Eagles, Hawks and Autumn Walks
September 2021 Highlights from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island
Photo ED HUGHES
(July 29, 2019) – Get up-close with eagles, hawks and owls at Raptor Weekend, head out on an early birding walk, or enjoy an evening hike and search for nature at night. Get outside and enjoy the cooler weather with Audubon in September!
Masks are required during Audubon indoor programs and van trips for those who have not been vaccinated for COVID-19, including children.
Visit the events calendar at www.asri.org to register for programs.
Raptor Weekend
September 11 & 12, 2021; 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI
Photo JASON MAJOR
They’re Back! Eagles, Owls, Hawks, and Falcons, formidable and magnificent predators of the sky, are headed to Bristol, Rhode Island. Razor-sharp talons, extraordinary strength, hooked beaks and highly developed eyesight and hearing make raptors the rulers of the avian world.
This September they will be descending on the Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol, Rhode Island for Raptor Weekend 2021. Wildlife rehabilitators and experts from across the Northeast will bring a wide variety of these extraordinary birds to the largest raptor celebration in New England. Enjoy live raptor demonstrations, educational programs, and activities for bird enthusiasts of all ages.
Audubon presents a unique opportunity for visitors to get up-close with many species and learn about amazing birds of prey in this fun, family-friendly weekend event.
For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit www.asri.org
Adult: $13/member, $16/non-member; Child (ages 4 – 12): $9/member, $11/non-member. Children under age 3 are free.
Wednesday Morning Bird Walks
Locations Across Rhode Island
Audubon offers small-group Wednesday Morning Bird Walks with naturalist Laura Carberry. Each week a new birding destination will be chosen. Advance registration is required. Location will be sent to registered participants in advance.
Locations determined weekly; Every Wednesday through June 2022; 9:00-11:00 am; Fee: $5/member, $10/non-member. Ages: 14+. Register through the events calendar at asri.org.
White Barn Story Time: A Quiet Night by Marilyn Singer
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
September 2, 2021; 2:00-3:00 pm
Come to the big barn at Caratunk for special story time that focuses on nature! Enjoy A Quiet Night by Marilyn Singer. A group of young campers are about to go to sleep but how much rest will they get? Join Audubon for a fun camping story and learn a silly camp song. After the story, meet a special animal that can be found in the woods.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $5/member child; $7/non-member child. Ages: 3 and up. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.
Citizens Bank Free Family Fun Day
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
September 4, 2021; 10:00 am – 3:00 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!
10:00 am – 4:30 pm: Take-home craft bags
10:00 am: Nature Story
11:00am: Animal Interview
1:00 pm: Autumnal Equinox: Learn about the changing of the seasons! What is an equinox? How is it significant to the animals around us?
2:00 pm: Animal Interview
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free. Ages: All.
Fun Facts in a Surreal World: Photography and Art by Alicia Schickle
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
September 4 – October 31, 2021; 9:30 am-4:30 pm
Alicia Schickle is a published scientific illustrator and a postbaccalaureate scholar at Roger Williams University. She is a passionate nature enthusiast and finds beauty both in scientific facts and the human condition. Alicia uses surrealism as a way to tap into sometimes uncomfortable emotions with a bit of whimsy. She tackles topics such as climate change, deforestation, and self-esteem in her art.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free with Admission. Ages: All.
Natural Jewelry Workshop
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
September 5, 2021; 11:00 am-12:30 pm
Join a unique workshop and create beautiful pieces of jewelry from materials found on the wildlife refuge! This in-person program will be led by an Audubon naturalist with jewelry maker Alex Waugh, who will be joining via zoom. All materials are provided, but feel free to bring your own special finds (seeds, rocks, wood) to use in your jewelry pieces.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $15/member; $20/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.
Labor Day Nature Activities
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
September 6, 2021; 10:00 am-3:00 pm
Celebrate the end of summer with Audubon! Enjoy a nature hike, animal interview, and more. Take home a craft bag too! No registration is required.
10:00 am – 3:00 pm: Take-home Craft Bag
10:00 am: Nature Story
11:00 am and 2:30 pm: Animal Interview
1:00 pm: Nature Hike
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free with Admission. Ages: All.
Let’s Take a Walk! Spiders
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
September 7, 2021; 10:00 – 11:00 am
Listen to the The Roly-Poly Spider by Jill Sardegna, a funny spider story, then go exploring for spiders in the Powder Mill Ledges meadow. This family program is for young children ages 2 and up. Adults must accompany children.
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Fee: $5/member child; $7/non-member child. Ages: 2 and up. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.
Nature Tales: In a Nutshell by Joseph Anthony
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
September 15, 2021; 10:00 – 11:00 am
Enjoy story time with your preschooler with a focus on nature. Program includes story time followed by a nature craft, short walk, or live animal visit. Adults must accompany children.
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Fee: $5/member child; $7/non-member child. Ages: 3-6. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.
Painting Owls: Workshop with Artist Elizabeth O’Connell
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
September 19, 2021; 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Join local artist Elizabeth O’Connell to discuss, draw, and paint your choice of several local owls. No experience is needed, and all materials are supplied. Elizabeth will demonstrate drawing and painting techniques step-by-step. She exhibits and sells her work locally and teaches watercolor painting at the Bristol Art Museum and Portsmouth Art Guild.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $40/member; $45/non-member. Ages: 14 and up. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.
Gardening for Pollinators at Blithewold: Late Season Blooms
Blithewold Botanical Gardens, Bristol, RI
September 16, 2021; 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Join horticulturists Betsy Ekholm and Gail Read for a guided walk through Blithewold gardens to see what’s in bloom for late season pollinators. They will share their knowledge and discuss favorite plants that attract pollinators. Hear about their experiences and observations on pollinators that visit the gardens. September is a wonderful month to visit Blithewold’s beautiful gardens and appreciate the many busy pollinators active among the blooms.
