Audubon Report | Summer 2024

AUDUBON REPORT

WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

Audubon Avian Research

Launches Study on Insect Diversity and Abundance

DIRECTORS:

Kathleen

Amy

Stephen

Emily

Leslie

Carol

Olinda

Michael

Audubon Society of Rhode Island 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI 02917 401-949-5454 www.asri.org

Executive Director: Jeffrey C. Hall

Managing Editor: Hope Foley

Contributing Writers: Laura Carberry, Charles Clarkson, Hope Foley, Sue Kennedy, Abbie Lahmers, Lauren Parmelee, Rebecca Reeves, Scott Ruhren, Katie Schortmann, Phoenix Wheeler.

Contributing Photographers: Mary Ann Cofrin, Norm Grant, Peter Green, Ed Hughes, Sue Kennedy, Abbie Lahmers, Charles Ledoux, Jason Major, Jerome Montvilo, Glenn Osmundson, Scott Ruhren, Cathy Russo, Betsy Staples, Richard Staples.

The Report is the Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s newsletter, updating members and supporters on current

We encourage your participation. Please send items that will be considered for publication to Managing Editor Hope

IT ALL STARTS WITH SCIENCE...

Iam proud to share the remarkable strides we are making in our science initiatives. Along with our avian research, we do substantial work in the field to support insect populations, pollinators and native plants, stormwater mitigation, vernal pools, and bird monitoring. Our science initiatives not only illuminate the rich biodiversity of our state, but significantly impact it. Not only has your support been instrumental in funding our research, but it also allows our advocacy and education teams to share the work we do and expand our impact.

Our avian research is providing invaluable insight into the behaviors and habitats of breeding and migratory birds that live and pass through our state. We are focused on our designated Responsibility Birds*, Ospreys, and Eastern Bluebirds. By closely monitoring these species, we can better understand their needs and the challenges they face, informing our conservation strategies. This research not only supports the well-being of these birds but also serves as a barometer for the overall health of our environment.

Studies on insect populations and pollinators will underscore the critical roles that these creatures play in maintaining ecological balance. Pollinators, in particular, are essential for reproducing many native plants, which form the foundation of healthy ecosystems. By promoting the growth of these plants and advocating for the reduction of herbicide and pesticide use in our environment, we support diverse wildlife populations that contribute to the resilience of our natural landscapes.

Addressing stormwater runoff and contamination is equally vital. Through innovative, nature-based projects, community collaborations, and research from the Stormwater Innovation Center, we are working to mitigate the impacts of pollution in our waterways that affect people and wildlife. Stormwater, aggravated by climate change, affects everyone and everything in our state. The effects and intensity of each rain event is growing.

One of our new projects involves the study of vernal pools, seasonal wetlands that provide critical breeding habitats for

* WHAT ARE RESPONSIBILITY BIRDS?

Audubon has identified nine common birds that are still relatively abundant but have declined in numbers. It is crucial that we begin to address their decline now, and work to manage and acquire habitat for their survival.

amphibians and invertebrates. These unique ecosystems are often overlooked yet play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity. Our surveys of these pools on Audubon refuges have revealed how climate change is threatening their very existence. We are just one sustained drought away from losing many of the creatures that need vernal pools for survival. Through our surveys, researchers and advocates will gain a better understanding of the important function that vernal pools provide, and this science will guide our conservation efforts.

These interconnected initiatives paint a comprehensive picture of Rhode Island's biodiversity. Our research, underwritten by your support, drives our advocacy efforts as we seek to remove the most deadly pesticides from our environment. It helps us champion policies that protect our natural resources. These initiatives also enhance our educational outreach, inspiring individuals and communities to engage in conservation efforts and make informed decisions that benefit us all.

Together, we are making Rhode Island a better place to live— one where a rich tapestry of life can thrive. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to Audubon's mission. Your dedication is what makes all of this possible. If you're inspired by our work and want to get more involved, consider growing your support and leaving Audubon in your will. And, as always, please continue to share our updates with your friends and family to help us spread the word and create a larger community to support the Nature of Rhode Island.

Good birding,

Jeffrey C. Hall Executive Director

• Common Yellowthroat

• Eastern Towhee

• Black-and-white Warbler

• Prairie Warbler

• Wood Thrush

• Scarlet Tanager

• Red-winged Blackbird

• Chimney Swift

• Barn Swallow

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) by Mary Ann Cofrin Audubon Society of Rhode Island

WHAT’S FOR DINNER?

Audubon Avian Research Launches Study on Insect Diversity and Abundance

By Sue Kennedy

Several times on the trail in the Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge in Exeter, RI, Charles Clarkson, Audubon Director of Avian Research, slows his pace a bit, tilting his head to target in on a crisp trill here, a lower warble there. “Wood Thrush,” or “Ovenbird,” he’d offer to a small corps of volunteers, maybe taking a couple steps off the path to take a longer listen to a particular call.

But this foray into Fisherville, a wildlife refuge with more than 1,000 wooded acres, isn’t directly focused on the birds that Clarkson hears and names. Rather, it’s on insects, and with good reason. “It’s actually pretty basic – bugs are bird food,” says Clarkson stopping on the trail once more, this time to grasp a thin branch on a sweet birch and examine the undersides of several small leaves, light green in the still cool, still damp, early May air. “And the fact is, if we’re really going to get a better handle on how to truly support and care for bird species and the ecosystems they depend on, then we need to know what birds are eating and where they’re able to find their food sources.”

He points to a tiny ball of fine, ragged grey strands attached to the underside of one of the leaves. “See? Probably the leftovers of an insect egg mass, so that would be something that we could note in the data collection for this.” Murmurs of recognition and understanding ripple back and forth, and the group sets forth once more, with a pair of volunteers comparing schedules for the survey work they’d soon be undertaking for the project.

Clarkson smiled broadly as he listened to the planning. “People love surveying birds, but bugs? These folks deserve a prize,” he said, laughing. His smile fades into a thoughtful frown. “But this kind of work is very important, and it represents the extent to which we are finding it necessary to fully understand a bird’s world, so that, ultimately, we can target solutions to save habitats so we can save species.”

No Bug-sized Issue

A bird’s food may be small – protein, often from insects, is a primary nutrient source for most avian species – but it plays a clear and critical role in species survival, not to mention habitat conservation and ecosystem balance, both important for wildlife and humans alike. Clarkson explains that documenting the kinds and amounts of insects at Audubon conservation areas can inform understanding of which birds are more likely to be able to meet their nutritional needs at the sites. Alternately, the same information can also say something about insect or resource deficiencies or lacks.

It’s part of the overall Audubon Avian Research Initiative, with this particular focus reflecting the emergence of science in 2019 documenting significant losses of bird species in major habitat areas, countrywide. Audubon recognized the need for local-based information, and when Clarkson came on board in 2021, he started planning the study that will take a close look at what local birds are able to find to eat.

“We’ve got to remember that not all birds are capable of eating any ole’ bug that comes its way,” says Clarkson, pointing out that spongy moth caterpillars aren’t eaten by many bird species in the United States in general, as the insects’ spiny hairs are harsh deterrents. “And actually, many birds are quite specific about which insects they will

feed to their chicks, so it’s really important that we up our knowledge of what’s available to birds, and where their food sources are. What we need to hone in on is where there are robust matchups between bird species and food sources, as well as where there are mis matches, which can be very disruptive to the health of bird species and the ecosystem in general.” How disruptive? Birds mismatched from their food sources may try to raise young without adequate insect prey to do so, and as a result, their productivity suffers as fewer chicks survive. “If this happens multiple years in a row, it can contribute to population-level declines,” explained Clarkson. “This is what we are seeing in a number of bird species that are dealing with large mismatches with their prey.”

Continued on page 8

Audubon Director of Avian Research Dr. Charles Clarkson (left) discusses the process for data collection, and reviews tree tags with Audubon community science volunteers Don Heitzmann (center) and Abbey Chrupcala at the Audubon Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge in Exeter, RI. Note: if you see similar tree tags on the wildlife refuges, please leave them in place. Inset: Song Sparrow.

Sue Kennedy

North American Insect Abundance Network

Audubon Joins Collaboration to Study Insect Decline

By Dr. Scott Ruhren, Senior Director of Conservation

Insects are one of the most diverse and numerous groups of animals in most ecosystems, yet their abundance, biomass and diversity have been declining worldwide. Though the effects of these troubling declines are variable, scientists believe that this loss is affecting bird and plant populations as these food webs are being stressed. Ecologists have been studying these trends for many years, but recently a grow ing collaboration of over 220 ecologists from 47 states and Canadian provinces was formed in North America. One goal of this part nership, the North American Insect Abundance Network, is deciphering the impacts of insect decline on aerial insectivorous birds, species that capture insects while in flight.

Audubon joined this collaboration this year, aiding in the investigation of local insect trends which adds to the global story. Two traps were deployed at Fisherville Brook and Marion Eppley Wildlife Refuges in May. An estab lished protocol is followed to ensure that results are comparable to other North American scientists. Interestingly, the timing of insect sampling is scheduled to follow the nesting and fledgling cycles of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), a common aerial insectivore in Audubon’s grasslands.

Collected insects are sorted by Order, identified and then weighed to determine weight per insect type. We are focusing in greater detail on flies (Diptera) because this insect group is a significant, highly nutritious part of the insectivorous birds' diet worldwide. These flies include mosquitoes and midges. Nutrient analyses of insects will then be performed by the lab of Professor Scott McWilliams, at the University of Rhode Island.

Studies like these can help tremendously in conservation as well as government policy. Through habitat protection, a steadfast commitment to reducing statewide insecticide use, and educating on wildlife issues, Audubon is trying to reverse these troubling trends in insect populations.

Mary Ann Cofrin

Jerome Montvilo

Peter Green

Top to bottom; Eastern Bluebird, Magnolia Warbler, and Eastern Kingbird all consuming insects. Left: Tree Swallow returns to the nesting box with a dragonfly. Inset: Insect trap on the Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge.

