THE NETWORK: The Buff alo Audubon Society is improving neotropical migratory bird habitat at Joseph Davis State

Park in Lewiston, with support from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation.

ATLANTIC FLYWAY

ATLANTIC FLYWAYMigration The Atlantic Flyway encompasses some of the hemi-sphere’s most productive ecosystems, including forests, beaches, and coastal wetlands. From the Arctic south along the entire Atlan-tic Coast and through the Caribbean to South America, Audubon is working to support this avian superhighway’s 500-plus bird spe-cies, including Least Terns (above), and millions of individual birds.

Conservation Challenges Forty percent of the Atlantic Flyway’s bird species are species of conservation concern. These include the Wood Thrush, the most widespread of our eastern forest neotropical migrato-ry species, whose population has been reduced by half during the past 40 years. With only one-tenth of the U.S. landmass, this fl yway is home to one-third of the nation’s human population. And dense population carries with it many challenges for birds and habitat: development and sprawl, agriculture, logging, overfi shing, and climate change.

16

HEMISPHERIC

CONSERVATION

Bahamas

Species: Piping Plover Habitat: BahamasHow We Work: Audubon’s International Alliances Program partnered with Audubon North Carolina and the Bahamas National Trust to discover where Piping Plovers that breed on the East Coast of the United States and Canada spend the winter. They found their answer in a Bahamas population cen-sus this past February. The count tallied more than 1,000 birds—one-eighth of the highly endangered species’ entire population and the majority of the East Coast breeders. The census also identifi ed two new globally signifi cant Important Bird Areas. As a result of this work, we now know that the Bahamas is second only to Texas in importance to the survival and recovery of this vul-nerable species.

CONNECT: South Carolina’s Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest provides habitat for Prothonotary Warblers and

introduces visitors to low-country life. Learn more at http://mag.audubon.org/articles/conservation/enchanted-forest.

A

Audubon Vermont’s Forest Stewardship Program helps landowners manage their woods to benefi t forest birds.

17

New York City Audubon’s Project Safe Flight is making the city safer for migrating birds.

The Atlanta Audubon Society works to identify and conserve key breeding and feeding sites for birds in Georgia.

Audubon South Carolina negotiates conservation ease-ments to protect more habitat near Francis Beidler Forest.

OTHER PRIORITY SPECIES Canada Warbler, Black Skimmer, Greater Shearwater, Wood Stork, Snail Kite, Seaside Sparrow, American Black Duck

● Audubon Chapters: 157 ● Audubon Centers: 21 ★ Audubon State Offi ces: 8 ● Globally Signifi cant IBAs: 139

AUDUBON NETWORK : WOOD THRUSH

C

B

D

Audubon and BirdLife International Partner Pronatura protect forest fragments and restore watersheds in Veracruz, Mexico.

Audubon and Belize Audubon work for better management of Central American forests to create wintering habitat for migrating birds.

Points South

PRIORITY BIRD

Wood Thrush

(Hylocichla mustelina)Range and habitat: Nests in moist decidu-ous and mixed forests in eastern United States and southeastern Canada. Winters mostly in tropics of southern Mexico and Central America.Status: Research sug-gests a population decline of almost two percent a year since mid-1960s; decreases more pronounced in Canada than in the United States. Threats/Outlook: Habitat loss on both breeding and wintering grounds. Even where nesting habitat remains, fragmentation has increased threat of cowbird parasitism. Not in immediate danger, but large-scale habitat protection is essential.

THE NETWORK: Using a North America Wetlands Conservation Act Grant, Audubon Connecticut was able to secure protec-

tion of added acres at one of the state’s two globally signifi cant IBAs—habitat for nesting Saltmarsh Sparrows and other birds.

18

PROTECTING FORESTS FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS

Species: Wood Thrush, Canada Warbler, and scores of other migratory species Habitat: Forest nesting groundsOur Work: Audubon enlists landowners and foresters to adopt bird-friendly forestry practices, and promotes legislation that provides incentives.Conservation Impact: Audubon Vermont has trained 80 percent of the state’s foresters in wildlife-friendly practices. This year the program’s guidelines were adopted as an offi cial reference for management plans used by participants in a state property tax reduction program for land-owners who commit to keep their land (more than one million acres to date) in forest. Audubon New York has trained Adirondack landowners and foresters who are responsible for managing nearly 700,000 acres. In partnership with the Belize Audubon Society, Audubon is also supporting wintering habitat for the Wood Thrush (below) and other neotropical mi-grants through fi eld science training and public outreach efforts to reduce poaching in Important Bird Areas like Cockscomb National Park. Conservation Outlook: Under its new strategic plan, Audubon will be ex-panding both the reach and scope of this innovative approach to conserva-tion. This includes advancing economic incentives for forest preservation in Latin America as well as in the United States.

ATLANTIC FLYWAY

Field Notes

Name: Amanda Acosta,Executive Director, Belize Audubon SocietyRange: Belize

“Seven of the protectedareas managed by the Belize Audubon Society are prime wintering habitat for many neotropical migra-tory birds, including the Wood Thrush. By working with Audubon’s Interna-tional Alliances Program, we’re sharing expertise and experience that builds on our collaboration with many chapters of Audubon since our inception 42 years ago. Originally founded as an offshoot of the Florida Audubon Society, we now manage nine protected ar-eas covering 192,000 acres of Belize. We truly appreci-ate the strong support we have gotten from Audubon over the years.”

CONNECT: Project Puffi n had another great year, with more than 500 pairs of nesting Atlantic Puffi ns on Seal Island

alone. The program has been restoring breeding puffi ns in Maine since 1973. Learn more at http://www.projectpuffi n.org.

