Newsletter Winter 2008

New Mexico Audubon Newsletter Winter 2008

Citizen Science in Action
Want to volunteer for a good cause? Can you share some of your time and reconnect with the beauty of our world while providing a service to our community? The annual Christmas Bird Count(s) and spring bird counts in the months to come offer a hands-on, critical way for you and your family to volunteer in helping birds and our natural world.

The first Christmas Bird Count (or CBC) was done on Christmas Day of 1900. It was conceived as an alternative activity to an event called the “side hunt” where people chose sides, then went out and shot as many birds as they could. The group that came in with the largest number of dead birds won the event. Frank Chapman, a famed ornithologist at the American Museum of Natural History and the editor of Bird-Lore (which became the publication of the National Association of Audubon Societies when formed in 1905), recognized that declining bird populations could not withstand wanton over-hunting, and proposed to count birds on Christmas Day rather than shoot them.

While it may have begun as an alternative to a destructive past-time, the annual CBC has become one of the world’s premier citizen led scientific projects. From these inspired beginnings at Audubon through to today, committed volunteer “citizen scientists” continue to participate in research and conservation action in a variety of ways, from monitoring bird populations and restoring critical wildlife habitats to implementing healthy habitat practices in their own backyards. The wide-spread use of the Internet opened the door for the private citizen’s increased participation in the observation and direct contributions to the collection of data relating to wild birds. This strong foundation of science supported by grass roots activities continues to engage people in conservation and is essential in Audubon’s mission to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats.

“Participating in the bird count has given my children a little taste of what it is like to be a scientist.” Comment submitted to the National Audubon Society website

Audubon has a range of citizen science programs that are suitable for birders of all degrees of experience. Here are some current programs:

Christmas Bird Count: For over a century, volunteers have been collecting information on the birds in their communities. The CBC database now contains more than a century of data on early-winter bird populations across the Americas. This one-day annual event is an opportunity to meet other local volunteers, hone your birding skills, and take part in a seasonal tradition.

Great Backyard Bird Count: This annual Presidents’ Day Weekend event, February 13-16, 2009, is an opportunity for you to count the birds in your backyard and beyond. You can report your findings to the GBBC Web site, and view your results with those of others. (Operated in partnership with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.)

eBird: Audubon and Cornell have partnered to present a Web site that provides birdwatchers a way to save sightings to an online database. The information is used to study population movements and distributions. Visit www.ebird.org to learn more.

Important Bird Areas (IBA): The IBA program, coordinated in the U.S. by the National Audubon Society and in other parts of the world by Bird Life International, enables scientists and citizen scientists to identify places essential to wild birds for breeding, wintering or migrating. Our IBAs provide distinct locations for Audubon to focus on bird conservation. We are compiling a web-based and printed atlas of New Mexico’s rich and varied Important Bird Areas. Local schools, Audubon chapter members and other groups are encouraged to adopt and help monitor an IBA.

“IBAs have a unique power to unite people, communities, and organizations in proactive bird conservation, one place at a time.” Frank Gill, Senior Ornithologist, National Audubon Society

Executive Director’s Corner Karyn Stockdale Executive Director
Challenge to Opportunity: Your Involvement Makes a Difference
There has never been a more important time for all of us to make a difference in the lives of our birds and wildlife, our children and ourselves. As we enter the holiday season and the new year, I again become aware of Albert Einstein’s wise words, “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” We have a great number of challenges to tackle in protecting birds and their habitats, in taking action now to reduce global warming pollution, and in developing our budding conservationists, and yet there is hope in the new year with opportunities for individuals to impact our future.

Why did I accept this challenge and opportunity to lead Audubon’s work in New Mexico? Not only do I believe that I can make a difference, but I also recognize Audubon’s strength of committed and inspired volunteers. My admiration goes out to those who are active in bird counts and are personally committed to conservation action. Thank you. From the beginning of the Audubon Society over 100 years ago to today, citizens provide power to our conservation actions at every level – community, state, and national.

Why does your involvement matter now? Your efforts and time spent to watch, listen, record, and speak up about what you see and find helps identify environmental issues and point to solutions. This is particularly true in the data collected from bird sightings that provides researchers and biologists the information needed to study long-term health and the status of bird populations.

