April 2022 Highlights from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island
Northern-Spring-Peeper
(March 1, 2022) – It’s spring! Head outside in the warmer temperatures and observe the unique flight of the American Woodcock, join a beginner birding program and get ready for migration, or bring the kids and search for camouflaged eggs. April is an awesome time at Audubon!
Note: Please visit asri.org/learn/naturecenteraquarium for current information regarding mask requirements for visitation. Participants on Audubon van trips must wear masks and show proof of vaccination.
Visit the events calendar at www.asri.org/calendar register for programs.
Audubon Camouflaged Egg Hunt
Four Locations Offered, See Below
April 9, 2022
Check-in 9:30 am, Egg Hunt 10:00 – 11:00 am
Audubon offers a fun alternative to the same old Easter Egg Hunt! Children, ages 3 to 10, hunt for brown eggs in a natural setting and quickly learn how well the eggs camouflage. The children trade their found eggs for a prize to take home, with special prizes going to the finders of the ‘golden eggs.’ Participants should bring a basket or bag for your hunt. Registration is required. This event is rain or shine, so dress warmly and for the weather. Sign in begins at 9:30 am, the hunt begins promptly at 10:00 am.
Register through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Program Fee: $5/member child; $7/non-member child. Ages: 3-10.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI
Powder Mill Ledges, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI
Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA
Woodcocks and Wine
Audubon Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, Exeter, RI
April 1, 2022; 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Join Audubon for an evening adventure in the fields of Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge to observe the enchanting flight patterns of the American Woodcock. The evening begins with a wine sampling and presentation of fascinating facts about these unusual birds. Then head out on a hike to observe the Woodcock display. Be warned, spring peepers or even a coyote might serenade you! Participants must be at least 21 years old to register. Bring a flashlight and dress for the weather. Meet in the Nature Center. Advance registration is required.
Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI; Fee: $20/member; $25/non-member. Ages: 21 and up. Register through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Watching Woodcocks – Supper and Saunter
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
April 1, 2022; 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Join Audubon for an evening dedicated to the mysterious American Woodcock. Begin at Powder Mill Ledges for a soup and salad supper and an introduction to this bird and its exuberant mating flights. Then venture outdoors, either at Powder Mill Ledges or the nearby Newman Wildlife Refuge to view and listen for the mating flights and songs. Wear sturdy shoes, dress warmly and bring a bright flashlight. Program will be postponed in the event of rain or otherwise poor viewing conditions. Advance registration required.
Departs from Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Fee: $25/member; $35/non-member. Ages: 12 and up. Register through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Citizens Bank Free Family Fun Day
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
April 2, 2022; 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 nature stories, animal discoveries, hikes and more. No need to register!
Citizens Free Family Fun Day: Earth Day
10:00 am – 3:00 pm: Take Home Craft Bags
10:00 am: Nature Story
11:00 am & 2:30 pm: Animal Interview
1:00 pm: Join a walk around our beautiful wildlife refuge with an expert naturalist and take time for a trash clean up in honor of Earth Day! Safety equipment provided.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI. Free. Ages: All.
Free Soil Testing
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
April 2, 2022; 10:00 am – 1:30 pm
Get ready for the planting season and have a URI Master Gardener check the pH level of your soil and evaluate its texture and content. Master Gardeners provide specific recommendations for the gradual adjustment of your soil’s pH and improvements in your soil’s health. Collect four to six samples from different locations in the area you would like tested. Dig down approximately six inches to the root depth. Place the samples in an open tray, mix together well and allow the soil to air-dry overnight. Fill a small paper bag with ½ cup of your sample and label it with the location from where it was collected.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free. Ages: All.
Bristol Bird Walks
Two Dates Offered
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
April 3, 10, 2022; 8:30 – 9:30 am
Beginning and intermediate birders will enjoy learning more about our feathered friends while exploring the grounds and trails of the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol. An Audubon educator will guide the group and share tips for locating and identifying birds. These slow rambles are about a mile in length along relatively even ground. Dress warmly and bring binoculars if you have them. Binoculars may be borrowed from Audubon if needed. Walks are weather dependent.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $5/member, $7/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org/calendar
Wednesday Morning Bird Walks
Locations Across Rhode Island
April 6, 13, 27, 2022; 9:00 – 11:00 am
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/calendar.
