LEWISTON – The Stanton Bird Club has announced its summer schedule of guided bird walks. All walks are free and open to the public.

Walks will be held every other Wednesday, beginning June 3, when the group will travel to the Lisbon area to the Papermill and Ricker Farm Trails. The trails are paved and follow the Sabattus River through wooded habitat then through open farmland, allowing a large variety of bird species.

Participants will leave at 8 a.m. from the Promenade Mall. Those attending should meet at the Staples end of the parking lot, 855 Lisbon St., to be at the walk site at 8:20.

All walks will meet at the Promenade Mall except the June 17 and July 29 walks, which will leave at 8 a.m. from the Marden’s parking lot, 750 Main St.

Walks will end by 11 a.m., but participants may leave early. If it is raining at 7 a.m. and predicted to continue through 10 a.m., the walk will be canceled. Walkers should bring binoculars and dress for the weather. Walks will be approximately two miles on an even and basically dry surface (June 17 excepted).

Walks will be led by Stan and Joan DeOrsey, who will identify and comment on birds seen and heard; and by Susan Hayward, Stanton naturalist, who will share her knowledge of botany.

Walks will be held in a variety of local habitats, plus at some private areas not normally open to the public.

Other walks are as follows:

June 17, the Maurer’s in Leeds, for bog botany. Participants should bring boots for possible ankle deep water.

July 1, the Small’s farm in Litchfield, for summer residents.

July 15, Beaver Park in Lisbon, for summer residents.

July 29, the McCorrison’s farm in Greene, for summer residents.

Aug. 12, Alexander-Harkins Preserve in Auburn, for post-breeding residents.

Aug. 26, Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary in Lewiston, for woodland residents.

For any questions, call Stan or Joan DeOrsey at 933-2266 or e-mail [email protected].

The Stanton Bird Club is a conservation organization offering free monthly natural history programs and field trips throughout the state. For more information, call 782-5238, visit the Web site at www.stantonbirdclub.org or e-mail questions to [email protected].