Blithewold Botanical Gardens, 101 Ferry Road, Bristol, RI; Fee: $5/Audubon members, $7/non-members. Ages: Adult. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.
Smithsonian Museum Day
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
September 18, 2021; 9:30 am-4:30 pm
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium will participate in the annual Smithsonian Museum Day! Audubon will join participating museums and cultural institutions nationwide to open their doors free of charge to visitors who download the Museum Day Ticket from www.smithsonian.com/museumday.
Take-home Craft Bags: 10:30 am – 2:30 pm
Nature Story: 10:30 am
Animal Interview: 11:00 am
Nature Walk/Refuge Clean-up: 1:00 pm
Animal Interview: 2:30 pm
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free with Smithsonian Museum Day Ticket.
Introduction to Map and Compass Skills
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
September 18, 2021; 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Being able to find your way with a compass is a very useful skill, even in this age of technology. Have fun learning the basics of using a compass and how to navigate over distances. Combine the use of a map and compass together and discover many of the pitfalls people experience when using trail and road maps. This is a workshop for beginners, held both inside and outdoors. Bring your own compass or use one of ours. Take home pocket-sized ‘cheat sheets’ for practicing. Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. Ages: 12 and up. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.
Herbal Plant Walk at Caratunk
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
September 22, 2021; 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Join Maggie Hatzpanian, nurse, herbalist and medicinal plant educator, for a walk through the woods, meadows and wetlands of Caratunk. Come and search for native New England medicinal plants. Maggie will share her knowledge of the plants, how best to ID them, their habitats, and medicinal properties. Advance registration is required.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $15/member, $18/non-Member. Ages: 12 and up. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.
Autumnal Equinox Hike
Audubon Fort Wildlife Refuge, North Smithfield, RI
September 22, 2021; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join Audubon on a leisurely hike and explore the changes of the season at Fort Wildlife Refuge. Search for wildlife and plants, learn their facts and hear folklore stories. Hike is easy to easy/moderate. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and dress for the weather.
Fort Nature Refuge, (Rt. 5), 1443 Providence Pike, North Smithfield, RI; Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. Ages: 10 and up. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.
Early Autumn Evening Walk
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
September 23, 2021; 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Come to the Caratunk for a relaxing evening walk. Enjoy the quiet and gentle evening sounds of early fall in the fields and woods. Dress for the weather and walking on forest trails.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $10/member, $14/non-member. Ages: 12 and up. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.
Fall Birding Walks at Caratunk
Two Dates Offered
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
September 25, October 17, 2021; 8:00 – 10:00 am
Join naturalist and science teacher Joe Koger to observe migratory birds passing through the Caratunk Wildlife Refuge. Discuss different habitats and ways to identify birds, including appearance, song, and behavior. Wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Advance registration is required.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $10/member, $14/non-member. Ages: 12 and up. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.
Li’l Peeps
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
September 23, 30, October 7, 14, 21, 28, 2021; 9:45 am-10:45 pm
This popular program introduces children ages 18 months to 2 years to the delights of nature through age-appropriate, hands-on activities. Along with a nature lesson, activities may include nature walks, crafts, songs and stories. This is a wonderful opportunity to make new friends with other children and parents. Registration is required as space is limited. Adults must accompany children and there are no refunds for missed classes. To maintain an age-appropriate program we ask that older siblings not accompany the parent/child team.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee for six-week series: $60/member child, $76/two member siblings; $65/non-member child, $82/two non-member siblings. Ages: 18 to 36 Months. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.
Autumn Herbal Walk
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
September 26, 2021; 10:00 – 11:00 am
Join naturalist and local herbalist Tina Lidano on a walk around the Clair D. Macintosh Refuge to learn about plants and their healing properties. Tina will discuss local flora, their healing properties, role in our ecosystem, and where they can be found in the wild. She will also touch on the ethics of wild harvesting and crafting herbal medicine. Please wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $5/member adult, $7/non-member adult. Ages: Adult. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.
Hawk and Migration: Lecture and Walk
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
September 26, 2021; 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Come to Audubon and learn all about hawks, including which species are residents and which are visitors to Rhode Island. Bring binoculars and be prepared for a one-hour walk on the trails.
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. Ages: 12 and up. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.
Mushrooms for Beginners
Prudence Island, RI
September 29, 2021; 9:45 am – 4:45 pm
Learn all about wild mushrooms and how to identify local species that grow on Prudence Island. This is a great beginner program! Mushroom expert Joe Metzen of Audubon will give a presentation, provide background history, and tips on working with field guides. After lunch, take a guided hike in the woods to see what mushrooms can be found. If time allows, visitors will also tour Prudence Island and discover some of the island’s unique historical and cultural sights. Due to limited space, registration is required.
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI; Fee: $12/member adult/ $6 member child; $18/non-member adult/ $9 non-member child. Ages: Teen to Adult. To learn more about Prudence Island trips and to register, vist the events calendar at www.asri.org.
Oh Deer!
Audubon Lecture
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
September 30, 2021; 6:30 – 8:00 pm
White-tailed deer are a common sight in the wild these days, but did you know that at one time their numbers were critically low? Come learn about these graceful creatures, their current overpopulation issues, and how they affect the diversity of modern-day forests.
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. Ages: Adult. Register through the events calendar at www.asri.org.
12 Sanderson Road ~ Smithfield, RI 02917-2600 ~ Phone: (401) 949-5454 ~ Fax: (401) 949-5788
email: audubon@asri.org