WOONSOCKET (April 11, 2016) – With the arrival of spring in the National Heritage Corridor comes a multitude of migrating birds, and to celebrate, Blackstone Heritage Corridor, Inc. (BHC) is presenting a new program for bird enthusiasts, “Birding on the Blackstone.”

Beginning Sunday, April 24, Rosanne Sherry, a member of BHC’s Volunteers-in-Parks Program, will lead casual walks throughout the Blackstone River on the Blackstone River Bikeway to search for returning migrant birds. Rosanne will lead hour-long walks on Sunday and Thursday mornings at 8:00 a.m. as follows: April 24 and 28, May 19, 22, 26 and 29, and June 2 and 5. The walks will depart from the Captain Wilbur Kelly House in Lincoln, RI.

BHC’s Volunteer Coordinator, Suzanne Buchanan, is especially pleased with this new program. “Roseanne recently reached out to us about our Volunteers-in-Parks Program and had some great experiences to share,” she explained. “It turns out, Roseanne is a lifelong birdwatcher and naturalist and her horticultural career has spanned three decades in Rhode Island. Over that time, she has worked in garden centers, written for local newspapers and magazines and appeared on radio and television as a horticultural educator. She is also the former Cooperative Extension Rhode Island State Master Gardener Coordinator. She is a long time member of RI Audubon and founding member of the Ocean State Bird Club.”

“Some birds we are likely to see include the Eastern Phoebe, Red Wing Blackbird, Downy Woodpecker, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Chipping Sparrow and Song Sparrow,” Roseanne shared. “The Eastern Phoebes like to nest under the footbridge.”

The first event on April 24 will also mark the end of National Parks Week, so it is appropriately taking place in one of the nodes of the new Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park.

“The event is also a great opportunity for photographers,” notes Charlene Perkins Cutler, BHC’s Executive Director. “Over the years, we have received many submissions of stunning bird photos taken in the National Heritage Corridor for our calendar photo contest. Now they can also be submitted for our Photo of the Week contest on our website.” Cutler also noted that she has used bird photos submitted by Merrilyn Parry of Providence for several of BHC’s marketing materials including BHC’s 2015 annual report. “We regularly search through those precious photo submissions given to us by local photographers. For the ‘Birding on the Blackstone’ event flyer, we featured a picture from Allan J. Siuzdak of Cumberland.”

To register for one of the Birding on the Blackstone walks, send an email to [email protected] or call 401-765-2211. A complimentary Blackstone Valley Adventure Pack will be given to those who register. Participants must be 14 years of age or older and are encouraged to bring binoculars and field guides. The walk will be cancelled if it is raining at the time of the walk. To learn about the Volunteers-in-Program and other BHC events, visit BlackstoneHeritageCorridor.org.

About Blackstone Heritage Corridor, Inc.:
An energetic nonprofit, the Blackstone Heritage Corridor, Inc. partners with organizations, local communities, businesses and residents to ensure the long term vitality of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. Learn more at BlackstoneHeritageCorridor.org.