2019 Audubon Convention Program

Your guide to the Audubon convention schedule

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Thursday, July 25th

Field Trips

**All field trips include transportation, lunch, water, and snacks unless otherwise noted. Pre-registration is required.

6:00am – 5:30pm

  • Dunes Habitat and Kirtland’s Warblers at Sand Valley Golf Resort
    • SOLD OUT. Pre-registration required.
    • $120 per person
    • The Sand Valley Golf Resort currently sits on what was once the lakebed of an ancient glacial lake that covered much of Central Wisconsin. Today, the Sand Valley Restoration Trust (SVRT) encompasses 7,000 acres and works to restore the native sand barrens by removing the red pine trees and encouraging the growth of native plants. On this field trip, visit the habitat of the protected Kirtland’s Warbler, tour the golf resort property, and hear from Jens Jensen, a naturalist specializing in conservation landscape design. Species you may see include Kirtland’s Warbler, Eastern Bluebird, Vesper Sparrow, Field Sparrow, and Tree Swallow.
    • Level: Easy. Birding via walking on paved and unpaved walkways and trails, as well as walking on a few hills. The presentation from Jens Jensen will be seated indoors.

7:00am – 1:00pm

  • Explore Horicon Marsh: Largest Cattail Marsh in the United States
    • SOLD OUT. Pre-registration required.
    • $85 per person
    • Located in southeast Wisconsin, Horicon Marsh has been formally recognized as a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention of the United Nations. The interior of Horicon Marsh is home to a wide variety of marsh birds, from ducks and geese to pelicans, cranes, herons, egrets, and cormorants. However, the scattered woodlands provide home to an array of songbirds that can be found during the spring and fall migration as well as summer nesting populations. A close look may reveal a range of colorful songsters hiding among the dense foliage.
    • Level: Easy. Birding from and near vehicle with level walking on paved and unpaved walkways and trails.

6:30pm – 8:30pm

  • Lakefront Brewery Tour and Tasting
    • SOLD OUT. Pre-registration required.
    • $11 per person
    • The private tour includes four 6 oz. samples of beer, a souvenir pint glass to take home, as well as a beer coupon for a Lakefront pint to enjoy afterwards. You must be 21 or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
    • Please Note: Attendees are responsible for their own transportation. The brewery is located 1.7 miles/7 minutes from the Hilton. Lunch, snacks, and water are not included.

6:00pm – 9:00pm

  • Audubon Leadership Forum Appreciation Dinner – Invitation Only

Friday, July 26th

  • Breakfast on own

7:00am – 12:00pm

  • Field Outing: The Urban Ecology Center as a Model for Bird-Friendly Communities
    • SOLD OUT. Pre-registration required.
    • Milwaukee’s Urban Ecology Center (UEC) protects and restores green spaces across the city while serving 80,000 people each year with innovative educational programs. This site-based workshop will explore how the UEC has transformed a former brownfield into a park that is a haven for birds and people, with strong partnerships and community involvement. Explore the site and hear from UEC staff and community leaders how they have created a more bird-friendly community hub along the Menominee River. Learn best practices that you can use in your own communities.
    • Leader
      • John Rowden, Director of Community Conservation, National Audubon Society
  • Field Outing: Bird Conservation in the Great Lakes Part 1—Habitat Restoration & Volunteer Stewardship Best Practices at Schlitz Audubon
    • SOLD OUT. Pre-registration required.
    • This session will feature hands-on habitat restoration activities on Schlitz Audubon Nature Center’s 185 acres of woodland along the shore of Lake Michigan. Along the way, participants will get lessons on invasive species ID and using crowdsourcing tools like iNaturalist. The stewardship work will be followed by a lunch-and-learn for sharing best practices on recruiting and empowering stewardship volunteers. Using examples from Schlitz staff and longstanding volunteer initiatives from the Chicago region, you will learn lessons on working with younger audiences, sustaining volunteer leadership over decades, new stewardship models, and the do’s and don’ts to establishing a volunteer stewardship group.
    • Leaders
      • Jill Macek, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
      • Marc White, Director of Conservation, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
      • Daniel Suarez, Stewardship Program Manager, Audubon Great Lakes
    • The field outing is Part 1. Attendees are also required to attend Part 2: Bird Conservation in the Great Lakes: Keys to Success and Planning for the Future from 1:00pm – 5:00pm.

8:00am – 12:00pm

  • Fundamentals of Effective and Winning Advocacy Campaigns – Half-Day Session
    • Looking to make a policy change in your community, but don’t know where to begin? Political advocacy is a powerful tool to change the world. Learn how to be an effective advocate by finding your voice for birds and building your power. This intensive half-day workshop will introduce Audubon members to campaign fundamentals, advocacy planning tools, and strategies that address policy challenges at the local, state, and federal level. You will learn how to become an effective advocate, develop a campaign plan, build a collaborative team, set goals, devise strategies, implement tactics, empower yourself and others around you, and—most importantly—win!
    • Presenters
      • Claire Douglass, National Campaigns Director, National Audubon Society
      • Talya Tavor, National Campaigns Manager, National Audubon Society

8:00am – 5:00pm

  • Fundamentals of Effective and Winning Advocacy Campaigns – Full-Day Session
    • Pre-registration required.
    • Looking to make a policy change in your community, but don’t know where to begin? Political advocacy is a powerful tool to change the world. Learn how to be an effective advocate by finding your voice for birds and building your power. This intensive half-day workshop will introduce Audubon members to campaign fundamentals, advocacy planning tools, and strategies that address policy challenges at the local, state, and federal level. You will learn how to become an effective advocate, develop a campaign plan, build a collaborative team, set goals, devise strategies, implement tactics, empower yourself and others around you, and—most importantly—win!
    • Presenters
      • Claire Douglass, National Campaigns Director, National Audubon Society
      • Talya Tavor, National Campaigns Manager, National Audubon Society
      • Maddox Wolfe, Coastal Campaigns Manager, National Audubon Society
      • Jaime D. Sigarán, National Campaigns Associate, National Audubon Society

8:30am – 5:00pm

  • Audubon Leadership Forum – Invitation Only

9:00am – 12:00pm

  • Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Deep Dive Workshop—Invitation Only
    • Culture change is complex. From understanding privileged status and structural and implicit bias implications, to cross-cultural communication and cultural competency, effective conversations and actions can become difficult—but they are integral to moving forward on EDI at Audubon. Building our capacity and expertise will facilitate programming that is more welcoming and staff and volunteers who are more diverse, and will also improve our ability to engage wider audiences. This workshop will help invited participants to develop and refine the leadership skills that are important for the transition that Audubon is making to become a more equitable, inclusive, and diverse network.
    • Presenters
      • Deeohn Ferris, Vice President of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, National Audubon Society
      • Allison Manswell, Path Forward Consulting

