audubon strategic plan 2012-2015

audubonstrategic plan 2012-2015A Roadmap for Hemispheric Conservation

Contents2 ExEcutivE Summary10 conSErvation StratEgiES22 Pacific fly way32 cEntral fly way42 miSSiSSiPPi fly way50 atlantic fly way60 How wE work76 DirEctoryThe lasting pleasures of contact with thenatural world are not reserved for scientistsbut are available to anyone who will placehimself under the influence of earth, sea,and sky and their amazing life.–rachel carson2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of Silent SpringOn the cO veR : Each spring and fall, billions of migratory birds follow the flyways of the Americasfrom wintering to breeding grounds and back again. By protecting the web of life that represents theAmericas’ richest veins of biodiversity, Audubon is safeguarding our great natural heritage for futuregenerations, preserving our shared quality of life, and fostering a healthier environment for us all.l U.S. Important Bird Areasl International Important Bird AreasShore Birds Sea Birds Land Birds Raptors WaterfowlProthonotarywarbler

E x ECUTIv ESUMMa RYThe Case for Changein order to meet today’s unprecedented environmental challenges, Audubonhas brought new focus and discipline to this strategic plan. It is the first original,conservation-focused strategic plan for Audubon in more than 20 years, and itreflects the contributions of 150 members of the Audubon family, representingstaff, board members, Chapters, and other partners.the planning team began by following the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, andPacific Flyways to identify bird species with the greatest conservation need. Next wedefined the most pervasive and shared threats to these priority birds and theirhabitats. And then we looked at the cross-flyway strategies and specific projects withthe greatest potential to deliver conservation impact. Only strategies that metthe following standards were ultimately included in our strategic plan.Wood ThrushAtlantic Flyway• Can we achieve impact at range-wide scale across the hemisphere?• Can we add significant value?• Do we have the specific skills and resources?HOW WE SELECTED OUR PRIORTY SPECIESAudubon’s priority bird species are birds of significant conservation need, for whichour actions, over time, can lead to measurable improvements in status. Eighteenare Red WatchList species, 23 are Yellow WatchList species, and 8 are VulnerableCommon Birds. The breadth of this list reflects the dramatic loss of habitat and thepervasive threats that confront birds and wildlife.Prothonotary WarblerMississippi FlywayThe plight of the Great Egret,hunted for its feathers,inspired the first Audubonmembers more than a centuryago. The species remainsour symbol today.Introductionfor more than a century Audubon has protected birds andtheir habitat for the benefit of humanity as well as the earth’sbiodiversity. Our legacy is built on science, education, advocacy,and on-the-ground conservation. We bring all of thistogether through our unparalleled network. This combinationof expertise and on-the-ground engagement makes Audubona truly unique and trusted force for conservation.Audubon’s mission is more urgent today than ever before.Natural habitat and open spaces are disappearing at an alarmingrate. Protections for wildlife, natural places, and cleanair and water are in jeopardy. By protecting birds, we’re alsosafeguarding America’s great natural heritage for future generations,preserving our shared quality of life and fostering ahealthier environment for us all.METRICS fOR SUCCESSWe will measure our success through improved conservation outcomes for eachof our priority species. These outcomes will be population increases, reversals ordecreases in decline, improvement or expansion of essential habitats, and/or abatedthreats to populations or habitats.Sandhill CraneCentral FlywaySnowy PloverPacific FlywayAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 3

exeC utivesummaryLook for these icons throughoutthe strategic plan.Conservation StrategiesAudubon will maximize our conservation results by focusingon five conservation strategies critical for birds.Putting Working Lands to Workfor Birds & PeoPLeBest management practices on ranches, farms, and forests hold the key to survival formore than 150 species of threatened grassland and forest birds. By partnering withlandowners, Audubon can help ensure a bright future for birds like the Cerulean Warblerand the Tricolored Blackbird, and a healthy landscape for future generations.sharing our seas & shoresCoastal areas are a magnet for birds and people alike. Unfortunately, overfishing, development,and sea level rise put 60 percent of coastal birds at risk. By expanding our successfulcoastal stewardship program, Audubon can enlist a growing army of volunteer caretakersof nesting habitat. Seabirds are also vulnerable—they make up close to half the specieson Audubon’s WatchList. By incorporating marine sites into our Important Bird Areasprogram, Audubon can advance policies and practices that will reduce threats such asoverfishing and pollution from oil and other causes.saving imPortant Bird areasKnowing which places are most important for birds is the first step toward conservingthem. Audubon has identified 2,544 Important Bird Areas in the United States,covering 378 million acres, and is supporting work in some of the 2,345 IBAs in LatinAmerica, the Caribbean, and Canada. Now we can harness the Audubon network toprotect, restore, and advocate for these landscapes and the birds that depend on them.shaPing a heaLthy CLimate& CLean energy futureClimate change poses an unprecedented threat not just to birds but to biodiversityand our shared quality of life. Audubon is responding to this challenge with an equallyunprecedented combination of strategies, from advancing transformational policies thatreduce carbon emissions and support well-sited green energy to leading adaptive landmanagement practices that will mitigate the impact of sea level rise and climate change.Creating Bird-friendLy CommunitiesMost Americans live in cities or suburbs, and people can play a critical role in fosteringhealthy wildlife populations and communities. Rural regions have an outsized opportunityto contribute. As the leading voice for birds, Audubon can inspire the one in five adultswho watch birds to make daily lifestyle choices that add up to real conservation impact.Open the gatefold at right to see how we are advancing ourConservation Strategies in each Flyway of the Americas.3How w e w ork: following t H e flyways to HemispH eric c onservati o nconServAtion StrAtegieS PAcific fly wAy centrAl fly wAy miSSiSSiPPi fly wAy AtlAntic fly wAyPutting working lAndSto work for birdS & PeoPleShAring ourSeAS & ShoreSSAvingimPortAnt bird AreASShAPing A heAlthy climAte& cleAn energy futurecreAting bird-friendlycommunitieSthe bottom line:118 million Acres64 Priority Speciestransforming the central valley(page 24)tongass national forest(page 26)coastal Stewardship: Pacific(page 27)Saving Seabirds: Pacific(page 30)Arctic Slope(page 28)Across all flyways:Improve energy planning/siting to minimize impacts on priority birds and landscapesSupport climate policy solutions, efficiency policies, and renewable energy incentives; eliminate dirty coalDrive effective policy and practice through expertise about birdsHelp birds adapt to climate change through lobbying, modeling, and adaptation strategyAcross all flyways:Audubon At Home; Urban Oasis; TogetherGreen; Lights OutCitizen-science monitoring (e.g., Christmas Bird Count, Great Backyard Bird Count)Mobilize Chapters and Centers to acquire and restore critical habitats, and to engage a broad audienceNurture Important Bird Areasiconic bird species: Snowy Plover,Western SandpiperFor full list of Pacific Flyway priority bird species,see page 22migration corridor(page 36)Sagebrush ecosystem(page 34)Prairie birds (*Incubator project)(page 40)coastal Stewardship: gulf(page 44)western rivers (*Incubator project)(page 41)iconic bird species: Sandhill Crane,Greater Sage-GrouseFor full list of Central Flyway priority bird species,see page 32bottomland forests(*Incubator project)(page 49)Prairie birds (*Incubator project)(page 40)coastal Stewardship: gulf(page 44)mississippi river delta(page 46)iconic bird species: ProthonotaryWarbler, Black SkimmerFor full list of Mississippi Flyway priority birdspecies, see page 42eastern forests(page 52)eastern grasslands &Shrublands (*Incubator project)(page 59)coastal Stewardship:Atlantic & gulf(page 54)Saving Seabirds: Atlantic(page 58)everglades ecosystem(page 56)long island Sound(page 57)Saltmarsh (*Incubator project)(page 59)iconic bird species: WoodThrush, Piping PloverFor full list of Atlantic Flyway prioritybird species, see page 504 Audubon StrA tegic PlA n*Incubator projects: Projects with clear and significant conservation potential that are pending additional assessment of feasibility and impact. Acre and species metrics for these projects are not included in the Bottom Line totals above.

