Beginner Bird Walk: Kwaks Wildlife Sanctuary
2024-05-11 08:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | NH
Join New Hampshire Audubon President Doug Bechtel in exploring NH Audubon’s Kwaks Wildlife Sanctuary in Newmarket. We will look for early spring migratory song birds and learn a bit about the plants and habitats that make the Kwaks Sanctuary, an important part of the Follett’s Brook Watershed. Meet at 8:00 AM at the parking lot. Contact Holly Bauer with questions.
The trip is limited to 20 participants. As the event nears, visit the Seacoast Chapter website to sign-up. Although these walks are geared with the beginner birder in mind, birders of all levels of expertise are encouraged to participate and share their experiences. Children are gladly welcome with an adult. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen.

Pondicherry Migratory Bird Day: Outing Two
2024-05-11 08:00 - 14:00 | Pondicherry Wildlife Sanctuary, Presidential Rail Trail, 289 Airport Road, Whitefield, NH, 03598, United States
The 22nd Annual Pondicherry Migratory Bird Day is Saturday, May 11, 2024. Two consecutive walks are free and open to the public. The first event, which starts at 6 am and ends at 8 am, meets at the overlook at Airport Marsh on Airport Road in Whitefield, NH. Airport Marsh has a mix of water, wetland, shrub, and grassland habitat. Over the past several years, 183 species have been recorded at Airport Marsh, although we will be happy with 40 species.
The second event starts at the Pondicherry Trailhead at 289 Airport Road in Whitefield, NH, at 8 am. We will walk the rail trail to Cherry Pond, a distance of 1.5 miles. We will look and listen for various warblers and other species. From the Tudor Richard Observation Platform at Cherry Pond, guides will lead walks to Little Cherry Pond, searching for black-backed woodpeckers and migrating warblers. We will also visit Moorhen Marsh for wetland species, including marsh wrens and swamp sparrows. We have several expert volunteer guides to help us find and identify species.
We generally finish around 2 pm, although birders can stay longer or leave earlier. The total walking distance for the Cherry and Little Cherry Ponds walk is around 5 miles with an elevation change of only 20 feet. Bring binoculars, lunch, water, and dress for the weather. We may encounter a few black flies. This particular date is often the birdiest weekend of the migration season. The event is free and is sponsored by the Ammonoosuc Chapter of NH Audubon, Friends of Pondicherry, and the Silvio Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge.
The theme for World Migratory Bird Day 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds.” Free educational posters featuring this theme will be available.
The Friends of Pondicherry website.
If you have any questions, contact the organizer David Govatski at David.Govatski@gmail.com

World Migratory Bird Day: Bird Outing at Massabesic Center
2024-05-11 08:30 - 10:00 | Massabesic Center, 26 Audubon Way, Auburn, NH, United States
Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with NH Audubon this year! We will be hosting a few different outings across the state on May 11th to celebrate and enjoy our feathered friends.
This is an informal birding outing that begins at the Massabesic Center in Auburn and explores the trails with local birder and Massabesic Center Advisory Committee member, Joe Mahoney. All ages and skill levels of birders are welcome. If you are new to birding, come and learn the basics! If you are an avid birder, come to learn new techniques, network with other birders, or share your expertise with the group.
Cost is $8/members or $10/non-members, please contact Slater Roosa if this may be a barrier for your participation. Binocular rental included with ticket. Please dress for the weather, with sturdy shoes. Expect to walk between 1-2 miles over mostly flat, but uneven trails through grassy and wooded terrain. Trails may be soggy or muddy in the rainy season. Dogs are not allowed on this walk.

Jack Gleason Memorial Nature Walk
2024-05-11 08:30 - 10:00 | Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary, Rhodora Drive, Amherst, NH, United States
In celebration of World Migratory Bird Day, a guided nature walk at Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary.

Kids & Cucumbers: Family Gardening Ideas & Activities
2024-05-11 09:30 - 10:30 | Massabesic Center, 26 Audubon Way, Auburn, NH, United States
Gardening appeals to all ages and stages and can be used as a tool to spark curiosity, improve focus, boost self-esteem, and establish lifelong relationships with food, nutrition, wildlife, and the environment. In this hands-on, outdoor program, we will focus on engaging children in the home garden with activities geared towards growing not only food and flowers but cultivating confidence as well. This program is best suited for families with children ages 5-14.
Presenter:
Willa Coroka, Project Implementation Specialist with NH Audubon.
Cost:
$10 for NH Audubon members/Extension Master Gardeners
$15 for non-members
Registration required by May 9.
For mobility, sensory, behavioral, or other accessibility accommodations, please contact Massabesic Center Director, Kimmie Whiteman.
This program is brought to you through an ongoing partnership between the University of New Hampshire Extension’s Master Gardener Program and New Hampshire Audubon. “The Demonstration Gardens at NH Audubon’s Massabesic Center” provide a place for sharing best practices in eco-friendly home and community gardening, to benefit human health and well-being, and wildlife habitat.

