April 2018 Highlights from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island
It’s spring! Head outside in the warmer temperatures and search for seals, watch for Woodcocks, and join a birding walk. April is an awesome time at Audubon, come join the fun!
Unless noted, registration is required for all programs. Register online through the events calendar. You may also click on each program title to register or learn more!
Download a beautiful color copy of our Program Guide featuring March - May 2018 Nature Programs:
Watching Woodcocks - Supper and Saunter
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
April 6, 2018; 6:00 – 8:30 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 or the nearby Newman Wildlife Refuge to view and listen for the mating flights and songs. Wear sturdy shoes, dress warmly and bring a flashlight. Program will be postponed in the event of rain or otherwise poor viewing conditions.
Departs from Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Program Fee: $30/member; $35/non-member. Ages: 12+.
Woodcocks and Wine
Audubon Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, Exeter, RI
April 6, 2018; 6:30-8:30 pm
Come for an evening adventure in the fields of Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge to observe the enchanting flight patterns of the American Woodcock. Begin with a wine sampling and presentation of fascinating facts about these unusual birds. Afterwards, head out on a hike to observe the Woodcock display. You 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; Program Fee: $20/member; $25/non-member. Ages: 21+.
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Citizens Bank Free Family Fun Day
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
April 7, 2018; 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
It’s time to get your hands dirty! Come celebrate soil, plants, and gardens. Stop in for garden themed crafts, games and activities for the whole family.
Thanks to the Citizens Bank, the Environmental Education Center 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 - 2:00 pm: Garden Craft Table
10:30 am: Plant Story Time
11:30 am & 2:30 pm: Guided Nature Walk
11:00 am - 2:00 pm: Soil Testing with URI Master Gardeners
1:00 pm: Flower Dissection
1:30 pm: Animal Interview
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free. Ages: All.
Audubon Earth Day Film Festival
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
Submissions due by April 7, 2018, Festival held on April 21, 2018
What does nature mean to you? Audubon would like to see your answer on film! Submit YOUR nature film to Audubon’s first annual Earth Day Film Festival, held on Saturday April 21, 2018 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.
Films under four categories will be accepted:
- Hatchling (age 8-11)
- Nestling (age 12-15)
- Fledgling (age 15-17)
- Full-Grown (age 18+).
For guidelines on films and submission details, click here.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Festival viewing April 21, 2018; 1:00-3:00 pm; Free with Admission. Ages: All.
Soil Testing
University of Rhode Island, Cooperative Master Gardener Program
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
April 7, 2018; 11:00 am-2:00 pm
The URI Master Gardener soil testing service is free of charge. Bring a sample of your soil and have it tested for pH (acidity/alkalinity) and evaluated for texture and content. Master Gardeners will provide specific recommendations for improvements for your soil’s health. Check out the details on how to best collect a soil sample.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; April 7, 2018; 11:00 am-2:00 pm; Free.
Weekly Saturday Nature Walks
Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
April 7, 14, 21, 28, 2018; 2:00 - 3:00 pm
It's time to celebrate Spring! Starting on March 24th, join Audubon for weekly Nature Walks every Saturday at 2pm. Walks will depart from the lobby of the Environmental Education Center in Bristol and will be led by Audubon Docent Dennis Baxter. Program fee: free with admission*. (Please note this program is weather dependent.)
*Admission: Members (2 adults and up to 4 children) free; Non-Member Adults $6.00; Non-Member Senior $5.00; Non-Member Child (4-12) $4.00; Children 3 and under free.
Audubon Birding for Beginners
Six Sessions
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
April 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, 2018; 9:00-11:00 am
Bird watching is one of the fastest growing outdoor recreational activities. Join the fun! Audubon offers a six-week class providing a basic understanding of bird biology as well as visual and aural identification techniques. Led by Lauren Parmelee, long time birder and Audubon senior director of education, time will be spent in both the classroom and the field (weather dependent) to practice birding skills. Please bring binoculars and a field guide if you have them, and dress appropriately for the weather. Class is limited to 15 adults, register early. Field trip locations will be determined by the group.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI;; Program Fee: Other; $84 for members, $102 for non-members Ages: Teen to Adult.
