Take to the

Trails!

Discover the Nature

of Rhode Island

April 17-25, 2010

Take to the trails this spring! Go ahead and explore those special places around the state that are only accessible by foot. Take a nighttime stroll, search for salamanders, explore a salt marsh, discover the rocky shore of Narragansett Bay or bring the kids on a family nature hike. Learn about the varied habitats and creatures that call Rhode Island home and at the same time, get to know your local Audubon naturalist.

At a time when many children (and adults too) spend more and more time in front of a computer or video screen and outdoor play is becoming increasing rare, Audubon invites families to celebrate Earth Day by getting outside and having fun in nature. Hiking not only provides good exercise and reduces stress; it connects people of all ages with the natural world.

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island is offering a weeklong schedule of FREE guided walks at wildlife refuges across the state and nearby Massachusetts. There are programs to suite all ages, interests, and capabilities - from mild birding walks on easy trails to strenuous hikes on steep, rocky terrain. It's a fun, free celebration of planet Earth.  And it's happening at an Audubon wildlife refuge near you!

Please see below for a complete schedule and descriptions of these guided walks.

 FREE GUIDED NATURE WALKS  - Register Here

Family Nature Hike
Saturday, April 17, 2010; 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge
301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA

Bring the whole family and join Audubon on the trails of the Caratunk Wildlife Refuge. Come explore the varied habitats and discover emerging wildflowers, birds, salamanders and more! What a great way for the family to discover nature and appreciate the great outdoors together - it's healthy, fun and educational!
Ages: 6+

Seaside Adventure
Sunday, April 18, 2010; 2:00-3:00 p.m.              
Audubon Environmental Education Center
1401 Hope Street (Route 114), Bristol, RI            

Put on your water shoes and head down to the shore for some salty adventures.  Comb the shore in search of crabs, snails, seas stars, fish and even worms.  You just never know who will show up for the adventure.  Bring along some water shoes and clothes that you don't mind getting wet.
Ages: 3+

Mourning Cloak Walk  
Monday, April 19, 2010; 11:00 a.m.
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge
12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI

The butterfly called "Mourning Cloak" is as elusive as a warm April day.  Come enjoy the beauty of early spring as we look for this first butterfly of the season, fluttering its dark wings bordered with yellow.   Limited to 15 participants, the walk is moderately strenuous up the hill at Powder Mill Ledges.  Wear sturdy shoes for damp spring ground conditions.
Ages: 5+

Salamander Search at Fisherville
Monday, April 19, 2010; 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Audubon Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge
99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI

Looking for something enjoyable to do outdoors with the kids during school vacation? Bring the family to the Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge for a morning of educational activities and search for salamanders and frogs with an Audubon naturalist.  Every child will have the opportunity to view and study the amphibians. Pre-registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet in the barn.
Ages: 5+

Rocky Paradise in Hopkinton
Tuesday, April 20, 2010; 10:00 a.m.
Audubon Long Pond Woods Wildlife Refuge
Long Pond Road, Hopkinton, RI

Join a rocky hike through the dramatic landscape of the forest and slopes in the Audubon Society of Rhode Island's Long Pond Woods refuge in Hopkinton. This 220-acre refuge has two miles of scenic trails that showcase the protected towering hemlocks and beautiful groves of rhododendrons. Enjoy a guided hike to a scenic overlook high above Long Pond. The terrain and overlook are reason enough to explore this area but spring is also a great time to look for early butterflies, emerging wildflowers and migrating songbirds. Sturdy shoes are a must and walking sticks recommended as well as appropriate clothing. This is a fun but strenuous and occasionally steep walk.
Ages: 12+

Family Night Hike at Fort Refuge
Wednesday, April 21, 2010; 7:00 p.m.
Audubon Fort Wildlife Refuge
Route 5 (Providence Pike), North Smithfield, RI    

Here is your chance to explore the nighttime trails with an expert. Join Audubon for an exploration of the Fort Wildlife Refuge in the evening. Listen to the night choruses of frogs or perhaps owls, test your night vision, and check out all the cool things that happen in nature once we all go to bed. Bundle up and wear good sturdy hiking shoes/boots.
Ages: 7+

Nighttime Exploration in Bristol
Thursday, April 22, 2010; 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Audubon Environmental Education Center
1401 Hope Street (Route 114), Bristol, RI

Come join an Audubon naturalist for a spring evening hike on the Claire D. McIntosh wildlife refuge. Do you think you could survive as a nocturnal animal? Participants will test their night vision and other senses too, as they wander under the trees and discover whom else might be out at night on the refuge.
Ages: All.

Pond Walk
Friday, April 23, 2010; 10:00 a.m.
Departs from Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge
12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI

Hooray for spring! Water vibrates with new life at this time of year, and the pristine pond at Newman Farm oozes with frog, salamander, dragonfly eggs and other larvae.  Put on your boots and join us for a slog through the thick vegetative border and the muddy edge.  Meet at Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge.  Participants will climb aboard the Audubon van and ride together to the Newman Refuge in North Smithfield.
Ages: 10+

Salt Marsh and Forest
Friday, April 23, 2010; 10:00 a.m.
Audubon Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge
Seapowet Avenue, Tiverton, RI

