The male hooded merganser is a common sight along the Androscoggin River.

Bird club to host field trip

LEWISTON – The Stanton Bird Club will host the sixth birdwatching field trip in the guided bird walks series on Wednesday, Dec. 5.

Leaders Stan and Joan DeOrsey will meet participants at 8 a.m. at Staples parking lot at the Promenade Mall, East Avenue, to carpool to the walk location. They will return by 11 a.m.

The easy walk will focus on the Railroad Park area of Lewiston and the river walk area of Auburn. The open water of the river means likely views of winter ducks such as hooded mergansers, different species of gulls, such as the ring-billed gull, and possibly loons.

In the trees along the river walkers should see many of the common urban birds that don’t migrate, like the chickadee, nuthatch and sparrow species.

They will also scan the spires of the Franco-American Heritage Center to look for the peregrine falcon.

For more information, contact Stan DeOrsey at 933-2266 or [email protected].

The bird club is a conservation organization offering monthly natural history programs and field trips free. New members are welcome. For more information, call 782-5238 or visit www.stantonbirdclub.org.