Audubon Society of Rhode Island
Lecture and Book Signing – September 17th at 7:00pm
Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
Basking with Humpbacks

Natural history author Todd McLeish will discuss the rare and threatened marine life found in New England waters, which is the subject of his latest book, Basking With Humpbacks.   He will share entertaining stories of his field trips with biologists who are studying these creatures to better understand their life cycle and the complex threats they face, including basking sharks, leatherback turtles, Atlantic wolfish, bay scallops, horseshoe crabs and harlequin ducks.  Following the lecture, he will be available to sell and sign copies of his books, including his previous title, Golden Wings and Hairy Toes: Encounters With New England’s Most Imperiled Wildlife. Lecture is Free! Registration is required.

Call (401) 245-7500 for more information or to reserve your space!

Local botanists have gotten together to build a new website intended to support those interested in Rhode Island’s native plants, especially its wild flowers. The site is among-ri-wildflowers.org, and it is managed by Kathy Barton. The site’s name honors William Whitman Bailey, Brown botany professor and early Rhode Island Naturalist, who wrote a book on the state’s flowers by that name. The site currently includes notes on the 2008 field season and a really great summary of Rhode Island’s orchid species. We wish Kathy and her un-indicted co-conspirators luck with the site and hope botanists of all stripes will support it with information, photos, and other help. We look forward to watching it develop.

Some other recommended sites for those interested in Rhode Island plants:

Rhode Island Wild Plant Society

New England Wild Flower Society

Connecticut Botanical Society