Here is the Action Packed Agenda:
When: March 14th
Where: North Kingstown Free Library
Business Meeting from 5:30 to 6:30. During this time we will hear from our Land Preservation Coordinator on our efforts to build a footbridge in Mill Cove
Plenary Speaker: Dr. Bob Kenney
Talk: 6:30-7:30
Seals of Rhode Island
Of the three dozen species of marine mammals that might occur in Rhode Island waters, only harbor seals can really be considered as residents in our local waters. They begin arriving in Narragansett Bay in September, and stay around until May. There are consistent locations, from Block Island to Mount Hope Bay, where you can dependably find harbor seals—resting on a rocky ledge or undisturbed beach for a couple of hours on either side of low tide. This presentation will include information on the biology of harbor seals and on the locations around the Bay where they can be seen. You’ll also learn about the other three species of seals that might be encountered in Rhode Island and about how to observe seals without disturbing them.
Dr. Bob Kenney is a Marine Research Scientist and Adjunct Professor at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography, where he earned his Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography in 1984. He also received a B.S. in Natural Resources from Cornell University in 1978. His main research interests are in the ecology and conservation of marine mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds, and the major focus of his research has been the North Atlantic right whale, one of the world’s most endangered mammals. He has been a part-time faculty member at URI and at Cornell’s Shoals Marine Lab in Maine, and serves on several national, regional, and state advisory committees and non-profit boards.
