Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center, One Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport, is a natural history education and visitor center that is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday and Monday holidays, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 978-462-9998 for information about additional programs and events, or visit the Web site at www.massaudubon.org/joppaflats.

OPEN HOUSE AT THE BIRD BANDING STATION: Come on your own or bring the family to the refuge for an up-close look at migrating birds as they are netted and evaluated before releasing. For adults and families with children age 6 and up. Sunday, Oct. 19. Two sessions: 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Joppa Flats Education Center. Fee: $6 members, $8 nonmembers, $4 member child, $5 nonmember child. Registration required.

SEAL PADDLE: Kayak from the Newburyport waterfront to the mouth of the Merrimack to see harbor seals feeding and basking. Monday, Oct. 20, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Meet at the Joppa Flats Education Center. Fee: $55 Mass Audubon members, $65 nonmembers. Registration required.

WEDNESDAY MORNING BIRDING: Join Sanctuary Director Bill Gette for this weekly birding field trip in the Newburyport/Plum Island area. Wednesday, Oct. 15, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Joppa Flats Education Center. Fee: $12 for Mass Audubon members; $15 for non-members. Registration is not required.

INVESTIGATE, CREATE, & LEARN: LIFE UNDER A LOG: Teacher-Naturalist Lisa Hutchings invites children age 6 to 9 to learn about sea creatures in this after-school series on backyard biology. Upcoming dates and topics in this monthly series: 11/19, Tree Inhabitants; 12/17, Winter Preparations. Wednesday, Oct. 22, 3:30 to 5 p.m. Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center. Fee: $10 for members; $14 for non-members. Registration is required.

LECTURE: ANALYSIS OF BEACH EROSION ON PLUM ISLAND: Michael Morris of Plum Island presents an up-to-date study on Plum Island's beach erosion over the past 300 years, illustrating the many natural forces at play. Wednesday, Oct. 22, 7:30 to 9 p.m. Joppa Flats Education Center. Fee: $4, free for members. Registration is not required.

OPEN HOUSE AT THE BIRD BANDING STATION: Come on your own or bring the family to the refuge for an up-close look at migrating birds as they are netted and evaluated before releasing. For adults and families with children age 6 and up. Saturday, Oct. 25. Two sessions: 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Joppa Flats Education Center. Fee: $6 members, $8 nonmembers, $4 member child, $5 nonmember child. Registration required.

WINGS OVER THE WATER: TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT COASTAL WATERBIRD MIGRATION: Join Wayne Petersen, director of Mass Audubon's Important Bird Areas Program, for a South Shore workshop focused on waterbirds as they migrate to their wintering grounds. Saturday, October 25; 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Meet at Exit 5 on Route 3 South in Plymouth. Fee: $50 for Mass Audubon members; $60 for non-members. Registration is required.

WATERCOLOR ILLUSTRATION: A COLOR FOCUS STUDY ON NATURE: Artist Gina Lee Kim leads this workshop, which focuses on interpreting nature's colors through the brilliance of watercolor painting. Upcoming sessions in this series: Saturday, Nov. 22, and Saturday, Dec.13. Saturday, Oct. 25, 1-4 p.m. Meet at the Joppa Flats Education Center. Fee: $20 for Mass Audubon members; $26 for non-members. Registration is required.

FAMILY FLYBY SUNDAY AT JOPPA FLATS: HALLOWEEN FUN: Fly-by or spend the afternoon for free-flowing nature fun for families with children age 2 to 12. Sunday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Meet at the Joppa Flats Education Center. Fee: $2 per child for members; $3 per child for non-members. Registration is not required.

FRIGHT NIGHT AT JOPPA FLATS: Children age 7 and up are invited to "enjoy" the frightful transformation of Joppa Flats and its grounds, where zombies offer a Marine Lab of Misery and spooky stories of the haunted marsh. Oct. 26, 6 to 8 p.m. Meet at the Joppa Flats Education Center. Fee: $2 per child for members; $3 per child for non-members. Registration is required.

HOMESCHOOL EXTENDED STUDY: INTRO TO ENTOMOLOGY: A field trip earlier this month took us outside to examine habitats and collect samples. This follow-up extended study session offers an opportunity to discuss, analyze and work on related projects. For ages 7 to 12. Parents are welcome but not required to stay. Monday, Oct. 27; 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 3 p.m. Meet at the Joppa Flats Education Center. Fee: $11 for Mass Audubon members; $15 for non-members. Registration required.

WEDNESDAY MORNING BIRDING: Join Sanctuary Director Bill Gette for this weekly birding field trip in the Newburyport/Plum Island area. Wednesday, Oct. 29, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Joppa Flats Education Center. Fee: $12 for Mass Audubon members; $15 for non-members. Registration is not required.

On Exhibit at Joppa Flats through Nov. 9: "The Nature of New England," wildlife photographs by Auburn, N.H., photographer and lecturer John Rockwood.