[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] ♪ >> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND EVS WEEKLY.

-- PBS WEEKLY.

>> BIRDS FLOCK TO RHODE ISLAND DURING THE WINTER TIME.

AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LIVE BY THE COAST TO ENJOY THEM.

>> THERE ARE INTERESTING PONDS ALONG THE TRAIL SYSTEM GIVES A PLACE FOR THE MIGRATORY BIRDS.

THEY GO AND SPEND TIME THERE IN THE WINTER.

IT MAKES GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PHOTOGRAPHY.

>> THE WORLD MATES - MELT AWAY AND IT IS TRULY A GREAT ESCAPE.

YOU ARE NO LONGER FOCUSED ON YOURSELF, YOU'RE FOCUSED ON A BIRD, RATHER THAN THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS.

SOMETIMES YOU CANNOT PUT IT INTO WORDS.

YOU SAY HEY, IT IS WHAT I LOVE TO DO.

>> IT FEELS LIKE YOUR BODY GOES ON FIRE.

♪ >> GOOD EVENING WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I AM MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL >> AND I AM PAMELA WATTS.

LONG DARK NIGHTS CONTINUED TO -- KEEP PLENTY OF PEOPLE INSIDE DURING THE WINTER.

MICHELLE: THERE'S PLENTY OF THINGS TO SEE OUTSIDE FROM SNOWS TO -- FROM SEALS TO SNOWY OWLS.

MANY BIRD MARCHERS -- BIRDWATCHERS HOPE TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF THE WINGED VISITORS AS THEY PASS THROUGH THE OCEAN STATE.

PAMELA: SOON AFTER THE SUN RISES OVER THE ROCKY COASTLINE, BIRD LOVERS GATHER.

>> HAVE ANY OF YOU BEEN TO BLACK POINT BEFORE, SOME OF YOU?

MAYBE?

OK. PAMELA: EXCITED FOR WHAT WINTER WILDLIFE THEY MIGHT FIND.

>> IT WAS BIG AND GREAT.

>> I DID NOT SEE IT, BUT GOOD.

THERE IT IS.

YES, INDEED.

YEAH, IN THIS PART BACK HERE IS A BIRD.

PAMELA: EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING THE AUDUBON SOCIETY OF RHODE ISLAND ORGANIZES A BIRD WALK.

ON THIS DAY THE GROUP'S TRACKING THROUGH THE BLACK POINT FISHING AREA OFF OF OCEAN ROAD.

>> IN MY SCOPE THERE ARE SOME SERFS GUTTERS.

PAMELA: THEY ARE LOOKING FOR BIRDS THAT FLOCKED TO RHODE ISLAND DURING THE WINTERTIME.

>> THEY HAVE THE ORANGE BEAK, RIGHT?

>> THEY HAVE AN ORANGE BEAK AND THEY HAVE A PATCH ON THE BACK OF THEIR HEAD.

PAMELA: INCLUDING THE HARLEQUIN DUCKS .

>> THEY LIKE THE START UP WATER.

YOU SEE THE NEAR THE RIGHT.

PAMELA: VIEWERS KNOW THERE IS A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME TO GET THE VIEW OF THESE COLORFUL DUCKS.

>> SO THE HARLEQUIN DUCKS LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE WE HAVE.

PAMELA: BUT, BIRDERS DO NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL TO THE COAST TO SPOT WINTER WILDLIFE.

PHOTOGRAPHER LIKES TO VENTURE INTO THE WOODS IN CRANSTON.

>> THE PATUXENT RIVER TRAIL HAS A FEW RESIDENT TRIALS -- RESIDENT OWLS OF ITS OWN.

I SPOTTED A FEW HERE THEY ARE EASY TO SPOT AND VERY PHOTOGENIC.

PAMELA: SOME OF THE WALKS HAVE RESULTED IN MESMERIZING PICTURES.

HE HAS CAPTURED IT ALL FROM THE BLACK SCOOTERS IN CHARLESTOWN TO MERGANSER'S IN CONNECTICUT.

HE ALSO PHOTOGRAPHED A SHORT YARD OUT ON FLIGHT AND ON THE GROUND.

AS WELL AS A GROUP OF SEALS HE FOUND RESTING ON THE ROCKS AT SACCADIC POINT.

