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protecting New Hampshire’s natural environment for wildlife and for people New Hampshire Audubon Annual Report April 1, 2010–March 31, 2011

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protecting New Hampshire’s natural environment for wildlife and for people

New Hampshire AudubonAnnual Report

April 1, 2010–March 31, 2011

BOARD OF TRUSTEESPaul Nickerson, Chair, LondonderryDeborah Blondin, BowGeorge Chase, HopkintonWilliam Crangle, PlymouthKelly Lynch Dwyer, HooksettDavid W. Ellis, NewmarketRoger Lafontaine, BridgewaterArthur Mudge, HanoverJoAnn O’Shaughnessy, ManchesterRobert Ridgely, North SandwichDavid Ries, WarnerGary Schroeder, ConcordThomas Warren, Dublin

STAFFMichael J. Bartlett, PresidentOperationsPhil Brown, Director of Land ManagementLea Caron, Membership Database CoordinatorKelly Carpenter, McLane Center and Social Media CoordinatorLeighton Cleverly, Property ManagerHelen Dalbeck, Amoskeag Fishways Center DirectorKaren De Roo, Human Resources DirectorCarol Foley, Newfound Center DirectorTim Foster, Facilities AssistantSarah Hall, Camp Registrar and Events CoordinatorJane Hanson, Massabesic Center Administrative SupportTerri Jones/Mary Malan, ControllerKathleen Palfy, Membership CoordinatorRebecca Spinney, AccountantMargaret Watkins, Interim Director of DevelopmentKelly Cuomo Wing, Communications/Marketing CoordinatorConservation BiologyCarol Foss, Conservation DirectorDiane DeLuca, Sr. BiologistLaura Deming, Sr. BiologistPamela Hunt, Bird Conservation BiologistVanessa Jones, GIS SpecialistChris Martin, Sr. BiologistRebecca Suomala, BiologistEducationKevin Wall, Program DirectorRachel Brown, Amoskeag Fishways Program NaturalistMarlene Friedrich, Program NaturalistAngie Krysiak, Massabesic Center Program NaturalistKathleen Neville, Amoskeag Fishways Program NaturalistWendy Schoor, Amoskeag Fishways Program Naturalist

New Hampshire Audubon84 Silk Farm Road

Concord, NH 03301(603) 224-9909

email: [email protected]

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Above: Pondicherry Wildlife Sanctuary; Photo by Phil Brown. Cover photos by (left to right): Peter Gray, Debbie de Peyster, Pam Hunt.

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President’s Repor tDear Friends,

It was a good year for New Hampshire Audubon. In January 2011 we cut almost $750,000 off our debt through the sale of a (very tight) conservation easement on 130 acres of land surrounding our Massabesic Center thereby protecting the land from development in perpetuity.

We closed two open audit years (FY 09 and FY 10) and are current in our audit process. In the process, we changed auditing firms and reduced our annual auditing costs significantly. We abandoned a dysfunctional accounting system and converted to QuickBooks, enhancing our financial reporting capabilities enormously.

We launched a beautiful new website and an extraordinary electronic newsletter that allows us to reach over 6000 readers. We also established a popular Facebook page that is now followed closely by more than 1600 “fans”!

In cooperation with New Hampshire Fish and Game, we published a State of New Hampshire’s Birds report that received international media attention. Unfortunately the attention was generated by the disturbing fact that almost one third of the breeding birds in New Hampshire are in decline—including our state bird, the Purple Finch. The State of New Hampshire’s Birds reflects just one of the many ways our biologists contribute valuable science-based research to the dialog on environmental issues.

New Hampshire Audubon educators brought the natural world into more than 80 schools during the year and liter-ally thousands of adults and children took part in programs at our Massabesic, McLane, Newfound and Amoskeag Fishways Centers. Sadly, in the fall of 2010 , we lost one of our most devoted educators, Wendy Schorr. Wendy was our colleague for twelve years and inspired us with her commitment and passion for the natural world. Her legacy will continue to fuel our dedication to environmental education.

As you will see in our financial statements, despite the progress we made in reducing our debt and enhancing our revenue stream, New Hampshire Audubon remains financially fragile. Having said that, I am confident that the strength of our programs, the importance of our mission, and the unique niche that New Hampshire Audubon oc-cupies in New Hampshire’s conservation community provide the critical essentials needed to carry this wonderful organization into a bright future.

It’s an exciting time for New Hampshire Audubon—and I sincerely thank all of our members, donors, corporate sponsors, volunteers and staff for your commitment and support.

Michael J. BartlettPresident, New Hampshire Audubon

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How Are New Hampshire’s Birds Doing?

In February 2010, NH Audubon and NH Fish and Game released a comprehensive trend analysis of New Hampshire’s breeding birds. The headline-grabbing news, that one-third of our breeding birds are declining, underscored the importance of NH Audubon’s ongoing bird research and monitoring programs. Scientists are trained to ask questions and seek answers. In long-term monitoring efforts and regional conservation partnerships NH Audubon biologists are using radio te-lemetry to study Eastern Whip-poor-wills and Rusty Blackbirds, trying to determine what these birds are telling us about New Hampshire’s natural environment, recognizing that their stories may be complicated by what happens at wintering grounds in the southern United States and in Central America.

NH Audubon field staff braved blackflies, mosquitoes, mud, and dense vegetation in the Androscoggin Valley to follow 19 Rusty Blackbirds fitted with radio transmitters through the post-fledgling period. Carol Foss, Conservation Director, is coordinating the development of a Rusty Blackbird Conservation Plan to guide research and monitoring efforts for the next five years for the International Rusty Blackbird Working Group, where she sits as a Steering Committee member.