Audubon members provide the underpinning for all the Society’s programs and activities. Hundreds of thousands of people across the country call themselves Audubon members and over 500 local chapters serve as focal points for conservation and citizen action on environmental issues in local communities. In this issue, you’ll find information about New Mexico’s Audubon chapters and the field trips, bird counts, and meetings planned in the coming months.

As always, you will find up-to-date information on our Web site at http://nm.audubon.org with links to all the chapters and bird clubs in our state.

Healthy ecosystems benefit people and wildlife together. Conservation at Audubon is steered by science, powered by the people, and implemented in all of our work from education to policy. I hope Audubon New Mexico’s work may inspire you to learn, volunteer, advocate, donate, and make a difference –only with your help can we work to turn these difficulties into opportunities.

P.S. I hope you’ll join all of us the first weekend in April 2009 as we gather at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge to connect and recharge. All members, new and old, are welcome!

Climate Change
Climate Change Campaign Launched
Temperatures are rising and as a result, the climate is changing here in New Mexico. Reduced snowpack in our mountains may have an enormously negative ecologic and economic impact on our state in the near future.

In response to the evidence of climate change, Audubon New Mexico is echoing the efforts of the National Audubon Society by spearheading a campaign that is aimed at engaging the people of New Mexico in discussions on climate change.

As one of the major issues of our time, Audubon understands the importance of preparing New Mexico for climate change and equipping the citizens of the state with the knowledge that can assist with reducing its effects.

For more information, please contact Karyn Stockdale at 983-4609 or email kstockdale@audubon.org.

10 Ways to Help Protect Our Future

1. Change Your Light bulbs
Replacing your light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs can cut your carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by more than 1,000 lbs. and save as much as $80 per bulb over its life.

2. Fill your Water Bottle
A half pound of carbon is released into the atmosphere for every plastic water bottle you buy.

3. Drive Less
Walk, bike, carpool, or take mass transit. For each mile you don’t drive, you save one pound of carbon.

4. Recycle More
Recycling half of your waste will save 2,000 lbs. in carbon each year.

5. Buy Local
Supporting local farmers and manufacturers cuts out the carbon used to transport foods & other goods.

6. Use Less Hot Water
Washing your clothes in warm or cold water prevents 500 lbs. of carbon each year. Installing a low flow shower head prevents 350 lbs. of CO2 each year.

7. Check Your Tires
Proper tire inflation can improve mileage. Saving one gallon of gas keeps 20 lbs. of CO2 out of the atmosphere.

8. Adjust Your Thermostat
Lower your thermostat by 2 degrees in the winter and raise it by 2 degrees in the summer to prevent 2,000 lbs. of CO2 release.

9. Buy Products, Not Packaging
Purchase products with the least amount of packaging and cut your garbage by 10% and prevent 1,200 lbs. of emissions.

10. Power Down
Turning off your television, DVD player, stereo, and computer prevents thousands of pounds of carbon emissions.

Climate Change Impacts Birds & Wildlife
Global warming affects birds and other wildlife in countless ways; it can even cause extinction. Audubon is working to monitor how climate change is affecting wintering and breeding ranges for birds.

By participation in citizen science projects like the Christmas Bird Count and Great Backyard Bird Count individuals can help support these research efforts. Getting involved with Audubon’s Important Bird Areas program is another way to protect birds and their habitat from the impacts of global warming.

To get involved please contact Karyn Stockdale at 983-4609 or email kstockdale@audubon.org.

Stay in touch with what is happening: www.audubonaction.org

Did You know.....
Our carbon footprint represents our personal greenhouse gas emissions. The average American’s carbon footprint is 5 times greater than the rest of the world. The greater our carbon footprint the more greenhouse gases we are emitting into the atmosphere.

A Holiday Tradition: The 109^th Christmas Bird Count
From December 14, 2008 through January 5, 2009, tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas will take part in an adventure that has become an annual tradition. Families and students, birders and scientists, armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklists will head out on an annual mission: to identify and count all bird species in their community – often before dawn. For over one hundred years, the desire to both make a difference and to experience the beauty of nature has driven dedicated people to leave the comfort of a warm house in the middle of winter in an effort to provide the scientific data needed to protect birds and their habitat. Each of these citizen scientists who brave snow, wind, or rain, to take part in the Christmas Bird Count makes an enormous contribution to conservation. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this longest running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations - and to help guide conservation action.