12:00pm – 1:00pm

  • Lunch on own

1:00pm – 5:00pm

  • Field Outing: Environmental Education and Engagement—Examples from Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
    • SOLD OUT. Pre-registration required.
    • Providing environmental education and natural history programs of the highest quality is a trademark of the Audubon way. Many chapters and centers rely on the expertise of their volunteer interpreters and naturalists. How can these individuals be effectively recruited, trained, supported, and retained over the long term? You will learn from Schlitz Audubon Center’s experiences in providing important scientific background and continued programmatic support to an impressive volunteer network for almost 50 years. Learn about leading an effective volunteer corps that can engage visitors in a variety of areas of specialization, including adult and family programing, guided hikes, animal interpretation, community science, and bird identification and phenology.
    • Leaders
      • Tom Finley, Director of Education, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
      • Lindsay Obermeier, Raptor Program and Animal Ambassador Director, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
      • Michelle Allison, Adult Program Coordinator, Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
  • Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Deep Dive Workshop—Invitation Only
    • Culture change is complex. From understanding privileged status and structural and implicit bias implications, to cross-cultural communication and cultural competency, effective conversations and actions can become difficult—but they are integral to moving forward on EDI at Audubon. Building our capacity and expertise will facilitate programming that is more welcoming and staff and volunteers who are more diverse, and will also improve our ability to engage wider audiences. This workshop will help invited participants to develop and refine the leadership skills that are important for the transition that Audubon is making to become a more equitable, inclusive, and diverse network.
    • Presenters
      • Deeohn Ferris, Vice President of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, National Audubon Society
      • Allison Manswell, Path Forward Consulting
  • Making Social Media Work for You in Today’s Digital Landscape
    • Nonprofits can utilize social media to further organizational goals. In this interactive workshop, you will learn effective digital storytelling techniques, as well as tips and tricks for the most popular social platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Based on a poll taken at the beginning of the workshop, we will select a few questions to address as a group. Participants will walk away with examples of how to work through real-world challenges.
    • Presenters
      • Elizabeth Sorrell, Vice President of Audience Engagement, National Audubon Society
      • Preeti Desai, Director of Social Media and Storytelling, National Audubon Society
      • Sarah Randolph, Outreach & Communications Director, Birmingham Audubon
  • Become a Plants for Birds PRO in Your Community!  
    • Native plants provide critical resources for birds, and Audubon chapters and centers across the country are leading the way in promoting native plants. We want to continue to expand the demand for native plants and believe that proclamations, resolutions, and ordinances (PROs!) that encourage or mandate the use of native plants can do just that, improving habitat for birds in communities nationwide. In this workshop, we will explore the recently created Municipal Engagement Toolkit, guiding participants through the steps to create their own local PROs, drawing from examples around the country. Participants will create an action plan for passing their own PROs that will make their community more bird-friendly.
    • Presenters
      • John Rowden, Director of Community Conservation, National Audubon Society
      • Marlene Pantin, Partnerships Manager, National Audubon Society
      • Roslyn Rivas, Plants for Birds Program Coordinator, National Audubon Society
  • How to Become a Climate Watch Coordinator
    • Climate Watch, Audubon’s newest community science program, aims to document species’ response to climate change in real time. Join us for a detailed overview of the science behind the program, the protocol, and program resources. Participants will receive hands-on instruction in how to use the ESRI (Environmental Systems Research Institute) planner tool and take part in a field-based exercise to learn how to do species surveys. You will learn the best ways to identify target species, recruit participants, and coordinate and help plan surveys. Finally, workshop attendees will learn how to recruit and organize Climate Watch participants who can use Climate Watch as an entry point both to Audubon generally and to advocacy specifically. Attendees will need to have either a laptop, a tablet, or a smart phone to participate in this hands-on session.
    • Presenters
      • Brooke Bateman, Director of Climate Watch, National Audubon Society
      • Matt Johnson, Conservation & Engagement, Audubon South Carolina
      • Geoff LeBaron, Director, Christmas Bird Count, National Audubon Society
      • Kathy Dale, Director of Science Technology, National Audubon Society
  • Volunteer Management: A Comprehensive Overview
    • Volunteers are the lifeblood of Audubon! This workshop will provide a comprehensive overview of today's best practices in volunteer management—from recruitment to engagement and retention. Participants will leave with sample handbooks, forms, and materials to support a comprehensive volunteer program. This program will give volunteer chapter leaders tools and skills they need to build strong volunteer leaders to support all of their conservation work.
    • Presenter
      • Nina Lapitan, Volunteer and Rental Services Manager, Aullwood Audubon Center
  • Strategic Thinking: Setting Your Chapter's Vision, Mission, and Goals
    • Can planning be fun? Absolutely! Strategic planning will allow you to get to know your fellow leaders, become relevant to your community, and increase your profile as a conservation organization. It is all about knowing who you are and why you do what you do. This workshop will help shape the message you will need to effectively build, engage, and support your nonprofit. Understanding how strategic planning works will allow you to adapt to a changing world. Working with the National Audubon Society 2016-2020 Strategic Plan as a starting point, we will illustrate the process with some tried-and-true planning methods. You will interact with colleagues and leave prepared to deliver guidance to your chapter.
    • Presenters
      • Jacqui Sulek, Chapter Conservation Manager, Audubon Florida
      • Laura McCarthy, Network Engagement Manager, Audubon New York
      • Vicki Clark, Senior Governance Consultant, BoardSource
  • Bird Conservation in the Great Lakes Part 2: Keys to Success and Planning for the Future
    • Take a dive deep into climate change, invasive species, marsh bird and water monitoring, and spatial prioritization with leaders from Audubon’s Great Lakes Initiative. Launched in 2016, the initiative focuses on protecting and restoring coastal watersheds of the Great Lakes to benefit birds and water quality, while striving to build resiliency to climate change in priority regions such as Buffalo, Calumet, Detroit, Duluth, Green Bay, Mackinaw, Rochester, and Western Lake Erie. Join Audubon staff and chapter leaders to explore and discuss the initiative’s science and conservation priorities and status. You will also learn where we intend to go over the next five years and how Audubon chapters can engage in this important work.
    • Presenters
      • Nat Miller, Director of Conservation, Upper Mississippi Flyway and Audubon Great Lakes
      • Marnie Urso, Director of Policy, Audubon Great Lakes
      • Andrew Hinickle, Conservation Biologist, Audubon New York
      • Erin Giese, President, Northeastern Wisconsin Audubon Society
      • Melissa Fratello, Executive Director, Buffalo Audubon Society
      • Emma England, President, Lake County Audubon Society
      • Matthew Beatty, Former President, Dunes-Calumet Audubon Society
      • Tai Gunter, Membership Chair, South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society
    • Attendees may also attend the Field Outing: Bird Conservation in the Great Lakes Part 1—Habitat Restoration & Volunteer Stewardship Best Practices at Schlitz Audubon from 7:00am – 12:00pm
  • Creating Conservation Impact Through International Bird Tourism
    • Audubon's bird-based tourism initiative aims to strengthen and support tourism in bird hotspots in other countries, while simultaneously supporting conservation and local economic development. In this session, receive an overview of Audubon’s work in Belize, Bahamas, Guatemala, Paraguay, and Colombia, featuring locally trained community guides and chapter leaders who have visited programs in their respective flyways. You will participate in interactive presentations and breakout sessions on designing and building a birding tourism trip that involves local communities in highly biodiverse areas abroad and has a positive impact in terms of economic development and conservation. Experts from Audubon and the professional guide companies Holbrook and Rockjumper will explain how to market and fill a birding trip, giving Audubon chapter leaders the tools to plan your own excursions. The session will close with an open panel discussion featuring bird-based tourism experts.
    • Presenters
      • Matthew Jeffery, Deputy Director, International Alliances Program, National Audubon Society
      • Debbie Sturdivant, Holbrook Travel

6:00pm – 8:00pm

  • Welcome Reception: Meet and Greet Your Peers from Across the Flyways
    • Included in registration fee. Alcoholic beverages are available to purchase at your own expense. 
  • Poster Board Sessions will be displayed throughout the Welcome Reception.

