Audubon Newswire
Volume 3, Number 5
Friday, March 18, 2005

Hooray - It’s Nearly Spring! In this Issue:

  • The Battle For the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Continues
  • Mike Daulton Discusses Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on NPR
  • Brian Rutledge Named Executive Director of Audubon Wyoming
  • Container-breeding Mosquitoes Pose the Highest West Nile Virus Risk For Humans
  • Audubon Science Announces Spanish Version of “Audubon Guide to a Healthy Yard and Beyond”
  • New York Governor Pataki Announces Two New Bird Conservation Areas
  • Audubon Ohio Creates Regional Grassroots Coordinator Position
  • Audubon New York’s Spring Council Assembly Highlights
  • Audubon Leadership Workshop at Hog Island Camp: August 14-20, 2005
  • More Press for Recognition of Connecticut's Naugatuck State Forest as an IBA
  • Election Regions Modification Proposal Available on Audubon Web Site

The Battle For the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Continues

Washington, DC, March 18, 2005 - On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate narrowly voted to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling by a vote of 51 to 49.

“This is just one more battle in the long effort to protect the Arctic Refuge that began when President Carter created it,” stated John Flicker, president of the National Audubon Society. “This is one of the last great wilderness areas left on the planet. We are disappointed but we won’t stop working to protect the Arctic Refuge for future generations. We will win in the end.” Flicker continued, “This was a vote against the environment and for global warming.”

Arctic drilling provisions make an already controversial budget even more contentious. The budget process is long and complex, and the outcome is far from certain. The inclusion of Arctic drilling further distances the Senate budget resolution from the House version. House Budget Chairman Jim Nussle (R-IA) has signaled that the budget bills will be difficult to reconcile in conference committee.

To read the entire release, visit
http://www.audubon.org/news/press_releases/Arctic_Defeat_3-16-05.html.

Mike Daulton Discusses Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on NPR

Washington, DC, March 18, 2005 - In the wake of Wednesday’s Senate vote, Mike Daulton, Audubon’s assistant director of government relations, along with the Washington Post’s energy reporter, the former director of the Alaska State Division of Oil and Gas, and a professor from Boston University’s Center for Energy and Environmental Studies, sat down with NPR’s “On Point” to discuss the future of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

To listen to the interview, visit http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2005/03/20050316_a_main.asp.

Brian Rutledge Named Executive Director of Audubon Wyoming

Casper, WY, March 18, 2005 - Brian Rutledge has been named the new Executive Director of Audubon Wyoming, the state program of the National Audubon Society headquartered in Casper.

Brian is an innovative conservation leader, with more than 25 years of providing senior-level service in the areas of wildlife conservation, land management and design, board development, institutional advancement, marketing, and finance.

A Westerner at heart, Brian managed to maintain his ties to the ranching community even while serving as the director of Zoo New England in Boston, and the Maryland Zoological Society in Baltimore. Brian’s resourcefulness and leadership, as well as his accomplished fundraising skills enabled him to be successful in guiding both of those institutions to greater levels of effectiveness.

For more information on Audubon Wyoming, please visit http://www.audubonwyoming.com/index.html.

Container-breeding Mosquitoes Pose the Highest West Nile Virus Risk For Humans

Ivyland, PA, March 18, 2005 - Different species of mosquitoes have different feeding preferences - some prefer to bite birds, some prefer to bite mammals, and others prefer animals of other kinds. West Nile virus is primarily an avian pathogen, and is transmitted among birds by ornithophilic (bird-biting) mosquitoes. Until now, it was presumed that humans are exposed to the virus upon being bitten by “bridge-vector” species of mosquitoes - those that take a large fraction of their blood meals from mammals, but occasionally bite birds.

In a recent analysis of 10 northeastern species of mosquitoes1, researchers found that up to 80% of the risk of human WNV infection comes from two species of ornithophilic mosquitoes, both of which breed primarily in backyard and neighborhood sources of stagnant water, such as discarded tires, unused swimming pools, catch basins, gutters, and birdbaths. The surprisingly high risk comes from the two species’ abundance, infection prevalence, and ability to replicate and transmit the virus, which compensate for the relatively small fraction of blood meals taken from mammals by these bird-biting mosquitoes.