PACIFIC F ly wA y C entrA l F ly wA y MISSISSIPPI F ly wA y A tlA ntIC F ly wA yexeC utiveS ummaryThe Audubon PlanBy working as One Audubon along the flyways of the Americas, we willdeliver conservation impact at scale.The Audubon NetworkAudubon's national and state programs, Centers, Chapters, and Important BirdAreas come together with an unparalleled wingspan for conservation.How We WorkAlignment: Follow the Flyways and Work as One Audubonthe flyways traveled by migratory birds each spring and fall inspire our new modelfor organizational alignment. By connecting the work of the Audubon network—Chapters, Centers, national and state staff, volunteers, partners, and other supporters—allalong each of the flyways of the Americas, Audubon can weave a seamless webof conservation for both migratory and non-migratory species. By working towardcommon flyway conservation goals, we can have greater impact. And by coordinatingresources and expertise, we can increase our efficiency across the network.Piping PloverAtlantic FlywayState ProgramSAudubon’s 22 state programs give us a presence at statehouses and provide statewideleadership for Chapters and Centers. The state programs are a powerful force for programmaticalignment throughout the flyways.CenterSForty-seven Audubon Centers introduce more than a million visitors each year tothe natural world—and inspire them to help protect it.Black SkimmerMississippi FlywayChaPterSAudubon’s 467 chapters are more than our face in communities from coast to coast;they are the drivers of our on-the-ground conservation work. Many of the mostimportant Audubon milestones took flight from the dedication and passion for birdsand nature of our Chapter members. As full partners in our new strategic plan,Chapters can be an even more powerful force for conservation.hemiSPheriC PartnerSAudubon works directly with 19 birdlife partners in Latin America and theCaribbean to protect habitat along the length of the flyways.● Audubon Chapters: 467 ★ Audubon State Offices: 22 ● Audubon Centers: 47 ● Globally Significant IBAs: 424Pacific Flyway★ State Offices: 3● Audubon Chapters: 115● Audubon Centers: 7● Global IBAs: 161Central Flyway★ State Offices: 6● Audubon Chapters: 75● Audubon Centers: 9● Global IBAs: 65Mississippi Flyway★ State Offices: 5● Audubon Chapters: 120● Audubon Centers: 10● Global IBAs: 59Atlantic Flyway★ State Offices: 8● Audubon Chapters: 157● Audubon Centers: 21● Global IBAs: 139Important Bird Areas (IBAs)An IBA is a place that provides essential habitat for one or more species of bird, and includes sites for breeding,wintering, and/or migrating birds. Audubon, as the U.S. partner of BirdLife International, uses science to identify, assess,and monitor IBAs, and enlists communities and individuals to provide stewardship. The 2,544 IBAs in the UnitedStates cover 378 million acres; 424 of these sites have been designated as globally significant.Engagement: Increase Reach and DiversityBy engaging a broader and more diverse audience in our work, Audubon will meet thecomplex challenges facing birds. No other conservation organization has Audubon’swingspan, from the grassroots to the grasstops.As the leading brand in bird conservation, Audubon has the power to unite diversestakeholders to solve even the toughest problems, and the reach to motivate individualsand communities to take action for birds and the environment.Nevertheless, like the environmental movement overall, we face a challenge: Ourmembers and supporters do not fully reflect the nation’s changing demographics. Underour strategic plan, Audubon will bring the inspiration of nature to diverse communitiesthrough Audubon Centers, our TogetherGreen partnership, and other initiatives. We willextend our reach beyond the 1.8 million who read each issue of Audubon magazine toembrace audiences more likely found on Facebook, Twitter, or the next platform. We willengage a new generation of conservation leaders while maintaining our core loyal friends.greater Sage-grouseCentral FlywayWestern SandpiperPacific FlywayAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 9

conS e R v ATionSTRATe G ieSPutting WorkingLands to Work forBirds & Peopleworking lands represent one of the best hopes for conservation.Ranches and farms cover more than one billion acresof the United States. Forests, many of which are managedfor timber, account for an additional 747 million acres. Theseworking lands add up to more than half of America’s acreage.The ThreatWorking lands are central to America’s economic andenvironmental health. They provide our food, shelter, andeven homegrown energy. As our population grows, so doesthe number of acres devoted to agriculture. Many of thepractices used in intensive farming jeopardize declininggrassland birds. Forest birds, including the Wood Thrush,the Golden-winged Warbler, and many other neotropicalmigrants, are losing nesting habitat to agricultural development,especially in Latin America.Look for thisicon throughoutthe strategic planto learn aboutprograms thathelp us PutWorking Landsto Work for Birds& People.Audubon’s SolutionPartnering with landowners is the key to making workinglands work for birds, people, and communities.Forests We help landowners balance forest managementto create forests that work for breeding birds whileproviding a dependable stream of income from timber.Audubon educates foresters about the needs of birds,and shows them how to factor them into forestry plans.Agricultural Lands Years of scientific research have helpedAudubon field staff share the ways farming can be compatiblewith birds. For example, farmers in California’s CentralValley, by keeping their rice fields wet a few weeks longer,provide habitat for Long-billed Curlews and other PacificFlyway migrants. Measures to reduce runoff improve waterquality; that, in turn, improves ecosystems in agriculturalareas. Audubon can partner with small and large-scalefarmers throughout the hemisphere to create healthy, safehabitat for shorebirds, waterfowl, and communities.Grasslands and RanchlandsThe prairie and sagebrush habitats of the interior UnitedStates are threatened by energy development and otheruses. Audubon works with all stakeholders to foster goodpolicy and practices for managing these vital habitats.Audubon californiaworks withfarmers in thecentral valley andelsewhere in thestate to create andpreserve habitatfor a wide range ofbird species.10 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 11

conS e R v ATionSTRATe G ieSSharing OurSeas & Shorescoastal areas have unique importance for many speciesof birds, offering breeding sites as well as rich sources offood for migratory stopovers. Oceans also support a largenumber of seafaring birds that depend on healthy watersfor feeding and safe islands for nesting.The ThreatBooming coastal development and recreational use ofbeaches are rapidly eroding vital habitat for birds andother wildlife. Overfishing threatens the food supply forbirds—and, in the long term, for people, too. Sea level risejeopardizes nesting habitat on beaches and islands at thesame time that it puts coastal communities at risk. Beachesare critical nesting and migratory habitat for many species,including Piping Plovers, Snowy Plovers, Least Terns, andAmerican Oystercatchers.Look for thisicon throughoutthe strategic planto learn aboutprograms thathelp us Share ourSeas & Shores.Audubon’s SolutionAudubon is committed to protecting the vital habitat alongAmerica’s coasts where people and birds intersect.Shores Audubon’s beach stewardship program enlistslocal communities to steer beachgoers away from themost important nesting sites. We also empower membersand friends to become a strong voice for soundcoastal management practices. By using sound science,including predictive modeling, we can begin to explorepotential habitat impacts from sea level rise. This is avital step toward developing strategies to mitigate andoffset habitat loss for coastal birds.Seas Marine Important Bird Areas hold great promisefor stabilizing declining populations of seabirds,including Ashy Storm-Petrels, Kittlitz’s Murrelets,and Roseate Terns. Expanding the IBA program toencompass and study vital ocean sites will provide afoundation for Audubon’s development and promotionof much-needed regulation of overfishing and otherthreats to ocean birds and wildlife.Sundown island,on the Texascoast. At least 18species, includingBrown Pelicansand RoseateSpoonbills,depend on theisland, managedby Audubon.12 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 13

conS ervATionSTr ATegieSSaving ImportantBird Areasmany of america’s most beloved and biologically richlandscapes are in grave danger. From the Arctic Slope inAlaska to the Mississippi Delta, and from the Northeast’sLong Island Sound to the wetlands of the Everglades, thepower of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) cannot be overstated.Audubon is leading the way to protect these iconicplaces and the birds that depend on them, and mobilizingour network of Chapters to act as stewards.Look for thisicon throughoutthe strategic planto learn aboutprograms thathelp us saveimportant BirdAreas.The ThreatBirds depend on a diverse range of habitats, and the threatsthat confront them are equally varied. Grasslands arebeing replaced by residential development. Forests disappearthrough the overharvesting of timber. Badly plannedenergy development has grim consequences for many birdspecies and other wildlife.Audubon’s SolutionAs the U.S. partner for BirdLife International, Audubonspearheads an ambitious effort to identify, monitor, andprotect the most important places for birds. We also collaboratewith 19 international partners to extend a web ofprotection throughout the Western Hemisphere. To dateAudubon has identified 2,544 IBAs covering 378 millionacres of public and private lands in the United States.Among them are high-priority Global IBAs—places likeNew York City’s Jamaica Bay, areas within Alaska’s ArcticSlope, and coastal bird sanctuaries in Texas.Each priority site requires a specific conservation plan—andthat’s a critical piece of the work Audubon does. To implementthese plans, Audubon will work with all key stakeholders—landowners,government agencies at every level,Chapters, and communities. A tiered program will guide thescope and level of involvement of the Audubon network,focusing on where conservation actions are possible andwhere protections can be secured, habitats restored, or threatsreduced. This approach works: IBA status is now formallyfactored into state agency land-use planning in a number ofstates, including New York, Minnesota, and Washington.IBAs are also recognized by major utility grid planners andfederal agencies. This pillar of Audubon’s overall approach toconservation is both powerful and simple: By identifying andprotecting the most important places for birds, we can savespecies and preserve our natural heritage.important BirdAreas that protectbottomlandhardwood forestsand other criticalhabitats willbenefit a range ofspecies, includingthe ProthonotaryWarbler.14 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 15