Sea Glass Jewelry
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
April 14, 2018, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Come create a beautiful pendant with sea glass found on local beaches. Learn how to choose the right piece of glass and transform it into creative jewelry using quick and easy wire wrapping techniques. Program includes all materials. Find something special on the beach? Bring that too! This class fills quickly. Advance registration is required as space is limited to 10 participants.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $30/member; $35/non-member. Ages: Adult.
Audubon Seal Watch at Rome Point
John H. Chafee Nature Preserve, Saunderstown, RI
April 15, 2018; 12:30 -3:00 pm
Harbor seals are the most common marine mammals in Rhode Island waters. They are present from fall through spring, and are most abundant in April. Join Bob Kenney, volunteer Audubon naturalist and URI marine mammal scientist, for a visit to the largest haul-out site in the state off of Rome Point. The walk is timed to low tide, and we could see a hundred seals or more. Be prepared to walk a mile each way and to watch for birds along the trek.
John H. Chafee Nature Preserve, 1421 Boston Neck Rd, Saunderstown, RI (Rt. 1A across from Gilbert Stuart Road); Program Fee: $15/member adult, $7/member child; $18/non-member adult, $9/non-member child. Ages: All.
April School Vacation Week Nature Activities
Three Locations
April 16 – 20, 2018; 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Go ahead and get a little muddy as you search for salamanders, explore life in a pond, head out on a swamp romp and more! Remember that Audubon has tons of hands-on nature fun each day during April School Vacation Week. Get those kids outside and have some fun!
Please note that registration is required for programs located at Powder Mill Ledges and Caratunk Wildlife Refuges. Programs are free at the Environmental Education Center in Bristol. For a complete listing of Audubon activities and programs, click here.
Junior Naturalists: Eco-Engineers
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
April 17 and 18, 2018; 1:30-3:00 pm
Join other home-schooled kids to learn about nature and science. This program will introduce participants to a different topic each class, with hands-on experiments and nature-based activities that are sure to foster a love of the natural world. Classes are limited to 15 children, so please register early. Adult must attend with child.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; 1:30-3:00 pm; Program fee: $10/member child, $6/member siblings; $12/non-member child, $8/non-member siblings. Ages: 6-12.
Birding: the Next Step Part II: Taking Flight
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
April 18, 25, May 2, 9, 2018; 6:30 pm-8:00 pm
Field excursions will take place on April 28, May 12, 2018 Come learn everything you have ever wanted to know about our feathered friends from Charles Clarkson, Audubon Society of Rhode Island Board Member and professional ornithologist. This six-week course is part two of a series, offering a deeper exploration of everything bird. Topics will range from avian anatomy and physiology to how birds cope with a changing climate. Two weekend field trips will be arranged.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee; $125/member, $150/non-member. Ages: Adult.
Eco-responsibility as Norm and Practice
Audubon Enviuronmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
April 19, 2018; 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Creating a culture of eco-responsibility requires new ways of thinking and new political and economic practices to support it. Brown University Professor Sharon Krause explains why the ways that we normally think about our responsibilities are inadequate for our contemporary environmental problems. She offers a new way to think about responsibility and briefly sketches several initiatives at the level of politics and the economy that could help support eco-responsibility as a norm and a practice. Start your own sustainable garden by stopping in at 6:30 pm before the lecture and plant a seed in celebration of Earth Day. Lecture begins at 7:00 pm. All attendees will receive an Audubon water bottle to continue their sustainability efforts.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $12/member, $15/non-member. Ages: Adult.