Saturday, July 27th

  • Breakfast on own

8:30am – 10:00am

  • Opening Plenary with Keynote Speaker David Yarnold

10:00am – 4:00pm

  • BoardSource Membership for Audubon Leaders—Kiosk
    • To help chapter board leaders become even more effective in their board governance roles, National Audubon Society is launching a new Audubon Chapter Network Membership in BoardSource. BoardSource provides nonprofit organizations with expertise and guidance on topics such as roles and responsibilities of the board, board orientation and recruitment, and fundraising. Stop by to learn about new BoardSource benefits, trainings, resources, and information available to you now. To activate your BoardSource membership, stop by our kiosk. Meet the team and find out more, such as:
      • How do I and others on my board access our chapter’s BoardSource membership?
      • How can we get live on-demand advice through BoardSource?
      • What training opportunities exist through BoardSource membership?
    • Presenters
      • JJ Walter, Membership Manager, BoardSource
      • Elaine O’Sullivan, Director of Network Support and Education, National Audubon Society

10:30am – 12:00pm

  • Discussion Groups with David Yarnold, Maggie Walker, and Other National Audubon Society Leadership
    • Join President and CEO David Yarnold, Board Chair Maggie Walker, and other Audubon executives and national board members for continued discussions following the opening plenary address. Ask questions, share ideas, and discuss Audubon’s mission and work in local communities and across the hemisphere.
  • Creating Coastal Resilience for Birds and Communities
    • This session will provide an overview of Audubon’s coast strategy, with a focus on coastal resilience. Participants will gain insight into how we are using science, restoration, policy, and the capacities of the Audubon network to protect coastal habitat for birds, other wildlife, and local communities. Examples from across the network will provide volunteer leaders and chapter representatives with tools for participating in coastal bird conservation.
    • Presenters
      • Karen Hyun, Vice President, Coastal Conservation, National Audubon Society
      • Joanna Grand, Spatial Ecologist, National Audubon Society
      • Sharon Richardson, Executive Director, Audubon South Carolina
      • Walker Golder, Director of Atlantic Flyway Coasts, National Audubon Society
  • Audubon's Great Lakes Strategy
    • This session will provide an overview of Audubon’s Great Lakes strategy, with a focus on the policies that affect the health of the Great Lakes Basin, as well as other conservation priorities in the region. This discussion will also include how we are using science, restoration, and the Audubon network to promote the policies that protect Great Lakes habitats for birds, other wildlife, and local communities.
    • Presenter
      • Marnie Urso, Director of Policy, Audubon Great Lakes
  • Peer Networking: Learning Best Practices for Running a Chapter
    • Participants will be able to network with one another in two 45-minute breakout sessions to address common conservation challenges across flyways (i.e. board recruitment/retention, capacity building, youth engagement, building partnerships, conservation/policy issues). Predetermined group leaders will facilitate sessions with prepared discussion questions and resources. These sessions are an opportunity to meet with leaders that are not in your flyway, learn from each other’s successes, and form real connections that will allow networking to continue after the convention. Each participant will leave the session with contact information for counterparts across the country and clear plans for addressing challenges when they return to their chapters.
    • Presenters
      • Ariana Rickard, Co-President, Mt-Diablo Audubon Society
      • Daly Edmunds, Policy and Outreach Director, Audubon Rockies
      • Desiree Loggins, Network Action Manager, National Audubon Society
      • Vic Leipzig, Past President, Sea & Sage Audubon Society and Audubon California Board Member
    • Please Note: This session is also offered on Sunday at 1:15pm.
  • Key Components of an Effective Fundraising Plan
    • This session will provide insights into simple yet effective components of a fundraising plan. Annual appeal letters, best practices for earned income, and including simple planned giving language in communications will be highlighted. Participants will leave with templates, model language, and clear instructions for fundraising tools that can be implemented by any chapter.
    • Presenter
      • Kelly Adams, Vice President of Campaigns and Capacity Building, National Audubon Society
    • Please Note: This session is also offered on Sunday at 1:15pm.
  • Advanced Techniques for Lobbying Your Legislator to Take Action
    • Meeting with a legislator is a key element in our democracy. We have the right as constituents to go directly to our legislators and speak to them about issues that matter to us. Using our voices to inform legislators about the issues through storytelling is one of the most democratic actions we can take and is a proven tactic in building support. In this session, we will review how to effectively meet with your legislators, including how to define proper roles, make a hard “ask,” and effectively follow up. We will build on commonly known best practices and layer in advanced techniques to help get you closer to your goal.
    • Presenters
      • Claire Douglass, National Campaigns Manager, National Audubon Society
      • Talya Tavor, National Campaigns Manager, National Audubon Society
      • Maddox Wolfe, Coastal Campaigns Manager, National Audubon Society
      • Jaime Sigarán, National Campaigns Associate, National Audubon Society
  • Fledge the Next Generation! Build a Student Campus Chapter
    • College-age students and Audubon chapter leaders will learn how to engage and integrate the next generation of bird lovers and conservationists into Audubon. Participants will learn pragmatic lessons for achieving that goal through an Audubon campus chapter. You will learn how to build bridges between today’s leaders and the next generation of young conservationists. Presenters created the Green Bay Audubon Student Conservation Chapter at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay; they are eager to share with others how easy it is to create and support a local student campus chapter.
    • Presenters
      • Brandon Byrne, Student Secretary, Green Bay Audubon Student Conservation Chapter
      • Jacob Woulf, Student Secretary, Green Bay Audubon Student Conservation Chapter
      • Erin Giese, Staff Advisor to Green Bay Audubon Student Conservation Chapter and President of Northeastern Wisconsin Audubon Society
  • Working with Nontraditional Partners to Achieve Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Goals
    • Thoughtful engagement of new and nontraditional partners in our work can have a great impact in our communities. This session will focus on developing nonconservation partners for engagement programs to better tie Audubon work into the life of the community. This panel will illustrate key steps for co-developing programs with community partners using experiences from Birmingham Audubon’s long-term efforts with Putnam Middle School, a predominantly African-American Birmingham, Alabama, public school, and Audubon Great Lakes’ Wild Indigo program for engaging communities of color in Chicago, Illinois, and Detroit, Michigan. We will discuss recruiting partners, assessing community interests, and involving partners in event/project planning.
    • Presenters
      • Troy Peters, Engagement Manager, Audubon Great Lakes
      • Ansel Payne, Executive Director, Birmingham Audubon Society
      • Carina Ruiz, Community Engagement Manager, Audubon Great Lakes
  • Strengthening Network and Membership Diversity: Conversations Beyond Difference
    • Achieving racial and cultural diversity and inclusion are important goals for our network because the United States is a diverse nation and growing increasingly so. As a result, it is important that we have the tools to understand the barriers and challenges that impede us in our efforts to engage people in opportunities that strengthen our mission to protect birds and the places they need. This session will explore ways to have conversations that bolster the knowledge of our chapters and communities. We will explore strategies and provide tools that address three critical questions: Why don’t we talk about race and cultural differences? Why should we? How can we talk about race and culture without fear, guilt, and shame?
    • Presenters
      • Deeohn Ferris, Vice President of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, National Audubon Society
      • Allison Manswell, Path Forward Consulting
      • Tykee James, Government Affairs Coordinator, National Audubon Society
  • Digital Storytelling and Social Media Mastery
    • Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and more—trying to keep up with the ever-growing suite of social media platforms can seem overwhelming. How can you survive, much less thrive? In this session, we will show how focusing on basic principles of digital storytelling will help ensure you have the tools to adapt to social media trends and weather the changing digital landscape. We will also explore free and low-cost tools that can help you do more in less time. Learn which platforms are best to reach, engage, and activate your audiences and how you can build a vibrant, supportive online community.
    • Presenters
      • Elizabeth Sorrell, Vice President of Audience Engagement, National Audubon Society
      • Preeti Desai, Director of Social Media and Storytelling, National Audubon Society
  • Building Your Plants for Birds Program
    • This session is for chapters that have not participated in Plants for Birds activities before. Audubon’s Plants for Birds team has developed a suite a resources to support native plant activities wherever they occur across the country (including customizable templates, presentations, etc.). The team will spend the first half of the session showcasing the various resources and the second half of the session facilitating small groups in the use and customization of the resources.
    • Presenters
      • John Rowden, Director of Community Conservation, National Audubon Society
      • Marlene Pantin, Partnerships Manager, National Audubon Society
      • Roslyn Rivas, Plants for Birds Program Coordinator, National Audubon Society