>> THAT WAS A KINGFISHER.

THE ONE THAT MADE THE SQUAWKING SOUND.

PAMELA: WE SET OUT ONE JANUARY MORNING TO SEE WHAT WE COULD FIND.

SOON INTO HER HEIGHT, HE WAS CLICKING AWAY.

HE SPOTTED A BIRD IN THE RIVER AND THERE WAS A DARK EYED JUNCO KNEW THE BANKS OF THE RIVER.

HE SAYS THESE ARE BIRDS THAT CAN BE SPOTTED THERE IN THE WINTERTIME.

>> ONE WENT OVER TO THE OTHER ONE THAT IS NICE.

PAMELA: IS IT EASIER TO SPOT ANIMALS IN THE WINTER MONTHS?

>> JUST FOR THE SAKE THAT ALL THE LEAVES ARE DOWN SO NOW, YOU CAN LOOK PRETTY FAR INTO THE WOODS UP INTO THE TREES.

WE ARE A LOT OF BIRDS AND OTHER ANIMALS ARE HIDING OUT.

ESPECIALLY DURING THE DAY.

PAMELA: LET'S SEE IF I CAN FIND THIS.

>> OVER IN MIDDLETOWN THERE IS ANOTHER FLOCK OF BIRDS BOBBING AROUND.

SUCH IS POINT NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IS HOME TO THE SECOND LARGEST WINTERING POPULATION OF DUCKS ON THE ATLANTIC COAST.

>> NOT ONLY A WINTERING SITE, AND A REFUGE, IT IS ALSO A STOCKHOLDER AREA SO THEY ARE MIGRATING THROUGH.

THIS IS A PLACE FOR THEM TO REST AND REJUVENATE.

REFUEL AND THEN HEAD SOUTH.

PAMELA: JANET IS THE VISITOR SERVICES MANAGER FOR THE RHODE ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES.

PAMELA: WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

IT IS NOT BONE CHILLING, IT IS COMFORTABLE.

PAMELA: SHE SHOWED US WINTER BIRDS THAT ARE MOVING TO RHODE ISLAND FOR THE SEASON.

>> IT IS AROUND THE CORNER AND STILL IN THE WATER THERE.

PAMELA: THIS RESERVE SITS ON 442 ACRES THAT INCLUDES MARCHES AND -- OUR AND BEACHES.

SHE LET US DOWN A PATH ON THE PRESERVE TO SPOT WINTERING WATERFOWL.

>> LOOK RIGHT HERE.

SEE THE TWO DUCKS?

PAMELA: OH, I DO.

HOW BEAUTIFUL.

OH, I SEE THEM.

NO, I DON'T -- NOW, I DON'T SEE THEM, OH, I SEE THEM AGAIN.

[LAUGHTER] >> I ALWAYS LOOK FOR THEM IN THE WHITE WATER RAFTING.

PAMELA: IT DID NOT TAKE LONG TO FIND OUR SHARE OF WINTER BIRDS.

>> HOW BEAUTIFUL.

THE DAY MICHELLE BECAME A BIRDER.

MICHELLE: OH, I SEE FOUR.

>> SHE SAYS THEY COME DOWN FROM CANADA TO THE ARCTIC COAST TO BASK IN THE RELATIVELY WARMER RHODE ISLAND WATERS.

>> MANY OF THE SEA DUCKS WILL SPEND THE WHOLE SEASON.

WE HAVE THE HARLEQUIN DUCKS, GANSER'S, QUITE A FEW.

MICHELLE: YOU LIGHT UP TALKING ABOUT THIS.

>> THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

MICHELLE: IT IS EXCITING.

>> YEAH, IT IS.

PEOPLE BRAVE THE WINTER COLD AND THEY ENJOY IT.

YOU CAN JUST TELL.

THEY GET FRESH AIR AND THEIR SPIRITS GET REFRESHED.

IT IS LIKE THE MIGRATORY BIRDS, WHEN THEY STOP OVER, THE PEOPLE ARE ALSO STOPPING HERE TO REST AND REFUEL THEIR SPIRITS TO FIND THE BIRDS.

MICHELLE: COME ON.

THERE SHE IS.

MAJOR SAYS GOING OUTSIDE HAS BEEN THERAPEUTIC FOR HIM AS WELL.