Creating the “Bird Food Baseline”

Clarkson jokingly deprecates about the work –“Bird Food Baseline,”– but the entirely serious undertaking has required significant preparation and planning. The project, he explains, is focused on several key Audubon conservation properties which host specific “Responsibility Bird” species at any point during their annual cycle, such as the Common Yellowthroat and Wood Thrush. The organization will monitor these species in hopes they can establish conservation plans to promote long-term ecosystem health for these birds throughout the Northeast. Within each property, Clarkson has marked out six study areas, with each area made up of a group of trees – one lead tree with four adjacent or surrounding trees. On each of the study trees, 50 selected leaves will be observed by Clarkson and his team on numerous visits during the June to September data collection frame this year. Besides the Fisherville property, 12 other Audubon wildlife refuges in Rhode

goals,” he says, noting about 25 volunteers have been assigned to refuge study areas. “I needed to be sure I was making it as feasible for them as possible, and this, in turn, helps ensure that the data are as robust as possible.”

The project is dovetailing into a larger National Science Foundation “Pheno Mismatch” effort to document food sources for birds across North America, and Clarkson expects to make use of available science and outreach resources to bolster the local work as much as possible, with plans that include encouraging Audubon community members to follow the project on a phone app. “We’re starting to get to the issue of documenting the information we need regionally to understand where we are doing a good job of supporting bird and ecosystem needs, and, conversely, where we really need to do more work,” he says. “If we have the data in hand, we can better plan, collectively, how to ensure that critical bird species can find and

Chimney Swift Nesting Towers Are Coming

to Rhode Island

By Dr. Charles Clarkson Director of Avian Research

TWe’ve come to a time where it really is no longer enough to simply collect information about the birds themselves… we’ve got to start understanding how they’re using the landscape and the choices they’re making –including the foods they’re choosing to eat.

Island will be part of the study, with nearly 400 trees providing the basis for observations of insect existence on the leaves. The information – including smartphone photos, counts, and descriptions of insects and eggs – will represent a solid initial gathering which will be fortified with additional repeat surveys for at least the following year, with a third year ideal and likely.

Clarkson says he purposely chose the tree rings on the properties with a couple goals in mind, mainly making sure that community scientists can easily and speedily access the trees and their leaves – that meant picking groupings close to main trails, with branches no longer than an arm’s length away. “We are so lucky to have a team, mostly volunteer, who are willing to go out and do this for the benefit of birds, science, and conservation

- Dr. Charles Clarkson “ “

make use of food sources necessary for their survival and, ultimately, the health of the overall environment and our human world.”

Besides informing national and regional policy-making for the enhancement of bird habitat, the information that Clarkson collects and analyzes will also provide valuable data to leverage and guide Audubon’s conservation work for its overall Rhode Island portfolio. “We’ve come to a time where it really is no longer enough to simply collect information about the birds themselves,” says Clarkson. “If we’re really going to get some traction concerning the long-term health of our conservation areas and the species they support, then we’ve got to start understanding how they’re using the landscape and the choices they’re making – including the foods they’re choosing to eat.”

Continued on page 34

he Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) is a remarkable aerial insectivore that is in dire need of conservation help. The species is listed as one of Audubon’s nine “Responsibility Birds” and has experienced an annual decline of 1.57% between 1966 and 2019 in Southern New England. Across North America, the species has declined by nearly 70% during this timeframe and Chimney Swifts have been placed on a watchlist of birds most at risk of extinction by Partners in Flight and have been elevated to the status of “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) red list of threatened species. This summer, Audubon will be constructing and erecting three Chimney Swift nesting towers in an effort to begin identifying the primary limiting factors the species experiences here in Rhode Island. If used by these birds, these towers will supplement our local breeding population and will prompt the creation of many more of these structures to be placed throughout the state.

Making the choice to plant a pollinator garden - providing food and shelter for bees, butterflies, birds and other wildlife - is an important step that individuals, organizations or businesses can take toward improving our local ecosystems. But where to start?

“We know that many Rhode Islanders are concerned about the plights facing our native pollinators, and they really want to be part of the solution,” says Audubon Pollinator Outreach Coordinator Katie Schortmann. “We also know that people are looking for support to make these gardens successful.” A new initiative, the Audubon Pollinator Alliance, is here to help.

The Alliance connects like-minded individuals across the state and provides resources for those with information fatigue – a dedicated page on the Audubon website that provides materials and reputable links to learn more about native pollinators and the plants they rely on. The site also encourages people to register their gardens with the Alliance to form a state-wide network of pollinator protectors and healthy habitats. Audubon will use the collected data to make targeted decisions in advocacy, conservation, and education initiatives.

Nathan Archer, a TerraCorps member currently serving with Audubon as Land Conservation Coordinator, is creating the webpage content. “The biggest barrier for many people interested in pollinator gardens is knowledge of native plants,” explained Archer. “By making this information more approachable, we hope to see more people converting

Connecting Gardeners and Communities with Resources and Support

their lawns to native landscapes.” And native landscapes are needed. Studies indicate that over 40 percent of pollinating insects are in jeopardy due to pesticide use, climate change, and a dearth of native plants.

Over the next year, Audubon will offer a variety of opportunities, both online and in-person, to learn about the Alliance, connect to experts, and consider the benefits of joining the program. Anyone can participate, says Schortmann, no matter how big or small the garden. When participants join, there is also an option to purchase a garden sign to help spread the word and identify spaces as healthy pollinator habitat.

Schortmann, a certified Master Gardener, says she understands the importance that proper support can play in a gardening project – she coordinates the Audubon Palmieri Pollinator Garden in Bristol. “I want people to be brave and dig in,” she said. “It’s so important to get native plants in the soil and support our local ecosystems.”

To learn more visit asri.org/pollinators/alliance.html Register your garden today!

Peter Green

TRANSFORMING THE LANDSCAPE

Audubon Symposium on Pollinator Health and Native Habitat

By Katie Schortmann, Pollinator Outreach Coordinator / Environmental Educator

Renowned entomologist and author, Dr. Doug Tallamy, launched the sold-out Transforming the Landscape Symposium with a keynote address to over 200 attendees. His knowledge, humor, and message of hope inspired guests to shrink their lawns and plant native for wildlife. Tallamy’s presentation illustrated the efficacy of adding native plants back into our landscapes by showcasing success on large and small, rural and urban scales.

Held on April 20, 2024, at Rhode Island College, the symposium highlighted some of the state’s top scientists in pollinator research. It also included presentations by environmental educators, Master Gardeners, leaders in pollinator pathway programs, and advocates for pollinator protections. Workshops and lectures were filled with enthusiastic participants as information and ideas were exchanged.

Guests were given toolkits to encourage confidence when speaking about the dangers of neonicotinoid pesticides. The harm of these pervasive pesticides on pollinator populations was echoed in the presentation of Dr. Steven Alm of the URI Bee Lab. He encouraged everyone to spread knowledge about this group of dangerous chemicals and to be aware of their use on private landscapes.

Audubon thanks the many symposium speakers and guests for attending. It will take all of us - concerned members of the community, novice and master gardeners, environmental educators, landscape designers, scientists, conservation professionals, native plant co-ops, neighbors, and friends – to educate, advocate, and transform the landscape for healthy pollinator populations.

To watch a recording of Doug Tallamy’s keynote address and obtain a summary of the symposium with links to resources, please visit: asri.org/PollinatorSymposium

I brought my husband to try to convert him from the ‘pristine lawn’ camp. Doug Tallamy did the trick; it was wonderful to me to see how enthralled my husband became for supporting wildlife in our backyard. “ “

AUDUBON PARTNERS TO RESEED RHODE ISLAND

By Dr. Scott Ruhren, Senior Director of Conservation

As more people look to grow native species in their gardens and landscapes, these plants can be challenging to find. Working with partners across the state, Audubon has joined an effort to increase the abundance of native species by planting locally sourced native seeds in our wildlife refuges. Partnering with the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society (RIWPS) “foundation plots” have been established on Audubon property as part of the Reseeding Rhode Island project. These plots have also been established in other areas across the state through a broad collaboration of conservationists, land trusts and gardeners.

Plants are started from seeds collected in Rhode Island by RIWPS. (Many seeds have been collected in Audubon refuges.) Then, Audubon will grow the seedlings for a year or until they are ready to transplant in other refuges, habitat restoration projects, or pollinator gardens.

This year at Audubon’s Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, four plots were established. The plan is to plant 200 individuals of four species, one species per plot, if supplies are adequate. This year's species are Red Columbine, Wild Geranium, Flaxleaved Aster, and Blue-stemmed Goldenrod.

Audubon staff began preparing in May by tilling rectangular plots, each about 250 square feet. The soil was covered to prevent weed growth. Finally, in late summer when the seedlings arrive, the completed plots, like miniature open-air nurseries, will be watered, weeded and fenced to protect the tender plants from hungry deer, rabbits and woodchucks.

Hopefully in a year Audubon will have hundreds of healthy native plants ready to move and share with RIWPS and other partners. Propagation of locally collected native plants is an important step in habitat restoration. Furthermore, these efforts protect native plant and animal interactions that could ultimately reduce regional population declines of birds and pollinators.

Top: Audubon Pollinator Outreach Coordinator Katie Schortmann (left) with Sally Johnson of Ecoastal Design. Both the RI Wild Plant Society (center) and Botanica Land Care (bottom) encouraged gardening with native plants at the symposium. Inset at left: Keynote Speaker Dr. Doug Tallamy.

Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)

Blue-stemmed Goldenrod (Ionactis linariifolia) Flax-leaved Aster (Solidago caesia)

Scott Detwiler

Doug McGrady

“ “

Because of their sensitive physiologies and porous skin, amphibian eggs, larvae and emerging adults are vulnerable to environmental stresses such as pesticides, heavy metal pollution… acidification from rain, and introduced fungal and viral diseases.

– Dr. Scott Ruhren

Peter Green

By Dr. Scott Ruhren, Senior Director of Conservation

MORE THAN JUST A PUDDLE

Audubon Monitors Critical Woodland Vernal Pools

In forests across Rhode Island there are temporary wetlands teeming with life in the spring. Woodlands echo with the trilling calls of spring peepers, the “quacking” of wood frogs and later, the calls of American toads. These forest amphibian hotspots are vernal pools, sometimes referred to as temporary woodland pools or seasonally wet pools. Most are temporary, but some larger pools do not entirely dry out.