Earth Day Exhibition 2024 - A Nature Inspired Show
2024-05-11 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-05-14 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-05-15 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-05-16 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-05-17 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-05-18 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-05-21 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-05-22 11:00 - 17:00 and 1 more date | Massabesic Center, 26 Audubon Way, Auburn, NH, United States
Each year, NH Audubon holds a day-long, family-friendly Earth Day celebration at the Massabesic Center. As a part of the 2024 celebration, the Center is partnering with the League of NH Craftsmen to feature original work from League artists in a special two month exhibition which includes photography, prints, and fiber art.
An example from the exhibit – Birches by Ron Bowman.
This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy nature-themed artwork produced by some of New Hampshire’s finest craftsmen, displayed in the peaceful setting of this beautiful wildlife sanctuary. The exhibition will be open during regular Center hours from April 5-May 31. A reception hosted by the League, and open to the public, will be held on April 21 from 2-4pm.
About the League of NH Craftsmen: For over 90 years, the League has enriched New Hampshire communities through its mission to advance, cultivate and champion fine craft. The League offers a wide-range of educational programs for adults and children, and outstanding hand-made craft is available for purchase at seven affiliated Fine Craft Galleries throughout the state.

Beginner Bird Walk: Pickering Ponds
2024-05-12 07:00 - 12:00 | NH
One of the top 10 birding spots in New Hampshire, this walk will traverse Rochester city park trails along the Cocheco River and around the former wastewater treatment settling ponds. Meet at the Pickering Ponds parking area at 7:00 AM. The entrance is about a mile south of the Rochester Wastewater Treatment Plant on Pickering Road (opposite mailbox #452). Contact: Dan Hubbard or 603-978-0218.
The trip is limited to 20 participants. As the event nears, visit the Seacoast Chapter website to sign-up. Although these walks are geared with the beginner birder in mind, birders of all levels of expertise are encouraged to participate and share their experiences. Children are gladly welcome with an adult. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen.

Human / Nature
2024-05-14 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-05-15 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-05-16 11:00 - 17:00, 2024-05-17 11:00 - 17:00 | McLane Center, 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH, 03301, United States
Elderglass by Jackie Hanson.
In this ongoing series, artist Jackie Hanson uses pastels to paint immersive landscapes that feature both well-known and overlooked vantages, often (but not exclusively) from New Hampshire and Maine. While pleasant to the eye, these works help her to think about the tangled relationship between humans and nature. This relationship is both one of forces opposed to each other and inexplicably tied together. Humans can have a devastating impact on our environment, but in many everyday cases, you can observe the Earth reclaiming where humans have moved on. Meanwhile, the human race is beholden to time and ultimately to our planet as well. Jackie’s paintings explore the beauty of the balance between human activity and the Earth’s reciprocity, and the sublime power nature holds. (Recommended reading: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.)
Bio: Jackie Hanson spent her childhood in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, raised in a family where art and creativity were always encouraged. While growing up, she became familiar with the beauty of the outdoors in New England: lakes, mountains, small farms, and plenty of day trips to the ocean. After first using pastels in high school, she rediscovered her love for them while in college, and the way they made her feel the same excitement in the studio as when exploring the natural world. Jackie graduated from New England College’s Institute of Art and Design in 2022 with her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and plans to continue her art practice as a career.

Beginner Bird Walk: Pickering Ponds
2024-05-15 07:00 - 12:00 | NH
An encore of the very popular Pickering Ponds walk on May 12. One of the top 10 birding spots in New Hampshire, this walk will traverse Rochester city park trails along the Cocheco River and around the former wastewater treatment settling ponds. Meet at the Pickering Ponds parking area at 7:00 AM. The entrance is about a mile south of the Rochester Wastewater Treatment Plant on Pickering Road (opposite mailbox #452). Contact: Dan Hubbard or 603-978-0218.
The trip is limited to 20 participants. As the event nears, visit the Seacoast Chapter website to sign-up. Although these walks are geared with the beginner birder in mind, birders of all levels of expertise are encouraged to participate and share their experiences. Children are gladly welcome with an adult. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen.

