November 2026 Highlights from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island
Local owls are busy setting up territories, finding mates and calling to each other in late autumn and throughout the winter. Join Audubon for brisk evening walks on the trails to search for resident owls during this magical time of year. Owl programs and prowls fill quickly – be sure to register early.
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/calendar.
Tide & Talon: Portraits of Rhode Island’s Coastal Birds & Raptors
Original Artwork by Hilary Archer
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
November 1 – December 31, 2026; 9:30am – 4:30pm
The paintings of Rhode Island wildlife artist Hilary Archer explore the beauty, symbolism, and presence of birds along the region’s shorelines and skies. Inspired by direct observation in the natural world, Archer captures coastal birds and birds of prey with striking attention to light, color, movement, and personality. Her work reflects a deep appreciation for the role birds play in both the ecosystem and the human imagination as enduring symbols of resilience, freedom, and transformation.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free with admission. Ages: All.
Wednesday Morning Bird Walks with Audubon
Locations Across Rhode Island
November 4, 11, 18, 2026; 9:00-11:00am
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. Locations will be sent to registered participants in advance.
Locations determined weekly; Every Wednesday through June 2027; Fee: $5/member, $10/non-member. Ages: 14+. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Bristol Biweekly Bird Walk with Audubon
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
November 6, 20, 2026; 9:00-11:00am
Join an Audubon naturalist for a morning stroll through the Claire D. McIntosh Wildlife Refuge in search of birds. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced birder, you’ll enjoy spotting and learning about resident species and seasonal visitors. Bring your binoculars and experience the sights and sounds of birding!
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $5/member, $10/non-member Ages: 14 and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Beavers of Fisherville
Audubon Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, Exeter, RI
November 7, 2026; 4:30-6:30pm
Join Audubon for an evening walk and discussion regarding the beavers that have taken up residence in the Fisherville Pond. Observe the beaver dams, lodges and hopefully the beaver themselves. At dusk, these creatures become active, so we may get to see these engineers at work. Wear sturdy shoes and bring a flashlight.
Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Rd, Exeter, RI; Fee: $10/member, $14/non-member; Ages: 16 and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Wildlife Pottery Painting
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
November 7, 2026; 1:00-2:00 pm
Join Audubon for family painting fun! Choose from a variety of wildlife and animal statues and paint your own wildlife scene while learning fun facts about local wildlife! All supplies will be provided.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $10/member adult; $5/member child; $14/non-member adult; $7/member child. Ages: 5 and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Veterans Day Nature Activities
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
November 11, 10:00am-3:00pm
Discover the natural world with fun-filled family activities including crafts, animal interviews, nature stories, and more. No registration is required. Activities are included with admission.
10:00am – 3:00pm: Craft Table
10:00am: Nature Story
11:00 am & 2:30pm: Animal Interview
1:00pm: Nature Walk
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: Free with admission; Ages: All.
Stewardship and Research Efforts on Prudence Island
Prudence Island, RI
November 11, 2026; 9:45am-4:45pm
Join staff from the Narragansett Bay Estuarine Research Reserve for a day exploring Prudence Island and learn about ongoing stewardship and research efforts. Visit a variety of habitats including hardwood forest, pitch pine barrens, and salt marsh for a first-hand look at these beautiful places and the work we’re doing to help them survive and thrive. Participants should be prepared to walk approximately four miles over the course of the day. Registration is required.
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI; Fee: $12/member, $14/non-member; Ages: Adult. For details and to register for Prudence Island programs, visit the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Sensory Friendly Hours
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
November 18, 24, 2026; 3:00-4:00pm
During Audubon’s Sensory Friendly Hours, there will be maximum of 12 visitors in the exhibit spaces along with trained and caring staff that have completed the Kulture City Sensory Inclusive Training. Audubon welcomes any supports needed to make a visit to the Nature Center and Aquarium comfortable for guests. Three sensory bags and a weighted lap pad can be borrowed from the front desk and there will be a quiet area designation, Sensory Friendly signs alerting visitors, and a headphone zone (indicative of potentially loud area) at the exhibit hall entry. Please register in advance.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope St, Bristol, RI; Fee: Free for members; $10/non-member adult, $7/nonmember child. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Stamp & Sip
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
November 19, 2026; 6:00-8:00pm
Create handmade cards inspired by fall foliage, bountiful harvests, and the natural world we are grateful for. Create three designs using a variety of techniques. Materials are provided and all skill levels are welcome. Advance registration required.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope, St Bristol, RI; Fee: $20/member, $25/non-member; Ages: 21 and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Needle Felted Owls
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
November 19, 2026; 5:30-7:00pm
Looking to craft a holiday gift or decoration? Join us on a cozy evening and learn to felt a small, three-dimensional owl. No prior needle felting experience is necessary. All materials will be provided.
