NEWS FROM THE AUDUBON NETWORK
Achievements, issues and announcements from throughout the Audubon network
New Audubon Center Opens In Arizona
On Saturday, October 10, the long-awaited Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center officially opened with a family-oriented celebration. Speakers included Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, Audubon President John Flicker, and Diane Enos, President of Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Since the Salt River restoration project began in 2000, the number of bird species seen on its banks has grown from a few dozen to over 200. Flycatchers, owls, roadrunners, hawks, and herons are now common sights in the area which was, for decades, a landfill. Advance publicity included an excellent TV segment with Sarah Porter, Associate Director of the new Center.
Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Florida Named Ramsar Site
Audubon of Florida's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary has been listed as a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands promotes conservation of wetland habitats around the world, from the Florida Everglades to Africa's Okavango Delta. Corkscrew is the second Audubon sanctuary in the US to receive the prestigious designation. Audubon's Beidler Forest, in South Carolina, was designated in 2008.
Nearly 200 species of birds thrive in Corkscrew, renowned as home to America's largest nesting colonies of Wood Stork, a federally endangered species. The storks nest in majestic 600-year-old bald cypress, reaching heights of 40 meters, in one of the largest remaining stands of virgin bald cypress trees in the world.
Mississippi River Initiative
Dr. Paul Kemp, Vice-President, Audubon's Gulf Coast Initiative, was among the environmental leaders meeting with White House Officials during President Obama Visit in New Orleans today, October 15.
Audubon joined other leading environmental organizations in a letter to President Obama calling for "robust and effective federal effort" to ensure "coastal Louisiana's Survival".
Read the letter
AUDUBON AND POLICY ISSUES
Senate Gears up to Take Action on Climate Change
Earlier this year, the House of Representatives took steps to address Climate Change and boost the clean energy economy by passing the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES Act). Messages from Audubon activists helped spur this important action.
Now, your help is needed again. With the recent introduction of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, sponsored by Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer, the Senate is poised to move forward with a comprehensive clean energy plan.
The bill includes a variety of measures to help re-power America with clean energy, create new jobs, protect our air and water from dangerous global warming pollution, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Of key importance to Audubon, the bill includes provisions that will provide funding and develop comprehensive plans to protect our natural resources and help birds and wildlife adapt to a changing climate.
In the coming weeks, the Environment and Public Works Committee is expected to take action on the bill.
Take action now and urge your Senators to support a strong clean energy plan.
For more information on the Clean Energy Jobs and Power Act click here. (434KB pdf)
Audubon California's anti-poaching bill signed into law
Governor Schwarzenegger signed a new anti-poaching law that creates tough new penalties for violators. The legislation was strongly supported by Audubon California. Audubon California began pushing for new legislation to increase penalties for violations after learning late last year of an alarming upswing in poaching incidents. The bill quickly gained widespread support from both sides of the aisle, as well as an array of conservation and hunting organizations, wardens, and law enforcement officials. Learn more about this important victory.
Audubon Featured in PBS Ken Burns series on National Parks
The founding of Audubon, profiles of its leaders, and pivotal conservation efforts for birds enhanced by an avid birder in the White House, Teddy Roosevelt, figured in the second episode of this beautiful documentary series seen by millions across the USA. The entire series will be rebroadcast in late January through February, 2010.
Audubon Society on WNET-TV (PBS)">Audubon Society on WNET-TV (PBS) - New York, NY
10/03/2009 03:17:55 PM
The National Parks: America's Best Idea (Documentary, Series)
...""who ever lived."" he named the group the Audubon Society. When Grinnell published a mildly critical review of Theodore Roosevelt's book chronicling his own western...
Audubon Society on WNET-TV (PBS) - New York, NY
10/03/2009 03:30:52 PM
The National Parks: America's Best Idea (Documentary, Series)
...this condition of affairs must be something of a shock to the leaders of the Audubon Society, who were sanguine enough to believe that the moral idea represented by their movement would be enough ...
IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS IN THE NEWS
Parker Creek, an Important Bird Area in Maryland, preserves habitat in a highly developed area. Meander through habitats lost in time along Parkers Creek.
Tice Supplee, Audubon Arizona Director of Bird Conservation, proposed that Cave Creek pass a resolution recognizing the Cave Creek Ecosystem an Important Bird Area. Another move to make Cave Creek a destination town.
County faces tough go in efforts to clean up Quartermaster Harbor, Washington Important Bird Area.
Habitat renewal at St. Louis, Missouri, Important Bird Area. More.
AUDUBON AT HOME
Cape Cod Times features Audubon At Home and books by Steve Kress in "Landscaping is for the birds".
TOGETHERGREEN
Forty eight projects in 23 states were recently awarded a total of $1.1 million in TogetherGreen Innovation Grants for local, solutions-based approaches to conservation. Read about the 2009 grant projects.
Together Green in the News
Audubon Maryland-DC gets Baltimore Sun coverage for their creative take on Cash for Clunkers.
Aullwood Audubon Center highlighted in the Dayton Business Journal for their 2009 Innovation Grant.
2009 Grantee Travis Audubon Society's TogetherGreen-funded habitat restoration efforts are featured in the Austin-American Statesman.
New Grantee Milwaukee Audubon Society's Bird Wisconsin project is highlighted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Online.
Audubon Magazine
Audubon's Director of Bird Conservation Dr. Greg Butcher Blogs from Guyana
AUDUBON STATE AND CHAPTER NEWS
Audubon Alaska
John Schoen, Audubon Senior Scientist, Comments on the Tongass.
