gilsland farm audubon center

The staff at Gisland Farm are all extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and courteous. I would love to go back during the spring/summer/fall, as it was a very cold day in February. The husband and wife who brought the snowy owl for the book release were so pleasant, just all around nice experience. Definitely want to go back!

Another amazing and beautiful natural resource in Maine. Located just off Route One in Falmouth, the Gilsland Farm and Audubon Center is many things...a rural farm, woodland trails, marshes, ocean views, wildlife and the marvelous Audubon building....all close to the city...yet so far away. An educational center providing outdoor activities for young and old alike. Events are held in a large conference - style room. I have been to art shows, jewelry shows, and even an exhibition of chocolates. The gift shop is a wonderful spot for educational gifts for children...of all ages. A real treat to spend time there...also a very helpful staff. Wonderful photo ops abound in every area of the farm and woodlands...from sunrise to sunset. A great spot for walks...benches for sitting, reading...and just communicating with the beautiful Maine nature. I gave seen wild turkeys, rabbits, hedgehogs, seabirds, deer, and other birds and animals here. Gorgeous in all four seasons...a wonderful serene and bucolic atmospere...so worth a visit...plan to see it all...you won't be disappointed.

A beautiful location to experience the healing power of nature. Easy, rambling trails any season of the year. My family and I watched the moon rise over the ocean inlet during a golden, amethyst sunset on late in the afternoon on Thanksgiving. The most beautiful public experience of beauty in Falmouth.

I've been to Gilsland Farm Audubon many times. Local Audubon headquarters are housed here, with a sweet gift store, nature exhibits and offices: they host various programs year-round, and the grounds are well kept, boasting flower bed displays, outdoor sculpture, a small pond, community garden and walking trails with nature viewing areas. The total land area is 65 acres and includes 2.5 miles of trails covering a wide range of habitat, set along the Presumpscot River Estuary to the west, and Route One to the East. My friend Alex and I wanted to see some local foliage without having to travel too far, so Gilsland seemed the right choice for this. We happened to have a car to get there, but Gilsland is also easily accessible by the #7 METRO bus serving the Greater Portland area. We arrived very close to dusk, so the light was not optimal for foliage-viewing, but we did see some and it was very nice.... though still not at full-peak. On this short visit, we walked only the West Meadow Trail. We appreciated that there is no longer a gait which closes at dusk, allowing visitors to be there after dark. The down side of this is that the property is not secure and could at any time be at risk of vandals. We really love this place, but noted the noise pollution from vehicular traffic heard from nearby Rt. I-295 just beyond the estuary: disappointing and unfortunate. Nevertheless, I will go back again, and will hope the wind will carry the vehicular noise pollution in another direction next time, making for a quieter visit.

We are so happy you had such a special wedding here. Thanks so much for choosing Maine Audubon!

We stopped here as our first sightseeing adventure in Maine, after traveling to this state from Wisconsin. We spent two hours walking the trails, which wind through several types of terrain. We saw interesting birds and beautiful flowers. It was a very pleasant start to a several day visit to this state.

Small little park with three miles of trails. Plenty of places to sit and bird watch. Trails take you along cove, fields, and a pond. Small gift shop with lots of bird watching gear. Trail maps available from gift shop are free and parking and admission is free.

A well kept secret that has evolved over the years. Just walking? Bird watching? carryin picnic? Education center? Gift shop? All this with water views and rolling hills.

Just a short driveway off the main road and you're in paradise! Walking trails abound and there is a wonderful center with a shop of all sorts of things bird, nature, gifts, etc. not to mention classes and events ongoing.

A great place for a short or long walk, trails along the Presumpscot River estuary; many learning opportunities at every turn. You hardly notice the interstate. Nice place to visit at any time of year.

As sunset approached, we explored the sights and sounds of fields, woods, and estuary throughout this former saltwater farm. We saw just what we'd hoped to see and more: deer, woodchucks, geese, cardinals, and other wildlife. A camera is a must! Access was by a short dirt road to a large dirt parking lot near the (closed) Visitors' Center. Trails were easy to discern and well-marked. A trailside post sought donations so we gave one and felt it was very well worth it. Viewpoint rain shelters and well-placed benches dot the trails. We loved everything about the place except the lack of access to any rest facilities during hours when the Visitors' Center is closed.

My mother and my husband and I explored this gem a few months back, and I will definitely return in the near future. We had such an entertaining time just walking along the paths. It was an overcast day, it even rained a few times, but it didn't dampen our experience one bit. We saw so many woodchucks! That may seem boring to some, but I was thoroughly entertained. They don't seem that afraid of people so we got to see some very close. The little pond on the property is a great feature, you can see frogs and toads in every phase of development if you go at the right time of year. There are also lots of birds, chipmunks, squirrels, and lovely trees, flowers, etc. The views of the ocean along the coast side of the property are extremely picturesque as well. Highly recommended!

Love the walking trails. And enjoy the views. Staff is always very friendly and knowledgable.

I was visiting my daughter who lives in Falmouth and we saw the Audubon Center and went to visit on a Sunday afternoon. What a lovely experience we had. This had been an actual farm that was donated and is now open for all to enjoy. They have a nice visitor's center and a space for community gardens. You can bird watch and walk through the fields or close to the bay. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the day.