Western Meadowlark © USFWS

Audubon members – Please join us at Audubon Minnesota’s 2008 Annual Meeting on Saturday, November 8, 2008 at the Dodge Nature Center in West St. Paul. Speakers include National Audubon Society’s Director of Bird Conservation, Greg Butcher, and the Society’s Senior Vice-President of Policy, Betsy Loyless.

This is a great opportunity to hear about timely environmental topics and to spend time with other Audubon members. Reservations required. Learn more.

Minnesotans have the rare opportunity to improve significantly the water quality for the state’s lakes and rivers, to restore and protect natural habitats for wildlife, and to support parks and trails. In November, citizens will vote on the “Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.” At a time when 40% of our state’s river and stream miles that have been tested are polluted, when over one million acres of wooded lands, natural areas and farmland are projected to be lost over the next 25 years, and when state conservation investments are declining, this could be the year that voters act to reverse these trends. Learn more.

Red Headed Woodpecker © Jim Williams

You can double your support for Minnesota's birds! A longtime friend of Audubon has awarded Audubon Minnesota a $25,000 matching challenge grant to encourage greater participation in Audubon's important work to protect Minnesota's birds and their habitats.

New and increased donations of $100 or more to our Annual Fund Campaign will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to a total of $25,000. We are extremely grateful to our generous donor who has acknowledged the importance of Audubon's work in Minnesota with this award.

DONATE $100 or more to help meet the challenge!

Eaglet banding © Rebecca Field

Young eagles are perfect for detecting levels of heavy metals, PCBs and other chemicals in the water of our local rivers. Eagles are at the top of the food chain, so pollutants bioaccumulate in their blood and feathers. They are, in effect, biosentinels of pollution. While older birds may have fed in many places, the new young eaglets are fed food from the immediate area. Audubon Minnesota researchers, working with others, recently conducted a large study of bald eagles to determine pollution levels in the Mississippi River.

WATCH VIDEO Fox 9 News 5/19/08