Brockway Wee Explorers - Insect Investigators
2024-05-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Brockway Nature Preserve, Farrington Corner Road, Hopkinton, NH, United States
Join New Hampshire Audubon at Brockway Nature Preserve in Hopkinton for nature exploration with your 3-5 year old. Programs will be held on the first and third Wednesday of every month through May. Each program has an exciting theme regarding wildlife, nature, or the seasons. Programs will begin at 10 am and last about 45 minutes each.
This is an outdoor location with no bathroom facilities. Please dress children for the weather and be ready to walk on the trail, sit on logs and the ground, and dig in the dirt! Programs will be cancelled if poor weather is predicted during the program time; participants will be notified by email of cancellations. To find the meeting circle, park at the Brockway Nature Preserve parking area along Farrington Corners Road in Hopkinton, then follow the entrance trail across the bridge to the circle. For detailed directions, see here. Contact Devin Guilfoyle with any questions about the program. Maximum 10 children.
Cost: Non-resident NH Audubon members: $5/family; Non-resident non-members: $10/family; Free to Hopkinton Residents* (RSVP required below)
*Thanks to an endowment from Dorothy Brockway Osborne, this program is free for Hopkinton Residents.

Weeks State Park Migratory Bird Day Walk
2024-05-16 07:00 - 11:00 | Weeks State Park, Summit Road, Route 3, Lancaster, NH, 03584, United States
The Weeks State Park Migratory Bird Day Walk is Thursday, May 16, 2024. The walk starts at 7 am at the Parking Lot at the start of the Weeks State Park Summit Road, just off of US Route 3 in Lancaster. We will then take a leisurely 3-mile round trip walk along the Auto Road to the summit of Mt Prospect, gaining 800 feet of elevation. Along the way, we should see various warblers, vireos, and flycatchers, as well as a variety of spring wildflowers.
We typically finish at 11 am and then offer an optional side trip to Martin Meadow Pond, where we will look for loons, osprey, and bald eagles. The birding walk is sponsored by the Weeks State Park Association and is free and open to the public.
The theme of World Migratory Bird Day 2024 is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds.” Free educational posters featuring this theme will be available.
The Weeks State Park Association website.
If you have any questions, contact the organizer David Govatski at David.Govatski@gmail.com.

Growing Backyard Berries
2024-05-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Massabesic Center, 26 Audubon Way, Auburn, NH, United States
Small-scale production of berries can be a rewarding investment, but not without its own management challenges! In this workshop, we’ll focus on blueberries, brambles (blackberries and raspberries,) and strawberry production for the backyard gardener, covering topics that include varieties, establishment, maintenance, pruning, and major pest and disease management. Weather permitting, we’ll walk out to the UNH Extension Demonstration Gardens where we’ll see some techniques in practice. Appropriate footwear is helpful.
Presenter: Steph Sosinski, UNH Extension Home Horticulture Program Manager
Cost:
$10 for NH Audubon members/Extension Master Gardeners
$15 for non-members
Registration required by May 14.
For mobility, sensory, behavioral, or other accessibility accommodations, please contact Massabesic Center Director, Kimmie Whiteman.
This program is brought to you through an ongoing partnership between the University of New Hampshire Extension’s Master Gardener Program and New Hampshire Audubon. “The Demonstration Gardens at NH Audubon’s Massabesic Center” provide a place for sharing best practices in eco-friendly home and community gardening, to benefit human health and well-being, and wildlife habitat.

Beginner Bird Walk: Deer Hill Wildlife Management Area
2024-05-18 07:00 - 09:00 | NH
Bird the varied habitats of the Deer Hill Wildlife Management Area with trip leader Scott Heron. With 190 species seen on the property, in the spring Deer Hill can be full of migrating passerines and breeding water birds. Meet at the entrance gate on Pine Road in Brentwood. Contact: Scott Heron.
The trip is limited to 20 participants. As the event nears, visit the Seacoast Chapter website to sign-up. Although these walks are geared with the beginner birder in mind, birders of all levels of expertise are encouraged to participate and share their experiences. Children are gladly welcome with an adult. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen.

Beginner Bird Walk: Marsh Birds of World End Pond
2024-05-19 06:30 - 09:30 | NH
World End Pond is one of the top birding hotspots in southeast New Hampshire and it is home to many specialties not easily found elsewhere in the state. At almost 100 acres, one of the best ways to discover its birdlife is by kayak. Bring your own kayak or canoe and join Kyle Wilmarth as he leads a trip paddling through the pond and marsh. Meet at the boat launch at the end of Theresa Avenue in Salem. Contact: Kyle Wilmarth.
The trip is limited to 7 participants. As the event nears, visit the Seacoast Chapter website to sign-up. Although these walks are geared with the beginner birder in mind, birders of all levels of expertise are encouraged to participate and share their experiences. Children are gladly welcome with an adult. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen.