PRIORITY BIRD

Canada Warbler

(Cardellina canadensis)Range and habitat: Breeds in wide range of decidu-ous and coniferous forests from boreal Canada and northeastern U.S. through the Allegheny Mountains’ central ridge to Tennessee and Georgia. Winters south to northern South America.Status: Population of this little-studied species is roughly 1.4 million. Current population is half what it was in the mid-1960s. Threats/Outlook: Sensi-tive to forest fragmenta-tion by humans and deg-radation by deer feeding on understory vegetation. Loss of suitable habitat from development has reduced historical popula-tions. Species does well where forest patches are regenerating, but that dynamic habitat is less common than it once was.

19BIRD-FRIENDLY BACKYARDS, PARKS, AND COMMUNITIES

Species: Prothonotary Warbler, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Cedar WaxwingHabitat: Backyards, parks, and community green spaces Our Work: Without healthy, safe places to rest and refuel, even the hardi-est Atlantic Flyway migrants cannot complete their journeys each spring and fall. Fortunately, Audubon provides the expertise and resources volunteers need to welcome birds to their backyards and parks.Conservation Impact: Allentown and 11 other “Bird Towns” are enrolled in Audubon Pennsylvania’s new initiative to foster community-wide commit-ment to conservation. Audubon of Florida and Audubon Connecticut (one of its programs is shown above) are engaging Chapters, garden clubs, and other groups, through the Urban Oases program, to promote landscaping with plants that are benefi cial to birds. The Cape Fear Audubon Society in Wilmington, North Carolina, introduces “birdscaping” to local residents. And these are only a few of the ways Audubon At Home helps provide safe passage for millions of birds along the Atlantic Flyway. Conservation Outlook: Audubon will continue to mobilize its network of Centers and Chapters to empower individuals and communities to create more bird-friendly habitat all along the Atlantic Flyway.

THE NETWORK: Georgia’s Augusta-Aiken Audubon Society, Georgia Adopt-A-Stream, and South Carolina’s Silver Bluff

Audubon Center monitor water quality in a stream that provides feeding grounds for endangered Wood Storks.

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ATLANTIC FLYWAY

PROTECTING THE EVERGLADES

Species: Everglade Snail Kite, Roseate Spoonbill, Wood StorkHabitat: The Everglades and Florida Bay Our Work: By restoring the Everglades (above), Audubon preserves habi-tats for the birds that are the ecological indicators of the River of Grass. Conservation Impact: Audubon of Florida has long been at the forefront of Everglades protection and restoration. This year the state program focused attention on the plight of the critically endangered Everglade Snail Kite, securing federal commitments to restrict the use of irrigation water from Lake Okeechobee, a signifi cant threat to the species’ survival. Audubon of Florida was also instrumental in major projects that will restore much-needed freshwater fl ow into the Everglades, benefi ting Roseate Spoon-bills, Wood Storks, and wading bird colonies. In the northern Everglades, Audubon is working to ensure protection of 150,000 acres of ranchland as part of a newly proposed Everglades Headwaters Wildlife Refuge. Conservation Outlook: Audubon’s science underlies and shapes Ever-glades restoration decisions. Using the recovery of key bird species as a measure, Audubon, with its Chapters and partners, is advancing restora-tion projects and water management policies that sustain the wildlife that defi nes a healthy Everglades.

Field Notes

Name: Iván Mota, Intern, Project Puffi nRange: Coastal Maineand the DominicanRepublic

“Whenever I think about Project Puffi n, the endangered Black-capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata) always comes to mind. It breeds mainly on the island of Hispaniola (the Dominican Republic and Haiti). I believe the Black-capped Petrel can be a great species to start a similar reintroduction program—as was done with the Atlantic Puffi n in Maine—as other petrels have been successfully reintroduced following Project Puffi n methods. I hope to start such a project for Black-capped Petrels in Hispaniola.”

PRESERVING AND RESTORING LONG ISLAND SOUND

Species: Saltmarsh Sparrow, Roseate Tern, Piping Plover (bottom), and other shorebirdsHabitat: Long Island Sound Our Work: Roughly 10 percent of the U.S. population lives within 50 miles of Long Island Sound. A vital resource for birds and people alike, this rich estuary faces intense development pressure and recreational and commercial demands. Audubon is leading an ambitious effort to improve water quality, restore vital habitats, and promote biodiversity.Conservation Impact: National Audubon policy staff joined forces with Audubon Connecticut and Audubon New York to rally federal, state, and local lawmakers as well as other stakeholders to endorse Sound Vision, a two-year action plan to protect and restore the Sound. Developed by the Long Island Sound Citizens Advisory Committee, the plan combines new and existing restoration projects with unifi ed legislative efforts. Sci-ence plays a key role in Audubon’s work to protect and restore the Sound. This includes an Audubon Connecticut 2011 pilot project to assess breeding success and identify optimal nesting locations that will ultimately benefi t American Oystercatchers, Piping Plovers, and other shorebirds. Conservation Outlook: Audubon national and state staff, Chapters, activ-ists, and volunteers will continue working to reduce pollution and protect and restore habitat in this vital ecosystem.

CONNECT: Audubon of Florida’s Everglades team of science and policy professionals works tirelessly throughout the

year to protect water quality and habitat in the four corners of the Everglades. Learn more at http://fl .audubon.org.

21

PRIORITY BIRD

Snail Kite

(Rostrhamus sociabilis)Range and habitat: Inhab-its freshwater marshes and edges of streams and shal-low lakes from peninsular Florida through southern Mexico to Argentina. Range is restricted by specialized food requirements: Its diet is almost exclusively fresh-water apple snails.Status: Listed as endan-gered both federally and in Florida.Threats/Outlook: Primary negative impact is human alteration of natural water cycle, causing loss of foraging habitat. Since early 1900s, 50 percent of its habitat has been lost in southern Florida. Should benefi t from Everglades restoration efforts.

THE NETWORK: St. Louis Audubon helped prevent development of a casino that would have threatened an Important

Bird Area where 240 species of birds are found. The chapter rallied public opposition, and the proposal was denied.

MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY

MISSISSIPPI FLYWAYMigration Nearly half of North America’s bird species—and about 40 percent of its waterfowl—spend at least part of their lives on the Mississippi Flyway. The fl yway, with America’s mightiest river at its heart, connects landscapes from the Canadian Arctic through America’s heartland to the Gulf Coast and south as far as Patagonia.

Conservation Challenges The Mississippi River and its vibrant grass-lands, forests, and wetlands, which support a wide range of birds (includ-ing these White Pelicans), have been under sustained assault, enduring more than a century of abuse and exploitation. Between Minnesota and St. Louis, the river is managed with a series of 29 locks and dams. The lower river is straitjacketed by 1,678 miles of levees. It is confi ned to 10 percent of its historic fl oodplain, and at its mouth it can deposit barely any of the sediment needed to sustain its vast delta. As a result, 19 square miles of deltaic wetlands disappear each year. The BP oil disaster was the latest blow to a region already reeling from many other challenges.

22

HEMISPHERIC

CONSERVATION

Argentina

Species: Bobolink, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, American Golden Plover Habitat: San Javier and Santa Fe, ArgentinaHow We Work: The pam-pas grasslands of South America are the winter home to several important long-distance migrants from North America, including Bobolinks, which congregate in the town of San Javier in fl ocks exceeding one million. Audubon’s International Alliances Program works with Aves Argentina and other BirdLife International partners in the Southern Cone Grasslands Alliance to support conservation planning and improved management practices for landowners. The training of local biologists has sup-ported the development of bird-friendly cattle ranching and rice farming practices that increase economic gains for local landowners and ensure safe winter homes for grassland birds.

CONNECT: Mississippi’s Pascagoula River Audubon Center introduces visitors to one of the last free-fl owing river systems

in the country, promoting conservation practices they can use at home. Learn more at http://pascagoulariver.audubon.org.

PRIORITY BIRD

Prothonotary Warbler

(Protonotaria citrea)Range and habitat: From bottomland hardwood forests and other forested wetlands of U.S. Southeast to mangrove forests of Central and northern South America. Small breeding population in Canada.Status: Endangered in Canada, where popula-tion has dropped by at least 75 percent.Threats/Outlook: Log-ging and agriculture in U.S. and destruction of mangroves in South America have hurt. Nest-box programs are increas-ingly common in regional and county parks and can be helpful if wetland for-est habitat is maintained.

23

A

Audubon Minnesota works with private landowners in fl oodplain forest IBAs to improve breeding habitat.

B

Chicago Audubon Society, Audubon Chicago Region, and other partners have advocated for Chicago buildings to dim their lights during migration to prevent window collisions.

E

Audubon helps to protect vital breeding habitat at the West Pontchartrain-Maurepas Swamp Important Bird Area.

The Audubon Center atRiverlands promotes steward-ship of forests used by Prothono-tary Warblers on migration and during breeding season.

C

D

Audubon Mississippi, by partnering with the owners of bottomland hardwood forest, promotes bird-friendly forest management in the state.

Baton Rouge Audubon’s Peveto Woods Sanctuary provides a safe haven for resting and refueling.

F

● Audubon Chapters: 120 ● Audubon Centers: 9 ★ Audubon State Offi ces: 5 ● Globally Signifi cant IBAs: 59

AUDUBON NETWORK: PROTHONOTARY WARBLER

OTHER PRIORITY SPECIES Wilson’s Plover, Black Skimmer, Cerulean Warbler, Swallow-tailed Kite, Indigo Bunting, Henslow’s Sparrow, Least Tern

Audubon and Panama Audubon collaborate to protect wintering grounds.

Points South

THE NETWORK: Brainerd Lakes, Wild River, Zumbro Valley, and Central Minnesota Audubon chapters organized commu-

nity-wide “Chimney Swift Sits” in collaboration with Audubon Minnesota to locate and count birds of this declining species.

24

RESTORING THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Species: Swallow-tailed Kite, Indigo Bunting, Least TernHabitat: Mississippi River delta and fl oodplainOur Work: From moving mud to moving Congress, Audubon is leading an array of innovative efforts to restore the delta ecosystem and reestablish the natural, life-giving cycles of the Mississippi River, from headwaters to Gulf.Conservation impact: Audubon’s Mississippi River and Louisiana Coastal Initiatives, in collaboration with public policy teams, have scored many victories in the ongoing fi ght for river and delta restoration. At the Paul J. Rainey Wildlife Sanctuary (below), a small custom-built dredge is serv-ing as a prototype for wetlands restoration; this year also saw the repair of water control structures and levees that protect 11,000 acres of Rainey’s marsh from saltwater intrusion. During the 2011 Mississippi River fl ood, Audubon scientists collected fresh data that will inform future restoration and enable policy makers, conservationists, and the region’s residents to shape a new model for ecological and community resilience. Audubon’s policy team and grassroots activists were instrumental in garnering na-tional support for Mississippi River Delta recovery work in the aftermath of the BP oil disaster. This led to the introduction of federal legislation that, if passed, will direct billions of dollars to restoration.Conservation Outlook: Audubon is working to address both immediate and long-term threats to this vital region, from rethinking obsolete approaches to river “management,” to advocating for much-needed funding, to mar-shaling our network in conservation action up and down America’s river.

MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY

Field Notes

Name: Dick Riner, Steward and Leader, Bar-tel Grassland and Thorn Creek Audubon SocietyRange: Northern Illinois

“More and more volun-teers are showing up to help us with our prairie restoration, and it warms the cockles of my heart. The birds are happy with what we are doing—we see more different species, along with more of the ones we want to see. Just yesterday, I pulled into the grassland to wait for a group of volunteers. There was a ground fog, and the sun was just rising. A Northern Harrier came and circled right above me, as if I was a falconer and it was my bird. I wanted to ask, ‘Where are your parents?’ as I think it may have been raised on the site. That almost never happens in the Chicago area.”