Many vernal pools are believed to have formed by glaciation. Despite minor regional differences and terminology, scientists agree that vital traits link these pools: a woodland setting, shallow pools that dry up annually or every couple of years, and a list of indicator species that include wood frogs, spotted salamanders, and fairy shrimp. Importantly, the list also includes the absence of any fish species. Fish would consume the developing amphibians, destroying the vernal pool food web. Reptiles and many invertebrates including snails and insects also reproduce in Rhode Island’s vernal pools.

Unlike toads and spring peepers which are more flexible in their habitat requirements, wood frogs and spotted salamanders depend on these temporary wetlands. These vernal pool obligate species complete their development in just a couple months before pools dry. The less common marbled salamanders visit dried pools in late August to lay eggs that hatch when the pools refill from late-season rain.

Habitat change and forest clearing can mean the end of vernal pools both physically and functionally. Exposed pools get too warm and may even evaporate long before any amphib-

ians could reproduce. Dead, dry eggs and tadpoles are evidence of this. Because of their sensitive physiologies and porous skin, eggs, larvae and emerging adults are vulnerable to environmental stresses such as pesticides, heavy metal pollution—sometimes from road runoff—acidification from rain and introduced fungal and viral diseases. This sobering list of threats to the forest ecosystem is rationale to monitor the pools.

Audubon monitors these special habitats to determine how well they are functioning and to add to a statewide database and mapping effort coordinated by the Rhode Island Natural History Survey (RINHS). This year, Audubon staff, TerraCorps members, and volunteers monitored 16 pools within Audubon wildlife refuges. Using a standard protocol developed by several partner conservation groups, the team of monitors recorded physical features of each pool including area, water depth, and GPS coordinates. They also tabulated the presence and numbers of egg masses, amphibian larvae, and other community features. The data is both shared with RINHS and used to influence forest management practices at Audubon.

The impacts of climate change on vernal pools are still being assessed, but it is obvious that when there is less snow, or very warm spring weather, pools do not last as long and can impact the reproductive success of woodland amphibians. For protection, Audubon is careful to minimize human activities around vernal pools and divert trails away from these wetlands. They are not merely big puddles in the woods, but vital and vulnerable habitat needing perpetual protection.

Left: Audubon Land Steward Mike Cavaliere wades into a vernal pool at Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge during a monitoring session. Inset at left: Spotted salamander eggs. Right column, top to bottom: American toad eggs, American toad at Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, wood frog, spotted salamander, wood frog eggs.

Peter Green

Peter Green Scott Ruhren

AUDUBON SOCIETY OF RHODE ISLAND EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION

for Strong Commitment to Public Trust and Conservation Excellence

Americans strongly support saving the open spaces they love. For over 127 years, Audubon Society of Rhode Island has been doing just that, and now announces it has achieved national recognition – joining a network of over 450 accredited land trusts across the nation that have demonstrated their commitment to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in their work.

“Accreditation demonstrates Audubon’s commitment to permanent land conservation in Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts,” said Jeff Hall, Audubon Executive Director. “We are a stronger organization for having gone through the rigorous accreditation program. Our strength means special places - over 9,800 acres of conservation land in our region - will be protected forever, making Rhode Island an even greater place for us and future generations.”

Audubon provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction. In March, the Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded accreditation to the organization, signifying its confidence that Audubon’s lands will be protected forever.

Red-tailed Hawk and Barred Owl (right) in Providence, RI by Peter Green.

RAPTORS AT RISK

Audubon Advocates Rally to Ban Rodenticides Dangerous to Wild and Human Lives

By Abbie Lahmers

You don’t need to spend a lot of time searching the sky through binoculars to encounter raptors in Rhode Island. Almost everyone has seen Red-tailed Hawks perching sentry atop light posts along Route 295, or a flash of their umber feathers eclipse the forest canopy as smaller animals scatter beneath their keen surveillance. Enthusiasts anticipate Audubon’s livecasts showing the first clutch of Peregrine Falcon eyases hatching on the roof of Westminster Street’s Industrial National Bank every year, and many of us can remember our first sighting of an Osprey diving with practiced precision for a fish. In rural backyards, we listen for Barred Owls croon ing, “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” And along Providence streets, if you’re in the right place at the right time, you may be startled by a flurry of feathers signaling the kill before a falcon or hawk alights with its prey.

The closeness of raptors to our built landscapes is a reminder of our membership in a vast and interconnected ecosystem, and of our imposing role in these birds’ lives. Even as we admire raptors’ remarkable hunting instincts that keep rodent populations under control, human inter ference disrupts the natural food chain in detrimental ways – a Great Horned Owl can prey on up to 4,000 rodents each year, and yet rats poisoned by rodenticides can kill these owls and other birds of prey.

“Putting these toxins into the environment is making it much harder for raptors to survive in a world that's already made very difficult for them by humans,” emphasizes wildlife veterinarian Dr. Mo Beck, of Beck Veterinary Services, who has extensive experience treating raptors. They explain that SGARs inhibit blood clotting, which could potentially cause fatal hemorrhaging.

Earlier this year, Audubon introduced a bill in the General Assembly that would ban the sale and use in Rhode Island of one of the most dangerous culprits – second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) – following the example of neighboring states and spurred by the number of cases of non-target animal deaths across the region.

“Part of the really terrible thing about SGARs is that when rodents eat the bait, they don't die right away from that first dose,” Beck says. The long half-life of SGARs means that rodents may consume more than the lethal dose while still alive, and the poison is still potent if the rodent, slowed by the effects of the rodenticide, is preyed upon by raptors and other predators.

Even if a raptor suspected of being poisoned is found and brought to a wildlife veterinarian in time, chances of recovery can vary based on toxicity levels and any injuries suffered as a result. Treatment requires extensive time in captivity and sometimes hard-to-come-by blood transfusions. “In Rhode Island, I can pretty confidently say I've treated many cases of this and sometimes they do recover if it's more mild, and in other cases it can become quite critical and unfortunately they do not make it,” says Beck.

Regulations of the insidious rodenticide are slim. In 2008 the EPA acknowledged the harm of SGARs to human health and the ecosystem and took measures to discourage consumer use by, for instance, requiring a minimum packaging size. But SGARs are not classified as restricted use pesticides, which means they can still be easily purchased online and are widely used by pest control companies.

– Dr. Mo Beck “ “

Putting these toxins into the environment is making it much harder for raptors to survive in a world that's already made very difficult for them by humans.

Justifiable concerns over growing rat populations have taken the forefront of a narrative that often only sees the forest for its trees – or rather, the ecosystem for its rats. But the reality is that SGARs present a drastic, “nuclear approach” solution more harmful to wild and human lives than the original problem.

“During the pandemic, there were huge spikes in numbers of rodent reports in cities and towns, typically reported by people residing in under-served communities,” says Phoenix Wheeler, Audubon Director of Advocacy. Wheeler doesn’t mince words when they say SGARs are a scam. The time and funds it takes to repeatedly apply the poison doesn’t offer a permanent solution, and exposure to poisoned rodents in and around residential homes poses a serious risk to children and pets.

Continued on page 36

By Phoenix Wheeler, Director of Advocacy

2024: YEAR OF THE ADVOCATE

Audubon community outreach is building an empowered advocacy team. Join today and support issues that have meaning to you.

We know that Audubon’s 17,000 members and supporters are dedicated and passionate about our mission. To support their motivations, we’ve developed a series of workshops that enhance their interaction with Audubon’s advocacy priorities.

• Audubon collaborated with the Rhode Island Environmental Education Association on an advocacy 101 Lunch and Learn.

• At the Audubon symposium “Transforming the Landscape,” a presentation was given on advocacy and engagement.

• A training is planned with The Nature Conservancy and the Stormwater Innovation Center to incorporate advocacy and outreach into their programing.

• Over the fall semester, Audubon spoke with URI students on the intersection of science and communication from an advocacy perspective.

• One of our recent workshops, Storytelling for Environmental Advocacy, engaged members to develop effective narratives and communicate their own relationship to the causes we all care about. This workshop was so popular we had to schedule a second session.

The skills developed at these trainings will build a community of empowered advocates who understand their worth to our environmental movement and make them feel confident to engage with policy makers.

I’m excited to continue these workshops and I hope you’ll join us. Visit asri.org/advocacy/priorities.html to learn more.

The

Green Bond is now

Greener

Audubon Society of Rhode Island and numerous coalition partners collaborated to successfully put $13 million back into the Green Bond for land and farm conservation and management. The Governor’s previous proposal for the Bond included zero dollars for these efforts. Audubon would like to thank Representative Megan Cotter and Senator Lou DiPalma for their leadership in this effort. We also thank Audubon members and supporters who contacted their representatives to communicate how important this issue is to all Rhode Islanders.

Support Our Work

Visit asri.org/donate.

Join Our Team

Support these issues and many others. Contact Phoenix Wheeler at pwheeler@asri.org.

Rhode Island State House.

Photo by Peter Green.

CELEBRATIONS & HAPPENINGS

New!

Polo for Plovers

July 24, 2024

Newport International Polo Grounds

Join Audubon in a private viewing area and enjoy an afternoon of polo at the 8th Annual All Charity Benefit Day. A classic six chukker match begins at 5:00 pm, gates open at 3:00 pm.

For more information and to register, visit asri.org.

We’ll Bring the Party Animals Birthdays at Audubon

What’s better than cool critters at a birthday party? Invite an owl, turtle or snake to your child’s special day!

Plan a celebration at AudubonBirthdayParties.com.

Nature at Night

• August 19, 2024

Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk

• August 20, 2024

Fort Wildlife Refuge, North Smithfield

Head out this summer when the temperature cools and wildlife emerge. Walk the trails under the full moon in August and listen for insect symphonies, owl calls, and more.

Register at asri.org/calendar.

New!

Audubon Concerts for Conservation

Bring friends and family to enjoy a series of musical events at Rhode Island venues - or one of Audubon’s Wildlife Refuges - and support Audubon’s conservation initiatives.

Watch for more information at asri.org.

Raptor Weekend

September 7 and 8, 2024; 10:00 am–4:00 pm

Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI

Get up-close with owls, hawks, and falcons at Audubon’s annual celebration of birds of prey.

Advance tickets on sale July 24, 2024 at asri.org/raptor-weekend.

Tickets may also be purchased at the event.