Beginner Bird Walk: Strafford County Farm
2024-05-19 07:00 - 12:00 | NH
With habitat for water birds, raptors and song birds, this walk will include the Don Black Trail and the hedgerows around the fields of the conserved property. The walk will last as long as participants choose, but not beyond noon. Meet at 8:00 across from the Strafford County Work Program at 266 County Farm Road; follow County Farm Road and take a left at the stop sign and then an immediate left to continue along behind the jail to the parking lot across from the entrance to the Strafford County Work Program. Contact: Dan Hubbard or 603-978-0218.
The trip is limited to 20 participants. As the event nears, visit the Seacoast Chapter website to sign-up. Although these walks are geared with the beginner birder in mind, birders of all levels of expertise are encouraged to participate and share their experiences. Children are gladly welcome with an adult. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen.

Annual Surry Birds and Blooms Walk
2024-05-19 07:00 - 12:00 | NH
Join local birder Dave Hoitt and wildflower enthusiast Wendy Ward on this moderate walk looking for birds and wildflowers in open field, wetland, and woodland habitats. Meet at the Surry Town Hall parking lot at 7:00 am. The trip should end by noon. Bring field guides, binoculars, drink, snack and bug/tick repellant. Cost: free.
For more info contact Dave at weward0@yahoo.com or 603-352-0987.

Photo: Clay-colored Sparrow, by Steve Mirick.

Exhibit Opening: METALSUM – Art Inspired by Nature and Imagined Through Found Objects
2024-05-22 11:00 - 17:00 | McLane Center, 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH, 03301, United States
“METALSUM”, art for the home and garden. Found and repurposed objects welded into abstract, representational and whimsical art with an emphasis on portraying the natural world.
–
Jane Kolias creates decorative rustic metal art from found, abandoned and discarded objects. She finds things in nooks and crannies of antique and thrift stores, salvage yards, friend’s back yards, roadway ditches, abandoned fields, forays into the woods and sometimes her own kitchen drawers.
Inspiration for these designs comes from observing nature, the creativity of fellow artists, and the found objects themselves. Each finished piece has its own unique configuration and blend of components which become garden and landscape pieces, wall hangings, and tabletop items.
Jane starts each project with a design in mind. As she considers which bits of scrap metal to use, the process becomes fluid and dynamic, creating a synergistic partnership between herself and the various components. This often results in the finished piece only somewhat resembling her original design.
If she knows the name or purpose of a component, she will label it, but for many pieces the component’s utility is unknown to her. She occasionally adds paint to a finished piece but her preference is to leave each work unpainted for a more organic look. For outside art, she applies several layers of clear protective coating to help abate rust formation.
Artist’s bio: Jane Kolias, a native New Hampshirite now residing in Vermont, has an extensive and lifelong association with the arts. As a young adult, she was active in the performing arts including community theatre and competitive ballroom dance. As a textile artist she has designed quilts and costumes, has worked with metals in jewelry design and fabrication, and has created landscape art such as stonewall and rock garden arrangements. Her most recent endeavor, “METALSUM”, involves welding found objects into abstract, representational and whimsical art with an emphasis on portraying the natural world.

METALSUM – Art Inspired by Nature and Imagined Through Found Objects
2024-05-23 11:00 - 17:00 | McLane Center, 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH, 03301, United States

Introduction to Pelagic Wildlife Webinar
2024-05-23 18:30 - 19:30 | NH
Join NH Audubon for a deep dive into pelagic wildlife watching! The word pelagic references the ocean. In this webinar, we will focus on birds often seen at sea. We’ll discuss frequent and hoped-for sightings associated with NH Audubon’s biannual Pelagic Trip, which sets sail every spring and fall. Whether you’re joining us on the boat this fall, or planning a seafaring adventure of your own, this webinar will teach you the basics of identifying common pelagic birds (and mammals) found off New Hampshire’s coast.
This workshop is free to all Pelagic Trip attendees, check your email for a Zoom link.
Presenter:
NH Audubon volunteer and avid birder Jon Woolf will give an introductory webinar on Thursday May 23rd, 6:30pm-7:30pm
For mobility, sensory, behavioral, or other accessibility accommodations, please contact Slater Roosa.