-Jason-Major-Tree-Swallow
Bluebird Monitoring Workshops
Virtual and In-person Options
See Dates and Times Below
Are you charmed by Eastern Bluebirds? Consider volunteering with Audubon to monitor their populations this spring and summer! To help conserve this species, Audubon is monitoring their abundance on our wildlife refuges from April to August. The workshops listed below offer prospective volunteers information and training. No experience is necessary, all are welcome! For more information and to register, visit the events calendar at www.asri.org/calendar.
Virtual Bluebird Workshops:
Wednesday, April 6, 2022; 5:00 – 6:00 pm
Thursday, April 7, 2022; 5:00 – 6:00 pm
In-person Bluebird Workshops:
Saturday, April 9, 2022; 1:00 – 2:00 pm; Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield
Sunday, April 10, 2022; 1:00 – 2:00 pm; Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol
Needle Felted Owls
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
April 9, 2022; 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Join fiber artist Tala Wunderler-Selby and learn how to make your favorite owl species from wool. Participants will sculpt their piece using the technique of needle felting, which involves using a notched needle to “stab” fluffy, colorful wool until it become solid. These classes are for beginners – no felting experience or artistic skills necessary! All materials will be provided. Register early!
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $25/member; $30/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Make Your Own Lip Balm
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
April 10, 2022; 10:00 – 11:30 am
Join an Audubon naturalist and herbalist and learn how to make your own lip balm in this hour-long class. Discover uses for various ingredients and learn recipes. Each participant will make a ½ oz tin of lip balm to take home.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $22/member; $25/non-member. Ages: Adult. Register through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Spring Paper-Crafting Workshop
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
April 10, 2022; 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Join the fun in a Spring-themed card and treat-box making workshop at Audubon! Create cards and 3-D treat boxes perfect for spring or Easter gifting! Designs use a variety of techniques. Materials are provided and all skill levels welcome. Come alone or bring along a friend to de-stress, learn a new hobby, or re-kindle an old passion. Registrants will go home with four projects.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $15/member $20/non-member; Ages 10 and up. Register through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
‘Spring’ on Over to Prudence Island!
Prudence Island, RI
April 14, 2022; 1:30 – 6:00 pm
Come celebrate the longer and (hopefully) warmer days with an afternoon on Prudence Island! Explore whatever areas Mother Nature deems suitable for travel, which will likely include forest, salt marsh and shoreline, both on foot and via passenger van. With an afternoon low tide, we’ll stop by the south end of the island to look for any late-season basking harbor seals just offshore. Advance registration required.
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI; Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $12/non-member adult, $8/non-member child. Ages: Adult. For more information on Prudence Island trips and to register, visit the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Saturday Morning Bird Walks with Audubon
Two Dates Offered
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
April 16, 30, 2022; 8:30 – 9:30 am
Enjoy Saturday morning bird walks on the grounds of the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol with Tom Younkin, founder/creator of Kingbirder, an on-line contest for birders and bird photographers. Many species can be found in the gardens, fields, and wetlands of this beautiful wildlife refuge. Walks will follow the Nature Center trails, boardwalk, and East Bay Bike Path for easy accessibility. Registration required. Walks are weather dependent.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $5/member, $7/non-member. Ages: 12 and up. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org/calendar
April Vacation Week with Audubon
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
April 18 – 22, 2022
Get ready, get set, and head to Audubon for the best school vacation yet! Set out on the trails at night to listen for nocturnal wildlife in the evening hours, get up close with owls and hawks, explore the wetlands, pond, and shore, go on a nature scavenger hunt and more!
Visit the events calendar at asri.org/calendar for details on programs and to register.
Birding for Kids
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
April 19, 2022; 9:30 – 11:00 am
An Audubon naturalist will share basic birding skills with kids. Families will learn to identify local year-round birds and a few migratory species through sight and sound, as well as how to use binoculars, field guides, and phone apps. Explore the trails of Caratunk and discover the world of birding! Dress for the weather and bring a mask. Binoculars will be available to borrow during the program. Parents must accompany children.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $5/member child; $7/non-member child. Ages: 7 and up. Register through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Earth Week Exploration for Kids!