CONNECT: Audubon activists are a powerful force for sound public policy, from the Gulf to the Arctic. Sign up for access to

lawmakers on issues aff ecting birds, other wildlife, and habitats. Learn more at http://policy.audubon.org/take-action.

PRIORITY BIRD

Least Tern

(Sterna antillarum)Range and habitat: Nests on sandy beaches up the Mississippi and other major river systems as well as along southern U.S. coasts. Large winter range across the marine coastlines of Central and South America. Status: Interior (and California) Least Tern on federal endangered species list. Considered threatened, endangered, or species of concern in many coastal states. Threats/Outlook: Histori-cal declines from feather hunting and egg collect-ing, pesticide use, and habitat destruction. With increased conservation, species has been recover-ing since about 1980.

25

ENLISTING BEACHGOERS TO PROTECT NESTING BIRDS

Species: Wilson’s Plover, Black Skimmer, Reddish Egret, Brown PelicanHabitat: Gulf Coast beaches and barrier islandsOur Work: Across the northern Gulf Coast, Audubon energizes volunteers and partner organizations to conserve, restore, protect, and evaluate a network of coastal sites for colonial and beach-nesting birds.Conservation Impact: During the 2011 nesting season, some Gulf Coast birds got a helping hand from Audubon Chapters and volunteers (above) who educated beachgoers about the birds and how to keep them, their eggs, and their chicks safe. Additionally, crowd-scientists collected information about birds and their coastal habitats throughout the year. The Audubon Coastal Bird Survey, with support from the Mississippi Coast Audubon So-ciety, Mobile Bay Audubon Society, and Pascagoula River Audubon Center, enlisted more than 150 volunteers to survey 24 sites in Mississippi and Ala-bama. These volunteers counted some 65,000 birds representing 160 species. Audubon scientists are linking hands across the Gulf Coast to standardize survey efforts from Texas to Florida, adding to our accuracy and impact.Conservation Outlook: Through innovative outreach and social marketing, we will reduce human disturbance, increase awareness, and broaden pub-lic protections for birds that breed, winter, and migrate along the Gulf Coast’s shores. Our scientists will build a long-term, credible inventory for species and habitat sites, ensuring adaptation to changes related to sea-level rise and human pressures.

THE NETWORK: The Baton Rouge Audubon Society sponsors “Kids Who Bird,” a bird club for kids up to age 16. Monthly

meetings have a theme (like hummingbirds or owls) and include educational activities, fi eld trips, and speakers.

26

MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY

Field Note

Name: Robin McAlester, Director, Wildcat Glades Audubon Center Range: Western Missouri

“After the tornado dev-astated Joplin, Missouri, support from donors across the country al-lowed us to offer free summer camps and pro-grams to families in our community. I remember the response from one of our partners, the local Boys & Girls Clubs direc-tor: ‘This is just the kind of program our kids—and staff—need, but with lim-ited funding and no more capacity for so many children, we wouldn’t have been able to provide it for them.’”

CONNECTING COMMUNITIESWITH THE RIVER

Species: Least Tern, White Pelican, Bald Eagle, various ducksHabitat: Audubon Center at Riverlands (above)Our Work: Through a partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Audubon opened a new conservation and education center near St. Louis, at the confl uence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.Conservation Impact: The center’s location near a diverse urban center and within the Great Rivers Confl uence Important Bird Area offers unique opportunities for education, conservation, and connection to nature. The Center is surrounded by 3,700 acres of prairie marsh and forest, which form an important wetland complex for migrating, nesting, and wintering waterbirds. Bald Eagles and King Rails breed within the IBA, and interior Least Terns nest on an artifi cial island at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanc-tuary. Thousands of waterfowl and shorebirds migrate through the IBA each year, along with large numbers of neotropical migratory songbirds, which are found primarily in bottomland forest along the rivers. The Audubon Center at Riverlands joins other Centers in the Mississippi Flyway, including Strawberry Plains Audubon Center in Mississippi and Grange Insurance Audubon Center in Ohio, in connecting local residents with nature and wildlife and in engaging visitors in conservation action, including grasslands restoration and watershed cleanup.Conservation Outlook: The Audubon Center at Riverlands, the newest addition to our Centers network, will play a key role in Audubon’s Missis-sippi Flyway conservation efforts and will serve the Greater St. Louis area, reconnecting its citizens with nature and America’s greatest river system.

CREATING HEALTHY HABITATFOR FOREST BIRDS

Species: Warblers, including Prothonotary, Swainson’s, and Cerulean (below)Habitat: Forest habitats of the Mississippi FlywayOur Work: Much of the Mississippi Flyway’s forested lands are privately owned and managed for forest products and recreational use. Audubon is partnering with landowners all along the fl yway to promote the adoption of bird-friendly forest management. Our goal is to ensure viable popula-tions of all bottomland hardwood-dependent birds (breeding and migra-tion) along the Mississippi River.Conservation Impact: Audubon completed a pilot project on 12,000 pri-vate acres in western Mississippi. Audubon Minnesota launched a pilot to promote best management practices to private landowners in fl ood-plain forests in and adjacent to the IBAs along the Upper Mississippi. Conservation Outlook: As word has spread about Audubon’s collabora-tive approach to forest management, we have been asked to develop a landowner learning network. We will bring bird-friendly management to 50,000 acres of private forest along the Mississippi River by 2014.

CONNECT: Most birds migrate at night. Lighted buildings can lure them off course, causing collisions and disorientation.

Audubon Minnesota’s Lights Out Program helps to keep these nighttime fl iers safe. Learn more at http://mn.audubon.org.