conS e R v ATionSTRATe G ieSShaping a HealthyClimate & CleanEnergy Futurethe effects of climate change are already being seen,and they pose profound challenges to conservation. How ournation and other nations respond to the unfolding impactsof temperature rise coupled with our boundless appetite forenergy will shape the legacy we leave for future generations.The ThreatThis unprecedented threat is already disrupting the natural balanceand cycles that have sustained birds and other wildlife formillennia. Its potential impacts loom, from habitat loss to devastatingbreaks in the delicate links that connect birds, migration,and food sources. Audubon’s research has already revealeda disturbing trend among wintering birds, many of which areshifting their ranges north in response to rising temperatures.While some lucky species will discover suitable habitat in theirnew location, others will find that the habitat and food sourcesthey depend on have disappeared, leaving them no place to go.Look for thisicon throughoutthe strategicplan to learnabout programsthat help usShape a Healthyclimate & cleanenergy Future.Audubon’s SolutionAudubon is focused on four key strategies to reduce and mitigatethe impacts of climate change and foster a clean energy future.Traditional energy The location of transmission lines anddrill rigs matters to birds and other wildlife. Audubonwill build on its leading-edge science, which has steered15 million acres of western oil and gas wells and two neweastern transmission lines away from critical bird habitat.Green energy Alternative sources, like wind and solar,will help meet growing demands for energy with lessenvironmental impact. Audubon can ensure that weget green energy right, by locating wind farms in placeswith a substantial human footprint, where they willhave less impact on birds and wildlife.emissions Reduction Sound public policy is fundamental;that’s why we mobilize our network in the high-stakes fighton behalf of much-needed legislation to reduce emissions.Adaptive Management Innovative modeling using GPSinformation and data from our Christmas Bird Countalong with other studies is already being used by theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to identify specific birdhabitats and species most at risk from climate change.By understanding potential impacts before they occur,Audubon can provide proactive solutions.To meet the challengesof climatechange, we mustbalance the needfor green energywith the importanceof savingbirds and otherwildlife.16 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 17

conS ervaT ionSTraT egieSCreatingBird-FriendlyCommunitiesmost americans make their homes in cities, suburbs,or towns. Fortunately for birds, these urban and suburbandwellers can play a critical role in fostering healthy wildlifeand communities—and that’s good for kids, pets, and overallquality of life. Audubon also works with members of morerural communities to support conservation where they live.The ThreatResidential development often alters and disturbs wildlifehabitat. Meadows that once supported grassland birdsbecome disconnected patches, while forests that providednesting sites for other species disappear from the landscape.Not only are there fewer places to nest, feed, or rest,human presence and activity can degrade the habitat thatremains and create hazards for birds. Collisions with buildings,ingestion of pesticides, competition with invasivenonnative species, and loss of food sources can make lifeprecarious for the birds that most closely share our ownhabitat. Coupled with natural environmental threats, thesemanmade challenges contribute to declines among a broadrange of both resident and migratory bird populations.The SolutionPeople are at the heart of the conservation solution. Fromthe removal of invasive plants to demonstration gardens andhabitat restoration programs, Audubon Chapters, Centers, andstate programs across the country work with communities toimprove urban habitat for birds and other wildlifePrograms like Audubon At Home, Urban Oasis, andLights Out empower people to make bird-friendly lifestylechoices in their homes, backyards, and communities.Audubon Centers and Chapters provide the leadership andresources that can connect a neighborhood’s backyards ina swath of welcoming habitat for many birds, includingswifts, swallows, thrushes, woodpeckers, wood warblers,and grosbeaks. Partnership efforts like Toyota and Audubon’sTogetherGreen enlist new conservationists to createbird-friendly communities coast to coast. By refining, expanding,and integrating these successful efforts, Auduboncan have more direct impact on thousands of acres wherebirds and people live together.Look for thisicon throughoutthe strategic planto learn aboutprograms thathelp us createBird-Friendlycommunities.engaging peoplein conservationthrough our networkof centersand chapters willbe key to creatingcommunitieswhere birds canthrive.18 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 19

Following the Flyways Working asof the Western Hemisphere, we willOne Audubon along the Flywaysdeliver conservation impact at scale.King Eiders flockduring springmigration off PointBarrow, Alaska.by connecting the work of the Audubon network—Chapters, Centers, national and state staff, volunteers,international and other partners, and other supporters—allalong each of the flyways of the Americas, Audubon canweave a seamless web of conservation, for our priority birdspecies and their habitats.The following flyway sections include a description ofpriority and incubator projects within each flyway andhighlights from Centers and Chapters.20 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 21

Pacific FlywayConservation the Length of the Americaspriority speciesAshy storm-petrelBar-tailed GodwitBlack-footed AlbatrossBlack-necked stiltBlack oystercatcherBrantcassin’s AukletKittlitz’s MurreletLaysan AlbatrossLeast tern (right)Long-billed curlewMarbled MurreletNorthern Goshawksandhill cranesnowy ploversooty shearwaterspectacled eiderspruce Grouseswainson’s Hawktricolored BlackbirdVaried thrushWestern sandpiperXantus’s Murreletyellow-billed Loonthe birds of the Pacific Flyway depend on a diverse chainof habitats, from Arctic tundra and northwestern rainforestto tropical beaches and mangroves. Audubon’s network ofchapters, volunteers, activists, and members is preservingand restoring these vital links along the way.each year at least a billion birds migrate along the PacificFlyway, which stretches from the north Slope of Alaskato central and South America. but these birds are only afraction of those that used the flyway a century ago. Somespecies, such as the black-footed Albatross and the leasttern, are in serious trouble, and even many common birds,such as the Western Sandpiper, have become far less common.Habitat loss, water shortages due to diversion for agricultureand development, diminishing food sources, andclimate change all threaten the birds of the Pacific Flyway.coN serVAtioN G o ALs12.6 million acres24 priority bird species22 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 23

p A cificf L y WAypacific fly way central fly way mississippi fly way atlantic fly wayAudubon in Action for the Western Sandpiper● Audubon Chapters: 115 ★ Audubon State Offices: 3 ● Audubon Centers: 7 ● Globally Significant IBAs: 161Audubon Alaskapreserves breeding habitatin western and northerncoastal Alaska.H e M ispH ericcoNNectioN sChileAudubon and its Chileanpartner, Centro de Estudios yConservación del PatrimonioNatural (CECPAN), workto protect critical winteringImportant Bird Areas for HudsonianGodwits (99 percent ofthe Pacific population wintersin Chile) and Whimbrels.Agricultural lands provide essentialmigratory and winterhabitat. The Chilean team isusing Audubon California’ssuccessful Landowner StewardshipProgram as a modelfor developing similar programs.In California, Audubonengages private landownersto reduce pollution and erosion,restore riparian habitats,and protect vital roostingand feeding grounds. By collaboratingwith groups likeCECPAN, this approach can beapplied in wintering groundsthroughout the hemisphere.p uttiNG WorK i NG L ANds toWorK for Birds & p eopL eTransforming the Central Valleycalifornia’s central valley, one of this country’s most important food-producingareas, offers a good example of the power of Audubon’s partnerships. Audubon California,with its Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership, is collaborating with TheNature Conservancy and PRBO Conservation Science to enlist California farmerswho grow rice, alfalfa, and other crops to manage their farms in bird-friendly ways thatbenefit such priority species as the Long-billed Curlew and the Western Sandpiper.Audubon and PRBO Conservation Science have guided major investments in publicfunds to make agricultural lands more bird-friendly. The Natural Resources ConservationService, a unit of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has committed $2.68 millionto a three-year pilot program for rice farmers interested in increasing their farms’value to migratory birds. To date, 74 farms and more than 28,000 acres have beenenrolled in the program. In 2012 the NRCS is committing similar funding to grow theprogram. In another example of how Audubon California is engaging the agriculturalcommunity, 20 alfalfa and other forage-crop farmers recently participated in a pair ofAudubon workshops to identify bird-friendly practices on their farms. These methodswill be tested over the next several years.theory of Victory: Audubon will support, guide, and replicate efforts by farmersand ranchers to modify land management practices on farmland to increase their valuefor birds and other wildlife.priority speciesWesternSandpiper(Calidris mauri)Range and Habitat: nestsin western and northernAlaska. Migrates in springmainly in West, but fairlycommon on Atlantic coastin fall. Frequents mudflats.Status: like many sandpipers,its population hasdropped; species was listed asdeclining on Watchlist 2007.Threats/Outlook: lossof nutrient-rich estuarinemudflats on migrationroutes due to pollutedrunoff and other effectsof nearby development.Key migration, wintering,and staging areas need tobe protected.Audubon Alaskaprotects watershedsand coastal estuariesin the tongassnational Forest.Gray’s HarborAudubon sponsors anannual Shorebird Festivaland has created a739-acre wetland.Audubon California,Klamath Basin Audubon,and the AudubonSociety of Portlandpreserve key wetlands.Audubon Californiarestores wetlands habitat inSan Francisco bay.San Diego Audubonsafeguards crucial habitat inMission bay.PA n A m Anational Audubonand Panama Audubonprotect winter habitatin Panama bay.the Bottom Line: Conservation impact on 210,000 U.S. acres; improved outcomesfor six priority bird species.24 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 25