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Rd, Smithfield, RI; Fee: $25/member, $30/non-member; Ages: 16 and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Owls and Tea with Audubon
Audubon Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, Exeter, RI
November 21, 2026; 10:00-11:30amJoin Audubon for a fun morning learning all about owls and having tea and snacks! Meet a live owl while learning about the unique features that make these birds especially adapted for flying and hunting at night. This program is for children 6 and up. Please no younger siblings.
Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon, Joslin Rd Exeter, RI; Fee: $10/member, $14/non-member; Ages: 6 and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Bank of America Free Family Fun Day
Seeds!
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
November 21, 2026; 10:00-3:00pm
Thanks to Bank of America, once a month the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium is open free to the public with programs and activities throughout the day. No need to register!
All Day: Craft Table
10:00am: Nature Story
11:00am & 2:30pm: Animal Interview
1:00pm: Seed Dispersal Challenge – How do seeds move? Explore the amazing world of seed adaptations and dispersal in this hands-on challenge! Build your own seed dispersal tool and see how far you can move the seeds.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free. Ages: All.
Beaver Moon Owl Prowl at Caratunk Wildlife Refuge
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
November 23, 2026; 6:30-8:30pm
Visit Caratunk Wildlife Refuge under the Beaver Moon to search for owls! An Audubon naturalist will call for different species as you follow trails through the forest. While we never know if we’ll hear or see an owl, participants will learn a lot and have a great night hike. Please dress for the weather, wear sturdy walking shoes, and bring a flashlight. The hike will be cancelled in the event of inclement weather. Advance registration is required.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Ave, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $10/member, $14/non-member; Ages: 12 and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Family Owl Prowl
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI
November 24, 2026; 4:30-6:00pm
Take to the trails in search of owls! Join an Audubon naturalist in this guided hike of the Claire D. McIntosh Wildlife Refuge to listen and look for owls. While we never know if we’ll hear or see an owl, participants will learn a lot and have a great hike. Please dress for the weather and bring a flashlight. This program does not include a live Audubon owl.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: All. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Supermoon Owl Prowl at Powder Mill Ledges
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
November 24, 2026; 6:30-8:30pm
Visit Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge on a supermoon night to search for owls! This is the time of year when animals are doing their final preparations before winter like storing food and White-tailed deer runt. An Audubon naturalist will call for different species as you follow trails through the forest. While we never know if we’ll hear or see an owl, participants will learn a lot and have a great night hike. Please dress for the weather, wear sturdy walking shoes, and bring a flashlight.
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Rd, Smithfield, RI; Fee: $10/member, $14/non-member; Ages: 12 and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Explore Prudence Island
Prudence Island, RI
November 25, 2026; 9:45am-4:45pm
Enjoy a late fall day exploring the rustic beauty of Prudence Island. Take several short walks, look for charismatic harbor seals hauled out on the rocks, search for winter ducks and songbirds, and visit several habitats across the island. Expect to walk three to four miles over the course of the day. Due to limited space, reservations are required.
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI; Fee: $12/member, $14/non-member. Ages: Adult. For details and to register for Prudence Island programs, visit the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Day After Thanksgiving Nature Activities
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
November 27, 10:00am-3:00pm
Give thanks for all that nature has given us! The day after Thanksgiving is for leftovers, but at Audubon it is also a day to rediscover why nature matters. Join fun nature and animal themed activities for the whole family. No registration is needed. Activities included with admission.
10:00 am-3:00pm: Craft Table
10:00am: Nature Story
11:00am and 2:30pm: Animal Interview
1:00pm: Turkey Trot Nature Walk
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: Free with admission; Ages: All.
Photos:
- Chipmunk with Acorn by Ed Hughes (Seeds! Bank of America Free Family Fun Day, Nov. 21, 2026)
- Barrel Owl by Peter Ryan (For owl prowls and other Audubon owl programs)
- Art Exhibit by Hillary Archer (Heron) at the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium. (Runs Nov – Dec 2026)