27

PRIORITY BIRD

Indigo bunting

(Passerina cyanea)Range and habitat: Breeds in forest edges from the northern Great Plains eastward to the Atlantic seaboard. Winters from Mexico to northern Panama.Status: Still abundant, though numbers are declining a bit.Threats/Outlook: Common cage bird and sometimes killed for food or sport in its tropical wintering grounds. In eastern North America its numbers decrease with in-tensive agriculture, forest regrowth, and continued urbanization. Numbers improve with increase of edge habitats.

THE NETWORK: Travis Audubon Society in Texas developed a program-based, adaptive land management plan at Baker

Sanctuary, a 690-acre preserve for the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler and other native wildlife and plant communities.

CENTRAL FLYWAY

CENTRAL FLYWAYMigration The Central Flyway spans the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, the heartland’s wetlands, and the western Gulf Coast. Many of its mi-gratory species winter in Central and South America, some as far south as Patagonia. In addition, this fl yway is home to such iconic western species as the Greater Sage-Grouse and the Lesser Prairie-Chicken.

Conservation Challenges Water diversion and other habitat loss from development are taking a toll on the riparian and wetland habitats that many waterfowl, including the critically endangered Whooping Crane (above), rely on to prepare for migration and breeding each spring. Energy exploration and development have ravaged the high plains and sagebrush of the intermountain West, with grim consequences for sage-grouse and other wildlife. And grassland birds and habitat are vanishing. Ninety-eight percent of the Midwest’s native prairie has disappeared, due to conversion to agricultural uses along with sup-pression of the natural fi re cycle required for renewal.

28

HEMISPHERIC

CONSERVATION

Mexico

Species: Swainson’s Hawk, many other migratory birdsHabitat: Veracruz, MexicoHow We Work: Rampant deforestation threatens critical wintering and stop-over habitat for millions of migratory birds that pass through Veracruz each year. Cattle ranching and agriculture have cleared more than 90 percent of central Veracruz’s natural vegetation, leaving little cover, food, or roosting sites for birds. Audubon’s International Alliances Program is working with Pronatura Veracruz to build local stewardship of this globally signifi cant IBA. Landowners are developing plant nurseries and other sustainable livelihoods from the forests instead of cutting them down to clear farmland. More than 3,000 acres of remain-ing Veracruz forest has been offi cially protected.

● Audubon Chapters: 75 ● Audubon Centers: 9 ★ Audubon State Offi ces: 7 ● Globally Signifi cant IBAs: 65

AUDUBON NETWORK : SANDHILL CRANE

CONNECT: Located amid 800 acres of tallgrass prairie and home to 210 bird species, Nebraska’s Spring Creek Prairie

Audubon Center preserves one of America’s most threatened habitats. Learn more at http://springcreekprairie.audubon.org.

Audubon Wyoming and three chapters—Meadowlark, Red Desert, and Murie—monitor IBAs that provide habitat for migrat-ing and nesting cranes.

29

Audubon Colorado and state chapters build a regional con-stituency for crane conservation with education, outreach. Black Canyon Audubon protects cranes at Fruitgrowers Reservoir IBA.

Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary isvisited each spring by 80% of the world’s Sandhill Cranes. All state chapters support crane work.

Audubon New Mexico and area chapters address threats to riparian wintering habitat, including the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, an IBA.

The Lahontan and Red Rock chapters work at three IBAs to protect, improve, and raise awareness about habitat for nesting cranes.

Audubon Texas’s work to protect wintering habitat on the Gulf Coast benefi ts both Sandhill and Whooping Cranes.

OTHER PRIORITY SPECIES Whooping Crane, Piping Plover, Redhead, Little Blue Heron, Wilson’s Plover, Greater Sage-Grouse, Lesser Prairie-Chicken, Interior Least Tern

ED

AB

C

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PRIORITY BIRD

Sandhill Crane

(Grus canadensis) Range and habitat: Nests in various places: across Canada, Siberia, Alaska; in Michigan and Wisconsin; and California to Colorado. Winters in Texas, Okla-homa, northern Mexico. Uses various habitats but always with water. Status: Currently safe. Population is about 450,000 and spreading in northeastern United States. Threats/Outlook: In the past, hunting, pesticides, and habitat loss harmed this species. To consoli-date conservation success, needs protection, restora-tion of habitat—the Platte River in Nebraska and pine forests and savan-nahs on the Gulf Coast.

THE NETWORK: Kansas’s Topeka Audubon hosted a “bioblitz” on 300 acres of parks on Shunganunga Creek. The survey

included the Warren Nature Area, where Audubon supported the collection of native seeds for grassland restoration.

30

BALANCING WILDLIFEAND GREEN ENERGY NEEDS

Species: Greater Sage-GrouseHabitat: Sagebrush ecosystem in the intermountain WestOur Work: Energy development poses an enormous threat to the sagebrush habitat that Greater Sage-Grouse, pronghorn antelope, and other wildlife depend on. The Greater Sage-Grouse (below) is already under consider-ation for listing as an endangered species as a result of habitat loss in much of its range. That’s why Audubon Wyoming and Audubon Colorado have led the development and adoption of a game-changing strategy that balances wildlife protection with our nation’s need for energy—especially green wind energy. This innovative, science-based approach identifi es the best places for wind farms and limits the footprint of oil and gas extrac-tion while protecting core habitat areas for sage-grouse.Conservation Impact: Fifteen million acres of sage-grouse habitat in Wyoming are now protected from too much energy and other types of development, and the Bureau of Land Management has adopted this core strategy in Oregon. Efforts to expand the approach into Colorado, Nevada, Utah, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and the Dakotas are under way.Conservation Outlook: Both energy extraction sites and transmission lines are threats to sagebrush habitat. Audubon is playing a key role in assessing potential impacts on birds and shaping land-use planning and decisions that meet the needs of both energy and wildlife.

