This morning, Jeanne Gamage and Nancy Viehmann led the first Preschool Story Hour in the Reserve's new fall series. It was very popular, attracting over 40 children, parents, and preschool teachers. Little Tom Turkey, written by Maine author Frances Bloxam, was the featured book this month. The children were wide eyed as they listened to Jeanne read the story and show real turkey feathers.

Following the story, Jeanne shared turkey egg and scat replicas with the group. Next, everybody hit the trail with Nancy in search of turkeys, their scat, and their tracks. The children took turns jiggling turkey callers, in hopes of attracting one of these magnificent birds.

Before leaving, participants were given turkey badges and coloring pages to take home, further extending their Wells Reserve at Laudholm experience.

The Reserve's library Preschool Story Hour programs for children ages 3-5 and their caregivers are free. The next two offerings are on Tuesday, November 8 (A Log's Life) and Tuesday, December 13 (Bird, Butterfly, Eel) from 10:30-11:30am. The Wells Reserve's Dorothy Fish Coastal Resource Library is open to the public on Tuesdays from 10-1 and Wednesdays from 1-4. It has over 3,500 volumes on coastal environments, estuarine issues, and watershed conservation.