Audubon Society of Rhode Island

10/29/2026

Tuesday, November 3 is Election Day! The Green Bond is on the ballot once again, and your vote can make a difference for water and land protections in Rhode Island. Vote Yes on 5!

The Green Bond would invest $55 million to support forests, farming, open space, outdoor recreation, land revitalization, climate resilience, and more in Rhode Island. Here’s a look at what’s possible if the bond passes:

🌿 $25 million for climate resilience, including upgrades that address flooding, coastal erosion, stormwater management, and urban greening.

🌿 $12 million for improvements to state facilities that will support recreation and support our state’s economy.

🌿 $7 million to restore and protect the health of the Bay and its watersheds through projects that improve stormwater management, install green infrastructure, and more.

🌿 $3 million to clean up former industrial sites and return them into productive community spaces.

🌿 $3 million to protect working farms and support Rhode Island’s network of farmers.

🌿 $3 million to protect to protect open space, farmland, watershed, and recreation lands.

🌿$1 million to create new and improve existing community parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, and other recreation facilities.

🌿 $1 million to ensure safe public access to RI waterways by improving existing public boat ramps and floating docks.

Learn more about the Green Bond: https://bit.ly/47ONEmN

10/27/2026

Have you seen the latest art exhibit at the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium? This week is your last chance! Artist Helen Lozoraitis presents “Drawn to Nature,” a collection of mixed media collage pieces inspired by beach walks and woodland hikes on the South Coast of Massachusetts.

📍 Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol
📅 On view until October 29, 2026; Various opening times
🎟️ Free with admission

About the artist: As a long time observer of nature, Helen takes photographs that she integrates with both real world and abstract visual elements to create mixed media collages. The artwork consists of hand-painted and printed papers layered with original images and a range of other materials, sometimes with stitching on top. Helen sees her collages as small-scale shrines that express respect and appreciation for our fellow species on this planet, as well as deep concern about their welfare in the face of global warming and widespread habitat destruction.

10/25/2026

This is your annual reminder to put the rake down!

You can help wildlife this fall and winter by skipping leaf cleanup. When you leave the leaves, you create a habitat for pollinators like bees and moths, protection for other insects and worms, and food sources for birds. Letting leaves decompose naturally also helps improve soil health and can return important nutrients back to the ecosystem.

If leaf clean-up is a must for you, try one of these alternatives:

🍁 Leave some areas untouched. Designate an area of your lawn to stay as-is. For example, you can leave the leaves under trees or shrubs, rake them into a corner of your yard, or mulch some for your garden beds.

🍁 Avoid the leaf blower. Not only are leaf blowers noisy, but gas-powered blowers also produce significant emissions. Use a rake or an electric tool instead.

🍁 Don’t chop seed heads. Another way to help wildlife over the winter is to keep the stalks and seed heads of your native plants intact until the spring. Their hollow stems provide nesting places for insects and food for birds.

Thanks for your help in creating safe habitats for our local wildlife!

10/24/2026

Have you ever wanted to explore a wildlife refuge at night? This is your chance!

Join an Audubon naturalist for full moon hikes at Powder Mill Ledges, Caratunk, and the Audubon Nature Center & Aquarium! We’ll listen and look for owls and other wildlife—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.

Full Moon Walk at Powder Mill Ledges
📅 October 26, 6:30-8:30PM
📍 Powder Mill Ledges Refuge, Smithfield
🎟️ Fee: $10/Member, $14/Non-member
Ages: Ages: 12+
Sign up: https://bit.ly/4yOkwY0

Full Moon walk at Nature Center
📅 October 27, 6-7:30PM
📍 Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol
🎟️ $10/Member, $5/Member child
🎟️ $14/Non-member, $7/Non-member child
Ages: All
Sign up: https://bit.ly/4katDyf

Full Moon Walk at Caratunk
📅 October 27, 6:30-8:30PM
📍 Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
🎟️ Fee: $10/Member, $14/Non-member
Ages: Ages: 12+
Sign up: https://bit.ly/4idk0MR

📸: Karyn Schiller

10/23/2026

As work continues on the new solar carport at the Audubon Nature Center & Aquarium, there are a few upcoming parking lot and facility closures you should know about if you plan on visiting us soon!

📆 Monday, October 26th: The Nature Center will be closed. There will be no accessible parking or drop-off available, but parking will be available in the field for those accessing our trails.

📆 Monday, November 2nd: The Nature Center and trails will be closed. There will be no access to either temporary field parking or the main parking lot.

📆 November 3-6: There will be no accessible parking or drop-off available, but parking will be available in the field. The Nature Center will be closed on Tuesday, November 3, but trails will remain open.

Reminder that our Winter hours are currently in effect. The Nature Center is closed Mondays and Tuesdays and open Wednesdays - Sundays 9:30 AM-4:30 PM.