CENTRAL FLYWAY

Field Notes

Name: Wes Martel, Eastern Shoshone Tribe, Board Member, Audubon Wyoming Range: Wyoming plains

“You know, it wasn’t that many centuries ago when most everybody believed how the earth and all of the things that the earth provides are important in our daily lives. Unfortu-nately, in today’s modern world, very few people understand it anymore. All these living things have a spirit just like us, and they are relatives—we are all related. When these male sage-grouse dance, the way they move and their feet are touch-ing the earth . . . when we see that dance, that reverence for the earth, that’s a very important part of how we maintain that connection.”

CONNECT: The Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary in Santa Fe—135 acres of spectacular landscapes and

abundant wildlife—provides sanctuary for plants, animals, and visitors. Learn more at http://nm.audubon.org.

PRIORITY BIRD

Little BlueHeron

(Egretta caerulea)Range and habitat: Widely distributed in marine and freshwater marshes across the southeastern United States and Central and South America.Status: Population has declined more than 50 percent in past 40 years. Current population is roughly 150,000.Threats/Outlook: Although this species didn’t meet the same fate as other egrets back in the 1800s—it doesn’t have the plumage coveted by feather hunters—it faces threats today largely from the loss of feeding habitat. The population is still in decline.

31

REST STOP ON THE MIGRATORY CORRIDOR

Species: Whooping and Sandhill Cranes, millions of migratory waterfowlHabitat: Great Plains wetlands, prairies, Platte RiverOur Work: Audubon Nebraska and its partners, including Big Bend Audu-bon, have a long history as central players in restoring the Platte River (above), one of the key stops along the Central Flyway. In addition to hands-on work to maintain this vital river channel, Audubon builds com-munity and national commitment by promoting sustainable ecotourism. Outreach also fosters grassland stewardship, including some 800 acres of native (never plowed) tallgrass prairie at the Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center near Lincoln, Nebraska. Conservation Impact: Working with partners, the Lillian Annette Rowe Sanctuary is clearing nearly 14,000 acres of invasive Phragmites australis, which will open miles of Platte River channel for birds and other wildlife. Each spring visitors from around the globe witness the spectacle of Sand-hill Crane migration at the sanctuary’s Iain Nicolson Audubon Center. Audubon Nebraska also leads Audubon’s opposition to the proposed Key-stone XL pipeline, which, besides transporting the dirtiest oil produced, would threaten precious groundwater in Nebraska’s Sandhills. Conservation Outlook: Audubon will continue to improve the management of the open channels and wet meadows of the Platte River and expand the acreage under its protection. We will focus education and outreach efforts to drive conservation results. By expanding our IBA program and strengthening our network, from North Dakota into Central America and beyond, we will shape a healthy future for the fl yway’s birds and communities.

THE NETWORK: Arizona’s Sonoran Audubon Society and Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center are partner-

ing with the BLM and local high school interns to survey Yellow-billed Cuckoos at the Agua Fria National Monument.

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CENTRAL FLYWAY

Field Note

Name: Eleanor Wootten, Board Member, Audubon New Mexico, and Member and Past President of Mesilla Valley AudubonRange: Mesilla Valley, New Mexico

“I have been coming to the Gila River since I was a child. I’ve camped on it, birded on it, and fi shed in it. Now there are propos-als to alter this wildlife and recreation resource by diverting some of its water. I think it’s more im-portant to keep the water in the river, where it helps cottonwoods, other trees and plants, and hundreds of species of birds thrive. That’s why I am work-ing with Audubon New Mexico to protect the place that is near and dear to my heart.”

WATER FOR BIRDS AND PEOPLE

Species: Whooping Crane, Little Blue Heron, many other speciesHabitat: The Texas Triangle; ArizonaOur Work: Water, a critical issue in Texas, Arizona, and other western states, is one of the challenges staff like Iliana Peña (opposite) of Audu-bon Texas focus on. Texas’s enormous array of birds depend on diverse habitats throughout the state, while 70 percent of the state’s human population is concentrated in the “Texas Triangle.” Arizona’s rapidly increasing population has potentially troubling consequences for the biologically diverse Sonoran Desert. Conservation Impact: Audubon Centers and Chapters empower people to conserve and safeguard water. Dallas’s Trinity River Audubon Center (top) introduces 45,000 visitors yearly to the Trinity River Watershed, enlisting many in wetlands restoration; this year the opening of the Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, with leadership from Audubon Dallas, signifi cantly expanded Audubon’s reach. San Antonio’s Mitchell Lake Audubon Center connects the diverse San Antonio community with the importance of water conservation, helping to safeguard water quality all the way down to San An-tonio Bay. The Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoe-nix engages thousands in stewardship of Arizona’s rivers. And the Tucson Audubon Society mobilizes residents to conserve water in their backyards.Conservation Outlook: Audubon’s Centers and Chapters are an important component in our strategy to promote sound water management policies and practices that support people and wildlife.

EXPANDING OUR GREEN ENERGY MODEL

Species: Lesser Prairie-ChickenHabitat: Plains and wetlands in Colorado and four adjoining statesOur Work: As pressure for much-needed wind energy development mounts in Colorado and elsewhere, Audubon is working to keep it green for birds and wildlife. Building on our innovative work with sage-grouse in Wyoming, Audubon Colorado is playing a key role in ensuring that siting decisions factor in habitat needs for birds and other wildlife.Conservation Impact: This year Audubon Colorado helped broker consen-sus with the wind industry in Colorado on best management practices (BMPs) for the siting and operation of wind farms. The resulting guide-lines, while voluntary, set a precedent for a reasonable level of protection for many vulnerable birds amid the current regulatory vacuum for wind energy in the interior West. Lesser Prairie-Chickens, Burrowing Owls, Mountain Plovers, and Sharp-tailed Grouse are only some of the species that will benefi t from this landmark set of science-based BMPs.Conservation Outlook: Balancing green energy development with wildlife needs will be one of the defi ning environmental challenges of this decade. That’s why Audubon is expanding our habitat-based model throughout the United States and into Latin America.