>> A LOT OF TIMES DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WE HAVE HAD PREVIOUSLY.

I DO NOT FEELING DOING ANYTHING.

GETTING OUT AND GETTING MY CAMERA AND GETTING MY GEAR AND GOING OUT INTO THE WOODS SOMETIMES IS A LITTLE BIT -- I HAVE TO PUSH MYSELF TO DO IT, BUT EVERY TIME I DO I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER BEING OUT SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS EVEN IF IT IS ONLY HALF AN HOUR.

MICHELLE: HE IS ON THE SEARCH FOR A SNOWY OWL THIS SEASON.

NO LUCK YET, BUT HE IS PHOTOGRAPHED IN -- THEM IN PREVIOUS YEARS HERE.

>> THE SNOWY OWL IS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING BIRDS BECAUSE OF THEIR RARITY.

SOME YEARS THEY MAY NOT SHOW UP AT ALL.

WHEN ONE DOES, IT ATTRACTS A LOT OF ATTENTION.

>> IN THE WINTER WE COULD BE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SEE THE SNOWY OWL BECAUSE THEY COME HERE TO FEED.

MICHELLE: BUT SHE SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE DISTANCE FROM THE MAJESTIC BIRDS AND STAY AT LEAST 200 EIGHT AWAY.

>> EVEN THOUGH IT IS -- 200 FEET AWAY.

>> EVEN THOUGH IT IS LOOKING AT YOU AND LOOKS LIKE IT WANTS ATTENTION THEY COULD HAVE A LOT OF STRESS GOING ON AND THEY ARE HUNTING.

IF YOU DESTROY -- DISTURB THEM WHEN THEY ARE HUNTING THEY ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH FOOD TO GO BACK TO WHERE THEY COME FROM.

LIKE THE ARCTIC COAST.

THEY WILL DIE ON THE WAY.

WE HAD FOUR SNOWY OWLS WERE DEAD FROM MALNUTRITION.

THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH FOOD IN THEM.

>> DOES MAY BE MORE FEMALES.

MICHELLE: ONCE MAJOR SPOTS WILDLIFE ON THE PATUXENT HE LIKES TO COME BACK AND CHECK ON THEM FROM A DISTANCE.

>> IT IS NEED TO EXPERIENCE THEM WHILE THEY ARE ON THEIR LONG JOURNEYS.

MICHELLE: YOU WILL BE OUT HERE WHEN IT'S IN THE TEENS AND 20 DEGREES IT WILL NOT DETER YOU FROM COMING OUT?

>> IT IS NOT STOP THE BIRDS FROM COMING OUT SO IT DOES NOT STOP ME.

>> THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO IS TRY TO FIND A BIRD IN THE SCOPE BEFORE YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS.

MICHELLE: IT IS ALSO NOT STOPPING THE BIRDERS FROM SCANNING THE SKIES.

THEY KNOW THE CHANGE IN SEASON COMES WITH UNIQUE SITES AND SOUNDS.

--SIGHTS AND SOUNDS.

>> WELL, THIS IS JANUARY.

[LAUGHTER] ♪ >> UP NEXT WE TAKE ANOTHER BIRDSEYE VIEW AT SOME RHODE ISLANDERS WHO DO NOT USE GUNS WHEN STALKING GAME IN THE WOODS.

THEIR WEAPONS HAVE KEEN VISION, HER DEKES, AND SHARP TALONS .

TONIGHT WE MEET -- THE BIRDS AND THE HUNDREDS OF THE SKY.

>> WORKING WITH THESE BIRDS YOU ARE AMONG WITH NATURE.

YOU'RE INTERACTING WITH THEM IT IS HANDS-ON IT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU ARE OBSERVING YOU ARE PART OF IT.

MICHELLE: JIM HAS BEEN PART OF THE SPORT OF HURTING -- HUNTING BIRDS OF PREY 470 YEARS.

HE IS A MASTER OF FOULED TRAINING THIS RAPTOR.

>> THE AESTHETICS ARE EXTREMELY INVIGORATING.

I THINK THAT -- THE BOND THAT YOU SHARE WITH THE BIRDS IS PRETTY MAGNIFICENT.

THEY ARE NOT PETS.