Some birds, like whip-poor-wills, are active at night. In the fourth year of a multi-year study of this secretive species, volunteers and a graduate student, directed by NH Audubon’s Pam Hunt, took advantage of recent timber cuts to test how quickly these birds can respond to habitat change, a potentially important management tool for maintaining whip-poor-will populations in New Hampshire.

NH Audubon celebrated the 30th breeding season since the state’s first post-DDT era Peregrine Falcon pair was found nesting in Franconia Notch. As documented by NH Audubon staff and volunteers, a record setting 35 young fledged in the 2010 field season. The well-known Manchester pair, whose comings and goings were viewed by many on-line, raised five young, a record-high for the entire 30-year history of the recovery program in the state (photo, left).

Overall, our work with Peregrine Falcons, Bald Eagles, and Ospreys shows how wild bird populations can recover once the source of the decline has been identified and addressed.

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE’S

BIRDSA CONSERVATION GUIDE

A report on the status

of New Hampshire’s birds,

the challenges they face,

and the actions we can

take to help them.

Pam Hunt’s technical report on the State of New Hampshire’s Birds is now available in less technical format, thanks to NH Audubon staff and grants from the Biber Foundation and Butler Foundation.

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Program Highlights for the Period April 1, 2010–March 31, 2011

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How Will We Protect The Environment?

NH Audubon’s mission, “Protecting New Hampshire’s natural environment for wildlife and for people,” isn’t something we can do alone. It takes all kinds of people talking to neighbors, advocating for environmental protection, teaching others, and sharing the joys of nature to accomplish environmental protection. But for thousands of children and adults each year NH Audubon is the “driver”, sparking awareness, curiosity, and concern for our natural environment.

During the fiscal year which ended March 31, 2011, NH Audubon naturalists taught 672 school programs in more than 80 schools and at NH Audubon centers. In all, nearly 21,000 children participated in these school programs, camps, and special offerings. More than 5,000 adults participated in educational programs offered through a center, a Chapter, or a sanctuary field trip. And many more children and adults visited the ‘natural classrooms’ at our Pack Monadnock and Carter Hill raptor observatories.

For Kevin Wall, Program Director (right), “mere facts and information are not what teaching is about. Teaching is about inspiring. I see every education program as an opportunity to get participants excited about caring for wild places. The goal of my programming is to create a legion of stewards and teachers.”

1,787 individuals contributed more than 20,000 volunteer hours to NH Audubon, most of them as citizen scientists generating trend information on New Hampshire’s birds or helping biolo-gists monitor species of conservation concern such as nighthawks, whip-poor-wills, Bicknells’ Thrush, and various rap-tors.

Carol Lowden, dragonfly volunteer (left), has found that time in retirement volunteering outdoors, “preferably on sunny, windless, warm days, at pond, eddy, lake edge of any fresh water habitat . .. way beats running a small business, filing, hiring, ordering, stocking coolers.” Carol spent her survey time “gazing meditatively for endless, peace-inducing hours, observing, photographing odes’ [dragonflies and damselfies] personal family behavior .. Then sneaking up on the unsus-pecting innocent ode, leaping with net on a second’s notice, inadvertently landing in said water, returning home con-tented, mind/camera filled with their unique beauty.”

When the dragonfly survey, funded by the NH Fish and Game Department, was initiated in 2007, very little was known about these fascinating, often awesomely beautiful insects. By the end of 2010, volunteers and staff had collected more than 12,000 records for 155 species statewide.

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Who Is Speaking For New Hampshire’s Environment?

NH Audubon joined other advocates for a challenging year at the State House, where clean air and water resources came under attack and funding for environ-mental programs was cut. Through Conservation NH, statewide environmental organizations each took the lead on key issues. NH Audubon focused our expertise on several wetlands and shoreland bills and on the regional greenhouse gas initiative.

Building on previous assessments for Bristol, Franklin, and Laconia, NH Audubon worked with Gilmanton planners and the Lakes Regional Planning Commission to produce a “Coordinated Review of Land Use Planning Documents with Respect to Wildlife Habitat, Natural Resources, and Smart Growth Principles” for the Town of Gilmanton. The NH Audubon/NH Fish and Game NH Wildlife Connectivity Model was used to identify potential routes for wildlife to move between protected lands in Gilmanton and adjacent towns. Land use decisions are made locally, and helping communities plan for wildlife and habitat is a critical component for shaping the changing faces of our communities and landscapes.

NH Audubon advocates for effective, science-based environmental policies at national and state levels through the activities of the Environmental Policy Committee and Conservation Department staff.

What’s Happening at NH Audubon Sanctuaries?

More than fifty people participated in the annual Pondicherry International Migratory Bird Day/Tudor Richards Memorial Field Trip in May 2010, hiking about six miles across the Pondicherry Refuge lands owned by NH Audubon and the US Fish and Wildlife Service – which now total about 6,000 acres. The group spotted almost 100 species of birds throughout the day!

In October 2010, the Dahl Wildlife Sanctuary officially re-opened its trails to the public with a celebration hosted by Eastern Mountain Sports in North Conway. NH Audubon Director of Land Management Phil Brown led a group of hikers around the sanctuary’s trails on a tour of improved habitats for American Woodcock, nesting waterfowl, amphibians, and a vari-ety of shrubland-dependent wildlife species.

In May 2010, NH Audubon added 115 acres, the Smith Sisters Wildlife Sanctuary in Newmarket, to its sanctu-ary system, completing a conservation project initiated by The Nature Conservancy and the Great Bay Re-source Protection Partnership. With the transfer completed, active restoration of a four-acre gravel pit began. This work included re-grading of slopes for improved public access, invasive species control, and re-seeding with warm-season grasses to benefit of a multitude of plant and wildlife species. In addition, this property protects grasslands used by breeding bobolinks and an extensive wetland system associated with Follett’s Brook that hosts a number of rare or high priority conservation species such as Canada Warbler, American

Black Duck, false water pimpernel, and knotty pondweed.

