Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

A State-Federal Partnership Program

>> Seal Watch and Prudence Island Tour

	Would you like to explore Prudence Island? Do you want a chance to see seals at one of the best haul-out spots in Narragansett Bay? Want to learn about cutting edge ecological research in the Bay?
Then this experience is for you!
	At Left: A young visitor uses a spotting scope to watch seals at the Prudence Island haul-out.
The day begins at 9:45 am when you'll arrive in Bristol to catch a 10 am ferry to Prudence Island. After a half-hour ferry ride from Bristol to Prudence, you will be greeted at the ferry landing on the island by an educator from the Narragansett Bay Research Reserve based on Prudence Island. A short van ride will bring us to the Reserve's Lab & Learning Center where we can store lunches in our fridge, use the facilities and set out for the south end of the island and a popular seal haul-out at low tide. We will view the seals using binoculars and spotting scopes from the shore. You will learn about seal biology and their migration to Narragansett Bay. After lunch at the Center we will tour the island in our van with stops along the way to visit the island's cultural and natural history landmarks. At the end of the day you will return to the Prudence Island ferry landing to catch the ferry back to Bristol arriving there by 4:30 pm.

What to Bring: Roughly $7.00 for the round-trip ferry ticket (cash and check only -- credit cards are not accepted), binoculars, camera, a packed lunch, water bottle, insect and tick repellent, comfortable foot wear and warm, waterproof clothes in case of inclement weather.

Registration is required. Register early as there is a maximum of ten participants for each tour. A minimum of six registrants is needed for a tour to run. Register through the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. Contact: Brenda McMahon at 401-949-5454 x3041 or go to: www.asri.org

Exploring the beach on Prudence's west shore.

Registration Fee: Cost in 2010 is $30 non-member adult, $20 non-member child, and ASRI member rate is adult $25, child $15 Ages: 8+ (No young children or babies allowed in our van) 2010 Dates: March 27, March 28, April 10 and April 11 Please Note: All Seal Watch participants should arrive by 9:45 am at the Bristol ferry landing and will return to Bristol by 4:30 pm. Purchase round trip tickets in Bristol as returns cannot be bought on Prudence Island. Don't forget the round-trip ferry ticket is not included in the program fee and costs roughly $7.00 per person, andless for children under 12 years old. *If you choose to park in the Bristol ferry parking lot there is a $10/day charge. Free daytime parking is available in a new lot across from the Bristol ferry at the corner of Church Street and Thames Street in Bristol.**

Hope to see you soon!
For other Reserve programs click here to check our calendar of events.

>> Seal Watch and Prudence Island Tour