September 2018 Highlights from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island
Audubon loves autumn! Get up close and learn all about about amazing raptors, take a rambling hike in the cool forest, or enjoy a wild mushroom walk and dinner. As the cooler weather arrives, head outside and enjoy the natural world.
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 September - December 2018 Nature Programs:
Raptor Weekend
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
September 8 & 9, 2018; 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
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 2018. 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 flight demonstrations, educational programs, and activities for bird enthusiasts of all ages.
General Admission: Adult: $13/member, $16/non-member. Child (ages 4 - 12): $9/member, $11/non-member. Children under age 3 are free.
Saturday Nature Walks with Audubon
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
Saturdays Throughout September and October, 2018; 2:00-3:00 pm
Join Audubon for weekly nature walks every Saturday. Walks depart from the lobby of the Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol and will be led by an Audubon guide. Please note this program is weather dependent. (Note: There will be no walk on September 8 or October 13.)
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free with Admission. Ages: All.
Franklin’s Hatch Day
Citizens Bank Free Family Fun Day
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
September 1, 2018; 9:00 am – 5:00 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, animal discoveries, hikes and more.
It’s the time of year when baby turtles hatch from their eggs. This month, come celebrate the hatch day of our very own eastern box turtle, Franklin. Learn all about these awesome turtles and have fun!
9:00 am-5:00 pm: Can you spot all 10 box turtles in the exhibit hall? Spot all 10 and get a prize to take home.
10:00 am - 2:00 pm: Turtle Party Crafts
10:30 am: Turtle Tale Nature Story
11:00 am and 2:00 pm: Animal Interview: Meet a Turtle
1:00 pm: Turtle Party Games and Scavenger Hunt
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free. Ages: All. No need to register.
Providence Raptors
Photography Exhibit by Peter Green
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
September 2 – October 31, 2018; 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
A photographer and graphic designer living and working in downtown Providence, Peter Green walks the city, documenting the Peregrine Falcons and other urban wildlife. These regal, powerful raptors seem out-of-place yet perfectly at home among the landscape of bricks and concrete. Meet Peter and learn more about his work at Audubon’s Raptor Weekend on September 8, 2018.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free with Admission. Ages: All
Labor Day Nature Activities
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
September 3, 2018; 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Bring the kids for up-close animal encounters, hikes, crafts and games. No registration required.
10:00 am – 2:00 pm: Nature Craft Table
10:30 am: Nature Story
11:30 pm: Animal interview
2:00-3:00 pm: Guided Nature Hike (weather dependent)
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free with Admission. Ages: All
Mushrooms for Beginners
Prudence Island, Rhode Island
September 5, 2018; 9:45 am – 4:45 pm
Learn all about wild mushrooms and how to identify local species that grow on Prudence Island. An Audubon naturalist will guide the program, providing a presentation on mushrooms, background history, and tips on working with field guides. After lunch, hike in the woods to see what mushrooms can be found. If time allows, participants will also tour Prudence Island by van 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: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $12/non-member adult, $8/non-member child. Ages: 10+.
Birding: The Next Step
Bird Biology and Field Excursions with Dr. Charles Clarkson
Audubon Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, Exeter, RI
September 12, 19, 22, 26, 29 & October 3, 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 offers a deeper exploration of everything bird. Topics will range from avian anatomy and physiology, the dynamics of migration and the newest technologies in ornithology to how birds cope with a changing climate. Two weekend field trips are included.
Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI; September 12, 19, 26 and October 3, 2018; 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Field trips on Sept 22 and 29 at 8:00 a.m. Fee: $125/member, $150/non-member. Ages: Adult.
Protecting Pollinators
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
September 15, 2018; 10:00 – 11:30 am
The pollinators of the world are losing ground at an alarming rate. Discover what you can do on your property to encourage, assist, and help to save pollinators. Learn about the food, nesting, and sheltering needs of pollinators as well as simple changes you can make in your gardens, maintenance schedule, and use of pesticides.
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Program Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. Ages: Adult.
Caratunk Ramble
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
September 16, 2018; 9:00 – 11:00 am
Join an Audubon naturalist for a ramble along the trails at Caratunk Wildlife Refuge. Stop along the way to observe wildlife in the fields, pond, woods and wetland. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy walking shoes, bring insect repellent, sunscreen and a water bottle. Don't forget your camera and binoculars if you have them. This program is weather dependent.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: 9+.
Mushrooming, Owling and Elegant Dining
Audubon Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, Coventry, RI
September, 22, 2018; 3:00 – 8:00 pm
Join Audubon naturalists for guided walk to a lake front cottage and enjoy birding and mushrooming along the way. Once at the cottage, discuss the fungal findings and enjoy the sunset while sipping wine on the deck or paddling a canoe on picturesque Carr's Pond. Then move inside and enjoy a delicious fireside dinner in the cottage. Enjoy your dessert with a presentation featuring one of Audubon's live owls. Finally, end the evening with a relaxing stroll back to your vehicle with a search for owls along the way.
Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, 2082 Victory Highway, Coventry, RI; September 22, 2018; 3:00-8:00 pm; Fee: $75/members, $85/non-members. Ages: 21+.
Autumnal Equinox Hike
Audubon Fort Wildlife Refuge, North Smithfield, RI
September 22, 2018, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Come on this leisurely hike with Audubon and explore the change of season at Fort Wildlife Refuge. Search for wildlife and plants and learn about their folklore. This 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; Program Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: 9+.
Smithsonian Museum Day Live!
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
September 22, 2018; 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Audubon will join museums and cultural institutions nationwide to open their doors free of charge for Smithsonian Museum Day Live! As part of a journey to celebrate our world’s dynamic heritage and cultural life, participating Museum Day venues mirror the free admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, D.C.-based facilities.
For details and to download a ticket, visit www.smithsonian.com/museumday.
10:00 am-2:00 pm: STEAM Craft Table
10:00 am-2:00pm: Discovery Table
10:00 am & 2:30 pm: Nature Story
11:00 am: Coastal Clean Up
1:30 & 3:30 pm: Animal Interview
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Programs are free with Admission. Download the Museum Day ticket at www.smithsonian.com/museumday.
Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Program
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
September 25, 2018; 6:00 – 8:00 pm
First responders are vital to Mystic Aquarium’s Animal Rescue Program. The initial response helps Mystic Aquarium determine the status of an animal and helps prepare for action when necessary. Learn about federal regulations that ensure the safety of these animals. You will also learn how to identify Connecticut and Rhode Island’s marine mammal and sea turtle species. Interested parties must register through Mystic Aquarium (must be 18 or older to attend.)
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI. Free. Ages: 18+. Register through Mystic Aquarium.
Freshwater Wetlands
Junior Naturalists for Home-schooled Families
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
September 25 & 26, 2018; 1:30 – 3:00 pm
Our popular home-school program now lasts an hour and a half. That means more time for outdoor exploration, so come dressed for the weather. 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 Nature Center & Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $10/member child, $6/member siblings; $12/non-member child, $8/non-member siblings. Ages: 6-12.
Li’l Peeps
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
September 27, October 4, 11, 18, 25, November 1, 2018; 9:45 – 10:45 am
This popular program introduces children ages 18 months through 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 also a wonderful opportunity to make new friends with the other children and parents. Registration is required as space is limited and fills quickly. Adults must accompany children and there are no refunds for missed classes. In order 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 months through 2 years.