P a C ifiCf L y W ayt H e CHa P ternetW orkAudubon Societyof PortlandThe Oregon coastline and itsvast offshore kelp forests arethreatened by global warming,oil spills, coastal development,and overfishing. The AudubonSociety of Portland is workingto ensure that commonand imperiled seabirds aremanaged as an integral part ofthis great conservation legacy.Having helped establish OurOcean, an alliance of organizationsworking to promoteecosystem-based managementin the Pacific Ocean offOregon’s coast, the Chapter isbringing together scientists,fishermen, and others to collaborateon strategies to protectbiodiversity and promotesustainable coastal economies.Chapter representatives arealso actively contributing to theOcean Policy Advisory Council,supporting recent legislationthat establishes a network ofcritical sanctuary and marinereserves covering nine percentof Oregon’s territorial seas. Onecritical land–sea connection,between Audubon’s Ten MileCreek Sanctuary and the CapePerpetua Marine Reserve andSeabird Protected Area, aidsprotection of the MarbledMurrelet (below), a species listedas endangered in Oregon.Putting Working Lands to Workfor Birds & PeoPLeTongass National Forestalaska’s tongass national forest, nearly 17 million acres, includes a significantportion of the world’s last remaining temperate rainforest. This spectacular region supportsabundant wildlife, including such priority bird species as the Marbled Murrelet.Audubon’s goal is to conserve intact, ecologically significant watersheds in the Tongassand support the transition of forest management from the harvest of old-growth treesto more diversified uses. Audubon Alaska’s collaborative approach is in full view here,and its network includes all key stakeholders: conservation groups, the timber industry,commercial fishing groups, tourism officials, Alaska’s Native people, southeasternAlaska communities, the U.S. Forest Service, and Alaska Fish and Game. In partnershipwith The Nature Conservancy, the state program has used input from dozens ofscientists to take a watershed-based approach to conservation. Audubon has analyzed,mapped, and described the Tongass’s coastal forests to identify areas of greatestecological value. This will help deflect a current threat from legislation, introduced inboth the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, that would make a substantialportion of the last remaining very large tree old-growth forest vulnerable to timbercutting. Audubon’s approach protects biodiversity while supporting sustainableeconomic development.S HARi N g OuR S EAS & SHORESCoastal Stewardship: Pacificwell loved and heavily used, western beaches and rocky intertidal zones are alsohome to some of the most vulnerable Pacific Flyway species, including the Black Oystercatcher(below), Western Snowy Plover, and California Least Tern. As developmentpressure continues to grow, precious shore habitats are vital not only for conservationbut also because they provide an opportunity to help people understand how their ownactions can help birds and wildlife. Building on innovative and successful stewardshipby Audubon California and coastal Chapters, our multi-pronged approach combineson-the-ground protection with successful outreach programs aimed at increasingnumbers and diversity of breeding and wintering sites. In the process, we are alsoprotecting numerous other migratory shorebirds that rely on shoreline areas duringwinter and migration.Theory of Victory: Audubon will protect key coastal species throughout their lifetimesand migration cycles by restoring and conserving dynamic beach dune habitat for nestingbirds, and by reducing disturbance and minimizing threats during migration and winter.The Bottom Line: Conservation impact on hundreds of miles of shoreline, from BajaCalifornia to Alaska; improved outcomes for three priority species.THE CHAPTERNETWORKBay AreaAudubon ChaptersWith some 5,000 turbines, theAltamont Pass wind farm, builtin the 1980s on the edge of California’sCentral Valley, is one ofthe biggest in the nation. It hasalso always been controversial,because it kills thousands ofsongbirds and raptors eachyear. For years, five AudubonChapters—Golden Gate, SantaClara Valley, Mount Diablo,Ohlone, and Marin—foughtfor improvements at Altamont.Their hard work paid off in anagreement with the state attorneygeneral and Altamont’soperator, NextEra Energy Resources,that could reduce birdstrikes by 80 percent. Amongthe changes: huge new turbines,each of which replaces10 to 30 old ones; an altereddesign that’s safer for birds; anddifferent siting, away from thesaddles or ravines that attractprey and funnel air. AudubonChapters' work in the PacificFlyway inspired and aligns withthe Site It Right project.theory of Victory: Audubon will work to conserve intact, ecologically significant watershedsin the Tongass National Forest and to support transitioning forest managementfrom the harvest of old-growth trees to a more diversified use of the forest, includingmanaging the Tongass for salmon.the Bottom Line: Conservation impact on 1.8 million acres; improved outcomes forfour priority bird species.26 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 27

p A cificf L y WAyyellow-billed Loont H e ceN terN etW orKSeward ParkAudubon Centert H e cHApterN etW orKSaving Seabirdsin CaliforniaCalifornia Audubon Chaptersare playing a critical role inthe creation of a network ofstate marine reserves underthe Marine Life Protection Actthat will safeguard speciesand habitats while at thesame time accommodatingthe needs of fishing andrecreation. For each of fivedistinct regions, scientists,conservationists, commercialfishing interests, andrecreational users must negotiatethe design of marineprotected areas. Leaders fromthe Marin Audubon Society,San Fernando Valley Audubon,and Mendocino CoastAudubon are each playingimportant roles advocatingfor seabird habitat protection.In representing Audubon innegotiations, members ofthese Chapters have contributeda great deal of time andlocal expertise to a processthat will benefit marine birdsin this critical stretch of thePacific Flyway for decades.sAVi NG iMportANt Bird AreA sArctic Slopethe coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), which serves asthe calving grounds of the Porcupine caribou herd, has long been a high-profile locationin the debate over energy development versus wildlife conservation. To the west ofthe Arctic Refuge, however, is a less well known but even more biologically diverse areacritical to birds and other wildlife: the 23-million-acre National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA), the largest single tract of public land in the United States. The NPRAis home to two large caribou herds; exceptional densities of raptors; millions of migratoryshorebirds; tens of thousands of molting geese; polar bears; and beluga whales,walruses, and other marine mammals.In 1976 Congress directed the Interior Department to provide “maximum protection”for the area’s significant fish, wildlife, recreational, and other “surface values” in balancewith oil production in the NPRA. To date the Bureau of Land Management (whichmanages the NPRA) has designated four regions as “special areas” for their exceptionalbiological values: Teshekpuk Lake (above), the Utukok Uplands, Kasegaluk Lagoon,and the Colville River. The BLM is currently preparing the first-ever comprehensivearea-wide plan to systematically assess all of the reserve’s values. This planning processpresents an unprecedented opportunity to fulfill the Congressional mandate to balance oilexploration with wildlife preservation by protecting the designated special areas as wellas other areas of special ecological significance (e.g., Dease Inlet and Meade River, PeardBay, the Arctic Foothills and DeLong Mountains, and the Southern Ikpikpuk River).Audubon Alaska, in the effort to safeguard Important Bird Areas and other specialplaces in balance with responsible energy development, is pursuing permanent wildernessdesignation for the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge as well as the protection of importantecological areas within the NPRA. To that end, Audubon Alaska has published a“Habitat Conservation Strategy” for the NPRA that identifies appropriate protections forthese “special areas,” with particular emphasis on the Teshekpuk Lake area as a breeding,molting, and staging ground for a range of seabirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl.Audubon believes sound policy can serve our energy needs without jeopardizing areasof critical importance to birds and other wildlife. This can mean limiting oil and gas drillingin sensitive or critical habitat areas (for example, goose molting, caribou calving) andcarefully siting needed infrastructure with wildlife habitat requirements in mind.theory of Victory: Audubon will work to secure the permanent protection of boththe Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and a series of identified special areas within theNational Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (for example, Teshekpuk Lake).the Bottom Line: Conservation impact on 10 million U.S. acres; improved outcomes forfour priority bird species.Seattle’s Seward Park AudubonCenter is an importantstop along the Pacific Flywayand home to a diversity ofpeople and birds. Locatedin one of the country’s mostracially, ethnically, and socioeconomicallydiverse ZIPcodes, the Center introduces15,000 people annually to thePileated Woodpeckers andWestern Screech-Owls thatmake their homes deep in theold-growth forest. Migrationstories of Rufous Hummingbirds,Western Tanagers, andcolorful warblers connectstudents with a passion forprotecting essential habitatin the urban environment.Center staff also works torestore stopover or winteringhabitat for shorebirds suchas Buffleheads, Hooded Mergansers,and Common Loonsalong the park’s 2.5 miles offreshwater shoreline.28 Audubon StrA tegic PlA n Audubon StrA tegic PlA n 29

