Shorebirds and Sea Creatures

(June 27, 2018) – It’s all about the ocean in August! Get up close and learn all about about cool marine critters, take a daylong trip in search of shorebirds, or design your own sea glass jewelry!

Unless noted, registration is required for all programs. Register online and view a complete listing of programs through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

Bats at Eppley
Audubon Marion Eppley Wildlife Refuge, West Kingston, RI
August 3, 2018; 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Enjoy this rare opportunity to visit the Marion Eppley Wildlife Refuge at night. Begin indoors with a presentation on bats and then venture outside in search of these plentiful creatures. Bring a flashlight, insect repellent and dress for a cool night.
Marion Eppley Wildlife Refuge, Dugway Bridge Road, West Kingston, RI; Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. Ages: 9+. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.


Garden Tour of Prudence Island
August 3, 2018; 9:45 am – 4:45 pm
Calling all gardeners and plant lovers! Travel to Prudence Island and explore some of the unique gardens kept by local residents. Stops will include three to four private gardens, each unique in their varieties of fruits, vegetables, flowers and overall whimsy!
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI; Fee: $12/member, $14/non-member. Ages: Adult. For more information about Prudence Island trips and to register online, visit the events calendar at www.asri.org.

Saturday Nature Walks with Audubon
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI*
Saturdays Throughout the Summer; 2:00 pm
Join Audubon for weekly nature walks on Saturdays. Ramble down the trails with an Audubon naturalist as your guide. Please note this program is weather dependent. No registration required.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free with Admission. Ages: All.


Ocean Wonders 

Citizens Bank Free Family Fun Day
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI*
August 4, 2018; 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thanks to Citizens Bank, the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium is open free to the public the first Saturday of every month. Join us for crafts, animal discoveries, hikes and more.
August 4, 2018: Ocean Wonders
Come for a day dedicated to one of Audubon’s favorite local habitats – the ocean! Learn about different animals that live in our local waters, meet some live tidepool critters, and trek down to the seashore to explore.
10:00 am- 2:00 pm: Ocean Craft Table
10:00 am- 2:00 pm: Ocean Biofact Table. Investigate crab exoskeletons, whelk eggs, and more!
10:30 am: Take a guided walk to the seashore and use nets and buckets to look for sea life. Come dressed in sturdy shoes that can get wet, wear sunscreen and bring a water bottle.
1:30 pm: Ocean Story Time
2:00 pm: Animal Interview: Tidepool Critters
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free. Ages: All. No need to register.

Paint and Sip: Owls
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI*
August 4, 2018; 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Create your own beautiful owl painting while enjoying a glass of wine! No experience necessary - we’ll lead you through the painting process with step-by-step instruction. Note to previous participants: we will be creating a different owl painting than last summer, so please consider joining us again for a fun night out! Registration is required.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $30/member, $40/non-member. Ages: 21+. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

Caratunk's Summer Fields and Forests
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
August 6, 2018; 9:30 am – 12:00 pm
Join Audubon Director of Conservation Scott Ruhren on an easy nature trail walk exploring the fields and forests of Caratunk. We will look for native wildflowers, nesting birds and pollinators along the way. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy walking shoes, bring insect repellent, sunscreen and a water bottle. Don't forget your camera and binoculars if you have them!
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. $5/member child, $7/non-member child. Ages: 4+. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.


Geospatial Technology: Online Mapping and More!
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
August 13, 15, 17, 2018; 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Have you ever thought about creating a map of your property? Come discover what your property looked like as far back as 1939 and what habitats it contains. How has the land changed? In this three-day workshop, learn to utilize free online resources to visualize the land around you. Participants will collect GPS data and incorporate it into a map, create a diversity mapping project, and add local information into an online story map, telling the history of your property. Bring your own on-line device or use one of Audubon's iPads.
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Fee: $75/members, $85/non-members. Ages: Teen to Adult.

Shorebird Van Trip
Locations Across the State
August 16, 2018; 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Hop aboard the Audubon van with an expert guide to visit some of Rhode Island's best shorebird locations: Charlestown Breachway, Quonochontaug Breachway and Succotash Marsh. Please bring a lunch, optics, old sneakers or water shoes, towel and bug repellent. Be prepared to get wet up to your waist for this program. Meet at Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge in Exeter at 7:00 am.
Departs from Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI; Fee: $45/member; $55/non-member. Ages: 14+. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.



Bird Banding with Audubon
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI*
August 18, 2018; 9:30 – 11:30 am
Join Audubon and witness bird banding, where experts capture, band, measure and release songbirds in order to record their movements. 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. Register early.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; 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.

Sea Glass Jewelry
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI*
August 19, 2018; 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Come 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 as space is limited to 10 participants.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $30/member; $35/non-member. Ages: Adult. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.


Taking the Mystery Out of Mushrooming
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge
August 25, 2018; 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Join Audubon for an introduction to mushrooms and fungus, and learn how to identify mushroom groups and species that grow in the area. Start inside with a presentation on mushroom identification and view wild mushrooms on display. Next, venture out for a hike in the woods with an expert guide to find mushrooms growing in the wild. Afterwards, sample a couple of tasty mushroom dishes using a variety of cultivated 'wild' mushrooms. Please note: collecting mushrooms on Audubon properties is prohibited. Wear closed-toe shoes, socks and long pants and dress for the weather.
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Fee: $30/member; $40/non-member. Ages: Adult. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.


Power and Grace
Photography Exhibit by Abeselom Zerit
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI*
Through August 25, 2018; 9:00 am-5:00 pm
From the grace of a gliding Great Egret to the power of a diving Osprey, this collection of photographs by Abeselom Zerit explores the wonder of birds in flight. All images were taken close to home on the Seekonk River in Pawtucket and Providence, showing that beauty can be found in unlikely urban locales.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free.


* Audubon Society of Rhode Island announces that the Audubon Environmental Education Center in Bristol is now called: The Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium. It’s a more welcoming name – one that Audubon feels better describes the exhibits, activities and visitor experience at the Center in Bristol.

And while there is a new name and new and exciting projects happening, some things will never change. Friendly and knowledgeable Audubon staff, quality programs and the beautiful winding boardwalk to Narragansett Bay will continue to engage and educate visitors of all ages.