Sweetbriar Nature Center

06/05/2026

Join us for the Butterfly & Bird Fair 2026!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 13, from 11 AM–4 PM as we celebrate the grand opening of Sweetbriar Nature Center’s Butterfly Vivarium at our biggest fundraiser of the year!
Enjoy FREE admission to the Butterfly House all day, wildlife presentations, falconry demonstrations by Skyhunters in Flight, the powerful rhythms of Ryu Shu Taiko Drummers, interactive Native American dancing with the Setalcott Nation, craft vendors, food trucks, pony rides, family activities, and so much more.
*Food by Flo’s on the Go, Cochinita Porky Tacos, and Ice Cream
*Wildlife presentations throughout the day
*Crafts & vendors
*Pony rides
Admission:
 $25 per carload in advance
 $30 per carload at the door
This annual event helps support Sweetbriar Nature Center’s wildlife rehabilitation, environmental education programs, and conservation efforts. Bring your family, invite your friends, and spend a day celebrating nature while making a difference!
Carpooling is encouraged—parking is limited.

Tickets www. Sweetbriarnc.org

06/04/2026

A muddy rescue just before dinner...
When a call comes in about an animal in trouble, everything else has to wait.
This young coyote had likely been suffering for at least two weeks after being struck by a vehicle. The injury to his right leg was so severe that he could no longer hunt or properly care for himself.
When our team arrived, we found him perched along the edge of a muddy river at low tide. As we carefully approached, fear took over and he fled into the water. Within moments, he became trapped in the deep mud and was unable to escape.
Without hesitation, our friend Frankie from strong island jumped into the mud to help. After a challenging rescue, he safely pulled the exhausted coyote from the river. It’s safe to say these two are now officially “mud brothers.”
Once at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital, X-rays revealed a devastating fracture to his right leg. He is currently in extremely critical condition. Our team is focused on stabilizing him, managing his pain, and giving him the best chance possible. If he becomes strong enough to undergo surgery, we will repair his leg and work toward returning him to the wild where he belongs.
Every rescue like this requires specialized medical care, diagnostic imaging, medication, food, and countless hours of dedicated treatment.
If you’d like to help this coyote and the many other wild animals that come through our doors, please consider making a donation. Your support gives injured and orphaned wildlife a second chance.
Thank you for caring about wildlife.

And now for a name….thoughts????
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06/04/2026

Owl Yoga at the Historic Barn at Sweetbriar Nature Center.
Join us this Friday evening at 6:30 PM for a unique and relaxing Owl Yoga experience at the historic Barn at Sweetbriar Nature Center.
We’ll begin by meeting some of our very special live owl ambassadors and learning a little about these fascinating birds. Then, enjoy a gentle, all-levels yoga session designed to help you unwind and connect with nature. We’ll conclude the evening with a short guided meditation.
Please bring your own yoga mat. The program lasts approximately one hour and is suitable for participants of all experience levels.
Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!sweetbriarnc.org

06/02/2026

PSA- Why should we clean up debris on our beaches? Why should we properly dispose of fishing line, lures, rope, and plastic bags? Because our wildlife depends on it.
This female osprey became entangled in discarded rope while caring for her newly hatched chicks. Fortunately, concerned members of the public who follow this Oyster Bay osprey family through a live stream noticed something was wrong and alerted us.
With assistance from PSEG, we responded to the nest once again to help this osprey family. We were initially told that the mother was tethered to the nest by the rope. However, as we approached, she flew off with the rope still attached, trailing behind her.
Since we were already at the nest, we removed all visible man-made debris and garbage. Throughout the rescue, momma osprey circled overhead, scolding us and clearly worried about her babies. We only wished she understood that we were there to help.
Later that evening, we received the news we had hoped for—the rope had somehow fallen away, and she was free. We were incredibly relieved that we would not have to set a trap and capture her for further intervention.
She was one of the lucky ones.
Every week, wildlife patients are admitted to our hospital suffering from entanglement injuries caused by rope, fishing line, string, netting, and other discarded materials. Many are not found in time.
Wildlife encounters with human trash are alarmingly common. Researchers have documented thousands of species—from urban mammals to marine animals—affected by litter. Each year, plastic waste and discarded fishing gear are responsible for the deaths of more than 100,000 marine animals and 1 million seabirds through entanglement and ingestion.
You can help prevent these tragedies:
• Secure trash bins with tight-fitting lids.
• Cut plastic drink rings and bag handles before disposal.
• Properly dispose of fishing line, rope, and string-like materials.
• Pick up litter whenever you can.
A few extra moments of care can save a wild animal’s life.
WildlifeHospital KeepOurBeachesClean OysterBay Wildliferescue PSEGlongi