pacificatlantic fly way fly waySharing o ur SeaS & ShoreSSaving Seabirds: Pacificthe centernetworkThe AudubonCenter at Debs ParkLocated in the fourth largestcity park in Los Angeles, theAudubon Center at Debs Parkoperates in a densely populated,underserved urbancommunity. With a strongfocus on youth engagement,the Center offers programsbased on urban conservation,environmental action throughvolunteerism, and outdoorexploration. The Arroyo GreenTeam, the Center’s programfor teens, recently won firstplace out of 320 entries ina contest called “Get theGreen.” The regional contest(run by several organizations,including the National ForestService, REI, and the HispanicCommunications Network)was designed to connectunderrepresented youth tonature. The Green Team wonfor its video “We’re NatureFreaks, We Know It,” whichthey produced as a spoof of awell-known song performedby the popular band LMFAO.The Green Team also participatedin the Los AngelesMayor’s Day of Service, andhas won local accolades fortheir environmental leadershipand volunteer work.the stretch of land and sea from barrow, on Alaska’s North Slope, to BajaCalifornia is home to more than 100 million seabirds that depend on a network ofbreeding and foraging sites up and down the Pacific Coast. Audubon has the rightskills and assets—which includes science-based identification of Important Bird Areas(IBAs), national reach and international partnerships, and expertise in colony restorationand public policy—to take effective action to stabilize and increase populations ofat-risk species. We are already working with partners in British Columbia and Mexicoto designate 250 IBAs along the Pacific Coast.Specific goals include conserving food sources for bird species through the passage ofinternational treaties, such as the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrelsand other legal protections; pressing for the recognition of IBAs and marine IBAs by privateand public organizations seeking to develop offshore and near-shore resources; and usingthe expertise developed during 38 years of successful seabird projects in Maine at additionalimportant Pacific coastal sites to make them safe and suitable for use by seabird colonies.theory of Victory: Audubon will take a broad-ranging approach—working withpartners, influencing legislation, making full use of our extensive scientific work—tomaintain a healthy network of breeding and foraging sites for the millions of migratoryseabirds that use the Pacific Flyway.the Bottom line: Conservation impact on marine IBAs; improved outcomes for ninepriority bird species.anna weinstein, Seabirdconservation Directorfor audubon californiasHApiNG A HeALt H y cLi MAt e& cLe AN eNerG y f utureSite It Rightthe science is clear: Climate change poses the greatest threat to wildlife and habitatin our lifetime. A key strategy for reducing the impacts of climate change is to shifthow we generate energy from burning fossil fuels to cleaner technologies, includingwind, solar, and geothermal. Audubon supports properly sited renewable energy projectsthat avoid, minimize, and mitigate impact on wildlife and habitat. Site It Rightadvocates for national, state, and local policies that encourage the permitting of renewableenergy projects while protecting the conservation values of our natural environmentand wildlife on public and private lands.The Pacific Flyway states possess vast renewable energy resources, growing populations,and world leadership in climate change policy, making this one of the world’sfastest-growing renewable energy markets and putting pressure on this key landscape.In close partnership with Audubon Chapters, Site It Right advocacy efforts will protectImportant Bird Areas as well as the migratory pathways that connect them.theory of Victory: America must simultaneously reduce its dependence on fossil fuelsand protect birds. Audubon will continue to promote a balanced approach to this crucialissue by supporting wind energy installations that are sited to avoid, minimize, andmitigate impacts on wildlife and habitat.t H e ceN terN etW orKRichardson BayAudubon Centerand SanctuaryThe San Francisco Bay-Delta,a sprawling complex of estuarineand open-water habitatformed by the confluence oftwo major rivers and the PacificOcean, is home to morethan a dozen Important BirdAreas, at least three of themglobally significant IBAs. Fordecades Audubon has hada strong regional presence,safeguarding habitat for awealth of migratory birds.Audubon operates the area’slargest estuarine reserve atthe Richardson Bay AudubonCenter and Sanctuary. Werecently created habitat onAramburu Island (above)and restored vital habitat inthe San Pablo Bay Wetlands;we also work with governmentand NGO partners toadvocate for greater protectionsfor bay habitat. As thestate now considers a massiveinvestment in water deliveryinfrastructure, Audubonhas remained a consistentvoice for birds. We successfullyplaced a “no-net-loss”provision in landmark 2009legislation ensuring thatsolutions to the crisis facingthe Sacramento/San JoaquinRiver delta will protect migratorybird habitat.30 a udubon Strategic PlanAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 31

Central FlywaySpanning Mountains, Plains, Deserts, and Coastpriority speciesAmerican oystercatcherBlack skimmerBrown pelicanGreater sage-Grouse (right)Gunnison sage-GrouseLeast ternLesser prairie-chickenpiping ploverreddish egretredheadred Knotruddy turnstonesanderlingsandhill cranesnowy ploverWhooping craneWilson’s ploverBottom L ine58 million acres17 priority bird speciesthe central Flyway extends from the grasslands ofthe great Plains, the heartland’s wetlands and rivers, andthe majestic rocky Mountains to the western gulf coast.Many of its migratory bird species winter in centraland South America; some migrate across the WesternHemisphere as far north as the Arctic circle and otherssouth to Patagonia, in southern South America. to survivethese arduous journeys, they rely on stopover habitat allalong the flyway. the central Flyway region is alsorenowned for its iconic western species, the greaterSage-grouse and the lesser Prairie-chicken, and theirspectacular breeding displays.Habitat loss and degradation threaten birds of the centralFlyway. Water diversions and development are takinga toll on riparian and wetland habitats that many birds,including the critically endangered Whooping crane, relyon each spring. energy exploration and extraction hasfragmented sagebrush landscapes of the intermountainWest, with grim consequences for sage-grouse and otherdependent wildlife. grassland birds and habitat arevanishing at an alarming rate as native prairie is erasedby agricultural and urban development.32 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 33

Centralfly waythe C haP ternetworkHouston AudubonSocietyFor more than 80 yearsAudubon’s coastal wardenshave been safeguarding thebirds that live, breed, and neston Texas Gulf Coast islands.Along the upper Texas coastthey work closely with theHouston Audubon Society.Today Houston Audubonowns and manages 10 sanctuariesalong the Gulf; two ofthe managed sites have beendesignated Globally ImportantBird Areas by Audubonand BirdLife International. TheCoastal Sanctuary program,a collaboration between theChapter and Audubon Texas,constitutes one of the nation’soldest and most successfulconservation partnerships.Development, especially nearwintering grounds, is a majorthreat to healthy populationsof birds like the Sanderlingand Piping Plover. That’s whythese committed conservationistsuse a creative combinationof habitat restoration,monitoring, and outreachaimed at minimizing humandisturbance to keep Texas’scoastal birds safe.Putting w orking l ands tow ork for Birds & PeoP leThe Sagebrush Ecosystemthe unbroken sagebrush country that provides crucial habitat for the Greater and GunnisonSage-Grouse is one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes of the Rocky Mountain West.The sage encompasses approximately 120 million acres and stretches from eastern Washingtonto central Wyoming and down to northern New Mexico and Arizona. It is home to aplethora of species, including 297 species of birds, 87 species of mammals, and 63 fish species.This fertile but fragile landscape has been fragmented, degraded, and, in some areas,completely eliminated by many different human activities. By some accounts, the sagebrushsteppe habitat has declined by 50 percent from its levels just a century ago.Today the biggest threat to the sage ecosystem is energy development. That’s why theAudubon Rockies program, working with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), stategovernments, and other stakeholders, has spurred the adoption of a game-changing strategythat balances wildlife protection with our nation’s need for energy. This science-based approachidentifies the best places for wind farms and limits the footprint of oil and gas extractionwhile protecting core habitat areas for sage-grouse. As a result, 15 million acres of sagegrousehabitat in Wyoming are now protected, and the BLM has expanded this approach intoNevada, Utah, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and the Dakotas. Audubon’spioneering work in one flyway can lead to successes in others; this strategy also holdsgreat promise farther south for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken and the shortgrass prairie.theory of Victory: By focusing on the threatened conservation status of three species(Greater Sage-Grouse, Gunnison Sage-Grouse, and Lesser Prairie-Chicken), Audubonwill ensure a sustainable future for the sage and prairie ecosystems and their wildlife.the Bottom line: Conservation impact on 57 million U.S. acres; improved outcomes forthree priority bird species.pacific fly way central fly way mississippi fly way atlantic fly wayAudubon in Action for the Sandhill Crane● Audubon Chapters: 75 ★ Audubon State Offices: 6 ● Audubon Centers: 9 ● Globally Significant IBAs: 65priority speciesSandhill Crane(Grus canadensis)Range and Habitat: nestsin various places: acrosscanada, Siberia, Alaska; inMichigan and Wisconsin;and california to colorado.Winters in new Mexico,texas, oklahoma, andnorthern Mexico. usesvarious habitats but alwaysassociated with water.Status: currently stable.Population is about450,000 and spreading innortheastern united States.Threats/Outlook: in thepast, hunting, pesticides,and habitat loss harmedthis species. to consolidateconservation success, thisspecies needs protectionthrough the restorationof habitat—the Platteriver in nebraska and pineforests and savannahs onthe gulf coast.The Audubon Rockiesprogram and threeWyoming chapters—Meadowlark, Red Desert,and Murie—monitor ibAsimportant to migrating andnesting cranes.The Lahontan and RedRock Chapters work at threeibAs to protect, improve,and raise awareness abouthabitat for nesting cranes.The Audubon Rockiesprogram and Coloradochapters build regionalsupport for craneconservation. black canyonAudubon protects cranes atFruitgrowers reservoir ibA.Audubon New Mexicoand area chapters addressthreats to riparian winteringhabitat, including thebosque del Apache nationalWildlife refuge, an ibA.Audubon’s RoweSanctuary is visited eachspring by 80 percent of theworld’s Sandhill cranes.All state chapters supportcrane work.Audubon Texas’s workto protect winteringhabitat on the gulf coastbenefits both Sandhill andWhooping cranes.34 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 35