Volunteer citizen scientists gather information on bird numbers in a 24 hour period at the turn of the year, and submit their observations to a nationally based science staff. After review by a panel of regional experts, we make the cumulative data set available to the public and researchers for review and scientific study. The Christmas Bird Count began in 1900 with 27 observers in 25 locations across Canada and the United States. Just over one hundred years later, the Count has grown to include well over 50,000 participants at 2,000 locations across the Americas – from above the Arctic Circle to the waters off Tierra del Fuego.

From feeder-watchers and field observers to count compilers and regional editors, everyone who takes part in the Christmas Bird Count does it for love of birds and the excitement of friendly competition -- and with the knowledge that their efforts are making a difference for science and bird conservation. Talk to a CBC leader in your area to find out how you can get involved – all the contacts are on Audubon New Mexico’s website at http://nm.audubon.org.

Participate in Citizen Science - Join the Great Backyard Bird Count, Feb. 13-16th
The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where birds are across the continent. This year the count will be held on February 13-16th. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like on each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds. You decide where you want to count, (e.g. your backyard, the Randall Davey Audubon Center, downtown), and then you count what you see. Later, you report your sightings on the GBBC Web site, and the data are compiled to give a good view of what birds have been seen all across the country on those days. This helps scientists determine what the status is of each species, based on local citizen inventory in their own communities. Look at the GBBC Web site (www.birdsource.org/gbbc/) and see what birds were seen in 2008 and learn more about how to participate.

All New Mexico Audubon Party April 4th at Bosque del Apache
We are hosting an ALL NEW MEXICO AUDUBON PARTY at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge on April 4th, 2009. This event is sponsored by Audubon New Mexico and the New Mexico Audubon Council, which represents all the Audubon chapters in our state. We plan to conduct bird counting and monitoring for the refuge, host meetings and highlight the four chapters. We will also share the Audubon New Mexico statewide strategic plan and gather for a social event that evening, which will include a catered dinner and a speaker on Aldo Leopold’s or John James Audubon’s life. We hope that you can join us and that you will help us publicize this event in the next few months!

Audubon Center Nature Store Benefits Local Wildlife & Education Programs
Come up to the Nature Store on Saturday, December 13th and receive 20% off all store items while helping support the conservation and education programs at the Randall Davey Audubon Center. The Nature Store is the perfect place to shop this holiday season. Purchase beautiful, local natural history books and field guides for birds, mammals, snakes and more, bird feeders and houses, wildlife gift cards and Christmas cards, jewelry and other special and unusual gifts for kids and adults. Our wonderful volunteers will help you at the store; all purchases directly support the education and conservation for Audubon New Mexico.

Education Programs Reach Community Students through Hands-On Exploration
The leaves and the temperatures may be falling at the Randall Davey Audubon Center (RDAC), but the energy and excitement for learning certainly is not. Many visitors are familiar with the sounds of students during our summer programs, but many do not realize how many students benefit from our school programs. This fall, RDAC served almost 500 students from the Santa Fe Public Schools, 86 percent of whom are Hispanic, and 94 percent of whom visited RDAC on scholarship thanks to a grant through the City of Santa Fe Children and Youth commission.

The Randall Davey Audubon Center has five programs to offer first through sixth grade students across Santa Fe. There is also a program designed for our youngest scientists that focuses on connecting with nature by using the five senses. For our older scientists, we have a four-day program during which we compare and contrast schoolyard ecosystems with the ecosystems found at the Randall Davey Audubon Center. These programs are designed to reinforce the students’ science curriculum.

Why do we teach what we teach? RDAC programs have been developed to support New Mexico Science Content Standards. This fall we worked to align the RDAC programs with the Santa Fe Public School life science curriculum for the first time ever. We have been working with Ellen Levy, the science and math curriculum coordinator for SFPS, to help teachers provide an authentic, appropriate science curriculum to their students. Rather than asking teachers to do more work by taking a trip to RDAC, we are showing them how our programs introduce, reinforce and support the science curriculum they are currently teaching. This continuity allows teachers to capitalize on the resource we at RDAC can provide them.