Thank you for your patience as we take this exciting next step on our RePower journey!

10/22/2026

Something is happening to Rhode Island’s Ospreys, and we need your help to understand why.

But first, some history. Prior to the 1970s, Osprey populations dramatically plummeted due to the harmful pesticide DDT, which is now banned in the United States thanks to the work of Audubon and other environmental organizations. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) began monitoring the rebounding Osprey populations in 1977, and the program was adopted by Audubon in 2010. Due to the work of hundreds of dedicated volunteers each year, Audubon has data to confirm that Osprey populations had made a significant comeback since the 70s.

This year was different. Our Osprey monitors documented a decline in nesting success during the 2026 breeding season. Only 38% of the 339 monitored nests successfully fledged young, making 2026 one of the poorest breeding seasons in the past decade.

Studying the causes of these nest failures is critical to understanding emerging threats to Ospreys. Audubon plans to expand its research efforts in 2027 and collect more robust data to better understand prey availability and changes occurring across the region.

You can help us understand these changes by donating to our bird conservation efforts! Become an Osprey research partner by donating: https://bit.ly/4yybOgS

📸: Timothy Pratt, David Downey

10/21/2026

Birds & Brews is this weekend! Join us on Oct 24 at the Audubon Nature Center & Aquarium for a night under the stars. Enjoy a local brew, meet an owl, bid on auction items, and listen to some great tunes.

Birds & Brews
📅 Saturday, October 24; 4- 7PM
📍 Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium
🎟️ Tickets start at $40/Adult; $15/Child
Ages: All

Want a VIP experience? Fire pit packages are available, but there are only a few left up for grabs—get your tickets soon.

Wondering what’s on the menu? Look forward to beers from Ragged Island, Grey Sail, Whalers, Tragmar, and more! And W’s Wood Fired Pizza, Perky Turkey, and Mac’s Screaming Corn will have delicious food for purchase.

Thank you to our event sponsor Hey Rhody for their support!

Grab your tickets: https://bit.ly/4he35KQ

Looking for an opportunity to relax under the stars, enjoy the crisp autumn air, enjoy a good local brew and listen to some great Americana tunes? Maybe cozy up around a fire and make s'mores? And meet an owl? And raise money for a good cause?

10/20/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 129th Annual Meeting!

Our work would not be possible without our donors, supporters, volunteers, legislators, staff, and board of directors. We were honored to award a few of those individuals this year for their outstanding contributions, including:

🏆 Volunteer of the Year, Joe Zbyrowski
🏆 Educator of the Year, Ginger Brown
🏆 Legislative Leadership Award, Sen. Melissa Murray & Rep. Rebecca Kislak

A special thank you to forester, ecologist, digital storyteller, and bestselling author Ethan Tapper for his insightful keynote. We also appreciate RI Governor candidate Ken Block (Independent) for joining us and sharing his platform in a moderated conversation with Bill Bartholomew.

Looking forward to making more progress this coming year!

10/19/2026

Whooo wants to meet a live owl? Join us at the Audubon Nature Center & Aquarium on October 24 to learn all about the mysterious lives of nocturnal birds—their biology, behavior, adaptations, and more! We will have hands-on activities and crafts for the whole family. You’ll also have the chance to meet one of Audubon’s live ambassador owls and learn about the owls of Rhode Island! All activities are included with admission.

Happy Owl-o-ween!
📅 Saturday, October 24; 10AM - 3PM
📍 Audubon Nature Center & Aquarium
🎟️ Free with admission!

Here’s the schedule of events:

🦉 All Day: Craft Table
🦉 10AM: Owl Nature Story
🦉 11AM: Meet a Live Owl
🦉 1PM: Owls of RI
🦉 2:30PM: Meet a Live Owl

Want to keep the fun going? Stick around for Birds & Brews, happening from 4-7PM on Saturday at the Nature Center! All ages are welcome. Enjoy a local brew, meet an owl, bid on auction items, and listen to some great Americana tunes. Buy your tickets: https://bit.ly/4he35KQ

📸: Screech Owl, Matt DiMaio III

10/17/2026

Birding is for everybody, and every body! We’re excited to be once again participating in Birdability Week, October 19-25, 2026. Birdability Week is all about making birding accessible, inclusive, and welcoming for people with disabilities and other health concerns. Check out our schedule of events:

Accessible Bird Walk
📆 Tuesday, October 20; 8- 9 AM
📍Providence, RI

Sensory Friendly Hours
📆 Wednesday, October 21; 3-4 PM
📍 Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol

Bird Sit
📆 Friday, October 23; 9-10 AM
📍 Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol

Providence Birding Outing
📆 Saturday, October 24; 9:30-10:30 AM
📍Providence, RI

There are so many other events happening across Rhode Island and virtually for Birdability Week! Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/47puKTo