12:00pm – 1:00pm

  • Lunch

1:15pm – 2:45pm

  • Audubon’s Vision: Restoring the Gulf of Mexico for Birds and People
    • This session will highlight Audubon’s vision for bird recovery in the Gulf of Mexico in the wake of the BP oil spill and other stressors such as climate change and hurricanes. Learn about Audubon’s Gulf Restoration Plan and how it is used to inform conservation action. Participants will see the importance of community engagement, coastal stewardship, and habitat restoration for Gulf flagship birds, understand how the modeling can inform conservation planning, and discuss how equity, diversity, and inclusion are vital to successful restoration efforts.
    • Presenters
      • Kara Lankford, Director, Gulf Coast Restoration, National Audubon Society
      • Nicole Michel, Ph.D., Senior Quantitative Ecologist, National Audubon Society
      • Charles Allen, Community Engagement Director, Audubon Louisiana
      • Sarah Pacyna, Director, Coastal Bird Stewardship Program, Audubon Mississippi
  • Renewable Energy, Climate, and Birds
    • Audubon’s 2014 Climate Report tells us that we need to transform our energy sector more rapidly with renewable energy or 314 species of birds may face severe declines by 2080. Wind and solar energy both have impacts on birds. This session will provide tools and strategies to advocate for renewable energy projects that are well sited to avoid, minimize, and mitigate effectively the impacts on birds.
    • Presenter
      • Garry George, Renewable Energy Director, National Audubon Society
  • Building an Effective, Mission-Driven Board
    • This session provides tools to reboot your recruitment practices to achieve an effective, mission-driven, diverse board. Most boards understand the potential benefits of diversity and inclusion in building an effective, mission-driven board. This session builds on Audubon’s Statement on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, focusing specifically on board composition. Strategic board composition does not happen without conscious effort. Learn how to define what constitutes the ideal board—not just in terms of expertise, experience, and networks, but also in how it reflects the organization’s goals of diversity and inclusion. Then you can achieve this vision through focused and disciplined board recruitment.
    • Presenter
      • Vicki Clark, Senior Governance Consultant, BoardSource
  • Finding Volunteers to Support Your Chapter and Audubon's Mission
    • Dedicated volunteers have been helping birds for more than 100 years of Audubon's history. This session will focus on finding new volunteer leaders who will keep Audubon strong for the next 100 years. Learn about sources for potential volunteers and how to describe opportunities available through your organization. Engaging diverse volunteer applicant pools will be an area of special focus. Examples of volunteer recruitment methodologies will be provided for you to use with your fellow chapter leaders.
    • Presenter
      • Nina Lapitan, Volunteer and Rental Services Manager, Aullwood Audubon Center
    • Please Note: This session is also offered on Sunday at 1:15pm.
  • Bring Power to Issue-based Advocacy Campaigns
    • Audubon work is based on evidence-based science, which not only gives us a framework and a skillset to understand the world, but an edge when it comes to protecting birds. But facts alone are not enough to change hearts and minds. Understanding how to acquire and apply power helps us envision a world different from our own—a better world—and what role we play in changing it. In this session, you will learn what power is, how to get it, and what we can do to advance Audubon’s policy agenda once we have it.
    • Presenters
      • Claire Douglass, National Campaigns Director, National Audubon Society
      • Talya Tavor, National Campaigns Manager, National Audubon Society
      • Maddox Wolfe, Coastal Campaigns Manager, National Audubon Society
      • Jaime Sigarán, National Campaigns Associate, National Audubon Society
  • Audubon Careers: Panel with David Yarnold and other key Audubon staff
    • This panel discussion, for young professionals and leadership volunteers at varying stages of their careers, will provide useful insights into life journeys that lead to working for Audubon. Audubon staff have remarkably varied career backgrounds, and collectively they work together to further Audubon’s mission and achieve our ambitious conservation goals. Their experiences will help you chart your own path towards a career that helps birds and the places they need.
    • Moderator
      • Raymond Sessley, Fund II Foundation Apprentice, Campus Chapter Program, National Audubon Society
  • Birdability: Getting the Mobility-Challenged Outside Birding!
    • Forty-seven years ago, Virginia Rose broke her back in a horsebackriding accident and has used a wheelchair since. About twenty years ago, she began birding and joined Travis Audubon in Austin, Texas. One year ago, Virginia Rose launched Birdability. Her mission: to show others with mobility challenges what birding offers them, the possibilities, the successes, the learning, the joy! Rose has created a three-prong approach to achieve her mission: 1.) Identify mobility-challenged members and accessible birding sites through Audubon Societies nationwide; 2.) Identify and approach the mobility-challenged communities; 3.) Identify and approach the most accessible U.S. birding festivals.  The ultimate goal? To create mobility-challenged birding teams in cities across the country. Once established, city teams can host other teams. The Austin birding team invites the Seattle team to bird the accessible Austin sites, and then Seattle reciprocates! Make it happen!
    • Presenters
      • Virginia Rose, Board Member, Travis Audubon Society
      • Melanie Furr, Director of Education, Atlanta Audubon Society
  • Successful Connections: Latino Communities and Bird Conservation
    • Audubon centers on opposite coasts engage diverse communities and develop genuine collaboration with nontraditional partners. The Audubon Center at Debs Park sits in an urban oasis in the heart of Los Angeles. Patterson Park Audubon Center leads conservation and education initiatives in a Baltimore city park and nearby neighborhoods. Explore how a mostly white staff engages the Latino community in meaningful connections to nature and greening projects that improve neighborhoods for birds and people, and how an all people-of-color staff builds community through community science, advocacy/policy, and volunteerism.
    • Presenters
      • Susie Creamer, Center Director, Patterson Park Audubon Center
      • Marcos Trinidad, Center Director, Audubon Center at Debs Park
  • Great Photos, Mobile Video Interviews, and Effective Design Principles
    • Do your chapter communications need a boost? In this hands-on session, you’ll learn where you can find free or low-cost but high-quality photographs, how to handle copyrights and credits, how to create short videos using tools you probably have in your pocket, principles for great design (from fonts to colors to printing tips), and bird photography ethics. You will get to try out the things that you’re learning in small groups. Please bring a sample designed newsletter, flyer, or video for discussion with the group. Session leaders will include the experts who create Audubon magazine and Audubon.org.
    • Presenter
      • Kristina Deckert, Art Director, National Audubon Society
  • Bird-Friendly Buildings: Starting a Program
    • This session is for chapters/centers that have not participated in Bird-Friendly Building (BFB) activities before. Peer-reviewed, published research estimates that up to one billion birds collide with windows and perish each day in the U.S. Panelists representing three Audubon projects will briefly share how they developed BFB activities in their locations, focused on pursuing Lights Out and collision reduction in cities, as well as residential and low-rise buildings outside urban centers. For the remainder of the session participants will break into small groups to conduct facilitated planning to start BFB activities in their community.
    • Presenters
      • John Rowden, Director of Community Conservation, National Audubon Society
      • Leigh Altadonna, President, Wyncote Audubon Society
      • Peter Saenger, President, Lehigh Valley Audubon Society
      • Adam Betuel, Director of Conservation, Atlanta Audubon Society
      • Susan Elbin, Director of Science and Conservation, New York City Audubon Society
  • America’s Grassland Crisis and Audubon’s Strategy to Effect Change
    • Grasslands are the most imperiled landscape in North America and Audubon is working to protect and enhance what remains. In 2019 Audubon releases the Audubon Grasslands Report to highlight why Audubon has focused on grasslands conservation as part of its Working Lands strategy. The verdict: This is a crisis. Grasslands in the U.S. recently experienced land conversion rates equivalent to deforestation rates of the Amazon. Climate change at its current pace places one in three grassland birds at risk. Join us to learn the key headlines from Audubon’s Grasslands Report, to hear Audubon’s market-based strategy for grassland enhancement and conservation ranching, and to learn about the importance of advocacy for forward-looking policies to protect grassland birds.
    • Presenters
      • Brian Trusty, Vice President, Central Flyway, National Audubon Society
      • Chad Wilsey, Vice President of Conservation Science, National Audubon Society
      • Julie Grogan-Brown, Policy Manager, Working Lands, National Audubon Society
      • Dan Rasmussen, 33 Ranch, South Dakota

