March 28, 2024

It’s All About Birds and Boats in August!

August 2019 Highlights from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island

Posted

(June 28, 2019) – Audubon offers cool kayak paddles, a morning birding cruise on the Seekonk River and a Swallow Spectacular boat trip up the Connecticut River. There’s nothing like being on the water in August – so come to Audubon and join the fun!

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.

Boats, Birds and Bats! Kayak Paddle
Hope Valley, RI
August 1, 2019; 6:00 – 9:00 pm

Join the Audubon Society of Rhode Island and the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association a fun evening of kayaking, birding and learning all about bats! Start with a short presentation on bats and learn what makes them so fascinating, then climb aboard a kayak and explore Frying Pan Pond at dusk in search of bats and birds. Boats and equipment are included. Please bring bug spray and binoculars. Rain date is August 2, 2019.
Departs from Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association 203 Arcadia Rd, Hope Valley, RI; Fee: $55/person. Ages 11 and up. Register at wpwa.org/events.php

Citizens Bank Free Family Fun Day
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
August 3, 2019; 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, nature stories, animal discoveries, hikes and more. No need to register!
August 3, 2019: Forest Foray
10:00 am - 2:00 pm: Nature Craft table & Scavenger Hunt
10:30 am and 2:30 pm: Nature Story
11:00 am: Forest Walk & Fairy House Building
1:30 pm: Animal Interview
Activities: 10:00 am – 2:30 pm
Exhibit Hall: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Trails and Pollinator Garden: Dawn to Dusk
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free. Ages: All.

Early Morning Birding Cruise Aboard the Explorer
East Providence, RI
August 3, 2019; 8:00 -9:00 am

Join Audubon aboard the Blackstone Valley's Explorer for a morning bird watching cruise exploring the spring beauty of the Seekonk River. Participants may wish to bring binoculars. The Explorer is a covered boat and runs rain or shine. Co-sponsored with the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council. Parking is available at departure location. Departs from Al's Waterfront Restaurant, 28 Water St. East Providence, RI; Fee: $15/member; $20/non-member. Ages 9 and up. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

Beeswax Wraps Workshop
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
August 3, 2019; 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Single-use plastics are filling up our oceans ad landfill. Be part of the solution by making your own re-usable, eco-friendly lunch wraps! We’ll be using cotton fabric, bees wax, buttons, and string to create a flexible wrap that can be used to transport food, cover bowls, and protect your leftovers. It’s washable, keeps food fresh, and smells great. No prior sewing or crafting skills needed. All materials provided to make two wraps, but if you have a favorite fabric or button you would like to use, bring it along!  Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $15/member; $20/non-member. Ages 16 and up. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

Butterfly Count on Prudence
Prudence Island, RI
August 6, 2019; 1:30-6:30 pm

Spend the day on Prudence Island identifying and counting as many butterfly species as possible in an effort to track populations and abundance on the Island. This is a great way to see Prudence Island as well as the diversity of habitats, flora, and fauna present.  Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI; Fee: $8/member adult, $4/member child; $12/non-member adult, $8/non-member child. Ages 10 and up. For more information and to register, visit the events calendar at www.asri.org.

Recycled Papermaking with Audubon
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
August 10, 2019; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Learn how to fashion decorative paper out of tissue paper, old fibers, and recycled paper. Finesse fine sheets and thick sheets and learn 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. Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Fee: $15/member; $20/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

Sea Glass Jewelry 101
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
August 17, 2019; 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Come 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 using quick and easy wire wrapping techniques. Program includes all materials. Find something special on the beach? Bring that too! Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $20/member; $25/non-member. Ages: Adult. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

Wading Birds and Boats: Kayak Paddle
Pawcatuck, CT
August 19, 2019; 1:00 – 3:30 pm

Join expert leaders from the Audubon Society and the Wood-Pawcatuck Water Association for a guided kayaking tour of Little Narragansett Bay during the height of shorebird migration. American Oystercatchers, sandpipers and herons all may be sighted. Boats and equipment are provided. Please bring snacks, water, sunscreen and binoculars. Advance registration is required. Rain date is August 20, 2019. Departs from Barn Island Boat Launch 249 Palmer Neck Rd, Pawcatuck, CT; Fee: $100/person. Ages 11 and up. Register at wpwa.org/events.php

Bird Banding with Audubon
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
August 17, 2019; 9:30 – 11:30 am

Join Audubon for a bird banding demonstration in which experts capture, band, measure and release songbirds in order to gather data on 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.  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 and up. Register through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

Shorebird Van Trip
Locations Across the State
August 23, 2019; 7:00 am – 3:00 pm

Hop aboard the Audubon van with an expert guide and 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 at 7:00 am.  Departs from Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI; August 23, 2019; 7:00 am-3:00 pm; Fee: $45/member; $55/non-member. Ages: 14 and up.

Twilight Hike at Caratunk
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
August 25, 2019; 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Experience Caratunk at dusk! Enjoy a quiet walk around Muskrat Pond and return along a forest path listening and watching for creatures of the night. Please wear appropriate clothing, bring water, bug spray and a flashlight. For ages 12 and up. Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages 12 and up. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

Swallow Spectacular on the Connecticut River
August 31, 2019; 3:30 – 10:30 pm

During fall migration, thousands of Tree Swallows congregate on the lower Connecticut River at sunset. As they converge, they form an amazing “ballet” or a “funnel” before settling down to roost. Roger Tory Peterson once wrote, “I have seen a million flamingos on the lakes of East Africa and as many seabirds on the cliffs of the Alaska Pribilofs, but for sheer drama, the tornadoes of Tree Swallows eclipsed any other avian spectacle I have ever seen.” Climb aboard the new Audubon van and travel to Essex, Connecticut where you will board the RiverQuest and head out on the river with guides to see this spectacular display. Deadline for registration is August 26, 2019. Departs from Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Fee: Other; $70/member; $80/non-member. Ages 10 and up. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

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