Join Audubon for a morning tour of the forest and salt marsh in the Audubon Society of Rhode Island's Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge. This 50-acre refuge protects valuable forest and marsh on the shore of the Sakonnet River in Tiverton. On the walk to the marsh, naturalists will point out some of the fascinating resident plants, animals and fungi. Salt marshes are home to specialized and sensitive plants, algae and animals and also serve as nurseries for many ocean species. At near low tide we will explore some of the unique features of this ecosystem not always accessible to the public. The Ruecker parking lot is on Seapowet Ave in Tiverton. Wear sturdy waterproof shoes and appropriate clothing. This is a flat but occasionally mucky walk.
Ages: 5+

Nature Hike at Powder Mill Ledges
Saturday, April 24, 2010; 2:00 p.m.
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge
12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI

Come to Audubon for an introduction to this oasis of nature just minutes outside the city. Explore the meadows, forests and hilltop of Powder Mill Ledges and learn its history. Search for wildlife and signs of spring on this leisurely hike. It's a great opportunity to get the kids out on the trail and reconnect with the natural world right in your own backyard. The trails are not stroller-friendly, so we recommend baby backpacks for those with very little ones.
Ages: All

Birding at Touissett
Sunday, April 25, 2010; 8:00 a.m.
Audubon Touissett Marsh Wildlife Refuge
Touissett Road, Warren, RI

Pack up your binoculars and head over to Audubon's Touissett Wildlife Refuge for an early morning birding walk. Discover the salt marsh habitat - not quite land, but not quite ocean either. Enjoy the easy trails in search of spring migrants and shorebirds as you saunter through beautiful hardwood forest, quiet fields, and picturesque salt marsh overlooks.
Ages: 5+ 

Tonight's Halloween Hikes are still on. If rain gets in the way, we'll gather in Mother Nature's Barn for fun and skits.

Join the Audubon Society of Rhode Island at the Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge in Seekonk, Massachusetts, for a fun-filled, spook-free celebration of Halloween – Mother Nature style!

Bundle up and rustle through the leaves on a guided lantern-lit hike through the cool night forest. Families encounter costumed woodland creatures that explore the myths, legends, and creatures associated with Halloween.

Fun-filled and spook-free, these walks are a great alternative to the usual haunted happenings. Audubon’s woodland characters are friendly and fun - perfect for young children and the whole family. Walks will begin at 5:30 p.m., with groups of 15 going off every 10 minutes.

Registration is required to reserve a time. Refreshments, children’s activities, and a special treat await your return. Spaces are limited, so make your reservation today by calling 401-949-5454, ext. 3041.

In the event of rain, the fun will be moved into the Caratunk barn, completely transformed for fall with pumpkins, hay and lanterns. Editors note:

Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge , Seekonk, MA. Program Fee: $8/member, $10/non-member. Family four-packs are available for $28/member, $36/non-member. Ages: All. Course Number: 014333-027.

Sponsored by RI PBS, Whole Foods Market , and Coast 93.3 fm

Eagle Eye Photo

Contest Deadline: September 5, 2009

Images of birds can be seen in the most unusual of places; envision a cloud shaped like an owl or a drop of paint that resembles like a swan. Use some imagination and train your “eagle eye” to see raptor images for this unique photo contest. Search for likenesses of eagles, owls or hawks in your daily travels - maybe it is a rock at the beach shaped like an eagle in flight or a knot in a tree that resembles an owl.

Email your pictures to adimonti@asri.org between August 8th and September 5th. In the subject line please write “Eagle Eye Photo Contest.” In the body of the email include your name, address, daytime phone number and email address. Pictures of actual animals will not be accepted.



The winner of the contest will receive six free 2-day passes to Audubon’s Raptor Weekend event in September. Two runners-up will also be chosen and will receive an Audubon Society of Rhode Island t-shirt and mug. All entries will be on display during the Raptor Weekend event.

Have a vehicle you are looking to sell?  Please consider donating it to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island and receive a tax deduction.  

Audubon is looking for safe and reliable vehicles for our educators to use in travel to schools around Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts, enabling them to provide hands-on environmental-based education programs.  In one year our educator's travel more than 20,000 miles.  Consequently, we are always looking for reliable vehicles that will help us connect students with science and nature.

It's quick and easy to donate your vehicle.  Plus, your donation is eligible for tax deduction purposes.   If you'd like to donate your car or would like more information please email me at  jhall@asri.org or call 401-949-5454 x3017. 

Doing the math

So if you've got a car with a market value of $1,000 that you're looking to unload, you have four options.

1. Donate it to a standard charity that has 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the IRS. The letter you receive will state the amount it was sold for - far less than the market value. Say it's sold at auction for $200. If you're in a 33-percent tax bracket, you can deduct $66 from your taxes. Your $1,000 car has now become worth $66 to you.

2. Trade it in on a new car. Dealers are never excited to get people's old beater cars as trade-ins, although a late-model luxury or Japanese car might fetch a reasonable price. But dealers often use your trade-in to jiggle the terms of your new car purchase or lease. If you traded in that $1,000 car, you might get $700.

3. Donate it to Audubon, and if it is in a condition that we can use as part of educational mission, this allows you to deduct the car using the True Market Value (see sites such as Edmunds.com) Using the 33-percent tax bracket again, that means $1,000 x 33% = $330 in your pocket.

4. Sell it privately for around its full market value of $1,000. If you can find a willing buyer.

A word of caution: When it comes to tax deductions, there's more to it than your tax bracket. For example, you can't take advantage of a car donation at all unless you itemize your taxes. Other factors include your income, need for deductions, and the car's value. A certified financial planner can help you decide if donating is in your best interest, or you can find more information at IRS or call (800) 829-1040.