3:00pm – 4:45pm

  • Regional Meetings
    • Gather with other convention attendees from your region to learn more about what’s happening in your area, discuss conservation priorities, share stories, and network.

6:00pm – 8:00pm

  • Audubon Convention Banquet with Awards Presentations and a Conversation with Hahrie Han
    • $65 per person. Alcoholic beverages are available to purchase at your own expense. 
    • Pre-registration required.

Sunday, July 28th

  • Breakfast on own

8:30am – 10:00am

  • Plenary Address with Keynote Speaker Winona LaDuke

10:30am – 12:00pm

  • Q&A with Winona LaDuke
    • Join Winona LaDuke after her keynote address for a continued discussion on creating a more welcoming and vibrant conservation movement.
  • Building your Coastal Bird Stewardship Program
    • In 2018, Audubon released the Coastal Stewardship Toolkit, a handbook that features the best practices and most effective tools for protecting coastal birds. This workshop will support implementation of the toolkit’s many tools, including how to organize and sustain stewardship programs. Participants will learn about community engagement, working with schools, building partnerships, and how to successfully launch and sustain stewardship programs that reduce threats and protect birds at the places they need most. These tools and skills will help you develop your own successful stewardship programs.
    • Presenters
      • Walker Golder, Director of Atlantic Flyway Coasts, National Audubon Society
      • Andrea Jones, Director of Bird Conservation, Audubon California
      • Katie Barnes, Coastal Bird Technician, Audubon Louisiana
      • Emma Rhodes, Assistant Biologist, Birmingham Audubon Society
      • Lisa Chaddock, Advisor, San Diego City College Audubon Club
  • How You Can Influence Climate Policy
    • This workshop focuses on educating leaders about existing pragmatic and bipartisan policies that can help reduce carbon emissions and grow clean energy at a scale necessary to protect our planet. You will learn pros and cons of these different initiatives, see examples of how these policies are playing out in some states, and discuss ways to use our power as constituents to push our elected officials to support policies that work, especially as they relate to current local events. You will practice how to use our voices to talk about the climate crisis in a personal, meaningful, and effective way that has a chance to enlist support from others.
    • Presenters
      • Chloe Kossef, Policy Associate for Climate Strategy, National Audubon Society
      • Talya Tavor, National Campaigns Manager, National Audubon Society
      • Sarah Friedman, Program Manager for Climate Strategy, National Audubon Society
  • Grant Writing Techniques for Successful Proposals
    • Writing a successful grant application is both a science and an art. Learn best practices and tricks of the trade for effective narratives, clear budgets, and realistic projects that address the funder's requirements. Audubon in Action and Burke Plants for Birds applications will be used as examples and starting points for this interactive session.
    • Presenters
      • Nadine Kolowrat, Director of Institutional Giving, National Audubon Society
      • Kris Hermanson, Director of Grants and Compliance, National Audubon Society
    • Please Note: This session is also offered on Sunday at 3:00pm.
  • The Many Gateways to an Environmental Career: Opportunities and Strategies
    • There are many paths to a career at Audubon, some starting from an environmental science or related educational background as well as those from other fields, such as communications and law. Applying for any job—constructing an effective résumé, writing an attention-getting cover letter, preparing for an interview—can be complicated and confusing. In this session we will discuss early career opportunities at Audubon, including internships and fellowships. We will guide students and early career professionals through the structure of a résumé, how to convey your experience and passion in a cover letter, and the do’s and don’ts of an interview. Participants will also learn about career opportunities at Audubon and about the Audubon jobs website.
    • Presenter
      • Gustavo Figueroa, Student Outreach Associate, National Audubon Society
  • New Tools for Advancing the Diversity of Boards and Members and Engaging New Audiences
    • Many chapter leaders think about diversity as one of their most significant challenges. Often, leaders ask, How can we diversify our boards and staff, increase our membership, and engage more volunteers and people in our mission and programs? To support and assist these efforts, Audubon is developing EDI Model Plans—user-friendly, online templates and tools that provide clear guidance in the form of advice, best practices, goals, and strategies. This session will be a demonstration of these new tools and an opportunity to provide input to improve practicality and effectiveness.
    • Presenters
      • Deeohn Ferris, Vice President of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, National Audubon Society
      • Desiree Loggins, Network Action Manager, National Audubon Society
  • Making Your Voice Heard
    • People of color, white women, and other marginalized groups all report that they spend a lot of time and energy trying to make their voices heard. Making sure that your experience and expertise are heard and acknowledged has been described as “taking control of your narrative.” The ability to control your narrative is a learned skill—one that can be learned by those just starting out in conservation, volunteering, the general workforce, and on lobby days. This conversation will explore tactics that you can use to make sure that your voice is heard.
    • Presenters
      • Martha Harbison, Network Content Editor, National Audubon Society
      • Nicole Michel, Ph.D., Senior Quantitative Ecologist, National Audubon Society
      • Lisa Hardaway, Vice President, Communications, National Audubon Society
      • Joanna Wu, GIS Analyst/Biologist, National Audubon Society
  • Moving Your Members to Action with Effective E-mails and Websites
    • Your website and e-mails are the public face of your organization. Come learn best practices from Audubon experts and take away tips and tools to make your electronic media stand out. We will start by presenting top tips for effective e-mail communications. You will also review the SquareSpace website template specially created for Audubon chapters. Use it to unlock the full potential of your online audience engagement and outreach, and to build an ever more effective community advocating for birds and the places they depend on.
    • Presenters
      • Liz Pomper, Director of Online Outreach, National Audubon Society
      • John Mahoney, Vice President of Digital Products, National Audubon Society
  • Working for Birds in an Urban Setting: Three Perspectives From Milwaukee
    • Three interactive presentations will link unique urban bird conservation efforts and monitoring projects from across Milwaukee: (1) The process for communities to be recognized as a Bird City; (2) How Milwaukee County manages 10,000 acres of natural areas in Wisconsin's largest urban area; and (3) Bird monitoring projects in Milwaukee.
    • Presenters
      • William Mueller, Director, Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory
      • Chuck Hagner, Director, Bird City Wisconsin
      • Brian Russart, Natural Areas Manager, Milwaukee County Parks
  • Engaging Municipalities to Advance Bird-Friendly Building Initiatives
    • This session is for chapters/centers that are interested in how to engage municipalities in legislative change focused on Bird-Friendly Building activities. Two panelists will briefly share how their chapters have engaged municipalities, including successful examples of passing Bird-Friendly Building ordinances and how they have overcome challenges. For the remainder of the session participants will break into small groups to conduct facilitated planning on how to create municipal change in their communities.
    • Presenters
      • John Rowden, Director of Community Conservation, National Audubon Society
      • Annette Prince, Director, Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, Chicago Audubon Society
      • Noreen Weeden, Director of Volunteer Programs, Golden Gate Audubon Society

