By Molly Lovell

Staff Writer

Volunteers armed with rubber gloves, trash bags and apassion for the environment got down and dirty last Saturday at the annualspring cleaning of the Scarborough Marsh and beaches.

            “Thiscleanup is a good way to raise awareness about how much debris can becollected,” said Carole Brush, assistant director of the Scarborough Marsh.

            Shedescribed the marsh as an “extremely rich” habitat for a variety of species ofbirds and mammals, making such cleanups essential to their health and survival.

            “Trashcan pollute the water or an animal can swallow a piece of trash – it changesthe whole ecosystem,” she said.

            Fishinglines and plastic six-pack rings are especially dangerous to marsh dwellers,she said, encouraging people to cut the rings before discarding them.

            Shesaid more than 35 trash bags of bottles, paper, cigarette butts andmiscellaneous trash were collected by nearly 100 volunteers at the AudubonCenter alone. More rubbish was collected at eight other cleanup sites.

            JoshDayton and Brian Dell’olio, both longtime volunteers at the center, werehelping to move canoes Saturday and said volunteer turnout seemed good, thoughthey had seen more in the past.

            Theyalso said one might be surprised at the amount of trash volunteers collectduring events such as these.

            AngelaBlais and her daughter Taite of Westbrook started down Route 9, trash bags inhand shortly after 9 a.m. It was the first time either participated in theevent.

            AngelaBlais wanted to give back to the center and said she remembered participatingin nature events there as far back as fifth grade.

            Whatdid the mother and daughter team to be collecting most frequently?

            “Cigarettebutts – it’s mean,” Taite Blais said.

            ShaneRoss was leading a team of 10 Wal-Mart employees on the cleanup. While heconsidered himself, and the store, to be environmentally conscious, he said itwas too bad that there are those who are careless about the environment.

            Joyceand Karen Ballard recently moved to Old Orchard Beach from Ohio and Saturdaywas their first time to the Scarborough Marsh. Joyce Ballard said volunteeringwas a nice way to spend the day outside and support the center, which they planto visit this summer.

            Downthe road at Pine Point Beach Lynne Clearly had just finished collecting trash.A resident of Pine Point, she and neighbors participate in both a fall andspring cleanup.

            Scarboroughresident Robert Jacob walked along the beach with his sons Malcom and Sampicking up any trash they could find.

            RobertJacob said Scarborough’s beaches are not as polluted as others, citing OldOrchard Beach as an example of a beach that often has a lot of trash.

            MalcomJacob is a sixth grader at the middle school and was participating in thecleanup for a community service project. He felt he was doing a very importantjob Saturday as none of his classmates wanted to pick up trash for theirprojects.

            “Theythink it’s gross,” he said.

            Hefrowned upon people throwing cigarette butts and other trash on the beach,saying it hurts the animals and it makes the beach look messy.

            Brushsaid Saturday’s event was preparation for the Audubon Center opening May24.  It will be open to public onweekend until June 14,  then itwill be open every day.

            Shesaid the center is also in “desperate” need of volunteers. She said from nowuntil the end of the school year they are seeking guides to bring schoolchildren on daytime tours of the marsh. Volunteers will also be needed duringthe summer for various jobs. She said the center also welcomes student interns.

            Thecenter’s next special program will be the Annual Snowy Egret 5K Walk and RunMay 26 beginning at 8:30 a.m. The race starts at the center on Route 9 thenfollows the Eastern Trail to Peterson Field. A 1K Fun Run for kids will startand end at the Pine Point end of the Eastern Trail.

            Tobecome a volunteer or for more information about upcoming events call AudubonCenter Director Linda Woodard at 781-2330, ext. 213 or emailsmac@maineaudubon.org.

            Thecenter offers a number of programs throughout the season for canoers, kayakersand birders to name a few. To learn more about educational opportunities visitwww.maineaudubon.org.

            Tocontact Molly Lovell call 282-4337, ext. 219 or email news@scarboroughleader.com.