Topsfield

After reading a story about beavers, walk to Rockery Pond to see a real beaver lodge and dam, and look for signs of beavers such as chews and scent mounds. Find out why beaver teeth are orange and what they use their broad tails for. We may even try our luck at making our own beaver dam or lodge.

The sparkle of the Hunter's Moon will guide our way as we walk the trails of the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Led by a sanctuary naturalist, we'll explore fields, forests, and wetlands looking and listening for beavers slapping their tails on the river's surface, Barred Owls hooting, White-tailed Deer grazing, and Eastern Coyotes howling. Learn about the fascinating adaptations of these animals as they prepare for winter and hear some Hunter's Moon lore on this fun, fall, after-dark adventure.

The program will begin with an indoor presentation that will provide you with the information needed to be able to find and observe artificial satellites like the International Space Station and other human-made orbiting objects. Topics to be covered will include the nature of artificial satellite orbits, the best time of year for observing them, and how to identify them in the night sky. Weather permitting, we'll step outside afterwards to seek out artificial satellites and gaze into the night sky through the telescopes of local amateur astronomers. Along with the early springtime constellations, a young crescent moon and the planet Venus will be visible.