty, bloodroot and trout lily.

For bird enthusiasts, blue-headed vireo, a variety of warblers, song sparrow, yellow-bellied sapsucker, eagle and osprey are among those that may be seen on land. The river might also host mallard, black duck, hooded merganser and possibly, teal.

The preserve was donated to the trust by International Paper in 1998 as part of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission dam re-licensing project. It is the largest preserve in the trust’s Northern service area of Canton, Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls.

Androscoggin Land Trust is a membership-supported conservation organization dedicated to protecting the natural areas, traditional landscapes and outdoor experience along the central Androscoggin River corridor.

It conserves more than 2,800 acres of land, including six miles of riverfront along the Androscoggin River. Visit www.androscogginlandtrust.org for more information.

The Stanton Bird Club is a conservation organization offering monthly natural history programs and field trips throughout the state free.

Stanton welcomes new members whose dues help to support land stewardship at three sanctuaries owned and managed by the club in Lewiston and Monmouth.

For more information, contact the club at 782-5238 or visit www.stantonbirdclub.org.

The trip must be limited to 20 participants. Call to reserve a place. For more information and to sign up, call Auger at 782-2302.