c entrALf L y WAyp uttinG WorK inG L A nds toWorK for Birds & p eopL eMigration Corridorh emisphericconnectionsnorthmany of north america’s migratory birds, especially Whooping (below) andSandhill Cranes and waterfowl like the Redhead, rely on the Central Flyway’s diversemarsh and wetland habitats for their spring and fall journeys. In the Dakotas, bothon-the-ground conservation strategies and targeted energy-policy work have thepotential to positively impact millions of acres. These vast agricultural lands havemajor implications for many grassland- and wetland-dependent birds. Working withgovernment agencies and private landowners in the Prairie Pothole region, Audubonis promoting collaborative solutions to some of the region’s most critical issues facingbirds. The upcoming Farm Bill is emerging as one of the most important pieces oflegislation for bird conservation, and Audubon’s policy team and dedicated membersare building support for measures that ensure continued on-the-ground restoration,now in jeopardy due to sun-setting federal incentives.the centernetW orKMexicoRampant deforestationthreatens critical winteringand stopover habitat formillions of migratory birds,including many raptor speciesthat each year pass throughVeracruz, on Mexico’s GulfCoast. Cattle ranching andagriculture have cleared morethan 90 percent of centralVeracruz’s natural vegetation,leaving little cover, food,or roosting sites for birds.Audubon’s InternationalAlliances Program is workingwith Pronatura Veracruz tobuild local stewardship of thisglobally significant ImportantBird Area. The program helpslandowners develop plantnurseries, ecotourism businesses,and other sustainablelivelihoods from the forestsinstead of cutting them downto clear farmland. More than3,000 acres of remainingVeracruz forest has beenofficially protected.Spring Creek PrairieAudubon CenterJust outside of Lincoln,Nebraska, the Spring CreekPrairie Audubon Centerstands among 800 acres ofnative tallgrass prairie. In additionto the prairie, its milesof walking trails introducevisitors to ponds and wetlands,wildflowers, a diverseassortment of birds and otherwildlife, and historic wagonruts left by 19th-centurypioneers. Thanks to educationand outreach that engagessurrounding communitiesand adjacent landowners,Audubon is fosteringstewardship, preservation,and restoration of one of thelast remaining remnants ofthe native prairies that onceblanketed the Midwest.36 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 37

c entrALf L y WAythe chA pternetW orKGrand ValleyAudubon SocietyThe Birding for Everyone Trailbrings nature within reach ofevery member of the GrandValley, Colorado, community,regardless of physical abilities.The Grand Valley AudubonSociety designed the trailwith help and support from anumber of community partners—andwith all the sensesin mind. As a result, visuallyimpaired visitors can explorewithout assistance, listeningto descriptions of the areaand its diverse birds—and recordedsongs as well as actualones like the Brewer’s Sparrow(below) and the CommonYellowthroat. It is a powerfulexample of how Audubon ismaking nature accessible tonew audiences.miG r Ation corridor/c entrALthe migration corridor’s hourglass narrows to a “funnel” in Nebraska, at thePlatte River, one of our nation’s most important spring migration staging areas for bothWhooping and Sandhill Cranes (above). Audubon Nebraska and its partners, includingBig Bend Audubon, have long been instrumental in restoring this key stopover sitealong the Central Flyway. Working with partners and volunteers, staff from Audubon’sLillian Annette Rowe Sanctuary are restoring habitat and clearing nearly 14,000 acres ofinvasive phragmites, work that will open miles of the Platte River channel vital to nearly80 percent of the population of Sandhill Cranes and important for other wildlife.In addition to hands-on work to maintain this important river channel, Audubonbuilds community and national support for its restoration through sustainable ecotourism.Each spring visitors from around the globe witness the amazing spectacle of thecrane migration at the sanctuary’s Iain Nicolson Audubon Center. Emerging threats tothe corridor include the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, and Audubon has mobilizedits far-ranging network in opposition to the pipeline’s inherent dangers.The migration corridor also includes precious prairie grasslands, among them 800acres of native tallgrass prairie at the Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center near Lincoln,Nebraska. Audubon is also leveraging additional conservation through collaborativeefforts with the Mississippi Flyway on the Prairie Bird Initiative, an effort to workat landscape-scale geographies with beef producers and public agencies.miG r Ation corridor/s ouththe hourglass widens again as it moves into Texas, embracing a wide range of richhabitats for birds, particularly along the Gulf of Mexico’s coastal plain—prime real estatefor such resident coastal birds as the Reddish Egret and to such long-distance migrants asthe Red Knot. Audubon and the Houston Audubon Society manage a series of importantisland nesting colonies throughout south Texas’s 103-mile-long Laguna Madre, whichincludes 13,000 acres of the largest nesting colonies of Reddish Egrets and Roseate Spoonbillsin the world. In collaboration with government agencies and other partners, Audubonis working to ensure long-term preservation of this biologically unique and valuable region.Partnership with other stakeholders is also instrumental in Audubon’s work tosafeguard the health of Texas bays and estuaries, especially those feeding San Antonioand Aransas Bays, the wintering home of the only wild flock of Whooping Cranes leftin North America. Both the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center in San Antonio and theTrinity River Audubon Center in Dallas are introducing their diverse communities tothe importance of protecting the watershed.theory of Victory: Audubon will protect the array of priority habitats and birds thatshape the Central Flyway through a multi-pronged approach that engages our networkand our partners all along the way. Together they will shape sound energy policy andaddress other threats.Bottom Line: Conservation impact on 1 million U.S. acres; improved outcomes for fivepriority bird species.the centernetW orKTrinity RiverAudubon CenterEight minutes from downtownDallas, the Trinity RiverAudubon Center is a gatewayto the Great Trinity Forest—the largest urban bottomlandforest in the United States.Sited on a former illegaldumping ground and brownfield,the Center is living proofof the powers of regenerationwith its renewed wetlandsand ponds, blackland prairie,and forested areas. Each yearnearly 40,000 visitors learnabout Texas’s rich birdlife anddiversity by strolling its paths,or participating in workshopsthat impart valuable lessonsin conservation, like whatpeople can do to safeguardwater quality throughout theTrinity River Watershed, a criticalresource for residents.38 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 39

c entraLf L y wayIncubator Projectsthe centernetW orKp utting w orking Lands tow ork for Birds & p eopL eRio SaladoAudubon Centerthe chapternetworkTucson Audubon’sBird-FriendlyCommunitiesTucson Audubon showshomeowners how to makehomes in the Sonoran Desertbird-friendly. Through grantfundedprojects and educationalevents, the Chapter’sLandscaping for Wildlifeand Sustainability programshows people how harvestingrainwater and plantingdiverse native plants results ingardens that are both beautifuland friendlier to birds andpeople alike. These denser,shadier landscapes conservewater while also reducingrunoff pollution, urban heatisland effect, and energy use.For three years Tucson Audubonhas developed rainwaterharvestinggardens withresidents of the Barrio KrogerLane. Residents of this largelyHispanic neighborhood haveadded edible plants to theirnative plantings, guiding usin new directions that createedible urban landscapes forpeople and wildlife.Prairie BirdAs farms and cities in the central United States flourished, prairie grasses disappeared. Tallgrassprairies are now among our most endangered habitats—only about 4 percent remains.Prairie birds have shown the most sustained population declines of any bird group in NorthAmerica. Audubon is partnering with ranchers who own remaining grasslands to developmarket-based management that benefits prairie birds while sustaining the livelihoods of theranchers. A pilot effort starting in Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri will focus on such speciesas the Henslow’s Sparrow, Greater Prairie-Chicken, and Upland Sandpiper. Work to advancegrassland-bird-friendly beef production in the Great Plains is modeled on early efforts in theSouthern Cone Grasslands of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.the Bottom Line: Conservation impact on 20 million U.S. acres and 2.5 million acres inSouth America; improved outcomes for six priority bird species.S Av ING I MPORTANT B IRD A R e ASWestern RiversThe Rio Grande and Colorado Rivers provide life-sustaining waters from the Rocky Mountainsto the Southwest’s arid deserts. Water management is one of the most significant challengesfor western communities as well as for wildlife. With more water diverted for human use, vitalriverside forests and wetlands or riparian habitats disappear—habitat critical for feeding andbreeding. That’s why Audubon is working to identify, protect, and restore priority riparianImportant Bird Areas throughout the Southwest. We are employing multiple strategies, includingworking with water resource agencies, cities, farmers, and ranchers to put water backin rivers, adopt bird-friendly agricultural practices, and optimize water management for thebasin’s urban, agricultural, and ecological needs.In Arizona, the Nina Pulliam Mason Rio Salado Audubon Center is engaging Phoenix residentsin good water management practices. Audubon New Mexico and Southwestern NewMexico Audubon are also partnering to protect the riparian corridor of the Gila River, nowthreatened by even more water diversions.the Bottom Line: Conservation impact on 536,000 U.S. acres; improved outcomes for12 priority bird species.The birds of the Sonoranriparian habitat around theNina Mason Pulliam RioSalado Audubon Centerare as diverse as the peoplewho live in its borderingneighborhoods. The Centeris located less than two milesfrom downtown Phoenix inthe heart of the Rio SaladoHabitat Restoration Area—a600-acre park space in thehistoric Salt River corridor.The River Pathways programis only one way that Audubonis nurturing the next generationof conservation leadersat Rio Salado. High schoolstudents participate in aprogram that’s part classroomeducation and part field work,and that introduces themnot only to Arizona’s birdsand wildlife like the WesternYellow-billed Cuckoo, but alsoteaches practical skills, pavinga way to future careers inconservation.40 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 41

