WP Watershed Wide Public Events

Join naturalist Bruce Fellman for a special exploration, co-hosted by Avalonia and the Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers, of the Henne Preserve’s 100 acres of uplands and wetlands, which include an abundance of ecological diversity. We’ll comb the uplands for its array of wildflowers and ferns; vernal pools filled with amphibians, gray tree frogs in particular; reptiles such as nest-making Snapping turtles and territory defending Black racers; and colorful songbirds, from Baltimore orioles and Yellowthroat warblers, to Tree swallows and various woodpeckers. We’ll also learn how to convert bird calls into accessible and identifiable sound prints, and examine the beaver-created wetlands to see, first hand, how these “eager” rodents have transformed local habitats throughout North America.
At Henne, beavers have helped make the preserve home to numerous dragonflies and butterflies, geese and ducks, and wetlands plants, as well as the site of a large and thriving Great Blue Heron rookery—more than 22 active and noisy nests, according to a recent count.
The refuge, and its Shunock River centerpiece, is part of an integrated system of the adjoining Babcock Ridge and Erisman preserves that together emphasize the critical importance of protecting intact watershed ecosystems. We’ll get to see this up close and personal along the trail.

Meet at 113 Babcock Road (0.9 miles from Wyassup Road or 0.8 miles from Route 49). The parking area is on the north side of the road. The trailhead for the Henne walk is nearby. Bring binoculars, camera gear, hand lenses, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen, and please download the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s Merlin Bird ID app to your smartphone in advance of our walk. (merlin.allaboutbirds.org/download/) To register, visit: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/Q30NdrXaDVxKb64vJMFw6w