THE SPORT ITSELF, WHERE IT BRINGS YOU, ARE SOME BEAUTIFUL PLACES AND SOME BEAUTIFUL HABITAT.

MICHELLE: IT TAKES PLACE IN OPEN FIELDS AND COUNTRY WOODLANDS IN A SEASON THAT RUNS FROM OCTOBER TO FEBRUARY.

FALCONRY OR HAWKING IS TRAINING RAPTORS TO HUNT GAME WITH YOU.

WITNESSING THEIR MAJESTIC FLIGHT, YOU UNDERSTAND WHY IT WAS CROWNED THE SPORT OF KINGS.

ITS ORIGINS DATE BACK CENTURIES TO THE MIDDLE EAST.

EVENTUALLY MIGRATING TO PEOPLE EUROPE ESPECIALLY WITH ROYALTY.

IT WOULD REMAIN POPULAR UNTIL THE INTRODUCTION OF GUNS.

TODAY FALCONRY IS A SPECIALIZED SPORT SIMILAR TO FLYFISHING.

>> THERE IS AN ART TO A FALCONRY AND A FINESSE TO IT.

IN THE SENSE OF SETTING THE HUNT UP.

AND ALMOST TRYING TO MUSCLE THE HUNT, IF YOU WILL, CONTROL IS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

MICHELLE: ORIGINALLY, WHAT WAS THE OBJECT OF FALCONRY?

>> IT WAS TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE PRIOR TO THE INVENTION OF FIREARMS.

MICHELLE: WHAT ABOUT TODAY?

>> THE SAME.

I AM THE FIRST TO ADMIT I HAVE EVEN RABBIT AND -- EATEN RABBIT AND SQUIRREL.

MICHELLE: BECAUSE?

>> THE TASTE.

RABBIT, THEY TEND TO HAVE A FEW FLEAS AND TICKS ON THEM.

MICHELLE: YOU CANNOT BE SQUEAMISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SPORT.

>> NO, YOU CANNOT.

IT IS A HUNTING SPORT.

MICHELLE: IT BEGINS BY CAPTURING THE BIRD OF PREY.

HE HAS DECLINED TO A NEST TO GET A HATCHLING -- HE HAS TO CLIMB TO A NEST TO GET A HATCHLING OR CATCH A BIRD IN A NET.

YOU KNOW THAT PEOPLE WILL FIND THIS TAKINGHATCHLING FROM THE NEST OR TRAPPING A WILD BIRD, HOW DO YOU ANSWER THE QUESTIONS?

>> I SAY, SURE, I GET THAT POINT OF VIEW.

I THINK IF THEY UNDERSTOOD THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM, BUT CARE WE HAVE FOR THE BIRDS.

ABOUT 75% UP TO 80% DO NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THEIR FIRST YEAR.

AS FALCONERS WE ARE ALLOWED TO TRAP THE MATURE RAPTORS AND WE LEAVE THE MATURE BIRDS ALONE.

MICHELLE: YOU SEE YOURSELF AS A CONSERVATIONIST?

>> I DO.

FALCONRY HAS TO DO WITH THE PUSH TO GET FALCONS OFF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST.

MICHELLE: THEY ARE NESTING UNDER SEVERAL BRIDGES IN RHODE ISLAND.

AND IN DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE WHERE THEY CAN BE WATCHED ON A WEBCAM.

THIS CREATURE IS THE FIRST PEREGRINE FALCON THE STATE HAS ALLOWED TO BE CAPTURED.

SHE IS CONSIDERED THE MOST PRIZED OF HUNTING BIRDS.

OTHER RAPTORS ARE ALSO USED FOR HUNTING SUCH AS PASTORAL, THE SMALLEST OF FALCONS, COOPER'S HAWKS, AND ESPECIALLY RED TAIL HAWKS.

AND STEPHEN WOOD IS TRAINING A RED TAILED HAWK.

HE HAD TO PRINT IS FOR TWO YEARS THEN PASS A FIELD TEST.

NOW HE CAN APPLY TO BE A MASTER FALCONER.

THERE ARE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS AND RHODE ISLAND MANAGEMENT REGULATES HAWKING OVERSEEING LICENSING.

HE SAYS THE SPORT IS A COMMITMENT YEAR-ROUND.

