Volume 6, Number 16

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Circulation: 4,700

""Louisiana loses the equivalent of 32 football fields' worth of wetlands every day, and that includes many of our barrier islands. This leaves coastal communities vulnerable to the full wrath of hurricanes."

- Paul Kemp, VP of the Gulf Coast Initiative for Audubon

 

Please continue to send your news and updates to Delta Willis at dwillis@audubon.org.

Detroit and Michigan Audubon promote Project Safe Passage

Detroit Audubon Society, Michigan Audubon and local chapters appealed to building owners to turn off the lights or draw blinds 11:00pm-6:00am during fall migratory season August 15 through October 31. MI Governor Granholm signed a proclamation supporting the effort as Safe Passage Great Lakes Days in Michigan. Chicago, New York, and Toronto have similar programs. For more info visit http://www.detroitaudubon.org/safe%20passage.html.

Audubon Arkansas teams wtih Waste Management on Major Conservation Project

Arkansas' Governor, Senator Lincoln and a range of VIPs were on hand to praise the launch of a new landfill waste-to-energy plant that, through a joint effort with Audubon, will also result in a 500 acre conservation project. Land not immediately used as a site for waste burial will be managed for wildlife, including grassland, marshland and wading birds. Water on the site will be captured and filtered through sediment basins into a new meandering stream channel and from there into a 40+ acre restored wetland with many bottomland hardwood species, bald cypress, and tupelo before entering Five Mile Creek, a headwater tributary to Bayou Meto and the lower Mississippi River system. The project culminates three years of effort by Audubon Arkansas. It is the first large scale restoration and conservation project in the upper Bayou Metro watershed and will serve as model for others across the region and beyond.

Audubon Licensing Signs Three New Agreements

Audubon has granted EBSCO Publishing a license to electronically reproduce Audubon magazine. EBSCO Publishing owns and operates EBSCOhost®, the world's premier for-fee online research service for universities, public libraries and K-12 schools. To learn more about EBSCO, visit http://www.ebscoind.com/industries/about.asp.

Toland's new Audubon-branded product (http://www.tolandhomegarden.com/)line will feature popular John James Audubon imagery on a broad range of garden and decorative items, including flags, banners, and accessories.

WINGSCAPES (http://www.wingscapes.com/) is the manufacturer of BirdCam, the weatherproof and motion-activated camera that captures digital photos and videos of birds. Expect to see Audubon products from Toland and Audubon BirdCam by January 2009.

Because there will be no issue of In the News next week (to resume after Labor Day) we are including a few recent news reports below.

Origins of Audubon described by New York Times columnist Bob Herbert in essay on Teddy Roosevelt
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/375559_herbertonline20.html

Paul Kemp, vice president of the Gulf Coast Initiative for the National Audubon Society, comments on Louisiana coast vulnerability to more hurricanes
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2008/2008-08-13-094.asp

Sante Fe editorial issues Audubon Call to Action on Endangered Species Act threat http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Opinion/Another-assault-on-endangered-species

WY Senator defends local expertise, BLM plans for Sage Grouse
http://www.macroworldinvestor.com/m/m.w?lp=GetStory&id=317688841

John Beetham of District of Columbia Audubon speaks ip for Spotted Owl
http://www.dcaudubon.org/node/7399

Ken Smith, executive director of Arkansas Audubon, praises conservation project launched in concert with Waste Management plant
http://www.nlrtimes.com/articles/2008/08/14/the_times/local_news/nws02.txt

Steve Kress, Audubon expert on creating habitats that attract birds, interviewed for Country Gardens magazine
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/design/nature-lovers/grow-a-bird-friendly-garden/?ordersrc=rdbhg0076

Scott Wilbor of the Tucson Audubon Society comments on landscaping for birds in Arizona Daily Star
http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/253265

Vernon Kleen, board member of the Illinois Audubon Society and one of two liscensed hummingbird banders in Illinois, featured in report on last week's hummingbird festival
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1507911082/HUMMINGBIRD-IN-THE-HAND

Hummingbird Festival at Strawberry Plains MS Audubon featured in Texas E-News
http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/article_47799.shtml

Montezuma NY Audubon Center featured in travel report
http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2008/08/14/in-central-ny-wander-the-montezuma-audubon-center/

Silver Bluff GA Audubon Center fundraiser graced by wood storks
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/081708/aik_469511.shtml

Bedford NY Audubon Sanctuary featured in local paper
http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6681:goldens-bridge-harbors-large-preserves&catid=19:lewisboro-news&Itemid=79

Great Backyard Bird Count on checklist for preschool students
http://ritsumeithoughts.blogspot.com/2008/08/what-we-do-for-preschool.html

Great Backyard Bird Count Citizen Science blog
http://lolafalola.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/birds-of-a-feather/

Audubon Society of Forsyth County SC salutes Ramona Snavely
http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2008/aug/19/audubon-chapter-is-dedicated-to-helping-birds/living-columnists/

INTERNATIONAL NEWS ON BIRDS

Coalition of conservation groups in Great Britain say climate change is alteringbird habits
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7561497.stm