[chapter-communicator] Newswire, March 23

From: "Lynn Tennefoss" <ltennefoss@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: ltennefoss@xxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2004 11:14:44 -0500
Audubon Newswire
Volume 2, Number 5
March 23, 2004

In this issue:
-- Cranes and People Flock to Nebraska?s Platte River
-- Pete Salmansohn and Steve Kress Win Burroughs Award for ?Saving
Birds?
-- Audubon of Florida Names David Anderson State Director
-- Mississippi Flocks Together for 2004 Great Backyard Bird Count;
Early Results are in for the Full International Count
-- Minnesota Coalition Challenges Amphitheater Construction near
Refuge
-- Audubon New York and Chapters Co-sponsor ?Birds of the Hudson River
Estuary?
-- Audubon Applauds Adoption of Policy Restricting Take of Horseshoe
Crab Eggs
-- Attention Chapters: Audubon Adventures Enrollment Forms are Now
Available
-- Audubon to Work with Canadian Boreal Initiative to Protect the
Boreal Forest
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Cranes and People Flock to Nebraska for the Annual Migration
Concentration of Waterfowl; National Geographic ?CraneCam? Brings
Spectacle to Everyone

Kearney, NE  Monday, March 22, 2003 - Each spring, over a half million
Sandhill Cranes congregate on Nebraska?s Platte River in one of the
world?s greatest migration spectacles.  Along with these majestic
birds, tens-of-thousands of bird watchers flock to Audubon?s Rowe
Sanctuary to see and hear this astounding migration display.  This
year, Audubon, National Geographic Magazine, the Nebraska Department
of Travel and Tourism, and the Kearney Visitors Bureau invite nature
enthusiasts, bird lovers, and photography buffs to witness one of the
world's most spectacular wildlife migrations from a unique, cranes-eye
view via the ?CraneCam?.

From February 27 through April 15, a camera mounted on an island
within Audubon ?s Rowe Sanctuary on the Platte River -
www.rowesanctuary.org - will provide never-before-seen views of
Sandhill Cranes roosting in the thousands in the shallow water.
Images from the CraneCam can be seen on the National Geographic
Magazine?s website -  www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/cranecam -
along with information about cranes, Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary, and the
Iain Nicolson Audubon Center, located on the Sanctuary.  For more
information on the CraneCam, visit www.audubon.org
<http://www.audubon.org> .

To register or obtain more information, call Rowe Sanctuary at
308-468-5282 or visit www.audubon.org/states/ne/rvswlf.htm.
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--------------------------------------
The American Museum Of Natural History Honors Audubon's Pete
Salmansohn And Steve Kress; Saving Birds: Heroes Around the World
Chosen for ?John Burroughs List of Nature Books for Young Readers?

New York, NY, Tuesday, March 23, 2004 -- Saving Birds: Heroes Around
the World by Pete Salmansohn and Stephen W. Kress, an Audubon Book
published by Tilbury House of Gardiner, Maine, has been chosen for the
prestigious ?John Burroughs List of Nature Books for Young Readers?.
Just six books are chosen for the list each year in this annual
competition for outstanding natural history books for children. The
award will be presented to the authors at a museum banquet to be held
on April 5th, in New York City.

The ?John Burroughs List? was established in 1988 and named in honor
of the Hudson River naturalist and essayist.  A pioneer of nature
study, Burroughs (18371921) was once one of America?s most widely
read authors.  Saving Birds tells six very different stories about
bird rescue projects around the world -- scientists, volunteers, and
children working to save birds in New Zealand, Mexico, Malaysia,
China, Israel, and California.

Saving Birds recently received an ?Outstanding Science Trade Books for
Children? designation from the National Science Teachers? Association
(NSTA) and the Children?s Book Council (CBC), and a ?Best Books? award
from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
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--------------------------------------
David Anderson Named State Director Of Audubon Florida

Miami, FL, Monday, March 22, 2004 -- David Anderson has been named
state director of Audubon of Florida, the state program of the
National Audubon Society. He will begin his new assignment on April 5,
and will work out of Miami.

