Nature events for adults

By SHEILA BARTH

Essex County Newspapers

The Audubon Society hosts many programs geared for adults only. Here's a sampling of fall events:

For those interested in natural edibles, Erika Sonder, field biologist and nature artist, leads a trek through the Manchester Wilderness Area, identifying edible mushrooms and how to cook them, Sept. 22, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Artists will enjoy "Of Color and Canvas," a painting of the Sanctuary, Oct. 20 and 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., where visitors stroll through the sanctuary observing artists from Saltbox Gallery in Topsfield capture nature on canvas. They may also purchase these "wet" works of art.

Sketchers meet in groups Sept. 15, Oct. 20, Nov. 17 and Dec. 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m..

City folk timid about stopping by the woods can participate in Nature for Novices, Oct. 3, 10, and 17, from 9 to 11 a.m. If your head is more in the clouds, you may join the Mission to Jupiter program, an astronomical look at the heavens through telescopes, in the sanctuary barn, Oct. 17, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Wannabee trackers can go to the Mill Pond tracking class Nov. 4, from 1 to 4 p.m., to catch signs of beaver, muskrat, mink, white-tailed deer and river otter activity.

The Sanctuary also hosts canoe and kayak trips among the salt marshes and foliage Sept. 15, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; kayaking to Choate Island in Ipswich, Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and a morning on the Ipswich River, Sept. 30, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For the birds

Plum Island Bird Walks take place Nov. 4, from 7 to 11 a.m.; midweek bird walks at the sanctuary, Sept. 20 and 28, from 8 to 10:30 a.m.; a day atop Mt. Wachusett searching for migrating hawks, vultures and falcons, Sept. 20, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.;

Birding the Blackstone River Valley, to see birds close up, Sunday, Sept. 23, from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; observation of fall migrant birds of Ipswich River, Sunday, Oct. 7, from 7 to 10 a.m.; and identification of sparrows, Oct. 14, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Audubon Society will hold a slide lecture and field trip Oct. 18 and 20 to identify important bird areas, and visit the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Newburyport.

Other bird programs include wintering hawks, a slide lecture, Nov. 7 with field trip, Nov. 10; seabird migration on Cape Ann, Nov. 17; birding in Rhode Island, Dec. 1; the Early Winter Birds of Ipswich River, Dec. 2.

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