>> IT GOES BEYOND A HOBBY.

IT IS A PASSION.

IT IS REALLY A LIFESTYLE.

THERE IS A LOT THAT GOES INTO IT.

THESE BIRDS ARE CARED FOR.

EVERY DAY.

IT IS NOT A PASSING FANCY, IT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING YOU CANNOT PUT ON A SHELF.

AND FORGET ABOUT.

MICHELLE: HE SAYS TRAINING BEGINS WITH FOOD-BASED REWARD AND GETTING THE CREDITOR -- PREDATOR TO EAT FROM YOUR HAND.

>> YOU ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH A TRUST WITH THE BIRD.

THEN, YOU PUT THE BIRD ON A PERCH A FEW FEET AWAY THEN YOU START TO INCORPORATE THE WHISTLE.

AND YOU WHISTLE AND GET THE BIRD TO JUMP AND TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A FLIGHT AT YOU.

THEY LAND ON THE GLOVE, YOU GET THEM THE TIDBIT, YOU PUT THEM BACK, THEN YOU WALK FURTHER AWAY.

ESSENTIALLY YOU GET THE BIRD TO FLY TO YOU FROM FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY.

MICHELLE: THE WHISTLE CALLS THE BIRD BACK TO THE HUNTER.

IN TRAINING THEY DO THIS ON A LEASH AND THEN A LEATHER LUER IS INTRODUCED.

THIS IS ANOTHER MEANS OF ENTICING THE BIRDS TO RETURN WHILE HUNTING IN THE FIELD.

WHEN RAPTORS ARE RELEASED IN NEARBY TREES FALCONERS GO INTO THE WOODS LITERALLY BEATING THE BUSHES WITH STICKS TO GET THE QUARRY TO MOVE.

IN -- IF AN ANIMAL IS SPOTTED SUCH AS A RABBIT THE HUNTER GIVES A DISTINCT CALL TO ALERT THE BIRD TO THE PREY.

>> THERE VISUAL ACUITY IS PHENOMENAL.

WHAT THEY ARE STARTING TO DO IS THEY MAKE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SOMETHING GOING AND RUNNING AND THE SOW CAN.

-- AND THE FALCONER.

IF IT DOES COME OUT OF THE DRY PATCH OR A SQUIRREL, RUNNING THE TREE LINE, THE BIRD WILL KEY IN ON THE GAME CALL IF YOU WILL.

WE ARE MORE OR LESS THE BEAGLE.

THE ONES PUSHING THIS QUARRY FOR THIS BIRDS.

MICHELLE: MOST OF THE ANIMALS TAKEN IN THE HUNT IS PRESERVED AS FUTURE FEED FOR THE FALCONS.

AFTER THE TRAINING, THE BIRDS OF PREY KOBE RELEASED BACK TO THE WILD AFTER A FEW SEASONS.

FOR HIM AND A HANDFUL OF OTHER FALCONERS IN RHODE ISLAND A DAY SPENT WITH THE SKY HUNTERS DEFIES DESCRIPTION.

>> THE WORLD TENDS TO MELT AWAY.

IT IS TRULY A GREAT ESCAPE.

YOU'RE SO FOCUSED ON THE BIRD, YOU NO LONGER OUR FOCUSED ON YOURSELF.

OR THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS YOU KNOW, THAT CAN COME TO US DAY TODAY.

SOMETIMES YOU CANNOT PUT IT INTO WORDS YOU JUST SAY HEY, IT IS WHAT I LOVE TO DO.

♪ MICHELLE: NOW WE TURN TO A STORY THAT MAY GIVE YOU THE SHIVERS.

A SMALL, BUT HEARTY GROUP OF RHODE ISLANDERS IS EMBRACING THE COLD.

OUR SENIOR PRODUCER JUSTIN KINNEY FOUND LAST FEBRUARY THEY ARE IMMERSING THEMSELVES IN FRIGID OCEAN WATERS FOR SPORT, HEALTH, AND COMMUNITY.

♪ >> I AM MIKE AND I AM A WINTER SWIMMING.

-- WINTER SWIMMER.

I AM FROM RHODE ISLAND.

♪ >> IT FEELS LIKE YOUR BODY GOES ON FIRE WHEN YOU GO IN THE WATER.