A popular Full Snow Moon hike at the dePierrefeu Willard Pond Wildlife Sanctuary in Antrim – one of many outings offered at our largest sanctuary - was attended by 34 participants on a pleasant winter night. The field trip celebrated, among other things, the newly protected “Gilbert” parcel. This 135-acre tract completed NH Audubon’s conservation ownership of the entire shoreline of this remarkably natural pond, bringing the sanctuary to more than 1,600 acres.

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The Tudor Richards Memorial Field Trip is held each spring at the Pondicherry Wildlife Sanctuary and surrounding lands. (Phil Brown photo, 2009)

Fields at Dahl Wildlife Sanctuary (Phil Brown photo)

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Annual FundIndividual Donors

Gifts of $1,000 or More6 donors gave anonymously1 donor gave anonymously*Eleanor BriggsMuriel R. and Edward M. BroadMrs. Ann B. CarterTom & Patience ChamberlinMs. Leslie S. ChristodoulopoulosGeorge Clark*Jim & Sandy Dannis*Whit and Closey Dickey FundJennifer & Philip DuBoisDavid & Marion EllisLucia & Jon EvansMs. Carol R. Foss*French FoundationJim & Linda GuinaneTarleton FundPam HallMr. & Mrs. D. D. Henry, Jr.Elizabeth & Harold JanewayJoonie Land FundTupper & Elin Kinder

Ms. Anne R. Lovett & Mr. Steve WoodsumAndy & Linda McLaneArt & Mary MudgeMr. & Mrs. Paul R. NickersonWilliam Noyce & Jone LaBombardWilliam Noyce & Jone LaBombard*Mrs. Dudley W. OrrMrs. JoAnn T. O’Shaughnessy*Fred PilchAnn PrestonJames & Judy PutnamBarbara Day RichardsMr. David P. RiesWilliam & Marilyn RixMarjorie Rolfe*Marjorie RolfeBruce M. & Sarah T. SchwaeglerDonald & Lillian StokesLawrence & Pia Sunderland*Lawrence & Pia SunderlandGuy A. Swenson, Jr.

Ms. Elsie P. van BurenFrances & Carl Von MertensTom Warren*Margaret Watkins

Gifts of $250 to $9994 donors gave anonymouslySteve & Joan AmesMs. Ruth T. Ansell & Mr. Erik TolfMichael J. BartlettBarbara A. BeersDean & Clare Bensley*Richard & Linda BeyerJohn & Pamela BlackfordMr. & Mrs. Arthur C. BorrorMary BoulangerAnne CarrollMr. George W. ChaseMr. & Mrs. Daniel E. ChurchGeorge ClarkMs. Karen ClementMr. & Mrs. Elmer H. CloseBob & Robyn CottonMr. & Mrs. Jeffrey EirasMr. Robert N. Faiman, Jr.Charles & Charlotte FaulknerJameson S. FrenchMr. George W. Gavutis, Jr.Michele GrennonMr. & Mrs. Robert M. HarringtonRoss L. HealdMr. & Mrs. Stephen HewittHarvey & Christina HillKaren Horsch & Scott HarrisMr. David M. HoweDick F. HughesWilliam & Margery JahodaMr. & Mrs. Harry V. JohnsonMr. Keith S. KnightMr. Henry Lee

Kirk & Judith LeoniJohn & Nicole LibbyTom Lipscomb & Yvonne SchulmanMike & Jan LitvinMr. & Mrs. Leon MalanCarol & Gordon MarshallMs. Mary N. MaslandBarbara & Robert MathewsonAnne D. MilneRichard MooreMr. & Mrs. John H. Morison, IVLarry MorrisShane & Elisa NickersonLois I. PantzerLydia Pastuszek & Brian MonahanDr. Robert A. Petersen & Dr. Veronica S. PetersenMr. Robert C. PotterLouise C. PriceLarry QuigleyDr. Beverly S. RidgelyRobert S. RidgelyChandler S. RobbinsPete & Kathy RyderBruce M. & Sarah T. Schwaegler*Greg & Patti SeymourCharlie & Ellen SheridanKenneth & Grace SolinskyRobert & Louise SpencerArthur & Dawn StavrosArthur & Dawn Stavros*Roger & Ann SweetEric & Marlene TaussigJulia & John Ver PloegDonald & Susan WareTom WarrenGeorge H. WatkinsBrad & Sue WymanKimon S. Zachos

Gifts of $100 to $24913 donors gave anonymouslyKally & Eric AbramsMs. Nancy C. AlbertNancy & Blake AllisonHeather & Richard AmesWebster & Syliva AndersonMr. Gerald C. AndersonRalph AndrewsMr. Anthony AndronacoElizabeth W. ArmsMichael & Anne ArsenaultEdward & Justine AuchinclossMr. Peter F. BailyMr. & Mrs. Dudley M. Baker, IIIMr. & Mrs. Bruce BartonPatricia BassJohn & Julie BassiMs. Sylvia K. BatesMr. Dann N. Batting and Mrs. Susan E. Price-BattingEmil C. BeckMr. & Mrs. Henry C. BeckMr. & Mrs. Gordon R. Bennett, Jr.Dr. & Mrs. Kenneth D. BergmanMr. & Mrs. Eric P. BernardMrs. Jean BezonMs. Marilyn BlightMr. & Mrs. Thomas F. BlissAlice & Nelson BolenThomas P. BrewtonMr. & Mrs. Philip A. BryceMs. Rachel R. BuckDon & Katy BurnsHal J. BuschJohn & Irene BushAnne BairdDave & Roz CarlsonDr. & Mrs. Roderic Caron, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. William Y. CarterElizabeth Cavanagh