Mississippi FlywayTracing North America’s Great Rivers and Crossing the Gulfpriority speciesAmerican oystercatcherBlack skimmer (right)Brown pelicanclapper railLeast ternLittle Blue HeronMottled Duckpiping ploverreddish egretred Knotruddy turnstonesanderlingseaside sparrowshort-billed Dowitchersnowy ploverWestern sandpiperWilson’s ploverB ottoM L ine3.5 million acres17 priority bird speciesnearly half of north America’s bird species, and about40 percent of its waterfowl, spend at least part of theirlives in the Mississippi Flyway. extending north to canada’stundra and boreal forest, this much-traveled flyway includesthe vast Mackenzie river watershed and then tracesthe mighty Mississippi river through America’s heartland tothe gulf coast and continues south as far as Patagonia.the Mississippi river and its vibrant grasslands, forests,and wetlands have been compromised by a century ofmisguided management. All along its length, the river hasbeen controlled and manipulated to the detrimentof natural systems and the birds and other wildlife thatdepend on them. the upper river is governed by a seriesof dams and locks; the lower river is channeled by morethan 1,600 miles of levees. together these structuresconfine the Mississippi to less than 10 percent of itsoriginal floodplain, and the sediment that historically fedthe river’s vast delta in louisiana no longer reaches marshesand coastal forests. As a result, 19 square miles of deltawetlands disappear each year.42 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 43

miSSi SSippif L y wayT he cenT e rneT w O rkPascagoula RiverAudubon CenterMississippi’s Pascagoula Riverflows unimpeded and largelyunspoiled thanks to decadesof conservation efforts, makingit unique in the lower 48states. The Pascagoula RiverAudubon Center in MossPoint, together with theMississippi Coast AudubonSociety and the Mobile BayAudubon Society, introducesGulf Coast residents andothers to the river’s abundantbirds and other wildlife.Hands-on conservation andeducation activities, includingstewardship of a largeLeast Tern colony on a nearbybeach, provide real-worldexperience in the power ofconservation. The Center willbecome an even more importantcommunity resourcewhen its new conservationand education facility opensin 2013. Located on a 10-acrebayou-side property in thePascagoula River watershed,the new Center will also playa key role in Audubon’s Gulfof Mexico and MississippiFlyway conservation priorityprojects, including IBAstewardship.Sharing Our SeaS & ShO reSCoastal Stewardship: Gulfall along the gulf coast, Audubon works with volunteers and partner organizationsto conserve, restore, protect, and monitor a network of coastal sites for colonialand beach-nesting birds—including Wilson’s Plovers, Black Skimmers, and ReddishEgrets—and to help people and birds coexist and thrive in these sensitive coastal areas.In some places, Audubon Chapter members and other volunteers adopt beaches, educatingbeachgoers about the birds and how to keep them, their eggs, and their chickssafe. At other sites, professional stewards protect the critical island breeding habitat ofcolonial waterbirds.In a good example of Audubon’s citizen science approach, Audubon biologists alsomobilize networks of volunteers to gather a wealth of data about coastal waterbirds andtheir habitats through the Audubon Coastal Bird Survey and other research efforts.Our scientists are building a credible, long-term inventory of information on coastalwaterbirds and their habitats in order to help keep these birds’ populations resilient tosea level rise and human development pressures. Audubon will continue to augmentthese research and protection efforts by engaging local communities and the public atlarge through innovative outreach and social marketing in our efforts to reduce humandisturbance, increase awareness, and broaden public protections for birds that breed,winter, and migrate along the Gulf Coast.Theory of Victory: Audubon will develop comprehensive partnership programsto actively monitor, manage, and recover key colonies and nesting sites for beachdependentGulf Coast birds.The Bottom Line: Conservation impact on 30,000 U.S. acres; improved outcomesfor 11 priority bird species.pacific fly way central fly way mississippi fly way atlantic fly wayAudubon in Action for the Prothonotary Warbler● Audubon Chapters: 120 ★ Audubon State Offices: 5 ● Audubon Centers: 10 ● Globally Significant IBAs: 59priority speciesProthonotaryWarbler(Protonotaria citrea)Range and Habitat:From bottomland hardwoodforests in the deltaand other forested wetlandsof the u.S. Southeastto mangrove forests ofcentral and northern SouthAmerica. Small breedingpopulation in canada.Status: endangered incanada, where populationhas dropped by at least75 percent.Threats/Outlook:logging and agriculturein u.S. and destructionof mangroves in SouthAmerica have hurt.nest-box programs areincreasingly commonin regional and countyparks and can be helpfulif wetland forest habitat ismaintained.Audubon Minnesotaworks with privatelandowners in floodplainforest ibAs to improvebreeding habitat.Chicago AudubonSociety, AudubonChicago Region, andother partners have advocatedfor chicago buildingsto dim their lights duringmigration to avoidwindow collisions.The Audubon Centerat Riverlands promotesstewardship of forests usedby Prothonotary Warblerson migration and duringbreeding season.Audubon Mississippi,by partnering with theowners of bottomlandhardwood forest, promotesbird-friendly forest managementin the state.Audubon Louisianahelps to protect vital breedinghabitat at the West Pontchartrain-MaurepasSwamp ibA.Audubon and PanamaAudubon collaborate toprotect wintering grounds.Baton Rouge Audubon’sPeveto Woods Sanctuaryprovides a safe haven forresting and refueling.44 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 45

miSSi SSippifly waythe chapternetworkLouisiana ChapterSanctuariesIn Louisiana, the Orleans AudubonSociety and Baton RougeAudubon Society maintain anetwork of coastal sanctuariesthat provide critical habitat forhundreds of bird species, includingmany of the MississippiFlyway priority birds. The coastalforest habitats that theseChapters actively conserveencompass migratory stopoverhabitat for countless warblers,vireos, grosbeaks, flycatchers,hummingbirds, tanagers,and other species that travelacross the Gulf of Mexico twiceeach year. The beach, marsh,and riverine forest habitatsalso preserved in this Chaptersanctuary network are hometo many other species, fromthe Clapper Rail (below) to theProthonotary Warbler.Saving i mportant Bird a reaSMississippi River Deltaafter the bp oil spill thrust the fragile ecosystem of the Mississippi River Delta intopublic view, Audubon brought all its resources to bear to help rescue the birds victimized bythe disaster and to support recovery efforts. More than 35,000 people contacted us to volunteer,and we put 2,500 to work helping oil-soaked pelicans and other birds and wildlife.In the spill’s aftermath, Audubon’s policy team and grassroots activists were instrumentalin gaining national support for ongoing recovery work in the delta. This led to the introductionof federal legislation that, if passed, will direct billions of dollars to restoration.In fact, Audubon had been leading the fight to protect and restore the delta for manyyears before the spill, through an array of innovative efforts, both science-based and legislative.The goal is to restore this vital and unique ecosystem and reestablish the natural,life-giving cycles of the Mississippi River, from its headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico.Audubon’s oldest and largest preserve, Louisiana’s Paul J. Rainey Wildlife Sanctuary,has been conserved since 1924. Audubon staff made the sanctuary into the centerpiece of aunique and powerful conservation alliance with neighboring landowners. The alliance sup-ports more than 170,000 contiguous acres of coastal wetlands and is pioneering new restorationstrategies, including development of a new type of dredge to rebuild damaged wetlands.The effort expanded with a pace-setting gift from the Walton Family Foundation, whichallowed Audubon to bring its unique capacities to bear on the entire coast in partnershipwith the Environmental Defense Fund and the National Wildlife Federation. Now, from themouth of the river to the halls of Congress, Audubon and its partners are forging and implementinga new vision for the nation’s relationship with the Mississippi River and its delta.theory of Victory: Audubon will advance groundbreaking science, engage more supporters,and pass key state and federal legislation to change Mississippi River management to restorethe delta and coast for people and birds, and improve the health of the Gulf of Mexico.the Bottom Line: Conservation impact on 3.5 million U.S. acres; improved outcomesfor 11 priority bird species.the centernetworkAudubon Centerat RiverlandsAudubon partnered with theU.S. Army Corps of Engineersto open a conservation andeducation center near St.Louis, Missouri, at the heart ofthe flyway and the confluenceof the Missouri and MississippiRivers. The AudubonCenter at Riverlands is locatedwithin the Great Rivers ConfluenceImportant Bird Areabut is also near a diverseurban center. In addition toproviding essential habitat toresident and migratory birds,it offers unique opportunitiesfor local residents to connectwith nature. The Center issurrounded by 3,700 acresof prairie marsh and forest,which form an importantwetlands complex for migrating,nesting, and winteringwaterbirds. Center staffers arealso working toward bettermanagement of 100,000 acresof nearby public lands, andwill be engaging birders in acitizen science effort to understandhow birds are usingthose habitats and how theyrespond to positive habitatmanagement changes.46 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 47

