It’s fall—and time for our annual trek to Fryeburg to look for sandhill cranes. Each year, a flock of up to 50 of these stately birds gathers in the fields along the Saco River to fuel up before heading south for the winter.

Join us for this free event! James Reddoch will meet participants on Saturday, October 31, at 8:00 a.m. in the Fryeburg Academy parking lot. From there, we’ll convoy to McNeil and River Roads in hopes of spotting the cranes.

Dress for the weather. We’ll be birding from the roadside with little to no walking. Bring binoculars if you have them—though spotting scopes will also be available. While we’ve had great luck finding the cranes in past years, sightings aren’t guaranteed. Either way, it’s a perfect excuse to get outside and enjoy a crisp fall morning in western Maine.