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*indicates restricted fund donation

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Dr. & Mrs. Jerry R. ChamberlinMr. William D. ChapinMarjorie P. ChaseMr. & Mrs. Glenn CollingsJohn & Nancy ConklingBea & Woolsey ConoverMr. & Mrs. Paul H. CormierBill Crangle & Lee WebsterMrs. Rebecca CummingsEdward & Claudia DamonMary DancaDeborah de Peyster & James MorrisRonald & Lois DeLucaMr. Noel J. DeSousaDr. & Mrs. Wilmot S. DraperThomas & Ellen DraperJohn & Michelle DriscollRoger F. DumasColleen Lyons & John L. DupreMrs. Elinor M. DustinJohn & Lyn EgsgardB. J. EntwisleMr. Kenneth H. Ernstoff & Ms. Katharine F. MoodyLucia P. EwingMr. Daniel J. FallonJoan K. FarrelSally S. FayMr. Lewis M. FeldsteinMr. John A. FibigerMs. Joanne FieldLouis Fink & Pamela GrichLisa & George FooteBetsy ForshamMr. & Mrs. David A. ForsythConrad F. FreyStan & Cheri FryMr. & Mrs. Allan R. GabyMark GashiMary & Stephen GasiorowskiStephen & Carol GehlbachDr. & Mrs. Marc Gehr

Charles & Patricia GerhanCyrus F. GibsonMr. & Mrs. Filson H. GlanzMargery GodfreyVivien F. GreenJon Greenberg & Connie RosemontMartin Gross & Deirdre Sheerr-GrossRob McClung & Mary Lou GuerinotWilliam & Suzanne HaleyLaura HallEvelyn HammermanMr. Eugene A. Harrington & Ms. Judith M. Ratta HarringtonMrs. Joan N. HarrisLloyd HeidgerdJohn H. & Thelma K. HewittMr. & Mrs. J. Paul HigginsMr. Douglas P. Hill & Ms. Alexandra T. BreedDavid E. HoweMr. & Mrs. John A. HubbardDr. & Mrs. J. B. HunterDr. Nancy Husarik & Mr. Scott C. RandMr. & Mrs. William R. IsraelBob Jones & Happy BealeCharles F. Kane, M.D.Howard KeeganRichard & Carolyn KeithMr. Allan R. KeithAndy & Emilie KendallMr. Michael A. KenneyElizabeth W. KilmarxDr. Cynthia G. KingDr. Jack W. KirkBrad Kuster & Ann McLane KusterDaniel & Victoria La VecchiaRoger & Carol LaFontaine

Felicity LagoSuzanne & David LarsenMary Leadbeater & Michael StrackTom & Stephanie LewryAudrey M. LindgrenMichael Lonergan & Wende ShoerMr. & Mrs. Gary A. LongJohn E. MacKenzieMartha & Jory MacomberNorman & Judy MakechnieJohn & Anne MattillMr. William E. McCabeMrs. Constance J. McDadeJoseph F. McDowell, IIIMr. & Mrs. Thomas R. McNamaraAnne MelvinJack & Ann MiddletonJanet Milne & John KuhnsStephen & Jane MirickJack L. MoltenbreyMs. Sy Montgomery & Mr. Howard MansfieldMr. Jeffrey I. Morin & Mrs. Elizabeth Hamlin-MorinChris Hallowell & Cindall MorrisonWinifred MorrisseyJames & Kathryn MuirheadMr. Seanan Murphy and Ms. Sarah LeinickeMr. & Mrs. Frederick S. NaivaBarbara NicholsonTodd NickersonMs. Corey Nickerson & Mr. Jason GreenwaldMr. & Mrs. Daniel NordinRobert Z. & Nita NormanMr. & Mrs. Thomas A. O’ConnorRonald Osimo

Henry W. ParkerNortham D. ParrDr. Alice A. Passer & Mr. Barry KriegerMr. & Mrs. John PepperMr. & Mrs. Henry H. PetersonDorothy PetersonSusan PiercePeter Pirnie & Diane ArsenaultMr. Frank L. PizzutoMr. Jordan S. ProutyJohn & Judith RansmeierMs. Beth RaymondLaney RecordMs. Sara H. ReedBrian ReillyBarbara Day Richards*William RitchieJudy RomanoMr. & Mrs. Randolph R. RoodyDavid Ross

Peter & Susan RotchMr. & Mrs. David B. RuedigMr. & Mrs. Michael RuedigRick RussmanMs. Cynthia H. SarnoskiLarry & Lois ScammonMr. & Mrs. Robert Scarchilli, Jr.Mr. Gary SchroederMr. Jeffrey M. SchwartzMr. & Mrs. Joseph M. ScottMr. & Mrs. F. Augustus SeamansJames & Victoria SellersRoger & Miriam SimmonsRobert J. Skinner, Sr.Mrs. Blanche B. SmithElizabeth & Shaw SmithMr. & Mrs. Paul G. SmithFrederick Smith, Jr.Mr. Gregory H. SmithGary & Betsy SpiessMr. & Mrs. Edward W. Spurr

Annual Fund, continued NH Audubon’s Lovejoy Marsh Sanctuary in Albany, Photo by Julie Klett

