February Bring Lots of Frosty Fun!
GREEN WINGED TEAL BY ED HUGHES
February 2020 Highlights from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island
February is full of frosty fun at Audubon. Hit the trails with snowshoes, search for eagles on a river cruise, or enjoy a frosty ale while learning all about native owls. Grab your hat and mittens and enjoy some outdoor winter explorations!
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.
Citizens Bank Free Family Fun Day
February 1, 2020; 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thanks to Citizens Bank, the Nature Center and Aquarium is open free to the public the first Saturday of every month. Join Audubon for crafts, nature stories, animal discoveries, hikes and more. No need to register!
February 1, 2020: Snow
10:00 am – 2:00 pm: Nature Craft Table & Spot the Snowflake in the Exhibit Hall
10:30 am & 2:30 pm: Nature Story
11:00 am: Snowflake Paper Chain Class
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.
Naked Tree I.D.
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
February 1, 2020; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Okay, now that I have your attention…come and learn to identify some common trees when they are ‘buck nekkid’ in winter. Discuss branching patterns, bark and buds, all to help us determine deciduous species. Evergreen species will be discussed as well.
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register through the events calendar at asri.org
Audubon Osprey Monitor Training
Two Dates and Locations Offered
February 2 & 9, 2020; 12:00 – 3:00 pm
Since 1977, this monitoring program has carefully tracked the Osprey population in Rhode Island and parts of Massachusetts as it recovered from the detrimental effects of pesticides. Attend this free two-hour training session to learn about the program and how to become a monitor. Attendees should be over 18, have binoculars or a spotting scope, and have access to a computer. Register through the events calendar at asri.org
- Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; February 2, 2020; 12:00-3:00 pm.
- Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; February 9, 2020; 12:00-3:00 pm.
FREE Wednesday Morning Bird Walks
Locations Across Rhode Island
February 5, 12,19, 26, 2020; 9:00 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 (asri.org) or Facebook Page for the location. Contact Laura at lcarberry@asri.org for more information.
Locations determined weekly; Every Wednesday through June 2020; 9:00-11:00 am; Ages: 14+.
Snowshoeing by the Full Moon
Audubon Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, Exeter, RI
February 8, 2020; 6:30 – 8:30 pm
A white expanse of snow blanketing the forest, the moon creeping up through the pines, and the stars twinkling overhead. Join a guided evening snowshoe walk at Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge and explore nature at night. Participants must provide their own snowshoes – they can be rented from REI. If there is no snow we will have a moonlit hike on the trails.
Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI; Fee: $15/member; $20/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register through the events calendar at asri.org
Winter Wildlife & Island Exploration
Prudence Island, RI
February 8, 2020; 9:45 am-4:45 pm
Bundle up and join an all-day adventure exploring beautiful Prudence Island! Start at the southern tip, where you can expect to see harbor seals resting on the rocks. From there make several stops to look for bird species both on land and in the water. Along the way, your guide will share with you the centuries-old history of human land use on Prudence Island. This trip entails a few short (less than one mile) walks and travel in a passenger van.
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI; Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: 10 and up. For more information on Prudence Island trips and to register, visit the events calendar at asri.org
Eagle Cruise on the Connecticut River
February 15, 2020; 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Join Audubon for a winter trip on the Connecticut River to search for eagles, hawks, waterfowl, seals and other mammals. The boat has a heated cabin, but dress very warmly as the best views are from the deck. After the tour, visit the Connecticut River Museum and enjoy the Eagles of Essex exhibit. Bring a lunch, snacks, water, camera and optics. NOTE: Due to the length of this trip, children must be at least 12 years to register.
Departs from Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Fee: $70/member; $80/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register through the events calendar at asri.org.
Author Meet and Greet with Mark Wilson Owling: Enter the World of the Mysterious Birds of the Night
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
February 29, 2020; 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Wildlife photojournalist and author Mark Wilson will be on hand to introduce you to several local owls as well as sign copies of his new children’s book: Owling: Enter the World of the Mysterious Birds of the Night. Mark and his wife Marcia have crisscrossed the continent to study and photograph all 19 species of owls that nest in the US and Canada. The book provides an overview of where to find these owls and how to identify them. It also explains how to dissect an owl pellet and build an owl nesting box. Mark’s book will be on sale after the presentation. Registration is required as space is limited. Note: Mark and Marcia Wilson are the popular presenters of “Eyes on Owls” at the annual Audubon Raptor Weekend.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free with admission. Ages: All. Register through the events calendar at asri.org
Owls & Ales
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
February 22, 2020; 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Meet some of Audubon’s amazing birds of prey! Enjoy a presentation on native owls while enjoying locally brewed beers. Then take a guided walk through the refuge at night to look and listen for owls and other signs of animal life. Leave the kids at home – this program is just for adults! Come prepared to walk on a chilly evening. Must be 21+ to attend. Advance registration required.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $30/member; $35/non-member. Ages: 21 and up. Register through the events calendar at www.asri.org.
Winter Walk at Maxwell Mays
Audubon Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, Coventry, RI
February 26, 2020; 9:30 am -11:30 pm
Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge is a beautiful place to hike in any season, but in winter it is especially quiet and serene. Join Scott Ruhren, Audubon director of conservation, for an exploration of the winter ecology of this wildlife refuge. Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes for trail hiking.
Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, 2082 Victory Highway, Coventry, RI; Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: 10 and up. Register through the events calendar at asri.org
Seals and Birds on Prudence Island
Prudence Island, RI
February 27, 2020; 1:30 – 6:30 pm
Come for an afternoon of winter wildlife viewing on Prudence Island. Start by looking for harbor seals hauled out on the rocks at the south end and visit several habitats to see what kinds of birds can be found on land and in the water. This trip entails a few short (less than one mile) walks and travel in a passenger van.
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI; Fee: $8/member adult, $4/member child; $10/non-member adult, $6/non-member child Other. Ages: 10 and up. For more information on Prudence Island trips and to register, visit the events calendar at asri.org
Natural Healing Workshop
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
February 29, 2020; 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Discover ways to use things found in nature for healing. Join Kathy Lavallee, owner of the Honey Shop in Woonsocket, and discover essential oils, herbs, spices and healing foods. Includes show and tell with some product samples included.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $30/member; $35/non-member. Ages: 18 and up. Register through the events calendar at asri.org
12 Sanderson Road ~ Smithfield, RI 02917-2600 ~ Phone: (401) 949-5454 ~ Fax: (401) 949-5788
www.asri.org email: audubon@asri.org