Biddeford-Saco CC has received approval for its plan of environmental stewardship from the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. Birdhouses are being installed around the golf course to attract bluebirds and tree swallows. A bat house, wood duck house and owl house will also be installed, and native plants will be grown to attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Biddeford-Saco Country Club in Saco, Maine recently received recognition for environmental planning from the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, the Biddeford Journal Tribune reported. The international program is administered by Audubon International and designed to help landowners preserve and enhance the environmental quality of their properties. The program also recognized the club’s Golf Course Superintendent, John Dion, who developed the plan.
Now that a plan has been approved, Biddeford-Saco CC can apply for recognition from Audubon International in specific categories—including Wildlife and Habitat Management, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, Water Quality Management, and Outreach and Education‑after demonstrating that it has met minimum requirements in each area, the Journal Tribune reported. Once a property has been recognized in all categories and receives a site visit from Audubon International staff, it can be designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.
“The open space of a golf course is utilized not only by golfers, but is habitat for a variety of wildlife species,” said Christine Kane, CEO of Audubon International, in a written statement. “We welcome Biddeford-Saco Country Club’s commitment to the environment and to managing the golf course with wildlife in mind.”
Biddeford-Saco member Lisa Gorman told the Journal Tribune that the crew at the country club, under Dion’s leadership, has done a good job of respecting the environment while meeting what the golfers want on the course. “It’s something members and the community can really be proud of,” Gorman said.
The Biddeford-Saco property spans about 185 acres in Saco as well as in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, with frontage along Goosefare Brook, the Journal Tribune reported. There is a variety of wildlife on the property and “the deer are pretty prolific,” Dion said.
The club’s staff and members have also seen fox, otters, plenty of turkeys, a pair of nesting hawks, and on rare occasions, a coyote or a fisher cat, the Journal Tribune reported.
As the country club works to implement the plan and gain other recognition from Audubon International, Gordon said, there has been a lot of support from members as well as the general community, the Journal Tribune reported. On a recent Saturday morning, Biddeford-Saco members got together with players on the local Thornton Academy golf team and others from the community to make a number of birdhouses that will help to attract birds.
Birdhouses are being installed around the golf course to attract bluebirds and tree swallows, the Journal Tribune reported. A bat house, wood duck house and owl house will also be installed. Native plants will be grown to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. All birdhouses will be monitored and the club’s kitchen staff will help to monitor hummingbird feeders.
“We’ve been surprised at how well [the initiative] has been embraced,” Gordon said.
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