The Westerly Land Trust

Rhode Island Stone Walls
2026-09-17 17:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Barlow Nature Preserve, 449 Westerly Bradford Rd, Westerly, RI 02891, USA
Explore how thousands of miles of historic stone walls reveal the intersection of the state’s geology, history, and ecology.
Rhode Island’s stone walls are an enduring testament to the state’s agricultural heritage, and their story parallels that of Rhode Island itself. Their stones reflect the geologic forces that shaped the landscape. Their placement on the land speaks to the labor and lives of those who came before us. In this presentation, Elliot Vosburgh, founder of the Rhode Island Stone Wall Mapping Project, explores how thousands of miles of stone walls reflect the intersection of geology, history, and ecology. Drawing on examples from both across the state and locally in Westerly, attendees will gain an appreciation for stone walls from several perspectives and will learn how these relics continue to support us in developing an understanding of Rhode Island’s past and present landscape.
Click HERE to sign up!
Important Info

Parking is available at Barlow Nature Preserve
This event is no cost for WLT members, and $10 per person for not-yet members.
Not a WLT member and would like to be? CLICK HERE!
Registration is required, spots are limited.

Hawk Migration
2026-09-24 17:30 - 19:00
Discover the secrets of hawk migration.
Joseph Zbyrowski is a raptor specialist with more than 30 years of experience working with hawks and owls. A retired environmental science teacher, he is a master bird bander, former raptor rehabilitator, and has done volunteer work with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and the Audubon Society of Rhode Island.For the past three decades, Joseph has specialized in identifying and counting migrating hawks. He conducts the annual hawk migration count in Rhode Island and is actively involved in Peregrine Falcon and Barn Owl restoration projects.
In this Voices of the Land lecture, Joseph will present the findings from a multi-year survey of hawk migration at Napatree Point, Rhode Island’s premier hawk watch site. Each year, annual hawk watch counts are conducted at more than 275 locations across the United States. These counts provide exceptional opportunities to observe migrating raptors while also generating valuable scientific data used in research, wildlife management, and conservation efforts.
Following the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to sign up with Joseph to potentially participate in a future hawk watch and experience the excitement of monitoring one of nature’s most remarkable migrations.
Click HERE to sign up!
Important Info

Parking is available at Barlow Nature Preserve
This event is no cost for WLT members, and $10 per person for not-yet members.
Not a WLT member and would like to be? CLICK HERE!
Registration is required, spots are limited.

The World of Bats
2026-10-29 17:30 - 19:00
Just in Time for Halloween! Discover the Truth About Nature’s Most Misunderstood Mammal with Bat Expert Julia Chase-Brand!
More than an accomplished bat researcher, Julia Chase-Brand is a truly remarkable woman whose life has been defined by curiosity, perseverance, breaking barriers, and changing history. Many may remember her as a pioneering distance runner and/or her appearances on Nickelodeon as the beloved “Bat Lady,” where she inspired young audiences to appreciate wildlife and science. She also made history by becoming the oldest person to earn a medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University, proving that learning and pursuing new dreams have no age limit.
Julia Chase-Brand grew up in nearby Groton, CT, and went on to spend a quarter century studying bats, primarily in the mountains of Trinidad and the rainforests of Australia. “Blind as a bat”? No! Though all the bats in the Americas have sonar or “echolocation”, Julia and her colleagues found that they have vision as well and can use vision for homing, obstacle avoidance, escape, and even pattern vision, when it suits their purposes.
Red bats, white bats, striped bats, bats that fish, bats that make tents, bats that eat frogs and frogs that eat bats. Come enjoy an evening discovering bats and some of the other characters who ambled into this researcher’s wildlife including an amorous gorilla, a 7 inch tarantula, and a friendly capybara that loved to curl up and snooze with its human friends.
This inspiring program celebrates a lifetime of exploration, groundbreaking research, and lifelong learning. It is designed to engage both children and adults alike. Come celebrate the season with the real stars of Halloween and discover why bats are among the most extraordinary animals on Earth!
Click HERE to sign up!
Important Info

Parking is available at Barlow Nature Preserve
This event is no cost for WLT members, and $10 per person for not-yet members.
Not a WLT member and would like to be? CLICK HERE!
Registration is required, spots are limited.

Barn Owls: Restoring a Rare Rhode Island Raptor
2027-01-13 17:30 - 19:00
Explore the Barn Owl’s unique physical traits, remarkable hunting abilities, and fascinating natural behavior.
Joseph Zbyrowsk is a raptor specialist with more than 30 years of experience working with hawks and owls. A retired environmental science teacher, he is a master bird bander, former raptor rehabilitator, and has done volunteer work with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. He is currently involved in Peregrine Falcon and Barn Owl restoration projects and has dedicated much of his career to the conservation of Rhode Island’s birds of prey.
In this Voices of the Land lecture, Joseph will explore the fascinating world of the Barn Owl, one of North America’s most distinctive and elusive raptors. He will discuss the owl’s unique physical characteristics, remarkable hunting abilities, behavior, and his personal restoration program to encourage barn owls to nest and successfully reproduce.
Click HERE to sign up!
Important Info

Parking is available at Barlow Nature Preserve
This event is no cost for WLT members, and $10 per person for not-yet members.
Not a WLT member and would like to be? CLICK HERE!
Registration is required, spots are limited.