Birds and Brews

September 6, 2024; 6:00–8:30 pm

Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI

Kickoff Raptor Weekend with cold brews and cool birds. Audubon Partners with Proclamation Ale Co. for this evening of music, locally brewed beer and Audubon’s birds of prey.

Tickets must be purchased in advance at asri.org/raptor-weekend. For ages 21+.

New Exhibit!

Alexis Rockman Oceanus

October 2024 – January 2025

Audubon welcomes a traveling exhibit from Mystic Seaport. Engage with themes of biodiversity, climate change, and maritime history through largescale works by artist Alexis Rockman.

Watch for exhibit lectures and programming at asri.org.

MARCH–MAY 2024 CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

Audubon Nature Programs and Events • Late July–October, 2024

For more information and to register, visit the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.

Birding with Audubon

Advance registration is required for all programs.

Bird Banding

Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; July 27, August 24, 2024, 8:00–10:00 am

East Bay Adventure by Boat

Two Dates Offered. Birding and nature tour with Audubon and Roger Williams University. Departs Roger Williams University Dock, 1 Old Ferry Road, Bristol, RI; August 24, September 28, 2024. 9:00am–12:00pm.

Wednesday Morning Bird Walks

Locations Across Rhode Island. Each week a new destination will be chosen. Location will be sent to registered participants. Every Wednesday, September–June 2025; 9:00–11:00 am.

Kayaking and Birding the Charlestown Breachway

Departs from Charlestown Breachway State Beach Parking Lot, Charlestown, RI; September 7, 2024; 10:00 am–1:00 pm.

Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium

1401 Hope Street (Route 114), Bristol, RI

For Adults For Children

Fur and Feathers:

Wildlife Photography for a Cause

July 1–August 31, 2024; 9:30 am–4:30 pm.

Edible Wild Plants Walk

July 24, 2024; 2:30–5:00 pm.

Paper Bead Making for Beginners

July 28, 2024; 10:00–11:00 am.

Birds & Brews

September 6, 2024; 6:00 –8:30 pm.

Native Seed Saving and Starting Workshop

September 14, 2024; 10:00–11:30 am.

Bird Identification and Drawing

Birding Van Trips & Great Expeditions

September 21, 2024; 1:00–3:00 pm.

Sea Glass Jewelry Workshop

Three Dates Offered.

August 17, October 19, November 23, 2024; 1:00–2:30 pm.

Seaweed Pressing

October 26, 2024; 10:00 am–12:30 pm.

The Birds!

An Evening of Drinks, Birds, Film and Fun

Come for a special showing of Alfred Hitchcock’s movie

“The Birds,” an American classic natural horror-thriller film.

October 26, 2024; 6:30–9:00 pm.

Fish Printing Workshop for Kids

July 21, 2024; 10:00–11:30 am.

Free Family Fun Day

The Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium is open free to the public the first Saturday of every month. Join us for nature stories, animal discoveries, hikes and more. No need to register! August 3, September 14, October 5, November 2, 2024; 10:00 am–3:00 pm.

Labor Day Nature Activities

September 2, 2024; 10:00 am–3:00 pm.

Raptor Weekend

September 7 & 8, 2024; 10:00 am–4:00 pm.

Fairy House in the Garden

September 22, 2024; 1:00–2:00 pm.

Li’l Peeps

Introduce children ages 18 months to 2 years to the delights of nature. September 26, October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 2024; 10:00–11:00 am.

Indigenous People’s Day Nature Activities

October 14, 2024; 10:00 am–3:00 pm.

Preschool Adventures

Nature comes alive for children ages 3–5.

October 19, 26, November 2, 9, 2024; 10:00–11:00 am.

Spooky Fish Printing Workshop for Kids

October 20, 2024; 10:00–11:30 am.

Halloween Mask Craft

October 27, 2024; 10:00 am–3:00 pm.

Caratunk Wildlife Refuge

301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA

Moonlight Stroll at Caratunk

August 19, 2024; 7:30–9:00 pm.

Lunar Eclipse Encounter

September 18, 2024; 9:00–11:00 pm.

Skulls and Stories

October 18, 2024; 7:00–9:00 pm.

Muskrat, Otters and Ale

October 25, 2024; 4:30–6:30 pm.

Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge

99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI

Bats and Beer

July 26, 2024; 7:30–9:00 pm.

Tea Time and Fairy Houses

August 3, 2024; 10:00–11:30 am.

Felting Owls

August 7, 2024; 6:30–8:00 pm.

Prowl for Owls

Locations across Rhode Island

Fort Wildlife Refuge, North Smithfield, RI; October 17, 2024; 6:00–8:00 pm.

Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA; November 14, 2024; 6:30–8:30 pm.

Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI; November 14, 2024; 6:30–8:30 pm.

Fort Wildlife Refuge, North Smithfield, RI; November 15, 2024; 6:30–8:30 pm.

Owls and Ales at Fisherville

Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, Exeter, RI; November 15, 2024; 6:30–8:30 pm.

Maxwell Mays Art Studio

Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, 2082 Victory Highway, Coventry, RI

Firefly Watercolor Painting

July 26, 2024; 5:30–8:30 pm.

Wednesday Walk and Watercolor: Four-week Sessions

August 7, 14, 21, 28, 2024; 9:30 am–1:00 pm.

Open Studios: Thursday Morning Creatives!

August 8, 15, 22, 29, 2024; 9:30 am–1:00 pm.

Printmaking

August 16, 2024; 6:00–8:30 pm.

2-D Needle Felting

August 23, 2024; 9:30 am–12:00 pm.

Mushroom Walk & Watercolor

September 11, 2024; 9:30 am–1:00 pm.

Glass Painting

September 20, 2024; 6:00–8:30 pm.

Pollinators and Native Plants

Virtual and In-person

Protecting Pollinators in Your Landscape

Virtual Program. July 31, 2024; 6:30–8:00 pm.

Native Seed Saving and Starting Workshop

Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; September 14, 2024; 10:00–11:30 am.

Rain Harvest Festival

Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI

September 29, 2024; 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Join a free celebration of science, water, and art in Roger Williams Park hosted by the Stormwater Innovation Center and City of Providence Parks Department. stormwaterinnovation.org/RainHarvestFestival

Powder Mill Ledges

Wildlife Refuge

12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI

Leaf Print Tote Bags

August 3, 2024; 10:00 am–12:00 pm.

Moonlight Stroll at Powder Mill Ledges

August 20, 2024; 7:30–9:00 pm.

Wild Mushroom Workshop: Take the Mystery Out of Mushrooming August 24, 2024; 10:00 am–1:00 pm.

Birdfeeding 101: Starting a Feeding Station

September 19, 2024; 6:30–8:00 pm.

Nature Storytime:

Hoodwinked by Arthur Howard

October 4, 2024; 11:00 am–12:00 pm.

Kooky Crayfish: Pond Search

October 5, 2024; 2:00–3:30 pm.

Frightful Hike: Cider and Stories

October 24, 2024; 6:00–8:00 pm.

Prudence Island

Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI

Explore the Estuary for Kids!

July 17, 2024; 9:45 am–4:45 pm.

Mushrooms for Beginners

October 3, 2024; 1:30–6:30 pm.

Explore Prudence Island

October 16, 2024; 9:45 am–4:45 pm.

North End Hike on Prudence Island

November 1, 2024; 9:45 am–4:45 pm.

PALMIERI POLLINATOR GARDEN AUDUBON NATURE CENTER AND AQUARIUM

Purple Haze

Look for purple flower stalks abuzz with activity. Native Anise Hyssop is hard to miss, offering pollinators licorice-scented nectar.

Spot a Frog!

Step quietly near the wildlife pond and see if you can spot eyes peeking out of the water. Frogs and turtles like to cool off and hide under the water lilies.

Flutter by…

Monarchs, skippers, and other butterflies are frequent summer visitors. Learn about the native host plants that butterflies need to survive.

Caterpillars

on Lemon-scented Leaves

Cool off in the spicebush tunnel! Scan the lemon-scented leaves for spicebush swallowtail butterfly caterpillars. In the fall, spicebush berries provide food for migrating birds.

Workshop: Protecting Pollinators in Your Landscape

Join a virtual workshop and learn about our native bees and how to support pollinator health at home.

July 31, 2024; 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Register at asri.org/calendar.

Bee Hospitality

The Audubon Nature Shop stocks bee hotels! Shop today and provide insects with an inviting space to nest in your yard.

New! Accessible Picnic Tables

New accessible picnic tables and an accessible garden bed filled with sensory plants make the Nature Center outdoor space more welcoming to all.

The Curiosity Corner is Buzzing!

Cool off inside the Nature Center, get behind a microscope lens, and explore the world of pollinators.

Bees of Metallic Green

Look for native green metallic sweat bees on their preferred flowering plants of wild geranium, golden alexanders, and beardtongue.

NEW! AUDUBON POLLINATOR ALLIANCE

Join a network of gardens that provide pesticide-free habitats and native plants for pollinators. Learn more at asri.org/pollinators.

Native Seed Saving and Starting Workshop

Learn all about saving native seeds and take home a packet of pollinator friendly wildflower seeds for your garden.

Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI September 14, 2024; 10:00–11:30 am Register at asri.org/calendar

Spring Showers Bring Flooded Basements

By Rebecca Reeves, Stormwater Education and Outreach Manager

This spring has by all accounts, been a wet one. High precipitation levels in Rhode Island have caused flooding across the state, and our water table is saturated. And although this spring has been a particularly rainy season, this is not an isolated issue. Climate change continues to bring heavier, more frequent storms in our region and along with it, comes flooding.

When precipitation is this high and the water table rises, soils can only absorb so much, and excess water can run into homeowners’ basements. Many homeowners opt for basement sump pumps that can capture and discharge unwanted ground water.

But how clean is this water, and how should homeowners get rid of it once it’s been removed from their basements? Per the Rhode Island MS4 (municipal separate storm sewer system) permit, sump pump discharges from home foundations and basements are considered to be uncontaminated groundwater. The reasoning is that this water originates from saturated soils, where the water will have already conceivably benefitted from the soil’s filtration abilities. Therefore, in many Rhode Island municipalities, homeowners can discharge this sump pump water directly into the street, where it can run into nearby storm drains.