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Ken & Ilene SternAnita C. StokesMr. Jonathan F. StoneClint & Bonnie Allard SwiftMrs. Henry F. SzepanMr. Richard TalbotMr. & Mrs. John F. TeagueMs. Sharon S. ThagardCarol ThompsonKate ThompsonMr. Gregory TillmanNancy & Harry TongBill & Susan TuckerMr. Paul W. TuminowskiJim TurnerMarjorie TuttleMrs. Anne TwitchellPhil & Betsy TwomblyMr. & Mrs. Robert W. VarneySusi Von Oettingen & Kyle WhiteheadMs. Lesley WaldronMr. & Mrs. Anthony R. WalkerRobert & Mary WalkerDr. Charles L. Ward, Jr.Richard & Josie WarnerMs. Jessica Warner*Mr. David L. WebbJane & Stephen WeberMs. Elizabeth C. WehnerMs. Virginia Welles & Mr. Dwight L. GertzBob & Binney WellsMaynard B. WheelerMs. Katherine W. WheelerBeartrice G. WhitneyMr. Edward C. WigfieldSusanna S. WilkensWilliam W. Evans TrustCheryl Anne WilliamsMs. Elizabeth E. WillsMr. & Mrs. Theodore WingRichard Winneg

Mr. & Mrs. Stephen W. WinshipMary K. WirthEdward D. WithersWalter G. WitzelRobert P. WoodwardNorma B. Woolf*Mr. & Mrs. Russell YearkeOge & Pam YoungMs. Beverly D. YoureeMr. & Mrs. Richard P. Zeloski

Annual Fund, continued

Membership Gifts$1,000 or MoreMr. Raymond Joseph DunnMr. & Mrs. Jeffrey EirasJim & Judy Putnam

$250 to $9994 members gave anonymouslyMs. Louis KahnAlexander Host FoundationMr. Robert N. Faiman, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Peter SanbornCharles W. SmithHenry & Freda SwanMr. & Mrs. Derek O. Van EttenBurns & Ellen FisherMs. Megan Burke KidderKurt & Elaine SwensonMs. Amy B. Bodwell & Ms. Carol D. SaundersChary Family FundLawrence & Brigitte CookThomas & Dorcas DeansBob Dewey & Pam Van ArsdaleLucia & Jon Evans

Rebecca & Douglas EwingStephen & Carol GehlbachMs. Carol V. IrvinMr. & Mrs. Ronald MacGregorMark PetersLarry QuigleyJane RiceDr. Susan M. Saviteer & Dr. Peter L. SaviteerMr. & Mrs. Frederick T. ShortKen & Ilene SternDonald & Susan WareGeorge H. WatkinsBrad & Sue Wyman

$100 to $2496 members gave anonymouslyMr. Steven V. Brown & Dr. Janet W. CampbellThomas & Elizabeth Kelsey Richard WinnegMr. Philip B. Wallingford & Ms. Katherine E. BarnesJarvis & Bobbie CoffinMr. & Mrs. Ronald AblowichMr. & Mrs. Albert AbrevayaNancy & Blake AllisonMs. Beverly A. AmerySteve & Joan AmesJanet AndersonMr. LeRoy J. AndersonJohn & Diana AppletonMark & Karen ArchambaultBald Peak Colony ClubDr. Suellen T. Balestra & Dr. Dominic J. BalestraCharlotte B. BarnabyMr. & Mrs. James E. BarrettJohn W. BartoBarbara A. BeersMrs. Janet L. BeliveauGordon H. BemisMr. & Mrs. Frank W. BenhamMrs. Jean BezonMr. & Mrs. Bill Birchard

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Margaret Blacker & Michael PerkinsAlice & Nelson BolenDaniel BrandMs. Regina BringolfMr. Wilson S. BrunkhurstMr. & Ms. Richard D. BuchananMr. & Mrs. James L. BurkhardtJohn & Irene BushDave & Roz CarlsonMr. & Mrs. John R. CarlsonMr. Mitchell J. CaseMr. & Mrs. James M. CaseyElizabeth CavanaghDr. & Mrs. Jerry R. ChamberlinMr. William D. ChapinMs. Laura Charest & Mr. Ted BantisMrs. Thomas H. ChoateGeorge ClarkMr. & Mrs. Gregory ConnorsMr. & Mrs. Hamilton CoolidgeMr. & Mrs. Courtland J. CrossMr. & Mrs. Terence E. DancyMr. & Mrs. Robert B. DaviesDr. R. Laurence DavisMs. Karen A. DavisMr. Lenny DeaneDavid DeifikMs. Laurette P. DelisleDavid & Terri DonskerDr. & Mrs. Wilmot S. DraperMr. & Mrs. Robert DuffleyB. J. EntwisleFred ErnstMr. & Mrs. Paul J. Fenton, Jr.Betsy ForshamEdward & Ruth FowlerMr. Richard P. FrechetteMarcia A. FrenchMark GashiUdo GayerJay M. & Pauline C. Gorey

John M. GrahamMrs. Ethel GreenspanMs. Edith R. GriscomMr. & Mrs. Norbert GrohoskiMartin Gross & Deirdre Sheerr-GrossMr. & Mrs. John C. GroveMr. James GulloMs. Susan M. HancockMr. Eugene A. Harrington & Ms. Judith M. Ratta HarringtonMr. Kelly E. HazaMrs. Susan J. HeineckeHenniker Veterinary Hospital PAMs. Barbara J. HoltMs. Carla HorneMr. & Mrs. Richard G. HortonMr. David M. HoweDardana HoytDr. & Mrs. J. B. HunterMr. James E. IrvinMr. & Mrs. William R. IsraelMargaret IvesMs. Lauren JacobyMs. Donna L. JamesDr. Jolyon JohnsonMr. & Mrs. Harry V. Johnson