BECAUSE YOUR SKIN RESPONDS TO THE COLD WATER IN A BIG WAY.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER, WE'VE BEEN SWIMMING FOR ABOUT 6-8 MINUTES.

THINK IT TAKES ABOUT A MONTH TO GET KIND OF USED TO DOING IT ON A REGULAR BASIS.

I HAD HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF FRIENDS FROM MINE -- OF MINE THAT IT WAS REALLY BENEFICIAL AND IT REALLY STIMULATES YOUR NERVOUS THIS TO HIM.

AND I DECIDED TO GET -- YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM AND I DECIDED TO GIVE IT A TRY.

[INDISCERNIBLE] [LAUGHTER] >> WE KNOW WE WILL FEEL LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS TWO OR THREE HOURS AFTER WE DO IT SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT EVERY TIME.

WE HAVE A GREAT LEVEL OF ANTICIPATION EVERY TIME WE DO THIS.

♪ >> HELLO I AM RACHEL, I AM FROM RHODE ISLAND, AND I AM A COLD WATER SWIMMER.

I THINK I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW AND DIFFERENT.

SOMETHING TO BREAK THE -- COVID.

I KNEW THAT THERE WERE HEALTH BENEFITS AND IT SEEMED LIKE A REALLY GREAT IDEA.

I JUST FEEL ENERGIZED AND I FEEL -- I HAVEN'T GOTTEN SICK.

I REALLY HAVE HAD FEWER COLDS FOR SURE.

ALSO MY THRESHOLD FOR A COLD HAS CERTAINLY RISEN.

MY APPROACH IS TO GO VERY SLOWLY AND MINDFULLY AND TO BREATHE DEEPLY.

AND A VERY MINDFUL APPROACH TO THE WATER ALLOWS ME TO REALLY ADJUST AND NOT FEEL OVERLY ANXIOUS.

THE DEEPER I GO INTO MY BREATH, THE MORE ACCUSTOMED TO THE WATER I FEEL, THE MORE PEACEFUL I FEEL.

ABOUT AFTER TWO MINUTES, I AM FEELING PRETTY GREAT.

THEN, THE QUESTION REALLY BECOMES, MAKING SURE YOU GET OUT BEFORE YU STATE INTO LONG.

-- YOU STAY IN TO LONG.

>> MY NAME IS JEN I AM FROM SOME -- FROM SOUTHERN OHIO -- RHODE ISLAND.

I AM OVER THE RHODE ISLAND COLD DIP CREW.

I SAY IT IS A GROUP OF US BUT SOMETIMES IT IS JUST MYSELF.

I TEND TO GO INTO THE WATER MOSTLY AT SUNRISE STARTING IN NOVEMBER REALLY THROUGH THE WHOLE WINTER.

THE DIFFERENCE IN DIPPING AND SWIMMING IS WE TEND TO NOT GO ALL THE WAY OVER OUR HEADS.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT LIKE TO DO A QUICK DIP UNDER FULLY.

FOR ME, PERSONALLY, I LIKE TO GO UP TO MY SHOULDERS.

GRADUALLY WALKING IN USING YOUR BREATH TO CONTROL YOUR FEAR AND GETTING YOUR BODY UNDER CONTROL UNDER EXTREME TEMPERATURES.

THE BENEFITS I HAVE FOUND AND THERE IS SOME SCIENCE BEHIND IT IT IS GREAT FOR YOUR CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM, YOUR LYMPHATIC SYSTEM, IT HELPS WITH NATURAL IMMUNITY, IT HELPS WITH YOUR MOOD, IT LETS YOU GET BETTER SLEEP, YOU CAN LOSE WEIGHT, AND IT ALLOWS YOU TO BE BRAVE.

THE COLDEST DAY I HAVE HAD WAS >-5 AS A LEFT TOWN AND THE STEAM WAS COMING OFF THE WATER AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

I WOULD SAY TODAY IS LIKE THAT IT IS SIX DEGREES THE SUN IS RISING AND THE WATER IS LAPPING BEAUTIFULLY AS IT CRASHES INTO THE SAND.

IT IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL MORNING TO GO IN.

>> HOW DOES IT FEEL?

>> GOOD.

SO GOOD.