But despite this statewide policy, many municipalities in Rhode Island have already passed local ordinances that prohibit individuals from discharging sump pump water into their storm drain systems. The result is that some residents discharge their sump pumps into neighbors’ properties, where it can lead to erosion or flooding in those yards and can lead to civil conflicts between neighbors.

More research is required to discover how sump pump discharges could impact water quality. No one is quite sure how contaminated sump pump discharges could be. This water could potentially gather contaminants like oil or gas from basements, or it could already be contaminated before it even reaches residents’ basements. Additionally, sump pump discharges that enter the storm drain system may potentially run into nearby water bodies unfiltered, and could impact the water quality of these creeks, ponds, rivers, and eventually, Narragansett Bay. It’s also true that even if this water is uncontaminated, it could overwhelm the MS4 by taking up capacity designed only for stormwater during heavy rain events.

Research about best practices, both for sump pump use and for preventative flooding measures, would be helpful to homeowners,

whether their municipalities allow discharge into the MS4 or not. Municipalities could also utilize this research to determine whether their ordinances are truly in the best interest of their residents and our broader coastal communities. As a coastal state, we all have a stake in our local water quality, and it’s important to identify any potential sources of pollution that enter our storm system – as it all eventually ends up in the same place.

Stormwater Innovation Center Director Ryan Kopp recently met with representatives from the Town of Barrington and the US Geological Survey to discuss potential research that could be conducted related to sump pump water quality. The topic is of interest to a variety of stakeholders, but funding would be required to begin conducting this research. The Stormwater Innovation Center will continue to learn more about the issue and meet with those communities that it impacts. As we learn more, future funding will be needed to gain further insight into how municipalities might best move forward.

Earth Day 2024 Th e Wonders

of Water

The Stormwater Innovation Center (SIC) partnered with the City of Providence in April for Earth Month programming, themed “The Wonders of Water.” SIC staff organized community engagement projects with teaching artists Evelyn Cao and Emilia Schonthal as they led youth from Providence recreation centers in a project painting rain barrels. These beautiful barrels will be given to Providence residents free of charge. We hope to see these painted barrels in Providence yards soon!

The SIC was also represented alongside City of Providence partners on an April 19 Earth Month celebration event at Roger Williams Park.

Emilia

Schonthal

• Monitoring

• Training

• Community

• Collaboration

A Community Celebration of Water, Science, and Art

September 29, 2024; 11:00 am–2:00 pm

Roger Williams Park Botanical Center Pavilion

Music • Environmental Activities • Green Infrastructure Walks • Mural Unveiling • Free Food • Volunteer Cleanups • Games • Vendors • Arts & Crafts • and More!

For more information and a complete schedule of events, please visit: stormwaterinnovation.org/rainharvestfestival

Save the Date!

2024 STORMWATER EXPO

October 16, 2024; 8:00 am–3:00 pm

Roger Williams Park Casino, Providence Watch for details at stormwaterinnovation.org

BE AN EARLY BIRD

Register now for Audubon van trips! Visit asri.org/calendar.

Shorebird Van Trip

August 21, 2024

Hop aboard the Audubon van with an expert guide and visit some of Rhode Island's best shorebird locations. Be prepared to get wet up to your waist for this program. Details available at asri.org/calendar.

Swallows Spectacular on the Connecticut River

September 14, 2024

Join Audubon and witness a spectacular birding display! Thousands of swallows converge at dusk over the river, often creating a “ballet” or “funnel” of birds before they settle to roost. Details at asri.org/calendar. Deadline for registration is Sept 10, 2024.

Birding Van Trip: Cape May, NJ

October 7–10, 2024

Travel with Audubon to Cape May, New Jersey during fall migration. This Jersey Shore resort town is a life-list destination for many birders. Join a hawk watch and bird at Higbee Beach, the Cape May Bird Observatory HQ, and other key birding spots. Details at asri.org/calendar. Deadline for registration is Sept 1, 2024.

Birding Hammonasset Beach State Park and Lighthouse Point, CT

October 19, 2024

Join Audubon at Hammonassett Beach State Park, a premier birding site in Connecticut, with approximately 300 species spotted during fall migration. Details at asri.org/calendar.

Note: Audubon will not be hosting a Block Island Birding Weekend in 2024.

Betsy Staples

Stormwater in Schools Initiative

They Nailed It! Building Environmental Awareness Through Science and Art

By Rebecca Reeves, Stormwater Education and Outreach Manager

Providence’s Sophia Academy and Central High School (New Urban Arts Knights), and Cranston’s Eden Park Elementary School participated again this year in the Stormwater in Schools initiative, led by staff from the Stormwater Innovation Center, Audubon, and Providence Urban Wildlife Conservation Partnership. Each year there is an art element included in the program, a project that students complete that complements their classroom and fieldtrip experiences learning about stormwater and green infrastructure. In 2024, students assembled and painted either birdhouses or pollinator boxes with “green roofs” on top - upcycled boxes with native sedum planted inside! Boxes will be placed at a variety of locations around the state to offer nesting sites for birds and pollinators, and some were raffled at Audubon’s Solstice Soiree event in June. Students also contributed text and drawings for educational signage that will be placed alongside the boxes to share their knowledge with the community on water quality, green infrastructure, and healthy wildlife habitat.

Clockwise from top: New Urban Arts Knights (Providence) complete their April school break “Stormwater in Schools” intensive program. Eden Park Elementary students (Cranston) marvel over a watershed model. Sophia Academy (Providence) students paint pollinator boxes and test out their stormwater filtration model.

Providence Career and Technical Academy

One of Rhode Island’s premier technical high schools, Providence Career and Technical Academy (PCTA) provides students with both an academic education and state-ofthe-art technical training. Students completing any of the nine available programs will graduate with a high school diploma and industry-recognized certification in their chosen field.

PCTA biology teacher Malcom Moniz reached out in 2023 to inquire about Audubon’s environmental and outdoor programming for students across several grade levels. Moniz was looking to provide his science students with connections to nature and positive experiences outdoors. Due to generous donors, Audubon has built an education partnership with PCTA and provides scholarship-funded programs at no cost to the school.

A Raptor Encounter at PCTA launched the partnership in June 2023, followed by field trips in 2024 to the Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol for a whale program and a field and forest exploration at the Caratunk Wildlife Refuge in Seekonk. Audubon closed the academic year in June with another Raptor Encounter presentation at the school.

Scholarship-based programming is only possible through the generosity of Audubon donors and supporters. We are grateful for the opportunity to reach students in city communities where many public schools lack funding for field trips and environmental programming. Thank you for helping Audubon make nature more accessible to all.

Providence Birding

Birds Bring Communities Together

Once a month, September through May, Audubon educators team with the Providence Urban Wildlife Conservation Partnership and head to parks around Providence for a community birding excursion. Free and welcoming to all, these walks bring together diverse individuals and communities with a common interest: birds.

Whether held at India Point Park, the North Burial Ground, Roger Williams Park or other city destinations, these outings bring community engagement, education on bird and habitat conservation, some healthy exercise, and tons of enthusiasm. The program began in 2018 as part of the US Fish and Wildlife Urban Bird Treaty Program. And in 2019, Providence was designated a Bird Treaty City. To learn more visit fws.gov/program/urban-bird-treaty.

Bird walks will start again in September. Watch Audubon social media posts for details and locations.

Audubon is fortunate to have partners that support this program and encourage community birding. We thank US Fish and Wildlife, the Providence Urban Wildlife Conservation Partnership, Providence Parks Department, Swan Point Cemetery, North Burial Ground, Roger Williams Botanical Center, and many “Friends” groups of community parks in the city.

Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI asri.org/natureshop

Attracting Hummingbirds

Hummingbird feeders, nectar, and guides are in stock!

Hang feeders in open areas as these tiny birds need space to accommodate their movements.

Members Receive 10% Off In Bristol

Just present your membership card at the register!

Abbie Lehmers / Hey Rhody Media Co.

By Laura Carberry, Director of Properties

SALTMARSH SANDPIPERS

It's shorebird season and those sandpipers that frequent some of Rhode Island’s marshes are hard to miss, but not always easy to identify. The three sandpipers I am highlighting are Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs and the Willet. These three birds are common to our area and are often seen together, making it easier to pick out their identifying characteristics. The tricky part is when they are seen alone.

The Yellowlegs and Willet will most often be found in saltwater marshes or on sandbars, not along the ocean coastline. Willets will nest in Rhode Island, but we will see both Yellowlegs throughout migration and into the winter.

When I am teaching people to identify sandpipers, I start with the basics. You want to look at the length of their legs and then at the bill. These two features are the first steps in identification. When looking in a field guide, most sandpipers are put into groups according to their size and shape.

When you first spot one of these birds, focus on the leg color. If you see long yellow legs, it’s one of the Yellowlegs, but if the legs are bluish gray, you are looking at a Willet.

Willets are a more robust bird than the Yellowlegs. They have a thick grayish bill. And in flight, Willets are unmistakable due to

their distinct white wing stripe and dark rounded wings. They love to make noise! They are usually flying around the marsh, especially during the breeding season, screaming “Pilly Will Willet,” over and over again.

Lesser or Greater Yellowlegs are the most common large yellow-legged bird on the marsh. If the two are standing next to one another, you will be able to notice the size difference. If not, notice the overall appearance of the birds. Does the bird look dainty? You've got a Lesser. If it is more solid looking, it’s a Greater.

Then look at the bill. The Greater Yellowlegs has a bill that is 1.5 times the length of its head. It can also look slightly upturned. The Lesser Yellowlegs has a slimmer shorter bill. The behavior of a Greater Yellowlegs is also more frantic as it searches for food. It runs and spins around. The Lesser tends to be slow-moving. Finally, if you can hear their calls, the Greater Yellowlegs will call three or four “Tu-tu-tu-tu” notes; where the Lesser Yellowlegs will only call one or two notes.

With some careful observation you will be able to distinguish these three birds apart like a pro! Great places to search for these birds are Charlestown Breachway, Touisset Marsh and Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuges.

Join Audubon for the upcoming Shorebird Van Trip on August 21, 2024 or Wednesday Morning Birds Walks that start up again in September.

Visit asri.org/calendar to register.

Large photo: Greater Yellowlegs. Left inset: Lesser Yellowlegs. Right inset and picture below: Willet.