Joyce D.N. JonesMs. Hope KahnMr. Peter Kaplan & Ms. Katharine H. HansonMr. & Mrs. David M. KeayMr. Drew E. KiefaberMs. Lane KirbyMs. Catherine Owen KoningAbby & Bjorn LangeMr. John W. LanierBill & June LarkinsMr. & Mrs. Robert M. LarsenSuzanne & David LarsenMr. & Mrs. Lawrence M. LearnerMr. Charles LeffingwellMike & Jan LitvinMr. & Mrs. Kenneth S. LockeMr. & Mrs. Richard Lombardozzi, Jr. & FamilyMs. Kelly E. LongfritzMr. William B. LowenthalMr. & Mrs. Vincent LunettaMs. Sharon A. MachadoMr. & Mrs. James M. MahoneyMr. Robert Mann & Mrs. Diane Perry-MannJanis O. ManwaringMs. Mary N. Masland

Mr. Philip MathewsonJohn & Anne MattillMr. & Mrs. Robert B. McCarthyBarbara McClureMr. & Mrs. Douglas A. McIninchMr. & Mrs. Edward M. McMonagleMr. & Mrs. Thomas R. McNamaraEdward J. & Katherine F. McNierneyMr. & Mrs. F. Graham McSwiney

Dennis Melchin & Susan urkhardtMrs. Linda J. MichelsenJack & Ann MiddletonMr. & Mrs. Robert H. MillerJack L. MoltenbreyMr. & Mrs. Robert E. MooneyRichard MooreChris Hallowell & Cindall MorrisonWinifred MorrisseyMr. & Mrs. Carl MoskeyMs. Cheryl L. MrozienskiMr. & Mrs. Frederick S. NaivaJeff & Ann NelsonMr. & Mrs. John F. Nelson, Jr.Steve NeuhoffMrs. Patricia D. NiswanderMr. & Mrs. Eric NordgrenMs. Wendy J. PalmquistMs. Karen M. PaquetDeborah & Michael ParkinDr. Alice A. Passer & Mr. Barry KriegerMr. & Mrs. Michael PattersonElizabeth PaynterMr. & Mrs. Neal R. PeirceMelissa PennellMr. & Mrs. Henry H. PetersonMr. & Mrs. James PhilbrickMr. & Mrs. Seth PingreeJon & Susan PosnerMr. & Mrs. Scott D. PowellLouise C. PriceMrs. Barbara D. PringleMs. Beth RaymondBrian ReillyLen & Denise ReitsmaMr. & Mrs. James RichmondDavid RossPeter & Susan Rotch

Ms. Michelle RyanRobert & Donna SammondsSusan M. SanbornMs. Cynthia H. SarnoskiBenjamin SchoreBeverly SchultzCharlie & Ellen SheridanMr. & Mrs. Daniel R. SimmersMr. Russell SimmonsMr. William O. SimpsonBetsy SmithElizabeth & Shaw SmithJames E. Snyder, M.D.A.C. Somers & N.L. WebsterLouisa C. SpencerGary & Betsy SpiessJane SpraggMs. Kendra E. StanleyBen SteeleMr. Paul G. Stroud, Jr.George & Jean TaskerDavid & Tanya TellmanMr. & Mrs. Michael D. TerpstraMarjorie TuttlePhil & Betsy TwomblyRuth UnderwoodMr. Frederic K. UptonMs. Elizabeth VershayCarol WalshRichard & Josie WarnerMr. & Mrs. John H. WassonMs. Honey Weiss & Mr. David B. LewisBob & Binney WellsMs. Linda M. WhiteBruce & Betsy WhitmoreMary K. WirthMr. & Mrs. David WoodburyPhil Zaeder & Sylvia Thayer

Membership Gifts, continued

Spangled Skimmer, Photo by Pam Hunt

THANK YOUWe are grateful for every gift in support of New Hampshire Audubon’s pro-grams to protect wildlife and the natural environ-ment. Although we have listed only the larger gifts, every gift matters.

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Other Contributions ($100 or more)

Conservation Projects Barbara Day RichardsDr. Beverly S. RidgelyMs. Linda J. Rogers & Mr. Edward J. RibitzkiMr. & Mrs. Dennis H. SkillmanArrolyn H. VernonMs. Elizabeth VershayMr. & Mrs. John R. WilliamsSteve & Danette WinebergMs. Mary P. Wright

Raptor Observatories1 donor gave anonymouslyMr. Christopher BergThomas P. BrewtonDr. & Mrs. Roger C. BrooksAbby & Bjorn LangeMs. Jane MyersPleasant View GardensAnn PrestonBrian J. ReillyMr. David O. RossFrances & Carl Von MertensMs. Anna Von Mertens & Mr. Christopher AndersonCarol Walsh

Animal Care1 donor gave anonymouslyMr. & Mr. Kenneth L. CaponeMs. Laurette Edelmann

SanctuariesAnne CarrollMr. & Mrs. Greg LaCombeMr. A. Forbes LelandMr. & Mrs. Maurice M. LovejoyMr. Bradfod A. MeiklejohnMs. Susan Scott

Massabesic Center2 donors gave anonymously Muriel R. & Edward M. Broad Hannaford’s #016

Newfound CenterCamp OnawayMs. Katherine M. McQuillenMeredith Village Savings BankMs. Carrie Bettencourt & Ms. Susan BettencourtMrs. Priscilla W. Gemmill

McLane Center1 donor gave anonymously Mr. & Mrs. Raymond BarretteMr. & Mrs. Jonathan A. ChorlianMs. Barbara C. EnrightMrs. Nola FrostMartin Gross & Deirdre Sheerr-Gross

Mr. & Mrs. Robert M. LarsenMr. & Mrs. Bruce J. ParsonsMs. Penny PitouMr. David P. RiesDr. Susan M. Saviteer & Dr. Peter L. SaviteerMr. Thomas E. SenfMs. Shirley F. Woodward