05/28/2026

Taking down trees in the spring is never a good idea — so many wild animals are raising their babies this time of year. Thankfully, this homeowner was willing to do everything possible to give these 4 baby Red-bellied Woodpeckers a second chance with their parents.
The babies were brought to our Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital, where we hydrated them and made sure they were healthy enough for a possible renesting. At Sweetbriar, we found a cylinder-shaped wooden nest box with an entrance large enough for the adult woodpeckers to use. We returned to the property, secured the nest box to what remained of the tree, and then… we waited.
The homeowner stayed hidden nearby with binoculars, hoping for the best. And unbelievably, the parents came back! They are now actively caring for and feeding their babies.
As wildlife rehabilitators, we always want wild babies to be raised by their own parents whenever possible. They learn natural behaviors, vocalizations, survival skills, and have the best chance at thriving in the wild.
Did you know?
Red-bellied Woodpeckers drum year-round on trees, utility poles, stumps, metal roofs, and even streetlights.
They can drum 18–19 beats per second for up to a full second at a time!
Please be mindful of nesting wildlife during spring and summer tree work. Cases like this are far more common than people realize, and a little patience can save lives.

05/27/2026

Charlie has been hard at work in the studio today!
Using his little footprints, Charlie created these beautiful spring flowers — and we think he did an amazing job Every masterpiece helps share the personalities of the rescued animals who call our sanctuary home.
Who knew tiny webbed feet could make such beautiful art?

05/25/2026

We have two new additions to the Sweetbriar family — please help us welcome Apollo and Venus!
These two 9-year-old Nigerian Dwarf goats were recently rescued from a family that could no longer care for them, and we’re so happy to give them a safe and loving forever home here at Sweetbriar Nature Center.
We hope Apollo and Venus spend the rest of their years happy, healthy, and fulfilled — with plenty of treats, sunshine, and new friends along the way.
Come visit Sweetbriar and say hello… they absolutely love meeting new faces!

05/23/2026

Pretty sure this is exactly what Mr. Whipple was worried about… How many of you know what I’m talking about?
This fledgling Red-bellied Woodpecker was found clinging on in the middle of a busy street. With no parents in sight, a kind Good Samaritan brought this little one to our wildlife hospital. Once the baby gains a bit more strength, we’ll head back to the area and see if we can locate a nearby nest and hopefully reunite the family.
Did you know? Red-bellied Woodpeckers can extend their tongues nearly 2 inches past the end of their beaks! Their tongue tips are barbed, and their saliva is actually sticky, helping them sn**ch insects from deep crevices. Even more fascinating — males have longer, wider-tipped tongues than females, which may help breeding pairs forage in slightly different areas and make the most of available food.

05/22/2026

Yesterday, we received a call about a grounded bald eagle in Mattituck that was unable to fly. Fortunately, Jenn — who monitors bald eagles on the North Fork — was on the scene to help. She FaceTimed with our team, safely captured the eagle, and began the long transport to our facility. One of our dedicated volunteers met her halfway to help bring this magnificent bird into our care.
After a full examination, we found no obvious injuries that would explain why he couldn’t fly. The next step was to move him to our flight conditioning aviary for observation. At first, he stayed grounded and made no attempt to fly. But after some time, something incredible happened — he took off, soaring perfectly from end to end of the aviary.
Jenn also knew exactly where this eagle belonged. Nearby was his nest, his mate, and two hungry fledglings waiting for him to return home.
With transport arranged, this beautiful eagle was released back where he belongs — soaring free once again.
So what may have happened? We suspect he may have had a territorial dispute with an osprey or another eagle and hit the ground hard, leaving him temporarily stunned or disoriented. While we may never know for certain, we are incredibly grateful this story had a happy ending.
Believe it or not, bald eagles were not originally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 because it was mistakenly believed they did not migrate. In 1940, Congress passed the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, giving these majestic birds the federal protection they deserved.
Thank you to everyone involved in helping this eagle make it home.

05/21/2026

We are still accepting applications for our summer discovery internships. If you are interested in childhood education, outdoor education, and recreation coordination. This is a great position for you! You must be 18 years or older and enjoy working with children in an outdoor setting. School credits can be earned. Read through the link and send any questions to [email protected]

About Our Organization: ECSS: Sweetbriar Nature Center is a private not-for-profit, 501c3, a corporation that exists to provide natural science education services for Long Island residents of all ages and to engage in native wildlife rehabilitation services. Sweetbriar Nature Center has 54 acres of....