Thursday, March 28, 2024

AUDUBON RHODE ISLAND

MARCH HIGHLIGHTS

F HOPE Audubon Maple Sugaring by Jamie Reiley

Yum! Discover Sweet Maple Sugaring with Audubon

March 2019 Highlights from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island

 

(January 30, 2019) – With warmer weather on the way, there is not a better time to get outside!  Experience sweet maple sugaring, go birding with an expert, bring the kids to meet some cool reptiles or head out to Prudence Island for a seal watch. Just pull on those boots and go!

 

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

Radical Reptiles

Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI

March 2, 2019; 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Thanks to the 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 registration required.

March 2, 2019: Radical Reptiles

10:00 am – 2:00 pm: Nature Craft table

10:00 am – 2:00 pm: Spot the Turtle. Can you spot 10 turtles in our exhibit hall? Spot them all and receive a prize to take home.

10:30 am & 2:30 pm: Nature Story

11:00 am: Vertebrates program

1:30 pm: Reptile Interview

Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free. Ages: All. No need to register.

 

Snowshoe Sunday at Caratunk

Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA

March 3, 2019; 8:00 – 10:00 am

Audubon opens the gates early to explore Caratunk by snowshoe (weather permitting). After some fresh air and exercise, return to the barn for hot cider and pastries. If there is not enough snow, participants will take a hike. Please dress appropriately and bring your own snowshoes. (REI rents snowshoes.)

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+. Register through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

 

Audubon Winter Van Trip to Cape Ann

Cape Ann, MA

March 3, 2019; 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Cape Ann is a historic fishing community in Massachusetts, known among birders for a great diversity of wintering sea birds. Razorbills, Dovekies, murres, guillemots, white-winged gulls, and other species have been spotted in the past. Join Audubon for a day of exploring Cape Ann hot spots including Gloucester Harbor, Eastern Point, Andrews and Halibut Points, and others. Visit the events calendar at www.asri.org for details and 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 online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

 

Audubon Osprey Monitor Training

See Locations Below

March 3, 10, 2019; 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Since 1977, this monitoring program has carefully tracked the Osprey population in Rhode Island as it recovered from the detrimental effects of pesticides. Attend this two-hour training session to learn about the program and how to become a monitor. Attendees should be over 16, have binoculars or a spotting scope and have access to a computer. For more information, visit the events calendar at www.asri.org.

– Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; March 3, 2019; Free. Ages: 16+.

– Fish & Wildlife Kettle Pond Visitor Center, 50 Bend Rd, Charlestown, RI; March 10, 2019; Free. Ages: 16+.

 

FREE Wednesday Morning Bird Walks

Locations Across the State

March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2019; 9:00 – 11:00 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 (www.asri.org) or Facebook Page for the location. Contact Laura at lcarberry@asri.org for more information.  

Locations determined weekly; Every Wednesday through June 2019; 9:00-11:00 am; Ages: 14+.

 

Composting 101

Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI

March 6, 2019; 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Have you ever thought about starting a compost system, but just weren’t sure how to start? This introductory class will cover the steps of generating this dark, rich and FREE fertilizer at home.
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. Ages: Adult. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

 

Seal Tour of Prudence Island

Prudence Island, RI

March 7, 2019; 1:30 – 6:30 pm

Enjoy a beautiful afternoon on Prudence Island and look for winter wildlife. Make a few stops around the island, including the south end, which is home to a large wintering population of harbor seals. Learn about the natural history of seals while viewing them from the shoreline (or the comfort of a heated van!). Keep an eye out for the many species of ducks and waterfowl that spend the winter here.

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: 8+. For more information on Prudence Island trips and to register, visit the events calendar at www.asri.org.

 

Improve Comedy Night with The Bit Players

Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI

 March 7, 2019; 6:30 – 8:00 pm

Leave the kids at home and come to Audubon for a night of improv comedy! The evening begins at 6:30 with craft beer and light snacks, the show starts at 7:00 pm. Local improv group The Bit Players will leave their cozy home at the Firehouse Theatre in Newport to become one with nature. Modeled after the hit TV show “Whose Line is it Anyway?” this show is full of hysterical characters, hilarious games and sidesplitting musical numbers. Everything is made up on the spot from your suggestions! 

Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $20/member, $25/non-member. Ages: 21+. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

 

Owling Van Trip

Locations Across Rhode Island

 March 8, 2019; 4:00-8:00 pm

Hop aboard the Audubon van with an expert guide to visit several locations around the state to look for these amazing birds. This unique program provides opportunities see or hear several species including Snowy, Short-eared, Barred, Screech and Great Horned Owls. Advance registration required.

Departs from Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI; Program Fee: $40/member; $50/non-member. Ages: 14+. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

 

Winter Wildlife on Prudence Island

Prudence Island, RI

March 9, 2019; 9:45 am-4:45 pm 

Join an all-day adventure and explore beautiful Prudence Island. Traverse the island in a passenger van making several stops along the way to look for a variety of birds in protected ponds and coves. We expect to see grebes, eiders, mergansers and much more. In the afternoon, we’ll shift gears and seek out our resident harbor seals, often visible close to shore on the island’s southern tip.

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: 12+. For details on Prudence Island trips and to register, visit the events calendar at www.asri.org.