Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary

Lewiston Maine’s Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary is located on the highest elevation of the city. The over 300 acre site contains many types of habitat, from wetlands to hemlock forests, for birds and other wildlife. Thorncrag has long been a popular site for outdoor recreation. Boy Scouts and other youth groups have found it to be a convenient opportunity to get to the outdoors without leaving town. More years ago than I like to think about, this is where I had my first experiences hiking and learning outdoor cooking and survival skills. The sanctuary is owned and managed by the Stanton Bird Club, a private organization. A new visitor center is currently under construction on the Montello St. side. It’s great to see that in spite of development in this part of Lewiston, a small piece of wilderness will survive.