BELFAST — In February, the Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition will host several outings and events. 

Wildlife Tracking at Head of Tide Preserve, February 4, 10 a.m., Ron Joseph, retired US Fish and Wildlife biologist and native of Maine, will lead a walk to search for and understand the signs and communications left by mammals and other fauna in winter. With 40 years of experience tracking and studying Maine’s wildlife, Ron’s fun approach to teaching tracks and signs will offer everyone with greater knowledge and understanding what is sure to be an enjoyable outing. Meet at Head-of-Tide Preserve on the Doak Road in Belfast shortly before 10 a.m. The Coastal Mountains Land Trust preserve of nearly 100 acres has different habitats for different species, and should show us some interesting evidence of winter wildlife. For more information, call 338-1147.

Harbor Bird Watch. The next winter Harbor Bird Watch at the Belfast footbridge will be happening Saturday, February 11, 8:30-10 a.m. Ron Harrell and Gary Gulezian will be at the footbridge with their telescopes to show people whatever birds are in the harbor area and answer questions about them.  Bring personal binoculars and dress appropriately for the weather. 

BBWC Reading Group. February 16, 6:30-8 p.m., at the Belfast Free Library. The BBWC Reading Group will meet and discuss the book The Lobster Coast: Rebels, Rusticators, and the Struggle for a Forgotten Frontier by Colin Woodard. Discussion facilitated by Kathleen Reilly. 

Woodward describes his book as a "little understood saga of war and betrayal, of clashing empires and ethnic cleansing, of an intra-English civil war and a 170 year colonial occupation of the province that we now know as Maine." These events explain some of Mainers’ most impressive virtues and most frustrating faults, as well as the still uncomfortable relationship between this land’s real natives and the rest of us whose families came "from away” at some point in the past four hundred years. 

Belfast Free Library will help participants borrow copies of these books. In addition, Left Bank Books has offered a generous 15% discount to readers in the BBWC Book Group. Quantities are limited. To receive the discount, readers should mention they are reading with the BBWC Book Group.

For more information about the Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition, please visit:  belfastbaywatershed.org