Research Along the Shore

URI Coastal and Environmental Fellow Nicholas O’Connor

University of Rhode Island Coastal and Environmental Fellow Nicholas O’Connor has been conducting research at Audubon this summer under the guidance of Senior Director of Conservation, Scott Ruhren. In response to a growing concern for the status of horseshoe crabs, Nick studied the species in the beaches and marsh habitat at Audubon’s Lathrop Wildlife Refuge in Westerly and Jacob’s Point within the McIntosh Wildlife Refuge in Bristol. Horseshoe crab eggs are a crucial food for migratory shore birds and Nick’s work will be used as baseline data as marsh restoration work begins at both properties. Nick’s research will be presented in a symposium at URI in December.

New! Accessible Picnic Tables and Benches at the Nature Center and Aquarium

In additional to electric doors at the entrance, new accessible picnic tables, bench and an accessible garden bed filled with sensory plants make the Nature Center outdoor space more welcoming to all.

Volunteer for Crew Days

Do you want to help care for the Audubon trails and greenspaces you enjoy? Get outside and give Audubon a hand at a Volunteer Crew Day! Audubon volunteers gather to cut and remove invasive plants, prune trail and roadside trees, clean litter, weed gardens, and so much more. Corporate and Community Service groups are welcome. Crew days are offered once a month, March through December, on seven of Audubon’s properties. Come join the team! For details, visit asri.org/CrewDays

Pick up a Paintbrush!

Try your hand at watercolors and print making or join others for open studio on Thursdays at the wildlife refuge! Artist Aileen Quinn now offers classes in the art studio at the Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge in Coventry. For more info and to register, visit asri.org/calendar.

Planning a Celebration or Special Event?

AUDUBON NATURE CENTER & AQUARIUM

Ideal for weddings, showers, or the site of your next business meeting or off-site retreat. Located in historic Bristol, RI, just 30 minutes from Providence, Newport, and Fall River, the award-winning Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium is one of Rhode Island’s unique meeting venues. With beautiful trails, exhibits and aquarium, large meeting, reception, and outdoor patio space, the Nature Center provides a setting that will captivate guests.

For availability and reservations, visit asri.org and click on services or contact Events Coordinator Sarah Bradley at 401-949-5454 x3016 or sbradley@asri.org.

The big white barn at Caratunk provides the perfect rural setting for weddings, showers, family reunions, business meetings, or birthday parties for children.

For availability and reservations regarding weddings and birthdays, visit asri.org and click on ‘services.’ For all other rental queries, contact Michelle Solis at msolis@asri.org.

CARATUNK BARN

Ladybugs or lady beetles are a favorite insect of kids and gardeners alike. Their red or orange carapace with black dots is easy to recognize and they do not bite or sting, so it is easy to hold one in your hand and look at it closely.

By Lauren Parmelee, Senior Director

Ladybugs love to eat aphids, small insects that feed on the sap of plants using slender needle-like mouth parts. An infestation of aphids can stunt the growth of plants in gardens and in large numbers, aphids can damage farm crops. It is no wonder people like to have lady bugs in their gardens, these beetles can eat 5,000 aphids in a lifetime!

A lady bug will lay up to 1,000 eggs under a plant leaf that has an aphid colony, so when the larva hatch they are surrounded by food. As the larva grows it molts its exoskeleton and then enters a pupa stage before emerging as an adult.

There are about a dozen species of ladybugs in Rhode Island. Some are native, but others have been introduced from other countries. The cardinal lady bug, now found all over the state is originally from Australia.

The native convergent lady beetle is orange with up to thirteen black spots on its shell. The head is black with two white spots. They get their name from the fact they gather in large groups during cold weather to mate and to stay warm while they hibernate.

The introduced Asian ladybug also congregates in large numbers in the fall to look for warm places to spend the winter. Sometimes those warm places are peoples’ homes and that’s when this beneficial insect can become a pest.

fun fact!

The bright coloring of the ladybug, like the orange and black monarch butterfly, is a warning to predators.

“Stay away, I taste terrible!”

ladybugs life cycle

Ladybug eggs hatch on leaves into larvae that eat tiny, soft-bodied insects. The larvae will attach to a leaf when it is ready to pupate, or change into an adult. This stage lasts 7 to 15 days before the adult ladybug emerges.

Asian Lady Beetle

Ladybug with Aphids Convergent Lady Beetle

adult eggs

larva pupa

Take it Outside!

Kids can discover nature in parks, wildlife refuges, and backyards. Bring a magnifying lens, bug box, binoculars, field guide and your sense of adventure this summer!

Moths at Night

Moths and other night bugs flock to light. Hang a white sheet in your yard near an outdoor light and see who comes to visit.

Creepy Crawlies!

Look under rocks and logs for earthworms, pill bugs, beetles and more. Use a bug box to get a closer look but be sure to put the creatures back where you found them.

Build Fairy Houses

Find a cool spot in the shade and build a house for fairies! Use fallen sticks and leaves, rocks, shells, moss and seeds to create shelters for your tiny elfin friends.

Animal and Bird Scavenger Hunts

How many birds and animals can you spot on a neighborhood walk? Visit www.asri.org/audubon-at-home for scavenger hunt sheets to get you started.

Bees and Butterflies

Bring the kids to the Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol. How many bees and butterflies can you find in the pollinator garden? Then step inside the Center and learn all about these creatures in the Curiosity Corner.

Nature Journaling and Sketching

Engage older children and those artistically inclined. Bring along a notebook, colored pencils, and your creative spirit on a hike.

Leaf Rubbings

Take crayons and paper on a hike to capture the shapes of leaves you find. Place the paper over different leaves and rub with the crayon - make a collage when you get home! (Be sure to avoid poison ivy.)

Search for Crabs!

Head to the rocky shore with Audubon to look for crabs and other marine life. Part of Free Family Fun Day programming in Bristol on August 3, 2024. Learn more at asri.org/calendar.

Visit asri.org/audubon-at-home for scavenger hunts, insect and animal IDs, nature crafts, outdoor activities, and more!

THANK YOU

PARTNERS IN CONSERVATION

The companies listed below have demonstrated their significant commitment to the quality of life in Rhode Island and to conserving natural habitats through stewardship and education.

Bank of America, Botanica Land Care, Caldwell Realty Rhode Island, JDRE Homes, NEC Solar, NRCS, Poseidon Expeditions, RI PBS, Sunflower Designs, Tupelo Design Studio, Woodscapes, Inc.

GIFTS IN HONOR

The people listed below have been honored by family and friends who found a gift to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island to be the most meaningful way to celebrate someone important in their lives.

In Honor of:

Faris and Miles Bade from Valley Shaia; Elianna Blackledge from Sarah Alden; David Bohrer from Kimberly Korioth; Kate Bonner-Jackson from Megan Sheehan; Francine Jackson from Jim Hendrickson; Cheryl Longton from Britt-Grealish-Rust; Erika Mancieri from Cathy Hendry; Sophie Matson from Laura Dawson; Henry McConnon and Gus Harrison from Jane Bullock; Shannan Mello from Reuben Reich; Dan Muskian from Karen Nunes; Bonnie Oliver from Paula Graceffo; Candy Powell from Dawn Laman; Frankie Purcella from David Wheeler; Frances Richard from Margaret Rheinstein; Jonathan Samet from Constance Brines; Kristina Seixas from Brent Flannery; Linda Stanich from Douglas Stephens; Judith Stokes from Howard Boksenbaum; Ingrid Trager from Jane Dyer; Susy Turner from Andrew Gallant; Nick Johnson from Val Dobrushkin; Benji Watt from Faye Leblanc; James Wilson from Elizabeth Wohlgemuth.

MEMORIALS

Memorials serve and support the conservation and protection of Rhode Island’s environment. The families and friends of people listed below have chosen to remember their loved ones through a gift to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island.

In Memory of:

Jessica Bates from Jean Williams; Lucky Boucher from Charles Boucher; Florence Butler from Ellen Newhouse; Donna Costa from Marguerite Hey; Thomas D’Andrea from June DiBacco; Yvette Dauphinais from Nichole Valois; Ellena DelBonis from Lindsay Pelissey; James Hughes from Lisa Hughes; Dot Johnson from Susan Johnson-Roehr; Joanne Kennedy from Richard Audette, Chris Bedard, Anna Biermann, Joanne Ferraresso, Thomas Furey; Priscilla Kutcher from Susan Hannel; Daniel Lass from Crystal Weeks; Guy Lister from Rebecca Lister; John Minichiello from Maureen O’Donnell; Frances Richard from Dana Davenport, Linda Roberts; Susan Marie Romano from Ronald Gelineau; Michael Stevens from Kate Gillis; Peter Tasca from Mary Natale; Irene Trager from Vince Manoogian.

Champlin Foundation Awards Audubon $250,000 for Energy Efficient Electric HVAC System

Audubon thanks the Champlin Foundation for funding that will go towards the installation of a new, energy efficient HVAC system at the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol. Audubon will replace an aging system with a new air-source heat pump that is highly efficient and will significantly reduce the energy used by the Center.

Audubon Receives Generous Funding from Mary Ann Cofrin to Support the Urban Youth Conservation League, Urban Environmental Education, and the Audubon Avian Research Initiative

Thanks to a generous donation from Audubon supporter Mary Ann Cofrin, a new division of the Youth Conversation League will be working in Rhode Island city communities this summer, supporting environmental and conservation initiatives in urban settings. Funding has also been awarded for both a field technician to work within the Avian Research Initiative and to support Audubon’s Urban Environmental Education Initiative.

June Rockwell Levy, RI Foundation Awards

$15,000 to Support Audubon’s Urban Environmental Education Initiative

The June Rockwell Levy Foundation recently provided $15,000 to support Audubon’s Environmental Education for Urban Schools Initiative. This grant will assist Audubon educators as they reach Rhode Island students in kindergarten through high school with hands-on learning experiences. The program will focus on students living in the city communities of Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Woonsocket.

Audubon Receives $5,000 from The John E. Fogarty Foundation to Support Inclusive Programming for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Thanks to The Fogarty Foundation, Audubon will be able to expand accessible, nature-based programming that is inclusive to all learners. Both indoor and outdoor programs and explorations are offered in communities across the state.

