Celebrate Autumn with Audubon! October 2017 Highlights from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island

(August 29, 2017) – Throw on your fleece jacket, grab your binoculars, and hit the trails in search of fall migrants. Join the experts for an introduction to mushrooms. Bundle up the kids and join the Perfect Pumpkin Party! Head over to your local wildlife refuge and celebrate the splendor of autumn the Audubon way!

Unless noted, registration is required for all programs. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org. A complete listing of programs is detailed in the Audubon Nature Tours and Programs, a free guide to connecting with the natural world. Download a copy online at www.asri.org.

FREE Wednesday Morning Bird Walks
Locations Across the State
October 4, 11, 18, 25, 2017; 9:00 – 11:00 am
Audubon offers FREE Wednesday Morning Bird Walks with naturalist Laura Carberry. Each week a new birding destination will be chosen. Please visit the Audubon website (ww.asri.org) or Facebook Page for the location. You may also contact Laura at lcarberry@asri.org for more information.
Locations determined weekly; Every Wednesday through June 2018; 9:00-11:00 am; Ages: 14+.



Audubon Used Nature Book Sale
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
October 7, 2017; 9:30 am-4:30 pm
Come take a look at Audubon’s Used Nature Book Sale - you never know what treasure you may find! Are you looking to clean out your library or closet at home? Drop off gently used nature books at the Environmental Education Center from September 23 to 30, 2017. Field guides, fiction, non-fiction and children’s nature books are all welcome. Books must be nature-based and in good condition. All proceeds benefit the Audubon Environmental Education Center.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free.






Forest Fun with Audubon
Citizens Bank Free Family Fun Day
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
October 7, 2017; 9:00 am-5:00 pm
Thanks to Citizens Bank, the Environmental Education Center is open free to the public the first Saturday of every month. Join us for crafts, nature stories, animal discoveries, hikes and more. No need to register.

What will we find waiting in the forest? Let’s look under logs for buggy friends, search the tree tops for animal homes, and build a magical house for a fairy. Join us for forest fun all day! In case of bad weather, we will have plenty of indoor fun.
10:00 am-2:00 pm: Forest Craft Table
10:00 am-4:00 pm: Used Nature Book Sale
10:00 am & 1:30 pm: Woodland Tales
11:00 am: Forest Expedition - We will be doing a guided scavenger hunt, searching for insects and other small creatures, and collecting natural materials to build fairy homes.
1:00 pm: Animal Interview
2:30pm: Guided trail walk
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free. Ages: All.


Hiking Prudence Island
Prudence Island, RI
October 18, 2017; 9:45 am – 4:45 pm
Prudence Island has several miles of hiking trails that cover a range of habitats from forested wetlands to coastal meadow and pine barrens. Join us for what is sure to be a beautiful fall hike. Pace will be moderate as we plan to cover four to five miles over a mix of terrain, stopping for lunch halfway through the hike. There will be time to explore beaches and salt marshes at the end of the day.
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI; Program Fee: $8/member adult, $4/member child; $12/non-member adult, $8/non-member child. Ages: 8+. For details on Prudence Island trips and to register online, visit the events calendar at www.asri.org.



Taking the Mystery out of Mushrooming
Audubon Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, Exeter, RI
October 21, 2017; 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Join Audubon for a wild mushroom extravaganza and learn how to identify the various mushrooms that grow in our area, including edible ones! Begin with an introductory lecture with wild mushrooms on display that were collected from other areas (depending on availability). Next, venture out with an Audubon guide for a hike to find mushrooms growing in the wild then sample some tasty dishes that are prepared using a variety of cultivated "wild" mushrooms. Please note that collecting mushrooms on Audubon property is prohibited.
Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI; Program Fee: $30/member; $35/non-member. Ages: 16+. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.




Fall Birding in Bristol
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
October 21, 2017; 8:30 – 10:30 am
Join Lauren Parmelee, expert birder and Audubon Senior Director of Education, for a morning of fall birding. Walk the beautiful autumn trails at the Audubon Environmental Education Center down to the East Bay Bike Path and beyond. This is a great opportunity for those who have taken Lauren's beginning birding classes to practice their skills, but all are welcome to join the fun! Dress for the weather, wear walking shoes and bring binoculars if you have them.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $14/ members, $17/non-members. Ages: Adult. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.


Birding: The Next Step
Bird Biology and Field Excursions
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
October 25, November 1, 8, 15, 2017; 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Field Excursions November 4, 18, 2017
Come learn everything you have ever wanted to know about our feathered friends from Dr. Charles Clarkson, Audubon Society of Rhode Island Board Member and professional ornithologist. Enjoy in-class instruction and guided field trips to key birding destinations.
This six-week course covers topics from avian anatomy and physiology to the dynamics of flight. Come fill a notebook with information, or simply listen and glean only those tidbits of information you choose.
- Classes: October 25, & November 1, 8, 15, 2017; 6:30-8:00 pm
- Field Trips: November 4 & 18, 2017; Times to be determined.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $125/members, $150/non-members. Ages: Adult. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.


Audubon’s Perfect Pumpkin Party
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
October 28, 2017; 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Join Audubon for a different kind of autumn celebration and find out just how much fun a pumpkin can be! Search for hidden pumpkins throughout the wildlife refuge, try your hand at pumpkin ring toss and other games then collect stickers for your own “patch.” Visit our silly photo booth for a fall family picture and purchase a pumpkin to decorate with creative art supplies. Don’t forget to come in costume – those who do will receive a prize. The party will include favorite games from last year as well as new activities – it’s all about the big orange pumpkin! No need to register.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: Free with Admission. Ages: All.


Birdfeeding 101: Starting a Feeding Station
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
October 28, 2017; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Are you fascinated by your feathered backyard visitors? Come to Audubon and learn how to start feeding and attracting birds. Types of feeders, seed and feeder placement will be discussed as well as tips and tricks for attracting the critters you want and deterring those you don't. Factors that attract birds such as water and plantings will also be reviewed.
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Program Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.


Providence Raptors: Photography by Peter Green
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
Through October 31, 2017; 9:00 am -5:00 pm
Peter Green is a photographer and graphic designer living and working in downtown Providence. He walks the city, documenting the lives of urban raptors, such as the Peregrine Falcons and Red-tailed Hawks who nest on rooftops and hunt for food in the streets and parks of Providence. These regal, powerful raptors seem out-of-place yet perfectly at home among the landscape of bricks and concrete. For a preview of Peter's photography visit providenceraptors.com.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free with Admission.