The Ocean State Bird Club follows the ABA Code of Ethic and encourages all its members to do the same. To learn more about the code of ethics, please click here.
Release #4: Snæbjörnsdóttir / Wilson
Friday, April 5, 5:30 PM
Art Exhibition, Snæbjörnsdóttir / Wilson: The Only Show in Town
Brown University's Bell Gallery, Providence
From April 6-July 7, the Bell Gallery will present Snæbjörnsdóttir / Wilson: The Only Show in Town, an exhibition of work by Bryndis Snæbjörnsdóttir and Mark Wilson addressing the plight of the saltmarsh sparrow. In the summer of 2018, S/W participated in research being conducted by Deirdre Robinson and Steve Reinhart at Jacob's Pt. The exhibition is interpretive and advocates for change in human behavior, i.e. "change" is the "Only Show in Town." The exhibition, will however, be disappointing to anyone who comes looking for pretty pictures of birds. It is rather an exploration of the artists' experience at the marsh, and an eulogy to loss.
Location: David Winton Bell Gallery (click here for google maps directions)
Sunday, April 7, 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Youth Birders Walk at Trustom Pond NWR
South Kingstown
The only undeveloped salt pond in the state, 180 acre Trustom Pond often attracts thousands of ducks, geese, and swans during the peak of migration. We will walk the 3 miles of trails in search of waterfowl, and migrating songbirds taking advantage of the 700 acre NWR. This walk is for birders ages 6-18 and their families (click here to learn more about the Youth Birders Initiative)
Meeting location: We will meet in the main lot along Matunuck Schoolhouse Rd. (click here for google map directions)
Leaders: Matt Schenck (mschenckee@gmail.com)
Art Exhibition, Snæbjörnsdóttir / Wilson: The Only Show in Town
Brown University's Bell Gallery, Providence
From April 6-July 7, the Bell Gallery will present Snæbjörnsdóttir / Wilson: The Only Show in Town, an exhibition of work by Bryndis Snæbjörnsdóttir and Mark Wilson addressing the plight of the saltmarsh sparrow. In the summer of 2018, S/W participated in research being conducted by Deirdre Robinson and Steve Reinhart at Jacob's Pt. The exhibition is interpretive and advocates for change in human behavior, i.e. "change" is the "Only Show in Town." The exhibition, will however, be disappointing to anyone who comes looking for pretty pictures of birds. It is rather an exploration of the artists' experience at the marsh, and an eulogy to loss.
Location: David Winton Bell Gallery (click here for google maps directions)
Sunday, April 7, 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Youth Birders Walk at Trustom Pond NWR
South Kingstown
The only undeveloped salt pond in the state, 180 acre Trustom Pond often attracts thousands of ducks, geese, and swans during the peak of migration. We will walk the 3 miles of trails in search of waterfowl, and migrating songbirds taking advantage of the 700 acre NWR. This walk is for birders ages 6-18 and their families (click here to learn more about the Youth Birders Initiative)
Meeting location: We will meet in the main lot along Matunuck Schoolhouse Rd. (click here for google map directions)
Leaders: Matt Schenck (mschenckee@gmail.com)
Saltmarsh Sparrow: Evan Lipton
Thursday, April 18, 5:30 pm
Lecture: Canaries in the salt marsh: averting extinction in an era of sea-level rise
Providence
With rising sea levels, tidal marshes and species such as the Saltmarsh Sparrow that depend on them, face many threats. This talk will describe the status of tidal marsh birds in the northeast, the ways that marshes are changing, and the role that humans play in protecting coastal ecosystems.
Speaker: Chris Elphick—principle investigator of SHARP (Saltmarsh Habitat and Avain and Research Program) and professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at UCONN
Location: Brown University's List Art Auditorium (click here for google map directions)
Saturday, April 20, 8:00 am
Weekapaug Hotspots--Morning Trip
Westerly
Explore the extensive saltmarshes of the Weekapaug area of Westerly in search of wading birds including herons, egrets, and shorebirds. We will carpool from the Lathrop Wildlife Refuge around Winnepaug Pond and eventually finish up along the Weekapaug Breachway.
