KINGSTON, R.I. — February 1, 2000 — Birdwatchers who limit their excursions to the warm months are missing out on some of the most satisfying “birding” of the year. Friends of Oceanography at the URI Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) invites the public to enjoy the pleasures of winter birdwatching during a free field trip to Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge in Middletown with GSO marine biologist and naturalist Dr. Robert Kenney. The trip will take place on Wednesday, February 16 at 10 a.m. Participants can meet at the URI Bay Campus at 9:15 and caravan to Middletown or meet at Sachuest Point at 10 a.m. Winter birding specialties include horned larks, snow buntings, short-eared owls, purple sandpipers, and the stars of the show, harlequin ducks. Participants should bring binoculars or spotting scopes and dress for cold and windy weather. “Recently we saw lots of harlequin ducks, bufflehead, red-breasted mergansers, common goldeneye, purple sandpipers, horned grebes, surf scoters, and white-winged scoters, plus a few common loons and common eiders, as well as one harbor seal,” said Kenney. “Sachuest Point is a great place for winter birding in Rhode Island.” The field trip is free and open to the public. Because the tour is limited, registration is required by February 11. Call Friends of Oceanography at 874-6602 for information or registration. Established in 1985 to support and promote the activities of the URI Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO), Friends of Oceanography informs and educates the membership and the general public about the scientific, technological, and environmental research that takes place at GSO. The organization sponsors public lectures, field trips, open houses, marine-related mini-courses, science cruises on Narragansett Bay, and an annual auction. For More Information Contact: Lisa Cugini, 874-6642; lcugini@gso.uri.edu Visit the URI Graduate School of Oceanography website: http://www.gso.uri.edu/