News
Welcome
The Audubon Society of Rhode Island, the state's first environmental organization, invites you to discover the wonders of nature. Annually, more than 17,000 members and supporters along with tens of thousands visitors enjoy our fifteen refuges statewide, award-winning Environmental Education Center, and enthralling special events and fascinating programs.
Our Audubon was founded in 1897 to halt the slaughter of birds used in the day's fashions. Today, our mission promotes environmental education, conservation and advocacy.
The Audubon connects you with nature all year through recreational and educational activities, emphasizing birds while encompassing all native wildlife and habitats.
The natural world is both sanctuary and classroom. Audubon encourages you to enjoy nature, learn from it, and protect it. Join us and experience the discoveries that nature offers you.
|
|
|
 Raptor Weekend - Sept. 13 & 14
Long, sharp talons. Hooked beaks that slice and tear. Highly developed
eyesight and hearing. We’re talking raptors, the hunters of the avian
world. Birds of prey with keen adaptations that provide speed and
accuracy for the hunt. And they’re descending on the Audubon Society
of Rhode Island’s Environmental Education Center for Raptor Weekend,
September 13 and 14, 2008.
Wildlife rehabilitators and experts from across the Northeast will be
showcasing a wide variety of these extraordinary birds prey at the
largest raptor celebration in New England. Eagles, falcons, owls,
vultures, and hawks will be featured in live flight demonstrations and
educational programs for bird enthusiasts of all ages.
- For More Information -
 International Coastal Cleanup - September 20
Audubon Society of Rhode Island's International Coastal Cleanup (ICC)
addresses and raises awareness of a growing problem-plastic debris in
the ocean.
At this annual event, volunteers pick up and document trash
that washes up along rivers and beaches at 80 locations around Rhode
Island. By recording each piece of litter, volunteers provide
information for actions that reduce trash before it becomes a danger to
the boating community or to wildlife.
This year's event takes place
on Saturday, September 20, 9 a.m. to noon. Contact Eugenia Marks to
express your concern for the Ocean State and to find a convenient
cleanup.
- For More Information -
|
|
 The Rhode Island Butterfly Survey is part of a larger effort,
coordinated by North American Butterfly Association , to survey butterflies in North America. In early
July, volunteers across the continent conduct a one-day census of all
the butterflies observed within a selected 15-mile diameter count
circles. Audubon coordinates this effort in Rhode Island, which has
been growing every year.
"Once again, we exceeded last year's
total number of species and individuals," says Eugenia Marks, Audubon's Policy Director. "Last
year we had 2898 butterflies and 50 species, this year we counted 3521
butterflies and 51 species. We found that we did better on the East Bay
count than last year, and worse on the West Bay count, probably due to
weather. We were in the middle of a dry spell on July 12, and it seems
like that might have kept the numbers down. But overall we had a lot of
interesting sightings."
One notable find was the rare Hickory
Hairstreak , a species of concern on the state natural heritage list. It
was spotted at Audubon's Touisset Wildlife Refuge in Warren by Walter
Bosse of Cumberland, RI, Wendy Miller of Boylston, MA, and Dolores
Price of North Grafton, MA. A rare Zabulon Skipper was found and
photographed in Newport by father-and-son team Charles and Hugo
Avenengo of Newport, RI. This was a significant find, as the Zabulon
Skipper has never before been recorded east of Narragansett Bay.
Another rare butterfly, the Variegated Fritillary , was reported at
Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge in Charlestown by Erin King and
Suzanne Paton of the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Ten Mulberry
Wings , another state species of concern, were found at Newman Wildlife
Refuge by Michael Kieron of Riverside, RI; Marcia Peña of Warwick, RI;
Jim Van Cleve of Cranston, RI, and Eugenia
Marks, of Providence, RI.
|
|
Read more... [Butterfly Survey Results]
|
|
|
|
News 