Arboretum at Fort Williams, Cape Elizabeth, volunteers need to clear the Cliffside site, 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Saturday, rain or shine. Meet at the entrance to Cliff Walk (above the beach to the right). Please bring pruning saws and loppers, wear gloves and dress in clothing that provides protection from thorny plants. Steering committee members will be present. Not suitable for children. For more information, www.arboretumatfortwilliams.org.

 

You, Birds and Birding, 7 p.m. Wednesday, nationally acclaimed authors Don and Lillian Stokes will present their new national field guide, the Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America, and tell how they designed it for today’s birders. Mather Auditorium of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm, 342 Laudholm Farm Road, Wells. Co-hosted by the Wells Reserve and York County Audubon. Suggested $5 donation. www.yorkcountyaudubon.org/

 

Handgun safety course, 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Sportsman’s BARR in Gardiner. This class fulfills the requirements before applying for a concealed firearms permit. The cost $50. For more information, call 588-0888.

 

Presentation on Clam Fisheries, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Watts Hall in Thomaston. Sherman Hoyt, a member of the University of Maine Marine Extension Team, will share the story of the origins the Georges River Clam Management Program, which is now a successful model of community-based fisheries management. Co-sponsored by Georges River Land Trust and Georges River Tidewater Association. For more information, call 594-5166.

 

Looking ahead

Birds in the Chimney? 7 p.m. Nov. 16. A “flying cigar,” the chimney swift is rarely seen perched. The swift’s high-pitched twittering, once a familiar sound during summertime, is now becoming scarce. Ted Allen, a leader in swift conservation, will talk about this unique species and what is being done for its conservation. Mather Auditorium of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm, 342 Laudholm Farm Road, Wells. Free. www.york countyaudubon.org/

Maine Guide Training Program at the Skowhegan Community Center, 39 Poulin Drive, Skowhegan, Dec. 2-5. The course prepares students for taking the state’s licensing exam for recreational, hunting and fishing guides. The cost is $475 per person, and a $200 deposit is required upon registration. To register, call Carroll Ware at Fins and Furs Adventures, 474-5430.

 

Wetland Species ID in Winter, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 3, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay Harbor. Instructor Lauren Stockwell builds knowledge and skills for recognizing wetland trees and shrubs in winter. Some familiarity with common wetland plants and taxonomy is helpful. Co-sponsored by New England Wild Flower Society and Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. $44 (member) / $55 (nonmember). Pre-registration is necessary. Call 508-877-7630, ext. 3303.

 

Ongoing

The Portland Water District invites preschoolers to join it for environmentally themed stories, activities and crafts. The sessions include: Harvesting at Home, Nov. 19; Forest Friends, Dec. 17; the Wonders of Water, Jan. 21; Incredible Insects, Feb. 18; Plants and Their Parts, March 18; Fun with Frogs, April 15. The programs will run from 10 a.m.-noon at the Sebago Lake Ecology Center in Standish. Register now and pay $10 for the series. To register, e-mail sebagolake@pwd.org or call 774-5961 ext. 3319 or 3320. Donation supports local loon preservation. Scholarships available, snacks provided.

 

Weekly Bird Walk, Thursday mornings at Gilsland Farm, Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth, 7 a.m., $5 for Maine Audubon members, $8 for nonmembers. All skill levels. Bring binoculars and a field guide and meet in the visitor center parking lot. 781-2330, ext. 209.

Bird Walks, 10 a.m. Thursdays, starting at the George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History, College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor. With naturalist and student Anna Stunkel, through Nov. 18. For information, contact astunkel@coa.edu or call 288-5395.