Audubon Supporters Barbara Walsh and Earl Simson Provided $25,000 Challenge Grant for Land Acquisition

During 401Gives, the state-wide days of giving in April, generous donors Barbara Walsh and Earl Simson provided a $25,000 challenge grant for land acquisition, matching donations from supporters across Rhode Island. Their effort helped to raise $50,000 that will be used toward the purchase of conservation land. They hope this will inspire others to continue donating for habitat protection.

Audubon Society of Rhode Island Named Endowment Funds

The Audubon Endowment is a permanently restricted fund that, by law, exists in perpetuity. Because the Audubon Endowment is invested, it allows for long-term stability, fiscal responsibility, and financial viability that keeps Audubon a vibrant and growing organization.

It also enhances our credibility, relieves pressure on fund raising, allows program expansion, and provides independence. Donations of $10,000 or more to the Audubon Endowment can be recognized by a named designation, either for an individual, family, or a cause you believe in.

Audubon Society of Rhode Island Named Endowments

Run Wild 2024:

Audubon Virtual 5K Run/Walk Raises

Close to $3,000 for Conservation

Did you see any orange foxes running and walking across Rhode Island in April? They were Running Wild for Audubon! Thank you to all the individual participants, families, and fundraisers who made the fifth Run Wild for Nature a success! Close to $3,000 was raised to help keep Audubon’s wildlife refuges open and welcoming to all. Visit asri.org/ RunWild to view the contest winners and final results.

Sign of the Times: Funding from Anonymous Donor Supports Education Initiative to Prevent Turtle Mortality on Roadways

Aquatic turtles leave their watery habitats in spring and set out to find suitable nesting sites to lay their eggs. For many, this includes crossing busy roadways. Funding from an anonymous donor allowed Audubon to launch an education initiative that included yard signs reminding motorists to slow down and watch for turtles on the roads.

Aust-Capron Memorial Fund

Barter-Moore Fund

Edith Becker Fund

Mary Catherine Rogers Beckett Fund

John Brezinski Memorial Fund

Bristol Education Center Fund

Caratunk Fund

Mary B. Cottrell Fund

Severyn Dana Fund

Davis Memorial Wildlife Fund

Norman A. Deslauriers Fund

Dickens Farm Fund

Patricia Meagher Dwyer Conservation Fund

John Raleigh Eldred Fund

Bayard Ewing Fund

Fisherville Brook Fund

Fort Nature Refuge Fund

Grout Memorial Fund

Alice O. Harris Fund

Jonathan H. Harwood Fund

Hicks-Borden Fund

Priscilla J. Hollis Fund

Mary C. Kellermann Endowment Fund

Walter Hammond Kimball Fund

Crawford N. Kirkpatrick III Fund

Margaret Robinson Knight Fund

Kimball Memorial Garden Stewardship Fund

Kay Kinsey Fund

Kraus Wildlife Fund

Henry J. Larkin Wildlife Preserve Fund

Lorraine Leaney Fund

Little Rest Bird Club Fund

Lonesome Swamp Fund

Edward B. and Phoebe W. McAlpine Memorial Preserve Fund

Constance McCarthy Fund

McKenzie Wildlife Fund

George B. Parker Fund

Powder Mill Ledges Fund

Prudence Island Fund

Susan M. Romano Memorial Fund

Elton Sanford Fund

Alicia Perry Seavey Family Fund

South County Fund

Everett F. Southwick Fund

Touisset Marsh Fund

Viall Memorial Library Fund

Mrs. and Mr. Dudley A. Williams Memorial Fund

For more information contact Jeff Hall at jhall@asri.org or (401)-949-5454 ext. 3017.

WHAT'S FOR DINNER

Community Scientists on the Lookout for Caterpillars

As Clarkson’s scientific study gets underway, he and the Audubon team will be supported by the corps of volunteers, community scientists who received information and a basic training once they signed up. The makeup of the volunteer group reflects a broad range of the Audubon audience; for example, at the Fisherville visit, Audubon Board Member Don Heitzmann, of Exeter, a retired software engineer who has taken part in many Audubon conservation efforts, took the tutorial tour with Abbey Chrupcala, of North Kingstown. A newcomer to Audubon community science initiatives, Chrupcala signed up for the insect survey as she enjoys regular treks at the conservation area.

While on the tour, Heitzmann, with pant hems deftly inserted into thick socks that provided tick bite protection, used the faceto-face time with Clarkson to wade through some details on marking leaves on study trees. Further along, after becoming familiar with the brightly tagged tree groupings that generally featured common species like sweet birch, ironwood, and red maple, Chrupcala and Heitzmann talk more about their reasons for taking part in the effort.

Each brings a different perspective to the research project. “I’ve done this for a long time, and I know how valuable it is,” says Heitzmann. “I love birds, I love the environment, and Audubon is the best way to go to help it all. I do this as often as I can.” For Chrupcala, who calls her regular walks along Fisherville’s wooded trails “an import-

ant part of my life,” she thought the project was an opportunity to weave her beloved activity into the larger good. “I haven’t really done something like this before, but I know this area well, and I love it here – so it’s sort of doing two good things at once.”

And by the end of the tour, both know what Clarkson hopes they’ll find often on their study visits. “Caterpillars,” says Clarkson, replying to the group’s question about local birds’ favorite foods. “Caterpillars, caterpillars, caterpillars – they’re basically protein bombs for birds, especially young birds that really need those extra nutrients to grow and get strong.” And with most birds being “insect generalists,” Clarkson expects that volunteers will be recording a wide-ranging buffet for the birds, including spiders, ants, grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and cicadas.

And again, says Clarkson, following up, it’s still important to remember that not all caterpillars, not all insects, can answer the food needs of all birds. “Hate to bring them up once more, but not many species here in this wood will eat spongy moth caterpillars,” he said. Still, caterpillars, in general, he says, are fine foods for the bird species at the Audubon conservation areas, and lots of other insects make for tasty and healthful meals as well. That’s why it will be important, Clarkson says, for as many instances of insect life found on study leaves to be noted, even photographed, for the data bank he’ll be overseeing.

Data Gathering for Good Guidance

As the group winds its way back along the main Fisherville trail, Clarkson points out the widespread mist of green leaves spreading through the forest; he estimates that the volunteers will probably be able to start visiting their assigned sites within a couple weeks’ time. “Once leaf-out happens, and the insects start living, growing, and moving on the trees, then this can really get underway,” he says, as “It’s almost showtime, we’re almost there,” he says. At the same time, he says, as the group makes their way to their cars in the Fish-

erville lot, the work is just beginning. Data gathering takes patience, Clarkson notes, but the reward will be worth it. A solid baseline of three years of data can eventually inform the policy and practice that must take place, if many birds, like the Wood Thrush heard earlier, are to be able to continue finding the food they need to survive in the area. “Doing this work now, while engaging the community, sets us up to be much better prepared,” Clarkson finishes, “to understand what we need to do to keep these species here and healthy, hopefully for the long run.”

Sue Kennedy is a communications specialist for the URI Coastal Resources Center, serves on the Warwick Wildlife & Conservation Commission, and enjoys freelancing; reach her at skennedy1168@gmail.com.

SUPPORT OUR WORK

We rely on your generous support to protect and maintain over 9,800 acres of natural habitat for birds, wildlife, and all Rhode Islanders.

Visit asri.org/donate.

Audubon 2024 Wish List

Audubon’s focus areas include accessibility, biodiversity, and climate resiliency. Choose to fund a single project or make a monthly contribution to support Audubon’s 2024 wish list.

2024 Wish List Projects Include:

• Binoculars for community programming

• Monarch butterfly raising station

• Electric equipment for conservation work

• Invasive plant species management

Visit asri.org/wishlist for the complete wish list and to donate. Donate

No Need to Rush Home!

New Portalets Installed on Wildlife Refuges

Enjoy the trails a little longer as four new portalets have been installed behind wooden privacy blinds at the Emilie Ruecker, Maxwell Mays, Fort and Parker Woodland Wildlife Refuges.

Note that Fisherville Brook already has a portalet and Caratunk has an outdoor-accessible composting comfort station. Indoor restrooms are available during business hours at both Powder Mill Ledges and McIntosh Wildlife Refuges.

When nature calls…will you answer?

Funding is needed for the maintenance and cleaning of comfort stations and portalets on the wildlife refuges.

$100: Covers a monthly cleaning of one portalet.

$500: Covers a monthly cleaning of all portalets.

$1200: Covers one year of cleaning for one portalet.

Spend Autumn on Carr Pond

Rent the charming Maxwell Mays Lakefront Cottage for a weekend get-away or a family vacation. This beautiful fieldstone camp in Coventry has openings through October. For details and availability, visit asri.org/services.

Audubon 2025 Calendar Contest

Audubon is looking for images of birds and other wildlife for the 2025 calendar competition. Note that we need photos that reflect all four seasons, and all submitted images must be taken in Rhode Island.

Deadline is September 15, 2024

Visit asri.org/audubon-calendar.html for details.

RAPTORS AT RISK

The American Poison Control Centers of America reported 11,000 cases of people treated for inadvertent rodenticide poisoning in 2022, with over 30 deaths. If these statistics aren’t chilling enough, SGARs can also end up in stormwater runoff, impacting soil quality and fish populations.

“Raptors and other species affected by these chemicals play very important roles in Rhode Island ecosystems. The whole reason that people are using these chemicals is because they want rodents under control, but if raptor populations are thriving, these birds can get rid of many rodents per year,” Beck explains. “Most of the harms I see as a wildlife veterinarian are related to human impacts, either directly or indirectly, and this is one thing we can take out of the mix if we just stop using this chemical and start using alternatives.”

“Integrated pest management is a much better option for rodent control than poison in and around your home,” Wheeler elaborates. This tailored, humane approach assesses the extent of the rodent issue on a property and employs tactics to keep them out of a building and prevent infestations. “This approach uses multiple methods to control rodent population rather than an overreliance on SGARs and helps mitigate the human-to-rodent impact so diseases aren’t spread, which is one concern that many have with rodents.”

Sealing off potential entry points in the roof, walls, and foundation; keeping debris away from the property; removing food and water sources (including bird seed); and securing trash cans and dumpsters are all part of the strategy. Natural deterrents and repellents like wire mesh, strobe lights, and cayenne pepper can help keep rodents at bay, and when trapping is necessary, snap traps, when used safely, are a less cruel substitute to glue traps.

