Bees, Butterflies and Birds…Summer is Here! June 2017 Highlights from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island

(April 28, 2017) – Start your summer off right – in the great outdoors! Join Audubon to search for butterflies, explore the wetlands or enjoy an illuminated solstice celebration. Pull on a hat, grab a field guide and go!

Unless noted, registration is required for all programs. Register online 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.

We Love Wetlands
Citizens Bank Free Family Fun Day
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
June 3, 2017; 9:00 am-5:00 pm
At the Audubon Environmental Education Center, wetlands are home to turtles, frogs, ducks and more. Join us for a day celebrating this important habitat. Programs and admission are free thanks to Citizens Bank.
10:00 am - 2:00 pm: Wetlands Craft Table
10:00 am - 2:00 pm: Stop by the Wetlands Biofact Table to investigate turtle shells, dragonfly wings, crayfish exoskeletons, and more!
10:00 am: Wetlands Nature Story
11:00 am and 2:00 pm: Guided Wetlands Walk
1:00 pm: Turtle Interview
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free. Ages: All.


Papermaking with Audubon
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
June 3, 2017; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Learn how to fashion decorative paper out of old fibers, recycled paper and tissue. Learn how to finesse fine and thick sheets and also how to embed items such as pressed flowers, threads and glitter to make interesting designs. Water is used to suspend the fibers, so dress for mess.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Program Fee: $15/member; $20/non-member. Ages: 12+.


2017 Junior Duck Stamp Contest Winners: Art Exhibit
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
June 6 – July 6, 2017; 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
This contest from US Fish and Wildlife was designed to educate students from grades K to 12 on wetland-habitat and waterfowl conservation through art. Winning pieces will be displayed.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free with Admission.


FREE Wednesday Morning Bird Walks with Audubon
Locations Across the State
June 7, 14, 21, 28, 2017; 9:00 – 11:00 am
Audubon offers FREE Wednesday Morning Bird Walks with naturalist Laura Carberry through the end of June, 2017. Walks will begin at 9:00 am. Each week a new birding destination will be chosen. Please visit the Audubon's website or Facebook Page for the location. You may also contact Laura at lcarberry@asri.org for more information.


Fairy Gardens for Adults
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
June 10, 2017; 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Fairies aren’t just for kids! Create a miniature garden for magical guests. Landscape a planter with fairy-friendly plants and natural materials, build a tiny house, and create some whimsical furniture to make your backyard fairies and gnomes feel right at home! All materials will be provided. Registration required.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $25/member; $30/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

Art and Nature as One
Prudence Island, RI
June 10, 2017; 9:45 am – 4:45 pm
Join a unique workshop that incorporates painting, encaustics and clay. Using nature as your inspiration, learn interesting facts about beautiful Narragansett Bay and bring home your own creation to enjoy for a lifetime. The workshop will be taught by island artist Robyn Q. Franczyk. All materials will be supplied. Due to limited space, registration is required.
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI; Program Fee: $20/member; $22/non-member. Ages: All. For details on Prudence Island Trips and to register, visit the events calendar at www.asri.org.


Sea Glass Jewelry Workshop
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
June 10, July 22, August 19, 2017; 11:00 am-12:30 pm
Design and create a beautiful pendant with sea glass found on local beaches. Learn how to choose the right piece of glass and transform it into creative jewelry using quick and easy wire wrapping techniques. Program includes all materials. Find something special on the beach? Bring that too! This class fills quickly. Advance registration is required.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $30/member; $35/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.





Audubon Wetlands Exploration for Families
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
June 11, 2017; 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Take a journey to the wetlands with Audubon and discover just how important this habitat is. Keep your eyes open for turtles, frogs and ducks. We will explore the water with nets and basins, then use magnifying glasses and guide books to identify what we find. Will it be a tadpole? A dragonfly nymph? Snail eggs? Wear clothes that can get dirty. Adults must accompany children. Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $5/member child, $7/non-member child. Ages: 4+. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.


Bird Banding with Audubon
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
June 11, July 9, August 13, 2017; 9:15 -11:15 am
Join Audubon and witness bird banding, where experts capture, band, measure and release songbirds in order to record their movements. Birds will be gently removed from tall “mist nets” set in Audubon’s shrubby habitats. The techniques of identifying, measuring, weighing, and banding the birds will be demonstrated before they are released. The migratory habits and life history of each captured species will be discussed. Bring a camera and binoculars.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $8/member adult, $4/member child; $12/non-member adult, $6/non-member child. Ages: 6+. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.


Armchair Naturalist Lecture: Rain Gardens
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
June 14, 2017; 6:30 – 8:00 pm
A rain garden is a planted depression that soaks up and absorbs rainwater runoff from impervious areas like roofs, driveways, walkways, parking lots and compact lawn areas. Come and learn some of the ways you can create rain gardens at home, school or work. Help create areas where rain can return to the soil!
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Program Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. Ages: Adult. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.


Blackstone River Twilight Cruise Aboard the Explorer
June 15, 2017; 7:30 – 8:30 pm
Join an Audubon naturalist for an evening cruise along the beautiful and historic Blackstone River. Sit back and gaze out over the Valley Falls wilderness area as we watch for birds and other wildlife that live along America's "hardest working river." The Explorer is a covered boat and will go out rain or shine. Co-sponsored with the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council.
Departs from Central Falls Landing, 20 Madeira Ave, Central Falls, RI; Program Fee: $15/adult; $12/child. Ages: 7+. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.


