Spectrum Generations Coastal Community Center, 521 Main Street in Damariscotta will host its weekly lunch and learn program on Wednesday, Aug. 24 at 11:15 a.m. Following the luncheon Dr. Stephen W. Kress, Vice President for Bird Conservation with the National Audubon Society will discuss the creation of bird friendly gardens and yards. There aren't many sounds more beautiful than a bird singing outside your window. Creating a garden that attracts songbirds is not as hard as you would think. Learn why according to Kress "If you are trying to bring more birds to your backyard, the single best thing to do is plant native shrubs, vines, and trees."

Kress is Director of the Seabird Restoration Program and Vice president for Bird Conservation of the National Audubon Society. He is is a prolific author, publishing several books with expert tips for creating bird-friendly habitats in your own backyard, bird houses and bird feeders, and garden landscaping  including The Audubon Guide to Attracting Birds, The National Audubon Society's Birder's Handbook, The Bird Garden, Project Puffin: How We Brought Puffins Back to Egg Rock, Saving Birds, Golden Guide to Bird Life, and others. During most of the year, Steve lives on 33 acres of woods and meadows near Ithaca, New York with his wife Elissa Wolfson, where he manages his land for songbirds. He spends summers on the Maine coast, continuing his lifelong interest in restoring nesting seabird colonies.

For more on Kress, visit http://birds.explore.org/post/50087003695/stephen-w-kress-is-vice-president-for-bird and http://projectpuffin.audubon.org/about/staff.

You can attend just the learning part of the program or both lunch and program. Reservations for lunch are required: Call 563-1363 by noon on Monday, Aug. 22 to make your baked haddock luncheon reservation. For those 60 years of age and over the suggested donation is $5 per person. For all other community members Coastal's lunch and learn program is an affordable dining choice at $6.00 per person.

For a complette list of programming, visit www.spectrumgenerations.org/coastal-center.