12:00pm – 1:00pm

  • Lunch

1:15pm – 2:45pm

  • Fulfilling Full Life-Cycle Conservation: An Overview of Audubon and BirdLife’s Work in the Americas
    • More than half of the birds that breed in the United States and Canada spend 50 percent or more of their lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. To support full life-cycle stewardship of our priority birds and their habitats, Audubon is part of a network of 19 bird conservation organizations across the Americas known as BirdLife International. Learn about the collective efforts of BirdLife’s network to support full life-cycle conservation of Audubon’s priority species and how to engage your community in this important work.
    • Presenters
      • Matthew Jeffery, Deputy Director, International Alliances Program, National Audubon Society
      • Luis Fernando Castillo, Executive Director of Calidris, Colombia
      • Yenifer Díaz, Panama Audubon Society, Panama
      • Esteban Lasso, Regional Director for the Americas, BirdLife International
  • Harnessing the Power of the Audubon Network to Conserve North American Migratory Birds
    • The session will consist of three brief presentations by the Migratory Bird Initiative followed by a Q&A period. The presentations will highlight the challenges of conserving North American migratory bird species and how Audubon can effectively and efficiently advance their conservation through understanding and apply established science. We will illustrate how the initiative uses science conducted within the Audubon network, connects the parts of the network, and supports our conservation and community engagement activities. You will learn how the initiative and all parts of the Audubon network can work together to advance the hemispheric conservation of migratory birds.
    • Presenters
      • Jill Deppe, Senior Director, Migratory Bird Initiative, National Audubon Society
      • Gary Langham, Chief Scientist, National Audubon Society
      • Melanie Smith, Program Director, Migration Atlas, National Audubon Society
      • Lotem Taylor, GIS and Data Analyst, National Audubon Society
      • Erika Knight, GIS and Data Analyst, National Audubon Society
  • Key Components of an Effective Fundraising Plan
    • This session will provide insights into simple yet effective components of a fundraising plan. Annual appeal letters, best practices for earned income, and including simple planned giving language in communications will be highlighted. Participants will leave with templates, model language, and clear instructions for fundraising tools that can be implemented by any chapter.
    • Presenter
      • Kelly Adams, Vice President of Campaigns and Capacity Building, National Audubon Society
    • Please Note: This session is also offered on Saturday at 10:30am.
  • Finding Volunteers to Support Your Chapter and Audubon's Mission
    • Dedicated Volunteers have been helping birds for more than 100 years of Audubon's history. This session will focus on finding new volunteers to help us keep Audubon strong for the next 100 years. Learn about a wide range of sources for potential volunteers and how to describe opportunities available through your organization. Engaging diverse volunteer applicant pools will be an area of special focus. Examples of volunteer recruitment methodologies will be provided for you to use with your fellow chapter leaders.
    • Presenter
      • Nina Lapitan, Volunteer and Rental Services Manager, Aullwood Audubon Center
    • Please Note: This session is also offered on Saturday at 1:15pm.
  • Peer Networking: Learning Best Practices for Running a Chapter
    • Participants will be able to network with one another in two 45-minute breakout sessions to address common conservation challenges across flyways (i.e. board recruitment/retention, capacity building, youth engagement, building partnerships, conservation/policy issues). Predetermined group leaders will facilitate sessions with prepared discussion questions and resources. These sessions are an opportunity to meet with leaders that are not in your flyway, learn from each other’s successes, and form real connections that will allow networking to continue after the convention. Each participant will leave the session with contact information for counterparts across the country and clear plans for addressing challenges when they return to their chapters.
    • Presenters
      • Ariana Rickard, Co-President, Mt-Diablo Audubon Society
      • Daly Edmunds, Policy and Outreach Director, Audubon Rockies
      • Desiree Loggins, Network Action Manager, National Audubon Society
      • Vic Leipzig, Past President, Sea & Sage Audubon Society and Audubon California Board Member
    • Please Note: This session is also offered on Saturday at 10:30am.
  • Engaging Youth in the Work of Audubon
    • Young leaders are driven, highly engaged in their communities, and highly diverse—attributes that we want to elevate within Audubon. By engaging students and young professionals, we nurture the next generations of Audubon leaders, advocates, and conservationists. Participants will learn how to engage youth of color, students, and nontraditional students in our work and programs by sharing best practices and examples from their experience. Attendees will work together to develop plans for an event to bring back home. Participants will also learn about inclusivity and representation guidelines to consider when planning events and activities.
    • Presenters
      • Gustavo Figueroa, Student Outreach Associate, National Audubon Society
      • Dominic Arenas, Fund II Foundation Apprentice, Content, National Audubon Society
      • Carly Zeis, Miami University of Ohio
  • Audubon Grassroots Leading the Way: Strategic Planning Workshop for Coastal Advocates
    • This will be a hands-on program planning session for Audubon coastal advocates. First, we will give an overview of Audubon’s coastal strategy and do a deeper dive on how fisheries legislation can make or break the future of seabirds. Then, participants will co-create tactics on how to promote and defend seabirds and their prey, using their voices and knowledge of their community.
    • Presenters
      • Karen Hyun, Vice President, Coastal Conservation, National Audubon Society
      • Charlotte Runzel, Policy Associate, National Audubon Society
      • Maddox Wolfe, Coastal Campaigns Manager, National Audubon Society
  • Environmental Justice Protects Birds, Wildlife, and People, Too
    • Environmental justice and caring for nature, birds, and the places they live can be one and the same. Engaging and partnering with communities that are affected by environmental and conservation impacts strengthens efforts to protect birds, Important Bird Areas and other spaces that are critical for wildlife, humans, and survival of the planet. Explore models, strategies, and success stories that focus on engaging diverse communities, learning from them, and deploying that learning and engagement to further Audubon’s mission to protect birds and wildlife.
    • Presenters
      • Bradford Kasberg, Wetland Restoration Manager, Audubon Great Lakes
      • Ryan Llamas, Salton Sea Program Associate, Audubon California
      • Jason Ward, Fund II Foundation Apprentice, Community Stakeholder Engagement, National Audubon Society
      • Tania Romero, Fund II Foundation Apprentice, Community Stakeholder Engagement, National Audubon Society
  • Climate Watch: Monitoring Birds in a Changing Climate
    • The session is geared towards growing the network of Audubon members who participate in this community science effort that seeks to understand how birds are being affected by climate change and to test the future range change predictions for U.S. species. Learn about Audubon’s Climate Watch program and the science that is its foundation. Hear highlights from the pilot phase and cover resources and a broader role within the Climate Initiative. Workshop attendees will gain insights into coordinating and participating in the program.
    • Presenters
      • Brooke Bateman, Director of Climate Watch, National Audubon Society
      • Matt Johnson, Conservation & Engagement, Audubon South Carolina
      • Kathy Dale, Director of Science Technology, National Audubon Society
      • Adam Betuel, Director of Conservation, Atlanta Audubon Society
      • Herbert Huebner, Board Member, St. Louis Audubon Society
      • Perrianne Houghton, President, Central New Mexico Audubon Society
  • Introduction to Geographic Information System (GIS) Mapping Tools
    • This workshop offers an introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools and other resources that are available for scientific research and community science initiatives, as well as recreational birding. Participants will learn how to get started with GIS and how it is used in programs such as Climate Watch, Christmas Bird Count, and other programs.
    • Presenters
      • Ryan Hobbs, Enterprise GIS Support Technician, National Audubon Society

