August At Audubon—

Moth Walk, Botany Walk, And Wonders Of The Milky Way

South Britain — The Audubon Center at Bent of the River is offering a variety of events throughout the month of August including a Moth Walk, a Botany Walk, and an opportunity to view the Wonders of the Milky Way.

Monday, August 15, meet naturalist Mark Szantyr at the education barn at 8:30 pm for a Moth Walk. Using a mercury vapor light and a slurry of stale beer, molasses, and other lures, Mr Szantyr plans to attract moths and other nocturnal insects for study and photography. Bring insect repellant, water, and a camera if desired. The Moth Walk will last until 10 or 11 pm.

On Sunday, August 21, at 10 am, Bill Moorhead, one of Connecticut’s outstanding field botanists, will lead a leisurely Botany Walk through the Bent’s varied habitats. Mr Moorhead’s expansive knowledge of wildflowers and native plants has led to the discovery of a number of rare plants at the Bent, some of which are on the state’s endangered list. Meet at the kiosk by the parking entrance for a fascinating botanical journey.

Remember those dark summer nights of yesteryear when the Milky Way stretched across the heavens like a sparkling white highway? On Saturday evening, August 27, recapture the Wonders of the Milky Way in the summer night sky with Audubon’s Patrick Comins and the Astronomical Society of New Haven. Looking through powerful telescopes from a dark viewing location, viewers will see a variety of celestial objects in the center of the galaxy, including Jupiter and its four large moons; M13, a giant ball of millions of ancient stars; M11, the Wild Duck Cluster, a compact cluster of nearly 3,000 young stars ,6000 light years from earth; and the star forming regions of the central Milky Way.

Clouds will cancel the event.

Audubon continues to need hardy volunteers to battle invasive plants that smother wildflowers, destroy wildlife habitats, and damage ecosystems. Every other Monday throughout the growing season, volunteers gather at the center to help rid the forests and fields of these aggressive plants. Anyone interested in joining the battle may do so by showing up at 1:30 pm on August 1, 15, and 29 with heavy-duty gloves.

Call the center at 203-264-5098 to sign up for any of these events. In case of rain, some of the programs may be cancelled or postponed, so check with the center if the weather is questionable.     

Audubon Center at Bent of the River is at 185 East Flat Hill Road. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm; trails are open to the public seven days a week during daylight hours.