Northern Cardinal by Jerry Acton, GBBC 2008

Volume 6, Number 20

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

Circulation: 4,700

“Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best.”

- Henry Van Dyke


Please continue to send your announcements and news stories, including web links, to Delta Willis at dwillis@audubon.org.


NEWS FROM THE AUDUBON NETWORK
Highlights of recent achievements, events and actions throughout the Audubon Network

Audubon Achieves LEED Platinum: Audubon has earned the competitive LEED® Platinum Certification for its new headquarters in New York City. The home office at 225 Varick Street received the highest point total of any commercial interior in the world evaluated for certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. "Audubon's LEED Platinum certification demonstrates tremendous green building leadership," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. USGBC manages the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program, which includes four levels of certification: LEED Certified, LEED Silver, LEED Gold, and, the highest, LEED Platinum. The new Audubon office also received an Award of Merit from New York Construction Magazine as one of the Best Green Projects of 2008. More info at http://www.audubon.org/nas/nat_office.html

Audubon applauds President-elect Obama's appointment of Carol Browner: To fill the newly created position of assistant to the president for energy and climate change, President-elect Obama has chosen Carol Browner, a former EPA administrator under President Bill Clinton. She was the longest-serving administrator in the history of the agency. Browner is currently the chair of the National Audubon Society. John Flicker, president of the National Audubon Society, said, "Carol Browner is an outstanding choice to direct the integration of energy and environmental policy and to reposition the U.S. as a leader in addressing global warming." http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/dec2008/2008-12-15-04.asp

Audubon Alaska Leaders honored by Wilberforce: Stan Senner, Executive Director of Audubon Alaska, and John Schoen, Audubon Alaska's Senior Scientist, were presented with the prestigious Conservation Leadership Award from the Wilburforce Foundation of Seattle. The Award is given annually to recognize outstanding dedication, extraordinary effort, and exceptional leadership in the conservation movement. Winners were selected from many thousands of people working for the environment within the Foundation's region, which extends from New Mexico to Alaska. More at http://www.audubonalaska.org/


AUDUBON IN THE NEWS
A monthly round-up of some of the ways Audubon is making news coast to coast

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

109th Annual Christmas Bird Count featured in over 100 news stories this week, including a live news segment with John Flicker on NY1 broadcast from the count in Central Park Sunday and replayed throughout the day.

Below a few other highlights, with great hits in CA thanks to Garrison Frost:

San Francisco Chronicle
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/15/BARO14O55V.DTL

Sacramento Bee
http://www.sacbee.com/378/story/1473672.html

KPCC-FM AirTalk, a very influential public radio station in Los Angeles.
http://www.publicradio.org/tools/media/player/kpcc/news/shows/airtalk/2008/12/20081215_airtalk1?start=00:45:44&end=00:52:31

Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/6149362.html

Sun Sentinel (FL)
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/services/newspaper/printedition/local/sfl-flbbirds1129sbnov29,0,370437.story

AUDUBON POLICY

John Flicker quoted on Environmental Goals in New Administration.
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20081207/news/812050274

Mike Daulton comments in BBC report on Bush relaxing wildlife law limits. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7778749.stm

Gary Graham of Audubon Colorado, pens Op Ed in Denver Post.
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_11178671

Dave Curson of Audubon Maryland wrote an Op Ed published by The Salisbury Daily.
http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008812070359

Eric Draper, Audubon of Florida, comments on Car Emissions in Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/12/03/ap5773837.html

David Anderson, Audubon of Florida, quoted on solar power.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hejptN7NfA6lkBLLzsYQ32x1xlDQD94QPS680

SC Governor joins Audubon South Carolina Beidler Forest celebration:

Governor marks forest's new global status
http://www.goosecreekgazette.com/news/1211NEbeidler-doc

SC's Beidler Forest wins international acclaim
http://www.thestate.com/statewire/story/610723.html

Santa Fe NM Sun Monthly includes Randell Davey Audubon Center among things to be grateful for. http://www.sunmonthly.com/Archives/11-08_issue/Export22.htm

Ken Smith, Audubon Arkansas, rallies opposition to coal-burning power plant.
http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog/2008/12/what_swepco_knew_and_when.aspx

Audubon joins Sierra Club to refute state-issued air permit for coal plant.
http://www.hopestar.com/news/x776467954/Environmental-appeal-halts-Turk-power-plant

Al Caccese, New York Audubon, interviewed on December 11 evening news at WBAI.
http://archive.wbai.org/

TOGETHER GREEN

http://www.independentnews.com/fullstory1.php?arch_id=245

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/greenliving/

http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/article/rain_barrels_saving_money_while_helping_the_environment/16957/

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/education/story/555965.html

BIRDS & BIRDING

Audubon Greenwich CT reports rise in raptors.
http://www.greenwichtime.com/ci_11125315

The Chicago Tribune features Manhattan's wild turkey.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-zelda-letternov25,0,3374952.story

Report says millions of birds will be lost with Canada tar sands development
http://www.borealbirds.org/birdstarsands.shtml

Audubon's Dr. Stephen Kress provides tips on how to care for birds in winter
http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=11766


EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Upcoming events and opportunities for Audubon Newswire Readers

Callison Award Nominations Deadline January 15, 2009 - The Charles H. Callison Award was established to give special recognition to an individual or group whose continued diligence has accomplished sound environmental legislative policy achievement at the local, state, or federal level. Nominees need to achieve significant success in environmental policy, creativity, coalition-building, education and/or outreach. Two awards will be given, one in each category: Volunteer and Professional. Deadline for nominations is January 15. Details of the nomination process and a list of past recipients at http://www.audubon.org/local/cso/callisonaward_nom.html.

National Audubon Board Regional Director Nominations - Nominations are sought for National Audubon Society Board Members from the Central, Northeast and Western Election Regions for terms running January 2010 - January 2013. Deadline for nominations is January 31, 2009. For more details, please visit http://www.audubon.org/nas/board/regional.

HOLIDAY GIFTS THAT HELP

Last minute gift idea, great value for $20: "Give a gift of Audubon membership"
https://websvr.audubon.org/forms/updated/gift_order.html

For other great ideas and tips, visit our Holiday greening web site!
http://audubon.org/Holidays/Holiday_Greening/