Additional Information: Attendees would be advised to bring knee-high wading boots as we may walk portions of the marsh
Meeting Location: Lathrop Refuge (click here for google maps directions)
Leader: Dylan Pedro (pedro8410@my.uri.edu)
Wednesday, April 24, 6:30 pm
Birds & Beers at Whalers Brewing
South Kingstown
Located in the historic Palisades Mill in Peacedale Whalers Brewing Company was recently ranked as one of the 40th fastest growing breweries in America, and won "Rhode Island Brewery of the Year" at the New York International Beer Competition in 2018. Join members in enjoying one of their six draft options or try a flight of all six while sharing stories and information about birding in Rhode Island.
Additional Information: Whalers does not have food for sale on site but you can bring food in or have it delivered to the taproom if you would like.
Sunday, April 28, 8:00 am
Bird Walk at Tillinghast Pond
West Greenwich
At just over 2,000 acres Tillinghast Pond Management Area is a large forested preserve in West Greenwich managed by the Rhode Island chapter of The Nature Conservancy. Boasting an impressive list of breeding species Tillinghast Pond is also a great location to look for early migrants that are attracted to the variety of habitats. By late April both species of Waterthrush and several other types of warblers may be found along the extensive trail system. Join us for a 2.5 mile hike along the Coney Brook Loop & Loggers Trail in search of warblers, vireos, and whatever else we can turn up.
Other Considerations: Participant's must wear a florescent orange safety vest as per the RI DEM requirements during the spring Turkey hunting season.
Meeting location: We will meet in the parking lot Plain Rd. (click here for google map directions)
Leaders: Matt Schenck (mschenckee@gmail.com)
Lecture: Canaries in the salt marsh: averting extinction in an era of sea-level rise
Providence
With rising sea levels, tidal marshes and species such as the Saltmarsh Sparrow that depend on them, face many threats. This talk will describe the status of tidal marsh birds in the northeast, the ways that marshes are changing, and the role that humans play in protecting coastal ecosystems.
Speaker: Chris Elphick—principle investigator of SHARP (Saltmarsh Habitat and Avain and Research Program) and professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at UCONN
Location: Brown University's List Art Auditorium (click here for google map directions)
Saturday, April 20, 8:00 am
Weekapaug Hotspots--Morning Trip
Westerly
Explore the extensive saltmarshes of the Weekapaug area of Westerly in search of wading birds including herons, egrets, and shorebirds. We will carpool from the Lathrop Wildlife Refuge around Winnepaug Pond and eventually finish up along the Weekapaug Breachway.
Additional Information: Attendees would be advised to bring knee-high wading boots as we may walk portions of the marsh
Meeting Location: Lathrop Refuge (click here for google maps directions)
Leader: Dylan Pedro (pedro8410@my.uri.edu)
Wednesday, April 24, 6:30 pm
Birds & Beers at Whalers Brewing
South Kingstown
Located in the historic Palisades Mill in Peacedale Whalers Brewing Company was recently ranked as one of the 40th fastest growing breweries in America, and won "Rhode Island Brewery of the Year" at the New York International Beer Competition in 2018. Join members in enjoying one of their six draft options or try a flight of all six while sharing stories and information about birding in Rhode Island.
Additional Information: Whalers does not have food for sale on site but you can bring food in or have it delivered to the taproom if you would like.
Sunday, April 28, 8:00 am
Bird Walk at Tillinghast Pond
West Greenwich
At just over 2,000 acres Tillinghast Pond Management Area is a large forested preserve in West Greenwich managed by the Rhode Island chapter of The Nature Conservancy. Boasting an impressive list of breeding species Tillinghast Pond is also a great location to look for early migrants that are attracted to the variety of habitats. By late April both species of Waterthrush and several other types of warblers may be found along the extensive trail system. Join us for a 2.5 mile hike along the Coney Brook Loop & Loggers Trail in search of warblers, vireos, and whatever else we can turn up.
Other Considerations: Participant's must wear a florescent orange safety vest as per the RI DEM requirements during the spring Turkey hunting season.
Meeting location: We will meet in the parking lot Plain Rd. (click here for google map directions)
Leaders: Matt Schenck (mschenckee@gmail.com)