We were packing to leave for a trip to Maine on Sept. 14 to visit old Vineyard friends and attend a wedding. Our backpacks were on the kitchen table and I had just filled the hummingbird feeder. One of the juvenile ruby-throated hummingbirds flew up to the kitchen window, hovered for a few seconds and then flew off. That was the last time we saw our hummingbirds.

The reign of the water queen is coming to an end.

Sassafras Earth Education in Aquinnah has a full lineup of events during the off-season. There’s Nature’s Nest for young children on Fridays, Squirrels and Coyotes for the 6 to 14 year-old set on Sundays, and some Saturday events for “wild families.” If mom and dad are interested in seeking a deeper connection with nature, there are special events for them as well. A couple of upcoming workshops include a Saturday, Oct. 19, offering on bird language and then Nov. 16 features an open fire cooking session using locally harvested foods.

Marlene Snecinski, also known as Mushroom Marlene, leads a fall walk foraging for wild mushrooms at Polly Hill Arboretum in West Tisbury on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 2 to 4 p.m. She will point out fun fungi facts and discuss mycophagy along the way.

Preregistration is required for this mushroom walk-and-talk so call 508-693-9426 for more information or visit pollyhillarboretum.org.

A silo chicken coop designed by Hutkers Architects is currently on display at the SBS Grain Store in Vineyard Haven. The coop is a two-story structure built with found and recycled materials, a grass rooftop, a laying box with privacy for hens, and other features.

With Katama Bay closed for business because of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp), Edgartown oyster farmers Tuesday pressed for a speedy resolution to an investigation and testing regimen under way before a delegation of high-ranking state officials Tuesday.

At a shellfish committee meeting that day, farmers discussed sticking together and going to extra lengths to guard against future closures.