Wheeler also notes a lesser-known alternative: rat sterilization. Available for both consumer and commercial use, SenseTech’s EPA approved ContraPest slows reproduction rates without killing animals and little to no risk of harming other species. Trials show rat populations in urban areas reduced by 64%. “There are multiple solutions already available that work to control rodent populations and more innovative solutions have developed over time,” notes Wheeler. “It’s time to end our overreliance on harmful SGARs.”

Rhode Island is far from the only state to take action against using SGARs. New Hampshire and Connecticut have introduced similar legislation, and some municipalities in Massachusetts have already banned it, including Arlington, incited by the death of a beloved Bald Eagle confirmed to be killed by SGAR poisoning last year. California was the first state to ban SGARs in 2020.

Audubon has made passing the bill a top priority, and recent hearings at the RI State House have been met with an enthusiastic response. Hearing input from residents and stakeholders, Wheeler and advocates are working to find solutions that benefit raptors and the community. Beck applies the One Health approach to their practice, which also rings true to Audubon’s advocacy. “It’s the perspective that the health of humans, other animals, and the environment are all interconnected,” they explain. “It’s part of our responsibility to be good stewards of the environment and of the other animals on this planet. Taking SGARs out of the picture is just one thing that we can do to make all beings a little bit safer.”

Abbie Lahmers is the managing editor of Hey Rhody Media Co., as well as a freelance fiction editor/proofreader and nature writer who enjoys hiking and camping around New England. She can be reached at amlahmers@ gmail.com.

Editor’s note: The legislative ban on second generation anti-coagulant rodenticides made tremendous progress in 2024, despite this being the first year it was introduced. Widespread consensus amongst the legislature gives us great hope that our continued involvement will push this legislation forward next year. We encourage you to stay engaged and informed on this vital issue.

Raptor Weekend Birds and Brews

September 7 & 8, 2024; 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI. Live presentations with Owls, Hawks and Falcons!

Purchase tickets online at asri.org/raptor-weekend

September 6, 2024; 6:00 – 8:30 pm

Sip cold local brews and get up close with some cool birds! Audubon partners with Proclamation Ale for a night of beer, music and birds of prey.

Purchase tickets early! Visit asri.org/raptor-weekend

Charles Ledoux

Volunteers Are the Backbone of Audubon

Individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences share their time and talent to support Audubon. From interns and educators to gardeners, trail monitors, office help and more, we depend on volunteers. Upcoming issues of the Report will continue to highlight a number of Audubon volunteers and the many talents they share with us.

Bob Sand

Audubon Crew Day Volunteer

An active volunteer for over a year, Bob Sand of Providence has helped with Crew Days, the bird seed sale, and wildlife refuge repairs and maintenance. A great member of the conservation team, we are grateful for Bob’s eagerness to help.

Conor MacCormack

Audubon Crew Day Volunteer

Volunteer Conor MacCormack of Smithfield is an enthusiastic Crew Days member and has assisted with the bird seed sale and the Camouflaged Egg Hunt at Powder Mill Ledges. We thank Conor for his continued support.

Crew Day volunteers help Audubon with land conservation and trail maintenance from March through December. Seven of Audubon’s properties offer crew days once a month –come join the team! Visit asri.org/CrewDays.

By Kim Calcagno, Audubon Refuge Manager – Northern Region

Sandi Brenner

Peregrine Falcon Webcam Volunteer

Audubon’s Providence Peregrine livestream gives viewers an exciting look into the lives of the Peregrine Falcons that nest atop the Industrial Trust (aka “Superman”) Building in Providence. While the birds are hard at work raising their young, Audubon keeps the public educated and updated on what they are viewing.

In recent years, Sandi Brenner became a loyal viewer and supporter of the Providence Peregrines and started asking thoughtful questions about the birds’ behavior, along with submitting fabulous screenshots from the livestream. She volunteered her observational skills by crafting text and images for the “Updates From the Nestbox” and social media. Thank you, Sandi, for helping Audubon keep thousands of viewers informed about the 2024 nesting season!

By Paige Therien, Audubon Associate Director of Marketing

Charlene Tuttle

Stormwater Innovation Center Volunteer

With a home near Roger Williams Park in Providence, Charlene Tuttle is a superstar volunteer for the Stormwater Innovation Center’s RainSnap initiative, where community members monitor green infrastructure performance. She learned about the initiative last year at the Stormwater Center’s Rain Harvest Festival and was eager to get involved.

Since Charlene started RainSnapping, she says she is constantly noticing the use of stormwater features across the state, and “loves learning about different types of solutions and seeing them in action”. She has even shared RainSnap videos with her 6th grade science students as they studied weather and climate. We’re very grateful for her commitment to water quality and our Rhode Island community. Thank you, Charlene!

By Rebecca Reeves, Stormwater Education and Outreach Manager

Cathy Russo

CORPORATE VOLUNTEERS

UNFI (United Natural Foods, Inc.)

An enthusiastic group of volunteers from the UNFI Shared Services Helping Hands Committee joined Audubon and got their hands in the dirt this spring at Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge. The group assisted with weeding gardens, cleaning up litter, and cutting back invasive species on the property. Several snakes were observed, and the group learned all about these amazing reptiles, as well as gained knowledge about invasive plants and the harm they can cause in native habitats. Audubon sends a big thank you to this group of energetic volunteers for a job well done.

Bank of America

Over 30 volunteers from Bank of America joined Audubon at Powder Mill Ledges in Smithfield to help with spring projects on the wildlife refuge. Teams picked up roadside and stream-side litter, helped to restore trail stairs that were eroded by all the torrential rain this spring, helped to prep the gardens for spring, and cleared invasive shrubs. A huge thank you to these volunteers for their enthusiasm and perseverance. We simply cannot accomplish all that we do without the help of our many volunteers.

SAVING BIRDS ONE CUP AT A TIME!

Audubon Offers Fresh Whole Bean and Ground Bird-Friendly Coffee

MIGRATION CELEBRATION

Medium roasted coffee from Honduras.

Visit asri.org/coffee to order online and learn more about Dean’s Beans support for local communities where the coffee is grown.

Dean’s Beans Coffee is Fair Trade Federation Certified and is also certified Bird Friendly by the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

A light roast, this coffee has a clean, sweet, nutty flavor.

A dark roast, this coffee has a medium body with a smoky flavor.

A full-bodied, but flavorful and aromatic coffee. All proceeds benefit the Audubon Avian Research Initiative.

GUATEMALAN LOS JOVENES

GUATEMALAN FRENCH ROAST

PERUVIAN DECAF COFFEE

Is Your Yard An ECOLOGICAL DEAD ZONE?

Editorial by Lauren Parmelee, Senior Director of Education

My fifteen-mile commute to work is a typical suburban drive past houses, strip malls, churches, and light industry. As I drive from Newport to Bristol, with all the traffic lights, I have plenty of time to contemplate my surroundings. What always stands out is also typical, unfortunately. Areas that aren’t paved are covered in mowed green grass. No patches of wildflowers or orchards, and few wooded lots. Just lots and lots of sod.

Turf grass lawns and golf courses cover 40 million acres of the United States. Four times more land is dedicated to lawns than the number one U.S. agricultural crop – corn. Four times more water is used to keep lawns green than is used to grow hay, which is the next in line at the hose. That’s a lot of dedication to a monoculture on the part of Americans.

Dr. Doug Tallamy, author of The Living Landscape, Bringing Nature Home and Nature of Oaks, describes lawns as ecological dead zones. “Lawns don’t do anything that we need every landscape to do, which is sequester carbon, manage the watershed, support a food web and support pollinators.”

How did we get trapped in this paradigm?

In America, lawns first appeared in public spaces like town commons and public parks, and then expanded to individual properties. Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903), “the American father of landscape architecture”, who not only designed Central Park but put his talented stamp on much of Newport, was a primary influencer of green lawn spaces.

After World War II, the GI Bill helped returning white soldiers get college educations that resulted in good paying jobs that helped them buy their own houses situated on small plots of land. 40-hour work weeks gave people time to tend to this outdoor space, as well as the house. Vegetable gardens moved to the backyard and the perfect green lawn rolled into the white middle-class American Dream.

It’s time to break out of this pattern.

Take action to “rewild” some or all of your yard! Shrinking your grass doesn’t mean giving up the barbecue patio or the kids’ play area, but it does mean setting aside dedicated space and ceasing the use of herbicides and pesticides.

Doug Tallamy’s research indicates that for a landscape to support a diversity of life, at least 70% of the plant species must be native. Native plants and trees support native wildlife including the insects that are so critical to healthy ecosystems.

When transforming your yard, it is important to find a source of true native plants and not just cultivars that have been manipulated through hybridization. It also is critical that you don’t purchase seeds or plants that have been coated with neonicotinoid pesticides. This means you must be picky about where you purchase your plants.

Rewilding can also mean being lazy about raking leaves, dead-heading flowers, and mowing. Give away that leaf blower and weed whacker, and cheer on the bumblebees instead.

Encourage your local greenhouses to grow and sell native plants!

University of Rhode Island has an excellent database of the trees, shrubs, vines, ferns and perennials that are native to the state. In addition to listing the plants, the database indicates what each species needs to grow, how it supports wildlife, whether it’s edible or medicinal, and how big it will get. Visit web.uri.edu/rinativeplants.

The Rhode Island Wild Plant Society (riwps.org) has a lot of great information on why growing native is beneficial. Native Plant Trust in Wayland, MA (formerly called Garden in the Woods) is another excellent source, but a little farther from home.

Visit nativeplanttrust.org.

THE LAST WORD

This spring, Audubon educators led over 2,000 students in outdoor explorations at wildlife refuges and locations across the state. This included habitat investigations for all 563 third graders in the ten Pawtucket Public Elementary Schools, and a three-day Schoolyard Bio Blitz for 200 Chariho middle school students.

Then on to camp, where over 450 children will explore fields, forests, streams and shore. Delivering science, nature and joy is only part of the job. Audubon educators are inspiring our future environmental leaders.

Support education for all. Visit asri.org/donate.

by

Photo

Betsy Staples