It appears spring may finally be taking hold in Midcoast Maine. Damariscotta River Association (DRA) is offering two opportunities in the coming weeks to get outdoors and explore signs of the changing season.

On Saturday, April 14 from 7 a.m. to noon, Midcoast Audubon bird experts Dennis McKenna and John Weinrich will lead a bird walk at DRA’s Great Salt Bay Farm. The group will explore freshwater marsh, shoreline, and forest edges to look for ducks and geese, raptors, kingfishers, gulls, and early migrating warblers and songbirds. This event is free of charge and no registration is required.

On Sunday, April 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., hikers are invited to join DRA Education Director Sarah Gladu for a five-mile guided walk along the River~Link trail from McKay Road in Edgecomb to Dodge Point in Newcastle. River~Link is an unbroken wildlife corridor in the center of the Boothbay peninsula offering excellent opportunities for bird watching and finding animal tracks, scat and signs.

To help with planning and coordination, registration by April 13 is required for the River~Link hike. The fee is $5, or free for DRA members. Hikers should bring lunch and water. The group will meet at Dodge Point on River Road in Newcastle to leave cars, then carpool to the trailhead on McKay Road.

Learn more online at www.damariscottariver.org.