3:00pm – 4:30pm

  • Water and Birds in the Arid West: Preparing for Action
    • Audubon’s Western Water Initiative focuses on protecting the arid west's most precious resource—water. This work stretches across a vast geography and impacts birds, sensitive ecosystems, and people. In order to move this work forward Audubon needs to engage the full network (members, chapters, partners, and community members). This workshop will address how we can work together to advocate for responsible water policy and resilient rivers, increase understanding through community science, and communicate the issue to a diverse audiences. Participants will work in small groups to discuss strategy and learn how this work may be funded.
    • Presenters
      • Desiree Loggins, Network Action Manager, National Audubon Society
      • Abby Burk, Western Rivers Regional Program Manager, Audubon Rockies
  • Grant Writing Techniques for Successful Proposals
    • Writing a successful grant application is both a science and an art. Learn best practices and tricks of the trade for effective narratives, clear budgets, and realistic projects that address the funder's requirements. Audubon in Action and Burke Plants for Birds applications will be used as examples and starting points for this interactive session.
    • Presenters
      • Nadine Kolowrat, Director of Institutional Giving, National Audubon Society
      • Kris Hermanson, Director of Grants and Compliance, National Audubon Society
    • Please Note: This session is also offered on Sunday at 10:30am.
  • Learning, Grounding, Rooting: What the Farmworker Struggle for Justice Can Teach Us About Organizing
    • Creativity, resilience, and resourcefulness have helped past and present-day organized groups of farmworkers overcome entrenched, powerful, and systemic barriers. From the Dust Bowl and DDT to the Chicano and People’s Climate Movement, farmworker power grew organically and goals were achieved through grassroots mobilization. We can apply these lessons to the role of organizers in our quest to be better advocates for birds and the environment. Participants will walk away understanding how to apply a social/racial justice lens to environmentally focused campaigns and advocacy, how to frame messaging to engage nontraditional allies, and how to increase collective power to achieve specific goals.
    • Presenters
      • Claire Douglass, National Campaigns Director, National Audubon Society
      • Talya Tavor, National Campaigns Manager, National Audubon Society
      • Maddox Wolfe, Coastal Campaigns Manager, National Audubon Society
      • Jaime Sigarn, National Campaigns Associate, National Audubon Society
  • Fundamentals of Climate Change
    • This session will provide a science-based overview of past and current climate change, future climate change, implications for birds and other species, and what we can and must do. Understanding climate science will provide a strong platform for your advocacy, community science, engagement, and conservation work.
    • Presenter
      • Terry Root, National Audubon Society Board Member and Senior Fellow Emerita in Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University
  • Passing Funding Legislation Through Community Campaigns
    • Billions of dollars in funding for conservation have been achieved at a local scale through innovative yet straightforward public funding mechanisms. Learn how a small, economically challenged community passed a $26 million bond issue for their parks and about larger statewide campaigns in which Audubon has often participated. This is a story of how a small group of people can make a huge impact for conservation. This is also the story of how small and large not-for-profit organizations can have an impact when they have vision, partnerships, strategy, promotion, and perseverance.  Participants will leave with an understanding of how they can undertake a campaign in their own communities.
    • Presenters
      • David Hartwell, Board Member, National Audubon Society
  • New Features for Audubon's Christmas Bird Count
    • This session will demonstrate new Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and data display features for Audubon's Christmas Bird Count (CBC) to compilers and participants, including the ESRI Sector Drawing tool, the CBC Explorer app, and the CBC Trends Viewer.
    • Presenters
      • Geoff LeBaron, Director, Christmas Bird Count, National Audubon Society
  • Creating Strategic Partnerships with For-Profit Entities
    • Actively engaging in partnerships with mission-aligned companies is a fantastic strategy for your chapter. Participants will learn how to create well-executed partnerships that reach new audiences and generate earned revenue in support of your conservation goals. This session will cover the best structure and practices for the most common types of partnerships between nonprofits and for-profits, as well as guidance to help you decide whether or not a partnership is a good fit.
    • Presenter
      • Julisa Colón, Manager, Brand Marketing, National Audubon Society
  • Planting Hope: Engaging Faith-Based Communities in Plants for Birds
    • Many faith traditions have a focus on stewardship or “creation care” and can be effective partners in using native plants for establishing demonstration gardens or other restoration efforts. In this session, two chapter leaders will share about their experiences in developing partnerships with faith-based communities, exploring the challenges and opportunities encountered. Participants will then be able to spend time in small groups brainstorming and developing action plans for engaging faith communities in their local area.
    • Presenters
      • John Rowden, Director of Community Conservation, National Audubon Society
      • Robin Duska, Audubon at Home Co-Director, Audubon Society of Northern Virginia
      • Tom Tribble, President, Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society

5:00pm – 8:00pm

  • Outdoor Community Barbecue and Networking (with Special Feathered Guests)
    • Closing remarks and special announcement about the 2021 Audubon Convention date and location.
    • Included in registration fee. Alcoholic beverages are available to purchase at your own expense. 