FoundationsBenjamin Couch TrustGilbert Verney FoundationHunter FoundationLavoie FoundationNew Hampshire Charitable FoundationNuttall Ornithological Club - Charles Blake FundPutnam FoundationThe Robin Colson Memorial FoundationThe Boston FoundationWilliam P. Wharton Trust

Bequests Josiah FisherMary D. HaigZoey LovingRobert R. Rathbone

Corporate SupportPublic Service of New HampshireTransCanadaHitchiner Manufacturing Co., Inc.Burtt PC Consulting, Inc.Company CKent Nutrition Group, Inc.Ed Reilly Subaru, Inc.Normandeau Associates, Inc.Weare Animal HospitalCourtyard by Marriott

Grappone Collision CenterEisenberg, Vital and Ryze AdvertisingBaldwin and Callen, P.L.L.CWinnipesaukee ChocolatesGroup One Realty, Inc.Paugus Bay Campground

Matching Gift CompaniesAmerican International Group, Inc.Amica Companies FoundationAutomatic Data Processing, Inc.Bank of America Matching Gifts ProgramCitizens Charitable FoundationGE FoundationHoughton Mifflin Matching Gift ProgramOracle Corporation - Matching Gifts ProgramTyco Employee Matching Gfit Program

MemorialsRichard GodfreyPatricia B. HavumakiAlex HigginsKaren E. HughesSheila H. HullJoseph R. O’BrienFred W. RichardTimothy R. Robichaud & Joshua HallWendy S. SchorrThomas SwordsMarjorie H. VossHarold H. Young

TributesIrene DixPhilip and Julie BrownMilton J. ChristianJohn L. Gleason

Community GroupsConcord Garden ClubConcord Bird & Wildflower ClubGilford Islands AssociationHooksett Garden Club*Manchester Garden Club*Milford Garden Club, Inc.Rivier College Biology Club*St. Pauls SchoolSecond Congregational Society

Government/NGONH Fish and Game DepartmentThe Nature Conservancy

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CHAPTER PRESIDENTSMary Boulanger, Ammonoosuc Stephanie Parkinson, Capital AreaJane Rice, Lakes RegionPeg Ackerson, MascomaCliff Seifer, Co-Pres, MonadnockPhil Brown, Co-Pres, MonadnockRalph Andrews, NashawayNancy Mace-Benham, PemisgewassetLauren Kras, SeacoastRuth White, Soo-Nipi NEWFOUND COMMITTEE Dawn Ashley Lemieux , GrotonRoger LaFontaine, BridgewaterCarol LaFontaine, BridgewaterJerry Lauther, HebronSuzanne Rogier Marshall, HebronBob Martens, BridgewaterRalph McQuilken, HebronCarole McQuilken, HebronIleana Saros , HebronNancy Sycamore, HebronHugh Sycamore, HebronPhil Twombly, HebronDian West, Hebron

STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARDFinanceDavid Ellis, ChairDavid Ries, ex officioArthur MudgeWilliam CranglePaul NickersonStaff: Terri Jones/Mary Malan, Michael BartlettSanctuaries and Land ManagementDavid Ries, ChairRichard Cook Harold NeversFrederic Pilch Robert Quinn Bruce SchwaeglerLawrence SunderlandGuy SwensonFrances Von MertensStaff: Vanessa Jones, Phil Brown

Environmental PolicyPaul Nickerson, ChairLawrence Sunderland Elizabeth JanewayJane DohertyPaul DoscherHarry Vogel (Loon Preservation Com-mittee)Margaret WatkinsStaff: Carol Foss

Development Arthur Mudge and David Ries, co-ChairsEdward BroadGeorge ChaseDavid EllisTupper KinderPaul NickersonJoAnn O’ShaughnessyThomas WarrenStaff: Margaret Watkins, Michael BartlettNominatingArthur MudgeJoAnn O’ShaughnessyJack MiddletonJennifer Wierwille NortonGovernanceArthur Mudge, ChairPaul Nickerson Bruce SchwaeglerLawrence SunderlandStaff: Michael Bartlett

ADVISORY COUNCILSharon FrancisLawrence MorrisAndrew KendallVirginia WellsDavid GovatskiBrad KusterStuart SmithJameson FrenchRobert LarsonWilliam TaffeRebecca RonstadtBetsy Janeway

MASSABESIC PROGRAM COMMITTEEDanielle Dillaway Kelly Dwyer Janice Hood Kimberly Murphy Jean Sweeney

MASSABESIC MAINTENANCE COMMITTEEDanielle Dillaway Bill Dumont Jean Sweeney

MCLANE EVENTS COMMITTEEKathleen BrockettLea CaronCarol FossKathleen PalfyJoAnn O’ShaughnessySusan SaviteerSarah WallMargaret WatkinsJane WilliamsonKelly Wing

Chapters and Committees

Financial Repor t

Dear Members,

The charts at right and on page 13 show our revenue and expenditures by function for the fiscal year which ended March 31, 2011. Grants and contracts accounted for the highest percentage of NH Audubon’s revenue, with individual contributions and membership dues next. Contributions include both restricted and unrestricted gifts. “Other income” includes office rental income, a co-operative dividend from Yankee Farm Credit, reimbursement of an insurance claim, and sales from the McLane Center nature store.

On the expense side, salaries and benefits accounted for 54% percent of NH Audubon costs. To minimize expenses, the Board and staff have cut costs to the bare minimum needed to continue our mission. The operating deficit of $341,122 was covered by one-time revenue sources and the quarterly draw on the endowment.

A key achievement during FY11 was sale of conservation easements at the Massabesic Audubon Center to a partnership of the Town of Auburn, Manchester Water Works, and Southeast Land Trust, assisted by financing from the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program. That and other actions led to a significant reduction of Audubon’s mortgage debt from $2.7 million to $1.9 million – still a substantial weight but definitely a significant move in the right direction.

