Audubon Center's BentFest2013 on Sept. 21 Will Feature Hayrides, Kids' Activities & Live Music

Hayrides for everyone! During the Audubon Center at Bent of the River in Southbury' annual BentFest 2013, hayrides will be a distinctive part of the fun and excitement on Saturday, September 21st. Beginning at 2 p.m., attendees will park their cars and board the hay wagon for the short journey to the BentFest festivities in the Upper Meadow and historic barn. Hayrides can also be their means for returning to their car once they choose to leave the festivities.

The Audubon Center’s annual fundraiser will be held rain or shine from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Family-oriented BentFest 2013 will also include river and nature walks, tie-dye T-shirt creations, local food vendors, kids’ activities, bird watching, raffle prizes, plus live music by the Willie Nininger Band.

 “We are very excited to welcome popular singer songwriter Willie Nininger, his wife and singer Jan Scruggs, and their very talented accompanist Ken Melton of Bethlehem on vocals and percussion, to Bent of the River,” stated Leslie Kane, center director. “Their music is an eclectic blend of oldies, rock ‘n roll, original music, plus country and folk music. Willie and Jan live here in Southbury and they perform throughout this area, New York City and New England region. They will perform for us between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m., preceded throughout the afternoon beginning at 2:00 p.m. with BentFest activities for family members of all ages.”

Activities scheduled for the BentFest2013 include a birds of prey presentation; bird banding demonstration at 4:00 p.m.; nature walks along this historic Pootatuck Road that was the original 1700’s road from Boston to Yorktown, Virginia; an insect safari; bird-watching boulevard; un-natural nature trail hikes; kids’ bird feeder activity and kids’ favorite crafts with Kara. Green Blessings Center of Southbury will be offering chair massages with all proceeds to go to the Bent. YWARF-Youth Wildlife & Recycling Foundation of Southbury will be selling water with proceeds to go the Bent, and collecting recyclables. Other exhibitors will include Golden Button of South Britain, YMCA, and the Bent’s “Bird Tales” display.

New for 2013 is the fundraising sale of coffee, tea and pastries in the Bent’s historic 1800s barn. “This year,” stated Kane, “we’ll be creating a café area in our iconic historic barn. Visitors can sit and enjoy refreshments while admiring the weather-worn wood and large beams of this 45 x 30 foot post Civil War barn.”

The Audubon’s mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats. Located along the Pomperaug River and bordering Little Pootatuck Brook, the Audubon Center at Bent of the River nature center and sanctuary is a private, not-for-profit organization that protects over 700 acres of numerous natural ecosystems, habitats, un-fragmented forest, grasslands, meadows, swamps and a portion of the Pomperaug River.

There are more than 15 miles of hiking trails throughout The Bent on varied and beautiful terrains. Many ecosystems can be found at The Bent including deciduous and coniferous forest, rocky ledges, grasslands, old meadows, vernal pools, red maple swamps, and river habitats.

Audubon owns both sides of the Pomperaug River for almost one mile which is an undisturbed and wild environment where beaver, muskrat, river otter, and mink can be found, and Bald eagles regularly fish. More than 170 species of birds have been recorded and The Bent’s highly diverse eco-systems have been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) in Connecticut, protecting open land and wildlife over one square mile (http://bentoftheriver.audubon.org).

The non-profit Audubon Center is located in the Southbury hamlet of South Britain, off Route 172 at 185 East Flat Hill Road, 0.3 miles from corner of General Store and South Britain Congregational Church. Admission $12/adult, $8/child age 6 to 18, free for children 6 and younger, and $25/family. No pets will be permitted. Tickets can be purchased in advance athttp://bentoftheriver.audubon.org, or September 21 at the gate. For information, call 203.264.5098.