Monday, July 29th

  • Breakfast on own

**All field trips include transportation, lunch, water, and snacks unless otherwise noted. Pre-registration is required.

Half-Day Field Trips

6:00am – 11:00am

  • Bird Walk & LEED Building Tour at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
    • $50 per person
    • Enjoy a guided bird walk on a variety of trails through forests, wetlands, restored prairies, ravines, bluffs, and Lake Michigan shoreline. Schlitz Audubon Nature Center is a designated Important Bird Area due to the habitat provided by Lake Michigan for certain waterfowl, as well as their contiguous uplands which provide crucial habitat for migrants, breeding, and overwintering birds. Since 1974, 260 species, including 36 warbler species, have been seen here. Species you may see include Chimney Swift, Great Crested Flycatcher, American Redstart, Baltimore Oriole, Wood Thrush, Barn Swallow, Purple Martin, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. This field trip will conclude with a tour of the education center, which received Wisconsin’s first Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) award from the U.S. Building Council.
    • Level: Easy. Birding via walking on paved and unpaved walkways and trails. Wheelchair accessible trails are available.
    • Please Note: Lunch is not included.

6:00am – 1:00pm

  • Madison Audubon Faville Grove Wildlife Sanctuary (with special guest, Kenn Kaufman)
    • SOLD OUT. Pre-registration required.
    • $85 per person
    • Learn about the restoration of this important landscape, its historical context, and the plants and animals that inhabit this southeastern Wisconsin glacial plain. More than 600 native plant species have been recorded onsite, and about 100 bird species breed on the 1,000+ acres that Faville Grove Sanctuary helps manage. From federally threatened Eastern Prairie White-Fringed Orchids to state endangered Silphium Borer Moths and state threatened Henslow's Sparrows, Faville Grove is truly a sanctuary for a diverse and rebounding array of natural wonders. Species you may see include Wood Duck, Northern Flicker, American Kestrel, Eastern Kingbird, Bobolink, Willow Flycatcher, and Bald Eagle.
    • Level: Moderate. Birding via walking through native vegetation.

6:30am – 12:00pm

  • Milwaukee Lakeshore Bird Walks
    • $85 per person
    • Birding on Lake Michigan can’t be missed! Visit three Milwaukee lakeshore sites on this field trip, including Lakeshore State Park, Forest Beach Migratory Preserve, and Cedar Grove Hawk Research Station. Each offers unique birding experiences including waterfowl, shorebirds, and gulls. Species you may see include Dickcissel, Indigo Bunting, Wood Duck, Black-crowned Night-Heron, orioles, sparrows, swallows, and Eastern Bluebird. 
    • Level: Easy. Birding from and near vehicle with level walking on paved and unpaved walkways and trails.

7:00am – 1:00pm

  • Explore Horicon Marsh: Largest Cattail Marsh in the United States
    • SOLD OUT. Pre-registration required.
    • $85 per person
    • Located in southeast Wisconsin, Horicon Marsh has been formally recognized as a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention of the United Nations. The interior of Horicon Marsh is home to a wide variety of marsh birds, from ducks and geese to pelicans, herons, egrets, and cormorants. However, the scattered woodlands provide home to an array of songbirds that can be found during the spring and fall migration as well as summer nesting populations. A close look may reveal a range of colorful songsters hiding among the dense foliage.
    • Level: Easy. Birding from and near vehicle with level walking on paved and unpaved walkways and trails.

7:00am – 2:00pm

  • Birding, Boating, and Breweries along the Milwaukee River
    • SOLD OUT. Pre-registration required.
    • $85 per person
    • Enjoy paddling the scenic Milwaukee River from Waubedonia to the town of Grafton. Stop at parks along the way to spy birds and learn about restoration of terrestrial, riparian, and aquatic habitat within Ozaukee County. End at a local brewery for a craft beer (optional). Birds you may see include Red-eyed Vireo, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Cedar Waxwing, Chimney Swift, Great Crested Flycatcher, Indigo Bunting, Cooper’s Hawk, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Gray Catbird, Baltimore Oriole, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Song Sparrow, American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and Green Heron.
    • Level: Intermediate. Must be an experienced paddler with an ability to board a kayak or a canoe at the shore.

Full Day Field Trips

6:00am – 5:30pm

  • Dunes Habitat and Kirtland’s Warblers at Sand Valley Golf Resort
    • SOLD OUT. Pre-registration required.
    • $120 per person
    • The Sand Valley Golf Resort currently sits on what was once the lakebed of an ancient glacial lake that covered much of Central Wisconsin. Today, the Sand Valley Restoration Trust (SVRT) encompasses 7,000 acres and works to restore the native sand barrens by removing the red pine trees and encouraging the growth of native plants. On this field trip, visit the habitat of the protected Kirtland’s Warbler, tour the golf resort property, and hear from Jens Jensen, a naturalist specializing in conservation landscape design. Species you may see include Kirtland’s Warbler, Eastern Bluebird, Vesper Sparrow, Field Sparrow, and Tree Swallow.
    • Level: Easy. Birding via walking on paved and unpaved walkways and trails, as well as walking on a few hills. The presentation from Jens Jensen will be seated indoors.

7:30am – 6:00pm

  • Visionary Conservation: International Crane Foundation
    • SOLD OUT. Pre-registration required.
    • $120 per person
    • Visit the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin, and discover the science behind crane conservation. Unlock your curiosity with in-depth discussions with researchers, scientists, and educators. Begin your daylong field trip birding at the beautiful Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, participate in a radio tracking demonstration, and learn how the International Crane Foundation is helping to reintroduce the endangered Whooping Crane. Participants will then travel to central Wisconsin to visit the world headquarters of the International Crane Foundation. Although the facility is currently closed for a $10 million renovation, field trip participants will go behind the scenes to get an exclusive look at what it takes to safeguard endangered cranes. Species you may see include all 15 species of the world’s cranes (in captivity), including endangered Whooping, Siberian, and Red-crowned Cranes, and native grassland and woodland species including Indigo Bunting, Eastern Towhee, Yellow-throated Vireo, and Eastern Kingbird.
    • Level: Easy. Level walking on paved and unpaved walkways and trails. ADA accessible options are available, which include driving tours at Horicon Marsh and paved trails at the International Crane Foundation.