Kids Exploration Day on Prudence Island
Prudence Island, RI
April 20, 2018; 9:45 am – 4:30 pm
It's the last day of school vacation week - what better way to spend it than by exploring the awesome nature trails and shorelines on Prudence Island? Bring the kids look for all kinds of cool critters in the forest, along the streams and on the beach. From birds to crabs to salamanders, we will search for them all!
What to Bring: lunch/drinks for the day; warm clothing and comfortable footwear. Registration is required due to limited van space. Ferry ticket is not included in the price and is approximately $12 round trip/adult and $6/child. You will depart on the 9:45 am ferry from Bristol, arriving on Prudence at 10:15 am; the return trip will depart Prudence at 4:15 pm and arrive in Bristol at 4:45 pm.
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI; Program Fee: $8/member adult/child pair, $5/each additional member; $12/non-member adult/child pair; $7/each additional non-member. Ages: All.
Party for the Peregrines
Squantum Club, East Providence, RI
April 21, 2018; 6:30 – 9:00 pm
This celebration of Rhode Island raptors will include live and silent auctions as well as delicious hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. Audubon’s live raptors (owls, hawks and a kestrel) will be presented during the evening, and the Providence Peregrine Webcam will be featured. Dozens of interesting and desirable items will be on display for auction bidding. Proceeds will support the Audubon Society of Rhode Island raptor care and education programs and will help to protect thousands of acres of valuable habitat for these birds and other creatures.
The public is invited to Party for the Peregrines. Visit the Party for the Peregrines webpage for more information, including a list of this year's auction items, and to purchase tickets ($85 per person, VIP Reception tickets $150 per person). Squantum Club, 1 Squantum Road, East Providence, RI.
Eppley Flora and Fauna
Audubon Marion Eppley Wildlife Refuge, West Kingston, RI
April 26, 2018; 9:30 am – 12:00 pm
Audubon's largest wildlife refuge is also one of the most diverse. Cedar swamps, pine woods and mixed hardwood forests are home to many types of native plants and animals. Join Scott Ruhren, director of conservation, on an early spring trail exploration. This property is only open to the public for Audubon guided walks such as this.
Marion Eppley Wildlife Refuge, Dugway Bridge Road, West Kingston, RI; Program Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $14/non-member. Ages: 8+.
FREE Friday Morning Bird Walks in May
Audubon Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, Exeter, RI
April 27, May 4, 11, 18, 25, 2018; 8:30 – 10:30 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, Praire 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.
Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI; Free. Ages: 12+. Note: Please DO NOT USE GPS - follow these refuge directions.
Great Swamp Walk with Audubon
South Kingstown, RI
April 28, 2018; 2:30 – 5:00 pm
Join naturalist Bob Kenney for a springtime walk into the Great Swamp Management Area. Because of the very high diversity of habitats, Great Swamp supports of large variety of both resident and migrant birds. It has been an excellent site for finding several rarities over the years. Amphibians and reptiles are also awake after their long winter naps and will be active. The rain date will be Sunday, April 29, 2018.
Great Swamp, 296 Great Neck Road, South Kingstown, RI; Program Fee: $15/member adult, $7/member child; $18/non-member adult, $9/non-member child. Ages: All.
Paint and Sip: Signs of Spring
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
April 28, 2018; 6:30-8:30 pm
Create your own beautiful painting while enjoying a glass of wine! No painting experience necessary - we’ll lead you through the process with step-by-step instruction. Registration is required.
Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $40/member $48/non-member. Ages: Adult.
Family Night Hike at Caratunk
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
April 28, 2018; 7:00-9:00 pm
Most people do not get out and explore or hike at night. Here is your chance to discover nature in the evening! Join Audubon for a leisurely night hike on the Caratunk Wildlife Refuge in Seekonk, MA. Listen for animal sounds, test your night vision and see what is happening on the refuge when the sun goes down. Wear sturdy shoes, bring a flashlight, and dress to stay warm in the cool night air.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Program Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: 7+.