Summer Solstice Celebration and Evening Illumination
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
June 17, 2017; 7:30 – 9:30 pm
Welcome the summer with an evening of celebration! Sample local meads, ciders and snacks while meeting an owl and Red-tailed Hawk. Then take a guided evening walk through the wildlife refuge to the wetlands, following a path lit with luminaries. Toast the coming summer solstice as the sun sets over the water. Adults only. Registration required.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $30/member; $35/non-member. Ages: 21+. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

National Pollinator Week at Audubon
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
June 19 - 25, 2017
Come celebrate pollinators and help spread the word about how to protect them. Ten years ago, the U.S. Senate designated a week each June as National Pollinator Week - a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. This week is now an international celebration of the valuable services that bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles provide for ecosystems. Join Audubon for fun and educational programs all week!

-June 19 – 25, 2017: Pollination Station. Make a pollinator craft, test your knowledge of local pollinators, check out some pollinator specimens, and browse our informative brochures. The pollination station has something for everyone! Free with admission.
-June 19 – 25, 2017: Spot the Bumble Bee. Spot all ten bumblebees in our exhibit hall and get a prize! Free with admission.
-June 20, 2017: 7:00- 8:00 pm: (Lecture) Enhancing Pollinator Habitat: Tools for Landowners.
-June 21, 2017: 7:00-8:30 pm: (Film Screening) Hometown Habitat- Stories of Bringing Nature Home.
-June 25, 2017: 11:00 am- 12:00 pm: Insect Investigation for Families

Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Please see individual program descriptions below for fees and registration details.



Enhancing Pollinator Habitat: Tools for Landowners
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
June 20, 2017; 7:00 - 8:00 pm
There is worldwide concern over declining pollinator populations. Join Scott Ruhren, senior director of conservation, to learn more about the current pollinator crisis and the impacts it will have on our local communities. Discover how you can play an active role in protecting and creating habitats for these insects – at home, on farms and on land protected for conservation. Please register in advance.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. Ages: Adult. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.


Hometown Habitat- Stories of Bringing Nature Home
Film Screening
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
June 21, 2017; 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Save Pollinators. Save Water. Save the Earth.
Did you know that native plants do not require the use of herbicides and pesticides to maintain their beauty? That they don’t require extra watering from our supply of potable water? And that our native pollinators and birds also prefer native plants for nectaring and seed? The narrative thread of this eight-part documentary is provided by renowned entomologist Douglas Tallamy, Ph.D. whose research, books and lectures about the use of non-native plants in landscaping sound the alarm about habitat and species loss. This screening is part of our National Pollinator Week programs. Please register in advance.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RIProgram Fee: $10 suggested donation to cover licensing fees. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.



Ice Cream and Lightning Bugs
Audubon Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, Exeter, RI
June 23, 2017; 7:30 – 9:00 pm
Just as it starts to get dark, the lightning bugs appear. Join Audubon at Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge and learn all about these amazing insects. Start the evening by making ice cream sundaes and learning about what makes these insects so special. Then head out for a guided hike and look for their flickering lights. If we are lucky, we may also spot a resident beaver along the way. This program is fun for the whole family! Please bring a flashlight.
Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI; Program Fee: $12 member adult/ $6 member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: 6+. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.


2017 Rhode Island Butterfly Count
Locations Across the State
June 24 and July 22, 2017; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join Audubon for this annual citizen science project that documents butterfly species in Rhode Island. Naturalists lead teams into the field to identify and record butterfly sightings. No experience is needed. For more information, email Jon Scoones at jscoones@asri.org. 
or call (401) 949-5454 ext. 3044.
Program fee: $10/member, $15/non-members. Ages: Teen to Adult.

EAST BAY - June 24, 2017 from 10:00 am - noon
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol
Audubon's Touisset Marsh Wildlife Refuge, Warren
Nockum Hill, Barrington
Prudence Island

WEST BAY- July 22, 2017 from 10 am - noon
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield
Audubon Newman Wildlife Refuge, N. Smithfield
Audubon Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, Exeter
Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge, Charlestown


Introduction to Tree Identification
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge; Smithfield, RI
June 24, 2017; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Learn to recognize the major families of trees and shrubs as well as a number of common species in the wild and home landscape. We will discuss invasive species and good choices of plantings to attract wildlife. Class will be both indoors and out, dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes.
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Program Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. Ages: 14+. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.







Audubon Insect Investigation for Families
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
June 25, 2017; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join an Audubon naturalist and search for six-legged friends! Try your hand at using a net to comb the edge of the meadow, catching grasshoppers, milkweed bugs, butterflies and more. We will observe insects in bug boxes, use magnifying glasses and field guides to identify them and take a peek at some of our awesome insect biofacts! Come dressed in sturdy shoes, long pants, hats, and wear sunscreen. Adults must accompany children. Program is weather dependent.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $5/member child, $7/non-member child. Ages: 4+. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.


Canada Geese: A Closer Look
Photography by Rachel Krebs
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
Through June 30, 2017; 9:00 am-5:00 pm
Photographer Rachel Krebs brings over thirty photos of Canada Geese to this unique exhibit. These images highlight the often overlooked beauty of these birds. This exhibit was formerly on display at both the University of Maine and the Boston Children’s Museum.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free with Admission.