By Marty Basch

The Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, or "the Audubon" as locals call it, is a 65-acre sanctuary in Falmouth where the city meets the sea. A few miles north of Portland, the sheltered former grist and saw mill site for English settlers in the 1630s is now a place for the modern family to wander, discover and relax all without a cover charge (though donations are appreciated).

"In these times we know that a connection with nature can bring solace," says communications director Elyse Tipton.

Stress? Nope

So leave the stress behind on the 2 and a half miles of easy to follow trails through woods, along a pond home to frogs, by the salt marshes and into meadows. Well-placed perches - birdhouses and benches - are scattered throughout the trail system for both birds and four-legged mammals. A handful of observation blinds are prime viewing spots for a close look at migrating birds through the looking glasses all visitors should consider bringing.

There are three basic trails. The North Meadow and West Meadow Trails are loops linked together by the Pond Meadow Trail found outside the visitors center near the Presumpscot River estuary with its bee hives and bird-feeders.

Portland's low-lying skyline is easily spotted from many water-side locations, but there are also white stands of birches, pockets of grown hemlock and red oak, and apple orchards waiting to bloom. Scampering squirrels, black woodchucks and elusive deer might be spotted. In winter, snowshoers and cross country skiers ply the trails, but in late June the pink peonies are in bloom. Volunteers tend to their small plots outside a barn in the organic community garden.

Lots of birds

Of course, any Audubon center is for the birds. White-patched winged bobolinks and yellow-breasted meadowlarks nest in the meadows. Birds of prey hunt for unsuspecting rodents from above. In the mud flats, shorebirds peck at the marine life left behind when the tide rushes out. Songbirds twill their pretty numbers. Finches and warblers hang out in the shrubs.

There are plenty of bird boxes.

"The bird boxes are on post four- to six-feet high and are for tree swallows," says staff naturalist Eric Hynes. "We also have two wood duck boxes the average person might no see as they walk the property.

Though there is an outdoor focus, Gilsland is also headquarters for Maine Audubon. Inside the airy visitors center  a nature store loaded with books, toys and bird-feeding equipment, the educational children's Discovery Center, and a handful of displays including an array of various color and size bird eggs. The center offers a myriad of nature programs for all ages.

One Tank Away

Falmouth is:

*150 miles from Deer Isle, Me.

*340 miles from Deer Park, N.Y.

*247 miles (plus ferry)  from Deer Island, NB