Audubon Arizona
Guest Editorial by Sam Campana on the new Audubon Center.
Audubon California
For the first time in 60 years, water will flow through two long stretches of the San Joaquin River in California, a waterway that has been transformed.
Audubon Connecticut
Thousands Turn Out for Hawk Watch.
On WTNH (ABC News) - Hartford/New Haven, CT
Audubon Colorado
Audubon Society on KDVR-DEN (FOX) - Denver, CO
Audubon in Indiana
Ken Brock Honored
Audubon in Louisiana
Melanie Driscoll, director of bird conservation for Audubon's Louisiana Coastal Initiative, on birds in decline.
Audubon in Montana
Glacier Students Build Garden for Birds.
Audubon Nebraska
Years of commitment to introducing people to the wonders of nature and conservation have earned national recognition for Deborah Hauswald of Lincoln.
A Magical Morning on the Prairie.
Essay on the Prairie at Spring Creek.
Backyard Farmer Puts Nebraska Panel on the Prairie.
Audubon New York
New York Senators Help Advance Great Lakes Restoration Recovery.
Join the migratory study, says Laura McCarthy, Audubon New York's volunteer coordinator.
Audubon in Oregon
Photo Exhibit to Benefit Lincoln City Audubon Society.
Audubon Pennsylvania
John James Audubon further developed love of his surroundings in Pennsylvania. WFMZ's Karin Mallett takes us to his home at Mill Grove.
Audubon Texas
Dallas Trinity River Center Celebrates First Year. More.
Over 300 people joined Houston Audubon in celebrating the Neches River and the importance of East Texas' bottomland hardwood forests. Buddy & Ellen Temple were honored.
Audubon Wyoming
Audubon & TNC issue New Study on Energy Development and Sage-Grouse Habitat.
BIRDS & BIRDING
Christmas Bird Count To Mark 110th Anniversary in December
Audubon's Signature Citizen Science program is already making news. Information gathered by dedicated volunteers goes towards State of the Birds Reports.
Christmas Bird Count as a better way to spend the holidays.
CBC for Kids in California.
CBC a great way to be a Citizen Scientist.
Boston Globe reporter photographer Derrick Jackson Captures the beauty of Project Puffin and other birds of New England.
Audubon Society on New England Cable News - Boston, MA
10/01/2009 04:48:43 PM
News Day Live (Interview, News)
...puffins- you've been following a project by the audubon society help restore puffins off the coast of maine- aset we take a look at ...
Chimney Swift Survey
The University of Connecticut Ornithology Research Group is working to document the location of all existing Chimney Swift towers in USA, and track their occupancy on a yearly basis. Anyone who knows of an existing tower, or who intends to build one, is asked to contact the research team with the tower location (GPS coordinates welcome, but not necessary;) and tower owner's or manager's contact information. Please send info to Margaret Rubega and Tanner Steeves.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS
Sprint and Audubon Release New Bird Call Ringtones
Thanks to the newest program from Audubon's licensed product team, Sprint Nextel cell phone customers can now choose from 28 birdsong ringtones. The ringtones, which include the familiar calls of the Field Sparrow, the Red-bellied Woodpecker and the Black-capped Chickadee, are available exclusively to all Sprint Nextel customers. They can be downloaded by texting BIRD to 1111 or by going to the Sprint Digital Lounge at www.sprint.com (standard text messaging rates apply). For more information, please contact Rosalyn Garcia.
Oct. 23/24 Audubon of Florida 2009 Assembly in St. Petersburg FL:
Climate Change and Coastal Conservation
Dr. Sylvia Earle, celebrated oceanographer and winner of Audubon's Rachel Carson Award, will be a featured guest at Audubon of Florida's first Women in Conservation Awards Banquet. Dr. Earle will sign her new book, The World is Blue, following the Friday banquet. Other featured speakers include Dr. Ellen Prager, author of Chasing Science at Sea, Olivia Gentile, and St. Petersburg's own Craig Pittman, author of Paving Paradis. More.
The Legend of Pale Male Film Premiere
Friday, November 6, 7pm
School of Visual Arts Theater, 333 W. 23rd Street
Auduboners in the New York City area are invited to Join NYC Audubon for the premiere of The Legend of Pale Male. This inspiring documentary tells the stories of people whose lives were changed by modern Manhattan's first resident red-tailed hawks. Following the screening, a wine reception with director Frederic Lilien. For tickets @$25, please visit www.nycaudubon.org or call 212-691-7483.
Support Audubon by ordering your 2010 Audubon Calendars
This year Audubon is launching two new calendars: JOHN JAMES AUDUBON'S BIRDS OF AMERICA, with twelve beautifully reproduced paintings from Audubon's seminal work Birds of America, and GREEN WORLD, a year of eco-travel featuring a dozen extraordinary destinations, each one rich in geographic and geologic wonders and teaming with flora and fauna. Audubon state offices and chapters should watch for the latest calendar discount offer in your mailbox soon! Audubon headquarters staff and board members will receive an offer directly from the Licensed Products team.
Audubon's New York office is part of an exhibit in Manhattan's West 4th Street subway station through October 31. The display promotes Green designs as part of an exhibition called "New York Now" organized by the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIANY).
Please continue to send your announcements and news stories, including web links, to Delta Willis dwillis@audubon.org. The next edition of Newswire will be November 18.