Prudence Island, RI
April 20, 2022; 9:45 am – 4:45 pm
It’s school vacation and Earth Week, so what better way to spend time than exploring the awesome nature trails and shorelines on Prudence Island? Bring the kids along and look for all kinds of cool critters in the forest, along the streams, and on the beach. From seals to birds to crabs and salamanders, Prudence Island has it all! Advance registration required.
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI; Fee: $12 member adult/ $6 member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: All. For more information of Prudence Island trips and to register, visit the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Cartooning for Kids with Jerry Shippee
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
April 20, 2022; 1:00 – 1:45 pm
Come learn to cartoon in a special program led by Jerry Shippee, the artist and author of Audubon’s coloring book. Participants will create three bird cartoons that will entertain friends and family! Program for ages 8 and up. Registration required.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $5/member child; $7/non-member child. Ages: 8 and up. Register through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
A Froggy Night at Caratunk
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
April 22, 2022; 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Listen to the calls of spring peepers and wood frogs found in the wetlands. You might hear owls and see deer, too! Be sure to dress for the weather and bring a flashlight.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: 5 and up. Register through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Bluebird Nesting Walk
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
April 23, 2022; 9:00 – 10:30 am
Come to Caratunk and learn all about beautiful Eastern Bluebirds. Discover their natural history and learn how to identify them. Head out to the fields to watch these beautiful birds in action and check out their homes and neighbors. Please dress appropriately for the weather and bring binoculars if you have them.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; 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/calendar.
Earth Day Fairy Globes
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
April 23, 2022; 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Celebrate Earth Day by creating a unique and magical fairy scene to hang in your home. All materials will be supplied, but feel free to bring any small items you might wish to include inside your globe. Light refreshments will be provided.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; April 23, 2022; 6:00-7:30 pm; Fee: $20/member; $25/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
FREE Friday Morning Bird Walks at Fisherville
Audubon Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, Exeter, RI
April 29, May 6, 20, 27, 2022; 8:00-10:00 am
Experience spring migration at Fisherville Brook! Explore the wildlife refuge each week with an expert guide in search of new neo-tropical migrants. Observe birds like Northern Waterthrush, Prairie Warblers, Eastern Bluebirds, Scarlet Tanagers and more. You never know what birds may be spotted. Don’t forget your binoculars! Meet in the parking lot. Advance registration is required.
Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI; Free. Ages: 12 and up. Register through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Froggy Night at Fort
Audubon Fort Wildlife Refuge, North Smithfield, RI
April 28, 2022; 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Listen to the calls of spring peepers and wood frogs found in the wetlands. You might hear owl or observe beaver activity, too! Be sure to dress for the weather and bring a flashlight.
Fort Nature Refuge, (Rt. 5), 1443 Providence Pike, North Smithfield, RI; Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. Ages: 12 and up. Register through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Nature’s Light: Photography Exhibit by Carmen Rugel
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
Through April 30, 2022; 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Carmen Rugel is happiest when she is exploring the outdoors. Whether it’s basking in the rays of a sunrise, saying goodbye to the day at sunset, shooting the moon on a clear night, or simply marveling at how light interacts with everything around her. Carmen’s rich away of work that captures images of the natural world will be on display in March and April.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI. Free with Admission. Ages: All.
Prudence Island
Private Adventure with Friends and Family
Spend the day exploring beautiful and charming Prudence Island with education staff from the Narragansett Bay Research Reserve. With over three-quarters of the island protected, and a variety of habitats to explore, there are endless options for an outdoor friends and family adventure! The experience can be designed with your group’s interests and ages in mind – activities could include birding, viewing harbor seals hauled out on nearshore rocks, beachcombing, hiking the woodland trails, learning about island history – you get to choose! Please note face masks are required, regardless of vaccination status, while riding in the van.
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI; Fee*: $12/member adult, $6/member child; $15/non-member adult, $8 non-member child. Contact: Maureen Dewire at Maureen.Dewire@dem.ri.gov or by phone at 401-683-1478. *Cost does not include round-trip ferry travel.
12 Sanderson Road ~ Smithfield, RI 02917-2600 ~ Phone: (401) 949-5454 ~ Fax: (401) 949-5788