This finding suggests that control efforts should be focused on reducing breeding habitat for these species - getting rid of sources of stagnant water in yards and communities - rather than the current emphasis on the use of insecticides and water flow management.

For more information on West Nile virus, please visit Audubon’s website: http://www.audubon.org/bird/wnv.
1Kilpatrick, AM, LD Kramer, SR Campell, et al. 2005. West Nile virus risk assessment and the bridge vector paradigm - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol11no03/04-0364.htm. Emerging Infectious Diseases 11:425-429.

Audubon Science Announces Spanish Version of “Audubon Guide to a Healthy Yard and Beyond”

Ivyland, PA, March 18, 2005 - Audubon Science is proud to announce the availability of the Spanish version "Audubon Guide to a Healthy Yard and Beyond,"-- "Guia Audubon Para un Jardin Saludable y Mas." The printing of 150,000 of these brochures was made possible by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

The English version of the poster, first published in 2001 and now in its third edition, has been wildly popular with over 300,000 copies finding their way into every corner of the country. More than 600 requests have been filled for these brochures and are favorites for chapter events, native plants sales, master gardener gatherings, municipalities, and retail stores. Last week, 10,000 of the brochures were supplied to a local college horticulture department for distribution at the world famous Philadelphia Flower Show.

With this Spanish version, Audubon hopes to reach a wider audience who shares a passion for gardening and in creating a healthier place for birds, wildlife, and people by eliminating toxic substances and creating harmonious spaces with native plants.

The guides are free and can be shipped in cartons of 500 from the printer, or in quantities under 100 from Science. (Donations are requested from non-Audubon entities to offset printing and shipping costs.) Please email AudubonAtHome@audubon.org for more information.

New York Governor Pataki Announces Two New Bird Conservation Areas

Albany, NY, March 18, 2005 - On Monday, Governor George E. Pataki announced the designation of two new Bird Conservation Areas (BCAs) at state parks, one at Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve on Staten Island and the other at Joseph Davis State Park in Lewiston, Niagara County. The two designations are the first of 20 new BCAs the Governor has pledged to create over the next several years. Designation as a BCA provides for the protection of birds and bird habitat, and expands opportunities for New Yorkers and visitors to enjoy bird watching and the great outdoors.

In his 2005 State of the State address, Governor Pataki, marking Audubon New York's 100th anniversary, committed to adding 20 new Bird Conservation Areas across New York. The state's BCA Program, modeled after the National Audubon Society's Important Bird Areas Program, was signed into law by the Governor in 1997. The program is designed to safeguard and enhance bird populations and their habitats on selected State-owned lands and waters.

For more information on the New York State Bird Conservation Program, please visit
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/bca/index.html.

Audubon Ohio Creates Regional Grassroots Coordinator Position

Columbus, OH, March 18, 2005 - Audubon Ohio is pleased to announce the appointment of Marnie Urso as Regional Grassroots Coordinator, a new position created within Audubon Ohio through a generous grant from the Joyce Foundation. Urso will begin her duties immediately, and will be based out of Cleveland.

In her new position, Urso will work primarily on policy issues related to the protection of ground and surface waters and their watersheds. Her responsibilities will include developing key partnerships with legislators and state agencies, hosting advocacy training and workshops for Audubon chapters and the public, and galvanizing public involvement in Ohio's watershed planning process. Many of Audubon Ohio's Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are situated around waterways, and protecting the quality of the watershed is an important step in protecting IBAs.

For more information on Audubon Ohio, visit http://www.audubon.org/chapter/oh/oh/.

Audubon New York’s Spring Council Assembly Highlights

Saratoga, NY March 18, 2005 - Last weekend, Audubon New York and the Audubon Council of New York State flocked to historic Saratoga Springs New York for the 18th annual spring Assembly. From March 11-13, members of 22 Chapters from across the state joined together to celebrate and plan for Audubon’s centennial, the release of the 2nd edition of “Important Bird Areas of New York State”, and to finalize Audubon’s Legislative Agenda.

