This Way to the Beach…

Rhode Island beaches in the summer… is there anything better? But how much do you really know about our sandy shores and the creatures that thrive in the waters off New England? Audubon offers a summer lecture series that will explore our coastal habitats and the animals that live there. After your day at the beach or sail on the Bay, stop in and catch one of these unique lectures and discover just how special our coastal backyard truly is. Registration is required. Call (401) 949-5454 or email programs@asri.org.

Wondrous and Wild Creatures of the Deep
July 27, 2011; 7:00 p.m.
Join Carol “Krill” Carson, President of the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance (NECWA), for a presentation on the unique marine wildlife that live and feed in the waters of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Just off the coast of New England, this area attracts a variety of creatures including endangered marine mammals, seabirds and pelagic fish. Those that migrate to the New England waters include humpback whales, North Atlantic right whales, Atlantic white-sided dolphins, harbor seals and gray seals. Large coastal fish that also feed off Cape Cod include the giant bluefin tuna, basking sharks, great white sharks, and ocean sunfish. Learn how research being conducted in the sanctuary is helping scientists better protect and conserve the marine wildlife that call this area home.

Coastal Birds of Rhode Island
August 11, 2011; 7:00 p.m.
Just like tourists, each summer hundreds of shore birds migrate to Rhode Island’s beaches. We have all witnessed them running along the surf, but can you recognize different species and their habits? Is it a plover, an oystercatcher, or tern? Where are the best places to see them and why are beaches sometimes closed to protect them? Join Audubon Society of Rhode Island naturalist Laura Carberry and receive answers to these questions and more. Come learn from an expert the ins-and-outs of Rhode Island’s coastal birds.

“Jaws” Revisited: The White Shark in New England
August 17, 2011; 7:00 p.m.
White sharks are coming back to New England’s coastal waters, drawn in by the growing gray seal population. Marine biologist and shark expert Dr. Gregory Skomal will present highlights from marine scientists who study the ecology of white sharks in the North Atlantic. Dr. Skomal will explore the biology and ecology of our local shark species, while also reviewing the conservation and management of these often misunderstood creatures. You may have seen him on the Today Show as well as the local news after he successfully tagged Great White Sharks off Chatham, MA. Dr. Skomal will provide an update on what has happened to those sharks, and discuss current studies being conducted by the Massachusetts Shark Research Program. After the lecture he will be available to sign copies of his book “The Shark Handbook” available in the Audubon Nature Gift Shop.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; 7:00 pm.; Program fee per lecture: $8/member; $10/non-member or $32/member for all five lectures; $40/non-member for all five lectures. Registration is required as space is limited.