Anderson brings a wealth of experience to Audubon.  As Director of the
San Francisco Zoo, he is credited with helping modernize and refurbish
the institution, including leading a $25 million capital campaign that
brought about major new construction and design of intensive
interactive components to the Zoo.  Anderson also initiated a
successful effort to privatize the Zoo in 1993 in order to increase
funding and bring more focused governance to the institution.  A
life-long conservationist, experienced curator, and highly successful
fundraiser, Anderson also served as Associate Director and General
Curator at the Audubon Park and Zoological Gardens in New Orleans,
Louisiana, where he oversaw new exhibit construction - including the
design and opening of six new exhibit complexes - fundraising and
supervision of the educational department.

?I am excited about leading Audubon of Florida into its second century
of conservation,? said Anderson, ?Audubon?s statewide conservation
agenda is well established, and I look forward to working with the
staff and board to make it happen.?  For more information, visit
<http://www.audubon.org/news/press_releases/> .
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--------------------------------------
Mississippi Birdwatchers Turn Out In Flocks For Great Backyard Bird
Count
Nearly 2,000 Checklists Tally 153 Species; State Among Top Ten For
Participation;
Early Results for the Full Bird Count are Also Now Available

Vicksburg, MS, Monday, March 22, 2004 - The results are in!  While
this year?s Great Backyard Bird Count was a resounding success
throughout the country (see international results at www.audubon.org
<http://www.audubon.org> ), nowhere was success more keenly felt than
in Mississippi, which was a star player in the seventh annual national
bird survey.  Thanks to the State?s Chapters and other volunteers, the
Magnolia State placed sixth overall out of 50 U.S. states and 13
Canadian provinces and territories in terms of participation.  More
than 3,350 Mississippi residents submitted a whopping 1,992 birding
checklists.  A total of 153 species was reported this year, down from
175 species from last year, but enough to place Mississippi 14th for
species variety.

?We?re seeing a real groundswell of support and enthusiasm for the
Great Backyard Bird Count in Mississippi,? said Madge Lindsay,
executive director of Audubon Mississippi.  ?We?ve worked hard during
the past couple of years to raise awareness about the count, and get
more people involved.  As our participation rate continues to grow
every year, it tells us that people are really beginning to see the
value in getting involved in this kind of locally based citizen
science project, and recognize that it?s not only important, it?s a
fun activity for all ages.?

For a detailed report on Mississippi?s Great Backyard Bird Count
results, please visit
<http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/results/statelinks.html> or
www.birdsource.org/gbbc <http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc> and click on
?Results.?  To see the early results of the full count, visit
www.audubon.org <http://www.audubon.org> .
----------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
Coalition Prepares to Challenge Amphitheater Threatening Quality of
Outdoor Experience at Refuge

Bloomington, MN, Thursday, March 18, 2004 - A coalition of local,
state, and national citizen organizations - including Audubon
Minnesota and its Chapters - are banding together to fight the
proposed building of an amphitheater next to Minnesota Valley National
Wildlife Refuge in Scott County.  Concerns have been raised about the
project?s environmental impacts as well as the impacts on local
homeowners.

There are several similar projects that have either been approved or
are currently being considered that affect National Wildlife Refuges.
Projects include amphitheaters in West Palm Beach, San Francisco Bay,
and Virginia Beach; and a NASCAR racetrack that is slated for
construction near New Orleans.

?More than one million Minnesotans watch birds, and none of them want
to do it in the middle of a rock concert,? said Mark Martell,
Executive Director of Audubon Minnesota.  ?This proposed amphitheater
would decimate bird watching on a national wildlife refuge and cost
our community a chance to have a quality outdoor experience.?  For
more, visit
<http://www.audubon.org/news/press_releases/Minn_Theater.html#TopOfPag
e> .
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--------------------------------------
Museum of Natural History, Hudson River Audubon, New York City Audubon
& Audubon New York Co-Sponsor Conference: ?Birds of the Hudson River
Estuary?