CONNECT: For 30-plus years Audubon’s Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch in Arizona has protected grasslands and birds

by engaging citizens and policy makers in safeguarding native ecosystems. Learn more at http://researchranch.audubon.org.

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PRIORITY BIRD

LesserPrairie-Chicken

(Tympanuchus pallidicinctus)Range and habitat: Resi-dent of arid shortgrass or mid-grass plains, especially near scrubby patches of shinnery oak, from south-west Kansas to southeast New Mexico.Status: Population down about 97 percent since the 1800s. Currently prob-ably fewer than 40,000, perhaps as few as 20,000.Threats/Outlook: Mainly habitat loss and degrada-tion. Remaining habitat threatened by fi re suppres-sion, inappropriate grazing regimes, and energy instal-lations, including wind, oil, gas, and transmission lines.Future depends on pro-tection and management of remaining habitat.

THE NETWORK: Five California Chapters—Golden Gate, Santa Clara Valley, Mount Diablo, Ohlone, and Marin—were

instrumental in forging an agreement to replace old wind turbines at Altamont Pass with more bird-friendly ones by 2015.

PAC I F I C F LY WAY

PAC I F I C F LY WAYMigration The birds of the Pacifi c Flyway depend on a diverse chain of habitats, from Arctic tundra to tropical beaches and mangroves. Audubon’s network of Chapters, volunteers, activists, and members is preserving and restoring the vital links along the way.

Conservation Challenges Each year at least a billion birds migrate along the Pacifi c Flyway, which stretches from the Bering Strait to Central and South America. But these birds are only a fraction of those that used the fl yway a century ago. Some species, such as the Spectacled Eider, the Steller’s Eider, and the Yellow-billed Loon (above), are in serious trouble, and even many common birds have become far less common. Habitat loss, water shortages due to diver-sion for agriculture and development, diminishing food sources, and climate change all threaten the birds of the Pacifi c Flyway.

34

HEMISPHERIC

CONSERVATION

Chile

Species: Hudsonian Godwit, Whimbrel Habitat: Alaska to ChileHow We Work: Audubon and its Chilean partner, Centro de Estudios y Con-servación del Patrimonio Natural (CECPAN), work to protect critical winter-ing IBAs for Hudsonian Godwits (99 percent of the Pacifi c population winters in Chile) and Whimbrels.Agricultural lands provide essential migratory and winter habitat. The Chilean team is using Audubon California’s Landowner Stewardship Program as a model for develop-ing similar programs. Audubon engages private landowners to reduce pol-lution and erosion, restore riparian habitats, and protect vital roosting and feeding grounds. By col-laborating with groups like CECPAN, this approach can be applied in wintering grounds throughout the hemisphere.

CONNECT: The Audubon International Alliances Program’s hemispheric partners hail from Mexico, the Caribbean,

Central America, and South America. Learn more about these partners at http://web4.audubon.org/bird/IAP.

PRIORITY BIRD

WesternSandpiper

(Calidris mauri) Range and Habitat: Nests in western and northern Alaska. Migrates in spring mainly in West, but fairly common on Atlantic Coast in fall. Frequents mudfl ats.Status: Like many sandpipers, its popula-tion has dropped; species was listed as declining on WatchList 2007.Threats/Outlook: Loss of nutrient-rich estuarine mudfl ats on migration routes due to polluted runoff and other effects of nearby development. Key migration, winter-ing, and staging areas need to be protected.

Audubon Alaska preserves breeding habitat in western and northern coastal Alaska.

35

Audubon Alaska protects watersheds and coastal estuaries in the Tongass National Forest.

San Diego Audubon safeguards crucial habitat in Mission Bay.

Gray’s Harbor Audubon spon-sors an annual Shorebird Festival and has created a 739-acre wetlands.

Audubon California, Klamath Basin Audubon, and the Audubon Society of Portland preserve key wetlands.

E

Audubon California restores wet-lands habitat in San Francisco Bay.

● Audubon Chapters: 1 15 ● Audubon Centers: 1 1 ★ Audubon State Offi ces: 3 ● Globally Signifi cant IBAs: 161

AUDUBON NETWORK : WESTERN SANDPIPER

OTHER PRIORITY SPECIES Long-billed Curlew, Whimbrel, Spectacled Eider, Kittlitz’s Murrelet, Steller’s Eider, Snowy Plover, Hudsonian Godwit

A

B

D

C

National Audubon and Panama Audubon protect winter habitat in Panama Bay.

Points South

F

THE NETWORK: The number of visitors to Seattle’s Seward Park Environmental & Audubon Center doubled in the past

year. Since 2008 student enrollment in the Center’s middle and high school programs has more than quadrupled.

36 WORKING FOR BIRDS ONAGRICULTURAL LANDS

Species: Long-billed Curlew, Whimbrel, Black-necked StiltHabitat: California’s Central ValleyOur Work: Audubon California, with its Migratory Bird Conservation Part-nership and in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy and Point Reyes Bird Observatory (PRBO) Conservation Science, enlists farmers who grow rice, alfalfa, and other crops to manage their farms in bird-friendly ways. Audubon and PRBO Conservation Science have guided major investments in public funds this past year to make agricultural lands more bird-friendly.Conservation Impact: In just three years Audubon California and its partners have laid the groundwork for farm management practices that benefi t shorebirds, as in the fl ooded rice fi eld above. Conservation Outlook: The Natural Resources Conservation Service, a unit of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has committed $2.68 mil-lion to a three-year pilot program for rice farmers interested in increas-ing their farms’ value to migratory birds. Seventy-four farms have signed up, enrolling more than 28,000 acres in the program. Twenty alfalfa and other forage-crop farmers recently participated in two workshops hosted by Audubon to identify bird-friendly practices on their farms to be tested over the next several years.