Additional achievements include transition to a new, user friendly accounting system and comple-tion of audits for the years FY08, FY09, and FY10 (all “unqualified,” meaning “gives a true and fair view”). With the help of a professional fund raiser and full Board engagement, we increased Annual Fund performance by more than 25 percent over FY10. Lastly, we have rented 2000 square feet in the McLane Center to the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits, providing not only an income source but a partnership with a genuinely wonderful organization.

With continued support from our membership, donors, the foundation community, contractors, and corporate partners as well as continued focus on financial management, and (I hope) an im-proving economy, NH Audubon will continue to improve its financial picture to the point where it mirrors our exceptional programs in environmental education, conservation science, sanctuaries and our work in environmental policy.

David RiesFinance Committee Chair

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Statement of Activitiesyear ending March 31, 2011

Revenue & SupportContributions & Bequests $426,940Contracts & Grants $678,440Membership $121,390Programs & events $288,043Investment income $93,328Other income $60,323

Total revenue and support* 1,668,464

Program and functional expensesConservation $439,508Sanctuaries $174,914Massabesic Audubon Center $258,736Silk Farm Audubon Center $557,669Newfound Audubon Center $29,802Amoskeag Fishways $219,833Administration & General $360,050Membership & Development $166,499Less: Depreciation ($197,425)

Total program and functional expenses $2,009,586

Operating Deficit ($341,122)

*Sale of assets not included in revenue $851,372 used to pay down debt

Statement of Financial PositionMarch 31, 2011

ASSETS LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

Current Assets Current liabilities

Cash and cash equivalents 1,070,780 Current maturities of long-term debt 63,574

Accounts receivable, net 118,261 Notes payable, related parties 20,000

Contributions receivable, net 8,748 Current portion of gift annuity payable 30,800

Merchandise inventories 56,219 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 114,496

Prepaid expenses and deposits 23,391 Accrued payroll and related liabilities 63,871

Total current assets 1,277,399 Deferred revenue 248,791

Other current liabilities 11,763

Property and Equipment, net 11,929,905 Total current liabilities 553,295

Other liabilities

Investments and other assets Long-term debt, less current maturities 1,810,825

Investments 2,148,764 Gift annuity payable, excluding current portion 133,171

Split-interest agreements 2,084,882 1,943,996

Art collection 581,000

Other assets 24,136 Total liabilities 2,497,291

4,838,782 Net Assets

Unrestricted 1,824,728

Temporarily restricted 5,771,130

Permanently restricted 7,952,937

Total net assets 15,548,795

Total assets 18,046,086 Total liabilities and net assets 18,046,086

Note: Statement of Financial position includes Loon

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The Amoskeag Fishways and NH Audubon lost one of our best educators in the fall of 2010, Wendy Schorr. She died on October 6, after an 18-month struggle with cancer. It wasn’t a battle really. When she was told her diagnosis was terminal, Wendy set about having a year of living with cancer, rather than dying of cancer. Wendy was our devoted colleague for 12 years. In her own words below, she describes how she became an environmental educator. These were written as part of her acceptance speech upon receiving the New Hampshire Environmental Educator of the Year Award in March 2010.

“When I first heard that I had won this award I started thinking how it came to be that I ended up in environmental education. And, perhaps like many of you, the beginnings go a ways back. When I was 14 years old my family left the congestion of Los An-geles for a place in the foothills of the Sierras at the back door of Sequoia National Forest. A creek ran year round through the property and mountains rose up directly behind the house. In the front yard a tree grew up through a fracture in a huge embed-ded rock and dozens of grind holes engraved by the work of past peoples could be seen throughout the rock.”

“To my citified eyes nothing could have been as miraculous as that place. And, although I didn’t know it at the time, by moving there I had stepped across a line and found myself on a path that ultimately brought me here into your good company.”

“It has become not just my work but my delight to keep inviting others to join us on this path: to help them see the porcupine hid-den in the tree, the tracks of an otter, the connection between the life of the black fly and the life of the bald eagle. And in turn for me to see in them the discovery of the salamander beneath the rock, the softness of a skunk pelt, the connection between the lights left on and the stability of the atmosphere.”

“It has been a great honor to be given this award by you, my fellow travelers, who know so well how hard it can be to attract funding, keep programs running, and to reach those who need it most. My wish is that you keep pointing out the porcupine up in the tree, the salamander under the rock, the beauty and miracle of the planet we live on. It’s some of the most important work that there is.”

Wendy’s words will continue to inspire us all, in this most important work. She ended her speech with “Thank you so much. I will miss you, and I love you.”

A Tribute to WENDY SCHORR Shared by Helen Dalbeck, Center Director, Amoskeag Fishways

We are grateful not only to the supporters listed in this report but to the many, many volunteers who collectively give many, many hundreds of hours to ani-mal care, grounds maintenance, field work and wildlife monitoring, office assistance, special projects, annual meeting, events set up/tear down, wreath making, and other needed work each year at all our centers.

In the year ending March 31, 2011 alone, 45 volunteers contributed close to 650 hours caring for the animals used in educational programs at MAC and 612 hours for the animals at McLane. Year 4 of the dragonfly survey benefited enormously from the 39 volunteers who contributed 1,904 hours. Thirty-two volunteers put 793 hours into raptor monitoring programs. The 102 MAC vol-unteers contributed 4,072 hours to programs and facilities.

New Hampshire Audubon wouldn’t be New Hampshire Audubon, and we couldn’t do all we do, without our volunteers! THANK YOU!

New Hampshire Audubon is a Volunteer-Driven Organization

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