If you are interested in a school program for your young scientists and their class, or if you would like to sponsor a class visit please contact Jeremy Philipp at jphilipp@audubon.org or by calling 983-4609.

Audubon New Mexico Education Manager Receives Outstanding Service Award
Environmental Education Manager Dana Vackar Strang was recently awarded the Outstanding Service Award from the Environmental Education Association of New Mexico (EEANM). Fellow environmental educators on the EEANM board nominated and recognized Dana for her ability and commitment to environmental education.

“Dana has worked tirelessly for EEANM for the past seven years and is a true asset to the field of Environmental Education,” said current EEANM board president Christy Tafoya. Dana has served as a vital leader for the EEANM board while it provided grants to teachers and outdoor classroom providers, increased teacher training programs, increased special events and luncheons, coordinated high-quality environmental education conferences, and hired a full-time staff member for EEANM.

Audubon New Mexico is very fortunate to have Dana as part of our education team.

Audubon New Mexico Welcomes New Development Associate, Nancy Spei
Nancy Spei first joined Audubon in May, with an official hiring as the Development Associate in October. Nancy brings extensive experience in land conservation to her new position at Audubon New Mexico. As a former project associate for the Trust for Public Land, Nancy worked on various land acquisition, conservation easement and park projects in New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. Her professional focus includes having worked as a certified paralegal in the legal field with many top law firms in Santa Fe, including Montgomery & Andrews and Scheuer, Yost and Patterson.

Nancy’s interest in the outdoors began at a Girl Scout summer camp and through Girl Scout programs, which she was involved with all through grade school. An avid hiker, Nancy has been backpacking in the Grand Canyon eight times and recently completed a second hike on the north rim. While there, she had the fortune of seeing the California Condors who have been reintroduced to the area. The highlight of her birding life was a trip to Point Pelee Provincial Park in Canada—the southern most tip of the Canadian mainland, where thousands of migrating birds have been recorded to stop.

Originally from Illinois, Nancy has lived in Santa Fe for 15 years. She studied under the Leisure and Environmental Resource Administration program at George Williams College in Downers Grove, Illinois and received her paralegal certificate from Santa Fe Community College.

Why Your Donation is Important to Audubon’s Continued Success
By reaching out through nature, Audubon New Mexico has been helping to create strong communities connected to the natural world. Thanks to your past support, Audubon’s educators and conservationists have been busy awakening an appreciation and commitment for our natural world in students of all ages. Your assistance in the coming year will help us do even more!

• Audubon’s 2008-2009 environmental education programs will reach nearly 4,000 children – UNITING KIDS WITH NATURE for life-shaping experiences. In addition to classes at our Randall Davey Audubon Center, Audubon works across New Mexico, bringing school-children and their teachers to state parks and wildlife refuges in their own communities.

• Audubon New Mexico also offers PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS AND FAMILIES like our guided bird walks at the Audubon Center, tours of the historic Davey house and studio, special natural history and wildlife walks, guest speakers, and other activities.

• New Mexico now has 62 IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS – places essential to birds for breeding, wintering or migrating. Audubon members flock to the Christmas Bird Count and the Great Backyard Bird Count and these citizen science BIRD COUNTS have revealed alarming declines of some of New Mexico’s most beloved common birds. Audubon New Mexico is at work, forging partnerships and conservation efforts to reverse these declines.

• Audubon continues to advocate for CONSERVATION FUNDING AND LEGISLATION at the state and federal level to protect land, rivers and wildlife and to promote increased outdoor education statewide.

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Randall Davey Audubon Center Celebrates 25 Years
This year, we mark the 25^th anniversary of this Audubon Center with gratitude to the family and heirs of Randall Davey. In 1983, the Randall Davey Foundation transferred this 135-acre property, which was then known as the Randall Davey Museum and Park, to the National Audubon Society. Today, we continue to celebrate the natural beauty and wildlife habitat, the historic Davey home and property, the Davey art and furniture collection, and much more. Thank you to all who celebrated this occasion with us during our 25th anniversary party in September. We look forward to sharing the next 25 years with you!