Friday night’s program consisted of a desert presentation by Gerry Barnhart, Director of Fish and Wildlife Programs for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

On Saturday, the morning was devoted to the approval of Audubon New York’s Conservation Policy Resolutions, the afternoon focused on Audubon New York’s Important Bird Areas program, specifically the release of the new 2nd edition of “Important Bird Areas of New York: habitats worth protecting”, and workshops on Communications, Advocacy, and Education.

Saturday evening included the annual dinner and awards presentation. Bob Budliger, a longtime Audubon Member and founding member of the Audubon Council, received the Norman Stotz Award, and Bernadette Castro, Commissioner of the New York State office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, was awarded the prestigious William Hoyt Environmental Award.

For more information, and to see pictures of the event, please visit http://ny.Audubon.org.

Audubon Leadership Workshop at Hog Island Camp: August 14-20, 2005

Hog Island, ME, March 18, 2005 - Maine Audubon invites you to its inaugural "Audubon Leadership Workshop" at the Hog Island Audubon Camp from August 14-20, 2005. Endorsed by National Audubon's Ad Hoc Chapter Committee and Office of Chapter Services, this session is designed especially for active Chapter leaders, to build and deepen your expertise and ability to enhance Audubon’s effectiveness at all levels. Led by top-level State and National Audubon program staff and thoroughly experienced Chapter staff and volunteers, participants will enjoy a combination of daily workshops, special presentations, and lively discussions, as well as the traditional Maine field trips, serenity and fine food that are hallmarks of the Hog Island Camp. Daily sessions will include an in-depth focus on key Audubon conservation programs including IBAs, Audubon at Home, Centers and Education and citizen science, as well as State-Chapter partnership opportunities, fundraising, leadership development and training. Among the featured workshop presenters are:

Craig Breon, Former Executive Director, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
Kevin Carley, Executive Director, Maine Audubon
John Cecil, Director, Audubon Important Bird Areas Program
Les Corey, Chief Field Operations Officer
Rob Fergus, Director, Audubon at Home Program
Joyce King, President, St. Petersberg Audubon Society and Coordinator, Florida’s Audubon Academy
Steve Kress, Director, Seabird Restoration Project
Brooke Langston, Director of Field Support, Centers and Education
Bill McQuilkin, Southeast Regional Director, National Audubon Society Board of Directors

A special National scholarship of $200 per person is available to the first fifteen registrants with a matching scholarship from her/his local Chapter. (A $250 tuition reduction by Maine Audubon is already included in the price to all workshop registrants.)

Dates: August 14-20, 2005
Session fee: Per participant without National/Chapter scholarship aid: $700
Session fee: Per participant with National Scholarship and Matching Chapter Scholarship: $300
To register: Call Maine Audubon’s registrar, Linda Ledoux, toll free at
888/325-5261 x215.

More Press for Recognition of Connecticut's Naugatuck State Forest as an IBA

Bethany, CT, March 18, 2005 - Audubon Connecticut has recognized the central and western sections of Naugatuck State Forest, including a 509-acre section in Bethany, as an Important Bird Area (IBA).

The Connecticut IBA program is part of a global effort to develop an inventory of key sites that support a significant abundance and diversity of birds. Sites must meet one or more standardized scientific criteria developed by a panel of bird experts in the state.

The state forest, whose western blocks lie in Beacon Falls/Oxford/Naugatuck, was chosen because it has a wide variety of quality habitat for nesting, migrating and wintering birds. This includes early successional habitats from grasslands to shrublands to young forest, especially for several bird species of high conservation priority, according to CT Audubon.

To read the entire article, visit http://www.oregonlive.com/gardencenter/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf?/base/homes_gardens/1110970544110991.xml.

Election Regions Modification Proposal Available on Audubon Web Site

Chapter leaders and others within Audubon have asked the Board to better equalize the numbers of Chapters and members included in each Regional Director election region. In response, at the January 2005 Board Meeting, the Governance Committee of the Board proposed a new configuration of election region boundaries. The Board discussed the realignment proposal and recommended that it be circulated to all State Offices and Chapters for review and comments prior to a final review and decision at the May 2005 Board of Directors Meeting.
The proposed changes, including maps of current and proposed regional boundaries, will be mailed to all State Offices and Chapters for their review, and are also now available online at http://www.audubon.org/nas/board/regional/changes.html.