New York, NY, Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - ?Birds of the Hudson River
Estuary: Status, Emerging Issues and Conservation.? a daylong event,
will be held Thursday, April 29, 2004, at the American Museum of
Natural History.  The program is presented by the Hudson River
Environmental Society and co-sponsored by several organizations,
including Audubon New York, Hudson River Audubon, New York City
Audubon, and the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at AMNH.

Whether migrating through or relying on its shores for nesting or
feeding habitat, scores of bird species depend on the Hudson River
Estuary for their survival. Bird populations have responded to the
changes in water quality and land use along the Hudson over the years:
some species have prospered, others have required human intervention
for survival, and still others have been threatened by new avian
diseases.

Key ornithologists and ecologists will explore which bird species use
the Hudson River Estuary (from Troy to New York City), how their
populations have changed over time, threats to their continued
existence, and ongoing protection efforts.  For more information, or
for sign up, visit the Hudson River Environmental Society¹s web site
at www.hres.org <http://www.hres.org> .
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
Audubon Applauds Measure To Restrict Harvest Of Horseshoe Crabs
Policy Will Help Protect Migratory Shorebirds Dependent On Crabs? Eggs

Washington, D.C., Monday, March 22, 2004 - On Wednesday, March 10, the
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Horseshoe Crab
Management Board agreed to adopt new conservation measures for the
horseshoe crab - a ?living fossil? whose population has been declining
due to overfishing.

With a vote of 12-3, the Board passed the Audubon-supported measure
that restricts the harvest of horseshoe crabs, prohibits harvest and
landings during May 1-June 7, and encourages bait-saving techniques.
These new restrictions will go into effect in New Jersey, Delaware,
and Maryland.  Additionally, New York is adopting similar measures,
but not under the ASMFC umbrella.

?These actions will go a very long way to not only protect the
horseshoe crab, but the migratory shorebirds that depend on them,
particularly the Red Knot - an Audubon WatchList species that has seen
a significant decline in recent years,? said Greg Butcher, National
Audubon Society?s director of bird conservation.  For more
information, please visit
<http://www.audubon.org/news/press_releases/Crabs_3-23-04.html#TopOfPa
ge>
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Attention Chapters:  Audubon Adventures Enrollment Forms are Now
Available Online

New York, NY, Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - Audubon Adventures has
announced that enrollment forms for the 20th Anniversary Season of
Audubon Adventures are currently available on line at
www.audubon.org/educate/aa <http://www.audubon.org/educate/aa> .

Hard copies of these forms are also being mailed directly to every
Audubon Chapter.
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Boreal Songbird Network - Which Includes Audubon - Lays Out Vision
for Protecting Vital Breeding Grounds for Billions of North American
Birds

Ottawa, Canada, Monday, March 22, 2004 - Stretching from Alaska to the
Atlantic Ocean, Canada?s boreal forest is one of the world?s largest
forests.  It accounts for 25 percent of the earth?s remaining intact
forests, covers 1.3 billion acres, and is larger than the Brazilian
Amazon.

An international campaign focused in the U.S. is emerging.  The Boreal
Songbird Network is a new network of conservation groups that include:
the Boreal Songbird Initiative, the National Audubon Society, the
National Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited, the Natural Resources
Defense Council, and the American Bird Conservancy.  These groups are
working to build a broad base of international support for boreal
conservation at www.borealbirds.org <http://www.borealbirds.org> .

The Network is also working on ways to affect change, and the adoption
of the Boreal Conservation Framework is one of them.  The Framework
proposes a new approach to balancing conservation and economic
development:  the establishment of a network of large interconnected
protected areas covering about half of Canada?s boreal region, and the
use of cutting-edge sustainable development practices in remaining
areas: www.borealcanada.ca <http://www.borealcanada.ca> .  In
November, the American Bird Conservancy Policy Council representing
over 80 bird conservation groups passed a resolution supporting the
Framework concept.

For more information on how you can help protect the boreal forest,
please go to the Boreal Songbird Initiative website at
www.borealbirds.org <http://www.borealbirds.org> .

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[chapter-communicator] Newswire, March 23

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