♪ >> MY NAME IS CHRISTINA I AM FROM RHODE ISLAND AND I AM A WINTER SWIMMER.

WE ARE A GROUP OF A COUPLE DIFFERENT SWIMMERS THAT SWIM AROUND RHODE ISLAND.

WE ARE THE ONES THAT STICK IT OUT THROUGH THE WINTER.

SO A LOT OF US LIVE OFF OF JAMESTOWN ISLAND.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE TRYING TO TOUR OTHER BEACHES.

[INDISCERNIBLE] >> I WORRY ABOUT HYPERTHERMIA.

I HAVE CERTAIN RULES TO TRY TO KEEP ME SAFE.

I PROMISED MY HUSBAND I WOULD NOT SWIM ABOVE MY HEAD SO IF I EVER FEEL LIKE GETTING IN TROUBLE.

I CAN STAND UP AND GET OUT OF THE WATER MORE EASILY.

AND I ALSO JUST TRY TO NOT STAY INTO LONG.

-- IN TOO LONG.

>> NO STAND TOO LONG.

>> WHAT KIND OF PERSON DOES THIS?

>> [LAUGHTER] A TOUGH PERSON I THINK.

IT TAKES MENTAL TOUGHNESS TO DO IT.

SOME PEOPLE DEFINITELY THINK WE ARE CRAZY.

♪ >> FINALLY TONIGHT A LOOK AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS WAS A FUGITIVE AIDED BY FRIENDS IN RHODE ISLAND IN A DARING AND DANGEROUS ESCAPE.

HE WENT FROM BEING ON THE RUN TO BEING ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AMERICANS OF THE 19TH CENTURY.

FREDERICK AUGUSTINE'S WASHINGTON BAILEY LATER CHANGED HIS NAME TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS TO ELUDE CAPTURE.

HE ESCAPED BONDAGE ARRIVED IN NEWPORT IN 1838.

HIS STORY OF LEAKE LAKE EXPLAINS WHY HE COULD NOT STAY THERE.

>> BECAUSE NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND IS A SLAVE STATE.

AND ONE THING PEOPLE REALLY FORGET IS HOW FAR RHODE ISLAND WAS IN THE SLAVE TRADE.

MANY OF THE SLAVE SHIPS THAT CAME TO THE U.S.

CAME THROUGH RHODE ISLAND.

MICHELLE: BUT HIS IN IT -- HE AND HIS WIFE FOUND SAFE HARBOR WITH THE BLACK FAMILY OF ISAAC RICE.

THE HOMESTEAD STILL STANDS ON THE CORNER OF THOMAS AND WILLIAM STREET.

IT WAS A STATION ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

AND THEN THEY WERE WHISKED BY STAGECOACH HERE TO NEW BEDFORD.

>> FROM THAT CORNER DOWN TO FOUR BLOCKS IS EVOLUTION ROAD.

MICHELLE: THIS WHALING CITY NEIGHBORHOOD, NOW THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, ABOLITION ROAD, THAT DOUGLASS WAS SENT.

HE HAD HIS FIRST TASTE OF LIFE AS A FREE MAN IN THE HOME OF NATHAN AND POLLY OFTEN -- JOHNSON.

>> WHAT ROLE DID THIS HOUSE HAVE IN SHAPING DOUGLAS'S LIFE?

>> NATHAN AND POLLY JOHNSON WHO WERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURS WERE PART OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

THIS IS AN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD SITE.

WHEN ANNA AND FREDERICK COME HERE THEY HAD JUST BEEN MARRIED THREE OR FOUR DAYS AND FREDERICK IS 24 YEARS OLD.

WE ARE SO USED TO SEEING FREDERICK DOUGLASS AS AN ERGO ONLY -- ERGO -- ELDERLY STATESMEN BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER HE HAS A FOUNDATION STORY AND THE HOUSE IS PART OF THE FOUNDATION STORY.

MICHELLE: THAT IS OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING I MICHELLE SAN AM MIGUEL PAMELA: AND I AM PAMELA WATTS PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT WEEK FOR PBS WEEKLY.

AND YOU CAN ALSO LISTEN TO OUR PODCASTS ON OUR -- YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORM AND YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON OUR WEBSITE.

THANK YOU.

♪ [CAPTIONING PREFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

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