PAC I F I C F LY WAY

Field Notes

Name: Judy Alles, Volunteer, Pilchuck Audubon, Range: Monroe, Washington

“Our annual Audubon-sponsored Monroe Swifts Night Out attracts more people each year, from families with toddlers to senior citizens in wheelchairs—all com-ing together to witness 10,000 Vaux’s Swifts swirl into an old school chimney to roost. But our efforts go beyond saving and celebrating this par-ticular chimney ‘habitat’ in Monroe. We are building a community of people, from British Columbia to Mexico, to monitor and learn about Vaux’s Swifts and to identify their important migratory roost sites, which we call the ‘String of Chimney Pearls.’ The Audubon Center at Debs Park recently identi-fi ed a Vaux’s Swift roost in downtown Los Angeles. Now they have their own swift celebration!”

CONNECT: A rice farmer in California Audubon’s Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership described his crop rota-

tion as “wild rice, regular rice, and shorebirds.” Learn more at www.audubonmagazine.org/articles/birds/grains-change.

PRIORITY BIRD

Kittlitz’sMurrelet

(Brachyramphus brevirostris) Range and habitat: In North America, found only in Alaskan coastal areas in south and west. Winters coastally, mostly near breeding-season foraging areas. One-third of world population found in Siberia. Status: Global population of 24,000; seems to be de-clining at rapid rate. New studies are under way. Threats/Outlook: Small breeding and wintering ranges, low productivity, and other factors make species vulnerable to climate change, oil spills, gill-netting. Other threats include habitat loss, human disturbance, and retreating glaciers.

37

BIRD-FRIENDLY ENERGY DEVELOPMENT

Species: Spectacled Eider, Yellow-billed Loon Habitat: North Slope of AlaskaOur Work: Audubon Alaska, led by Executive Director Nils Warnock (be-low), is pursuing permanent wilderness designation for the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as well as protection of important “special areas” in the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPRA).Conservation Impact: Audubon Alaska has published a Habitat Con-servation Strategy for the NPRA that outlines appropriate protections for identifi ed “special areas,” with emphasis on the importance of the Teshekpuk Lake area as a breeding, molting, and staging ground for various seabirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl.Conservation Outlook: Audubon is confi dent energy development can take place in a way that safeguards areas of critical importance to birds and other wildlife. This can mean limiting oil and gas drilling in sensitive or critical habitat areas (e.g., goose molting, caribou calving) and carefully siting needed infrastructure with wildlife habitat requirements in mind.

THE NETWORK: A two-year, $2.4 million habitat restoration project on Aramburu Island, in Richardson Bay, part of San

Francisco Bay, will include seasonal wetlands for Whimbrels and Marbled Godwits and smooth beaches for sandpipers.

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PAC I F I C F LY WAY

Field Note

Name: Meg Ruby, Volunteer, Audubon of Portland Range: Northwestern Oregon

“It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the challenges facing our natural world. Audubon provides a healthy place to face those challenges. It allows me to connect and make a difference. Plus, it’s fun,” says Ruby, who has participated in many activities for Port-land Audubon, including bird counts and Marbled Murrelet watches. In her view, Audubon plays an important role in her community. “We can’t forget we’re part of a community—not just a human community but a natural one.”

CONSERVATION ON A GRAND SCALE

Species: California Condor, Prairie Falcon, Long-eared Owl, Burrowing Owl, Horned Lark, Golden EagleHabitat: Tejon Ranch, Southern CaliforniaOur Work: In 2008 Audubon California and four conservation partners, working with the owners of Tejon Ranch, reached an agreement to protect 240,000 acres from development. More recently, 60,000 acres covered by this agreement were placed on permanent conservation easement.Conservation Impact: Tejon Ranch, one of the West’s most diverse land-scapes, encompasses fi ve different ecosystems, including Mojave Desert grasslands and Joshua tree, oak, and riparian woodlands. Critically important to many birds, including the highly endangered California Condor (above), it is also crucial to the San Joaquin kit fox and the blunt-nosed leopard lizard. Conservation Outlook: Late last year the state Wildlife Conservation Board announced a $15.8 million grant to purchase easements on 62,000 Tejon acres. Focusing on landscapes like Tejon’s is crucial to many wildlife species.

NORTH AMERICA’S RAINFOREST

Species: Kittlitz’s Murrelet, Marbled Murrelet, Bald EagleHabitat: Tongass National Forest, southeast AlaskaOur Work: The Tongass National Forest (below), nearly 17 million acres, includes a signifi cant portion of the world’s last remaining temperate rainforest. This varied and spectacular region supports abundant wildlife, including birds, bears, wolves, and salmon. Audubon Alaska, in partner-ship with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and with input from dozens of scientists, has analyzed, mapped, and described the Tongass’s coastal forests to identify areas of greatest ecological value.Conservation Impact: To ensure the ecological integrity of the Tongass, Audubon Alaska and TNC have devised a place-based approach to preserve and/or restore the most signifi cant watersheds within the forest. Audubon’s approach protects biodiversity while supporting sustainable economic development.Conservation Outlook: Audubon’s work is being used to identify high-priority conservation areas, such as major salmon-producing watersheds and areas in need of restoration investment while allowing for careful timber harvest that avoids old-growth and roadless areas.

CONNECT: Information from the Atlas of the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, produced by Audubon Alaska and Oceana,

was used in a USGS report on oil leasing on Alaska’s outer continental shelf. Learn more at http://ak.audubon.org.

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PRIORITY BIRD

HudsonianGodwit

(Limosa haemastica) Range and habitat: Breeds at limited locations from western Alaska to Hudson Bay. Winters in marshes and coastal mudfl ats in South America.Status: Population estimated at 50,000 to 70,000, although data is insuffi cient to reliably determine population trends. Threats/Outlook: Energy development threatens breeding grounds. Human disturbance and growing aquaculture industry—particularly on Chile’s Isla Chiloé—could harm wintering habitats. Spe-cies seems stable, though small global population increases its vulnerablility.