Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center Programs & Events
Due to the current situation, until further notice, all RTP Estuary Center programs are postponed. We will be providing interactive, virtual programs including, backyard birding, art in nature and citizen science. Stay tuned as we will be posting a schedule for these events both here and on our Facebook page. We hope you will join us and look forward to “seeing” you at the next virtual program!
Nature Notes: A New Virtual Program for Parents and Kids
Thursdays starting May 28 at 9:30 a.m. on Zoom
Join RTP Estuary Center teacher-naturalist Morgan Allen for a virtual nature class designed for children and families who love nature!
Activities during each weekly session will encourage discovery, explorations, and expression through stories and follow-along art projects.
Follow-up activities to continue fun and learning will include family scavenger hunts, nature fact sheets, and ideas for family nature outings.
We can supply necessary materials for each weekly activity on an as needed basis. Please email rtpec@ctaudubon.org 
$10 for members; $15 for non-members per weekly program
Weekly topics are:
June 4- All About Frogs – Register here
June 11 – Slippery Salamanders – Register here
June 18 – Beautiful Butterflies – Register here
Breeding Birds of Connecticut Webinar
Tuesday, June 2, 7 p.m.
With spring comes an influx of species to Connecticut’s coasts and forests. Why are all of these birds making their way north to Connecticut? To breed! In this webinar, teacher-naturalist Joe Attwater will go over breeding and nesting of many CT species, and which species breed in CT.
Joe will discuss:
- Birds that breed in CT (including year-round residents and migrants
- Breeding habits
- Nesting habits
- How to help breeding birds in CT
While we are offering this program for free, we ask that you consider a suggested donation of $10.
Register here for Zoom link
Webinar Wednesdays, 4 p.m.
Join the RTP Estuary Center each Wednesday at 4 p.m. via Zoom for a different interactive, hands-on, and engaging science-based activity.
Each week will have a different art project or science experiment or perhaps a little bit of both! Activities and projects are built around items that can be found outdoors or that you most likely will have in your house.
How to Make a Nature Journal
Wednesday, June 3, 4 p.m.
Make the most of your field observations by starting a nature journal! Join teacher-naturalist Morgan Allen to learn how to create nature sketches of what you see in the field. Morgan will show you how to take color samples, how to quickly sketch moving wildlife, how to take notes for later, and how to utilize pages if wet. While we are offering this program for free, we do ask that you consider a suggested donation of $10.
Register here for Zoom link
To follow along with Morgan you will need:
Journal or notebook or you can use whatever paper you have handy
Pencil
Optional
Paints
Colored pencils
Tape
Field guide
Eco-Hour with Conservation Biologist Jim Arrigoni
Frogs of Connecticut
Thursday, June 4, 4 p.m.
Throughout the summer, the sound of calling frogs can be heard from the edges of ponds and lakes. What species are they, and why are they singing? In this interactive webinar, conservation biologist Jim Arrigoni will highlight the diversity of species that inhabit our area and the interesting ways they make their livings.
Jim will discuss:
- habitat needs and behaviors
- unique threats CT frogs face
- ways YOU can help these charismatic creatures
While we are offering this program for free, we do ask that you consider a suggested donation of $10.
Register here for Zoom link
Bird Conservation Webinar
Tuesday, June 9, 7 p.m.
Birds are keystone species meaning they are some of the most important species in an ecosystem. They face a number of conservation threats that put not only them at risk, but whole habitats. In this webinar, teacher- naturalist Joe Attwater will go over the threats that birds face and what is being done to help them.
Joe will discuss:
- Threats to bird populations
- Conservation efforts going on in the USA and CT
- What you can do to help
While we are offering this program for free, we ask that you consider a suggested donation of $10.
Register here for Zoom link
Beyond Birding Virtual Course – New Virtual Program!
Program runs from May 18 – June 28
Live Sessions each week!
Birding is quickly becoming one of the most popular outdoor activities in the United States, with millions of people watching our feathered friends every day. Whether you are new to birding and want to join in this rich community, or are a seasoned veteran who wants to brush up on their skills, this Beyond Birding course will give you the tools to confidently and successfully be a birder. Our six-week course will cover a wide variety of topics to get you ready for spring migration and summer birding, some of the most exciting times of the year to be a birder!
Class is Full. Please check back for information on our next session.
Throughout this 6-week course, you will receive a weekly live webinar with RTP Estuary Center teacher-naturalist Joe Attwater as well as be provided with a weekly resource list of recommended field guides, apps, and websites, a weekly quiz to test your knowledge, datasheets, discussion questions and more! In addition, program participants will be provided with a platform to share photos, ask questions, and share their own tips and tricks! Live weekly webinars will take place Mondays at 7 p.m. Limited to 25 participants. $60/member; $75 non-members
Weekly Program topics will include:
Week 1: Birding Overview: Getting Started! 
Week 2: Bird ID 101: Shape, Size, and Color
Week 3: Birding by Ear
Week 4: Birding by Habitat
Week 5: Bird Behavior
Week 6: Form and Function
Click here for weekly descriptions
Course requires the use of Zoom and Google Docs and will take place within Google Classroom. Program details and access to Google Classroom will be provided in a follow-up email upon registration.
Ecological Expeditions
*New Program*
Program meets monthly Saturdays, April – November 2020; 9:00-11:30 a.m.
Register here!
*April and May programs have been postponed
Photo by A. McNulty
Ever wonder how does nature work? Do you enjoy exploring wild places? Discover new locations and get to know your non-human neighbors that share our corner of the world. This unique program combines in-depth environmental science with insightful explorations and hands-on experiences in some of the most special and protected areas in southeastern Connecticut. Each month will emphasize different themes depending on seasonal rhythms (although we can always count on nature adding surprises!). In addition to using scientific equipment and collecting ecological data, plant and wildlife species will be identified and their behavior and ecological roles will be investigated. The role of humans in the landscape, past and present, will also be considered especially in the context of current conservation and environmental quality issues. All programs are led by Connecticut Audubon Society conservation biologist Jim Arrigoni with special guest experts.
Before heading out into the field, an optional one-hour indoor presentation and discussion will introduce topics and relevant literature. Indoor presentation will take place at the RTP Estuary Center the Wednesday before the field session at 7pm. After the 2.5-hour field program, participants will receive lists of species encountered (including an eBird checklist) and additional information resources.
This program is great for curious naturalists including:
– High school or college students interested in ecology, biology or environmental science
– Graduates of master naturalist training programs seeking to apply their knowledge, or those interested in such programs
– Citizens interested in local environmental and conservation issues
For the complete list of dates and locations, click here
Each field trip is $30 for members, $40 for non-members, and $15 for students
or when you register for 3 programs in the series, the fourth is free!
Register here for all program dates!
Beyond Birding: Topics & Tools for All Birders
*New Program*
Program meets monthly March – December 2020;
April and May Programs have been postponed
9:00-11:30 a.m.
Birding is quickly becoming one of America’s most popular outdoor activities, with over 45 million people a year watching our feathered friends. Whether you are a seasoned veteran or new to birding, Beyond Birding will teach you what you need to know to go birding with confidence! Explore new locations, learn tips and tricks to make the most of your birding year, and discover the extensive bird life that Connecticut has to offer. Each month we will focus on a specific topic and its connection to birds, including migration and nesting, habitat loss and fragmentation, and more. We will also share valuable resources and discuss current happenings in the world of birding.
For the complete list of dates and locations, click here
$15 for members, $20 for non-members or when you register for 4 programs in the series, the fifth is free!
Register here for all program dates!
