Mass Audubon Stony Brook Announces Its October Programming

Early Morning Birds: Tuesdays in October through the 22nd from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Fall brings a variety of birds to Stony Brook as migrants begin their journey back from the north. Take a morning stroll with Doug Williams and/or Jack Lash in search of migrants and the other wonderful creatures of the area. Nature lovers of all levels are welcome! We will focus on identifying birds by habitat, behavior, color and call. Tell your friends. Fee: $8m/ $10nm per session
Birding by Habitat: Wednesdays, October 2, 9 and 16, from 6 to 7:35 p.m. Field trip on Saturday, October 19 from 8 a.m. to noon. Ever wondered why cardinals, blue jays and house wrens often show up in our yards and gardens while the gulls are much more likely to be seen during trips to the local market? All living creatures have natural affinities to some places and not to others. Join seasoned naturalist and birding expert Jack Lash while he highlights and explains the details of when, why and where our local birds spend their time. You’ll learn to recognize and differentiate important bird habitats while exploring them. Fee: $55m/ $66nm
Stony Brook Fall Fair and Duck Derby: Saturday, October 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Join us for this great family event. We will have a field full of crafters selling their handmade wares, music, children’s games and crafts, animal presentations, trail walks, our sixth annual duck derby (grand prize $750), and more…! Proceeds from ticket sales will go toward supporting Stony Brook’s school, community, and camp programs, as well as conservation efforts. Sign up online for ducks and/or admission. Admission also available at the gate. (Rain date, Oct. 6th) Fee: $4adult/ $3child. Maximum fee for family $14
The Bog at Poutwater Pond: Saturday, October 12 from 10 a.m. to noon Bogs are unusual places that are much more common in Maine than in Massachusetts. Bogs are characterized by highly acidic soils and waters which set the stage for plants and animals that can adapt to these unusual conditions. Poutwater Pond is a National Natural Landmark and Massachusetts’ first Nature Preserve, home to stunted trees and shrubs as well as unusual orchids and insect eating plants. Lots to see and do in this exotic morning exploration. Fee: $15m/ $18nm
Tiny Trekkers: Saturday, October 19, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Start your weekend off right with a fun and knowledgeable Stony Brook teacher on the trails learning about nature. Each day will have a special topic created to excite your child about the natural world. There will be crafts, activities and lots of laughter. So come and join the fun. This month’s theme: Getting Ready for Winter. Ages 2.9 to 6 with a parent. Fee: $6m/$7nm per person per session
Stony Brook Bio-Blitz: Sunday, October 20, from 9 a.m. to noon. We’ll be walking the trails and searching the wetlands and fields documenting the wild animals and plants inhabiting Stony Brook. We will be using iNaturalist (a powerful app developed by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic) to help us identify and document everything we discover. Bring your smart phone and curiosity. We will start our Blitz off with a tutorial on iNaturalist (it is fun and easy to use). Fee: $10m/ $12nm
Stony Brook Book Club – Winter World, by Bernd Heinrich: Wednesday, October 23 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, November 2 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Join us for this two-part program.  During the first part of the program we will meet to discuss this insightful book about the survival of animals in the unforgiving northern winter. This book covers a wide variety of topics from flying squirrels to golden-crowned kinglets. The second part of this program will be a naturalist walk to look for signs of life described in this book. We will possibly encounter kinglets, juncos, white-throated sparrows and other hardy winter residents described in this book. This is a great opportunity to meet other nature enthusiasts and learn about local nature. Fee: $35m/ $42nm
Whoo’s Out There Evening Wildlife Prowl: Saturday, October 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. Explore the fascinating world of Stony Brook as the sun is setting. This has been described as a magical time of day, and adventures out on the trails often reinforce that notion. You never know what you will find on a walk after sunset. Our pace will be relaxed and our senses heightened as we will be on the lookout for creatures that come out just as the sun is setting (including owls, beavers, frogs, otters, bats and many other nocturnal animals). Minimum age: 6. Fee: $9ad/$6ch member --$11ad/$7ch non-member
Pre-registration is required for all programs (except as noted). For more details, visit the Mass Audubon webpage at www.massaudubon.org or contact us at 508-528-3140. Register by phone, email (stonybrook@massaudubon.org), fax (508-553-3864) or in person. Stony Brook is located at 108 North Street in Norfolk.