mississippifly wayc reating Bird-f riendly communitiesLights Out Chicago andMinneapolisthe chapternetworkMississippi FlywayAction NetworkChapter leaders and Audubonactivists from up and downthe Mississippi Flyway arebanding together to form theMississippi Flyway Action Network.These leaders are transformingAudubon’s approachto grassroots public policyadvocacy. By focusing theirefforts on specific, high-impactadvocacy activities, theywill become the public facesand voices on behalf of birdsand bird habitats in publicmeetings, in the media, andin the offices of their electedofficials. They will coordinate,mobilize, and recruit activistsin their regions, and they willrepresent Audubon to otherorganizations and communitygroups. They will lead the wayin increasing the power of theAudubon network to effectpublic policy change.migrating birds face a wide range of manmade threats. One of the most deadlyis collisions with tall buildings, which cause millions of fatalities each spring and fall.Audubon and its Chapters are making midwestern cities safer by enlisting buildingowners to make their nighttime skies bird-friendly by turning unnecessary lights offduring migration. In Chicago alone, where the first Lights Out program originated,researchers estimate that the initiative saves the lives of more than 10,000 migratoryland birds each year. Audubon and the Chicago Audubon Society collaborate with theCity of Chicago, the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago, and theField Museum in this community effort.Farther up the Mississippi, Audubon Minnesota has joined forces with communityorganizations, Audubon Chapters, government agencies, and other conservationists inLights Out Twin Cities, helping to provide safe passage for migrants like the CeruleanWarbler (below).theory of Victory: By expanding Lights Out programs to more cities within the MississippiFlyway and beyond, Audubon can engage people and communities to protectgrowing numbers of migratory birds. It is one element of our work to create birdfriendlycommunities.Incubator ProjectPutting Working Lands toWork for Birds & PeoPLeBottomland ForestsMuch of this flyway’s forested lands are privately owned and managed for forest products and recreationaluse, including hunting. Audubon is partnering with landowners to promote bird-friendlyforest management that sustains viable populations of bottomland hardwood-dependent birds(breeding and migration), including Prothonotary, Swainson’s, and Cerulean Warblers.Audubon Mississippi has completed a pilot project on 12,000 private acres in the westernpart of the state. Audubon Minnesota has launched a pilot to promote best managementpractices to private landowners in floodplain forests in and adjacent to the Important BirdAreas along the Upper Mississippi. As word has spread about Audubon’s collaborativeapproach, we have been asked to develop a landowner learning network.The Bottom Line: Conservation impact on 4 million U.S. acres; improved outcomes for fourpriority bird species.the centernetW orkGrange InsuranceAudubon CenterLess than a 10-minute walkfrom downtown Columbus,Ohio, on a half-forgottenbend in the Scioto River andset amid an industrial landscape,lies a hidden haven forwildlife and birds: the GrangeInsurance Audubon Center,which brings hands-onconservation and naturebasedlearning to its urbancommunity. Conservationaction infuses activities andeducational adventures, andthe Center’s location in anImportant Bird Area gives studentsand others a vantagepoint to observe thousands ofmigrating birds as they stopalong the Scioto River to restand refuel during their longjourneys. The story of theMississippi Flyway and theMississippi River watershed isa tale of hemispheric connections,and Center visitors learnwhere they fit in the storyand how they can make adifference through theirown actions.48 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 49

Atlantic FlywayOn the Wing From Labrador to Tierra del Fuegopriority speciesAmerican oystercatcherAmerican WoodcockArctic ternBald eagleBlack skimmerBlack-capped petrelBlack-throated Blue WarblerBrown pelicancanada Warblercerulean Warblercommon ternGolden-winged WarblerGrasshopper sparrowLeast ternpiping plover (right)prothonotary Warblerred Knotreddish egretroseate spoonbillroseate ternruddy turnstonesaltmarsh sparrowsanderlingseaside sparrowsemipalmated sandpipersnail Kitesnowy ploverswallow-tailed KiteWestern sandpiperWilson's ploverWood storkWood thrushthe Atlantic Flyway encompasses some of the hemisphere’smost productive ecosystems, including forests, beaches,and coastal wetlands. From the northern Atlantic coastand through the caribbean to South America, Audubonis working to support this avian superhighway’s 500-plusbird species and millions of individual birds.Forty percent of the Atlantic Flyway’s bird species are speciesof conservation need. these include the Wood thrush,the most widespread of our eastern forest neotropicalmigratory species, whose population has been reducedby half in the past 40 years. With only one-tenth of the u.S.landmass, this flyway is home to one-third of the nation’speople. And dense population carries with it many challengesfor birds and habitat: development and sprawl,incompatible agriculture, overfishing, and climate change.conservAtion G o ALs43.8 million acres32 priority bird species50 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 51

atL anticf L y W aythe chaP ternetW orkAtlanta AudubonThe Atlanta Audubon Societyrecognizes homeownerswho create and maintainbird-friendly habitat—specificallyfood, water, shelter,and nesting sites for birds.The Chapter trains volunteerbackyard “certifiers” who educateand guide homeowners,emphasizing the value andimportance of utilizing nativeplantings. The one-backyardat-a-timeapproach is creatinga growing mosaic of neighborhood“sanctuaries.” AtlantaAudubon hosts tours of thesemodel sites, inspiring morehomeowners to get involved.To date, 500 properties (totaling25,000 acres!) have beenrecognized as wildlife sanctuariesby Atlanta Audubon.Putting Working Lands toWork for Birds & PeoPLeEastern Forestsaudubon enlists landowners and foresters to help support birds that depend onforested landscapes along the Atlantic Flyway, training them in bird-friendly forestrypractices and promoting legislation that provides incentives for forest preservation. Thisinnovative program, pioneered by Audubon Vermont, has trained 80 percent of thatstate’s foresters. In 2011 the program’s guidelines were adopted by the state as an officialreference for management plans used by landowners in a tax incentive program for thosewho commit to keep their land—more than one million acres to date—in forest.Audubon New York has trained Adirondack landowners and foresters responsiblefor managing nearly 700,000 acres. In partnership with the Belize Audubon Society,Audubon is also working to protect forested winter habitat for the Wood Thrush andother neotropical migrants. Audubon will expand both the reach and scope of thispragmatic approach to conservation, including promoting policies that offer economicincentives for forest preservation in both Latin America and the United States.theory of Victory: Audubon can support viable populations of seven priority birdspecies throughout their lifecycles by establishing a protected and properly managednetwork of forested landscapes all along the Atlantic Flyway.the Bottom Line: Conservation impact on 35 million acres in the United States and140,000 acres in Belize; improved outcomes for seven priority bird species.pacific fly way central fly way mississippi fly way atlantic fly wayAudubon in Action for the Wood Thrush● Audubon Chapters: 157 ★ Audubon State Offices: 8 ● Audubon Centers: 21 ● Globally Significant ibAs: 139priority speciesWood ThrushRange and Habitat: nestsin moist deciduous andmixed forests in easternunited States and southeasterncanada. Wintersmostly in tropics of southernMexico and central America.Status: research suggestsa population decline ofalmost two percent a yearsince mid-1960s; decreasesmore pronounced incanada than in the u.S.Threats/Outlook: Habitatloss on both breeding andwintering grounds. evenwhere nesting habitatremains, fragmentation hasincreased threat of cowbirdparasitism. not in immediatedanger, but large-scale habitatprotection is essential.Audubon Vermont’sForest StewardshipProgram helps landownersmanage their woodsto benefit forest birds.New York City Audubon’sProject Safe Flight is makingthe city safer for migratingbirds.Audubon South Carolinanegotiates conservationeasements to protect morehabitat near Francis beidlerForest.The Atlanta AudubonSociety works to identifyand conserve key breedingand feeding sites for birdsin georgia.belizeAudubon and belizeAudubon work for bettermanagement of centralAmerican forests tocreate wintering habitatfor migrating birds.52 Audubon StrA tegic PlA n Audubon StrA tegic PlA n 53

A t LAnticf L y WAythe chA pternetW orKCharlestonNatural HistorySocietyThe Charleston (South Carolina)Natural History Society,founded in 1905, has a historyas long as National Audubon.Today the Chapter ownsand operates the McAlhanyNature Preserve, 368 acres ofwide-ranging habitat, includingbottomland hardwoodforest along 1.5 miles of theEdisto River, longleaf pine forest,wetlands, and a nine-acreoxbow lake.In 2005 the Chapter beganrestoring abandoned agriculturallands on the preserve,and today those fields are 40acres of longleaf pine forest.Management includes prescribedburns, and AudubonSouth Carolina recently providedequipment and laborfor mowing the preserve’sfirebreaks. Longleaf pine forestbenefits many nesting andmigratory species of birds.The Chapter also engagesdiverse members of its community,among them cadets fromThe Citadel and students fromthe College of Charleston, andcollaborates with governmentpartners, including the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service and theNatural Resources ConservationService.shA rinG our seA s & shoresCoastal Stewardship: Atlanticthe beaches and saltmarshes of the Atlantic Coast of the United States are of vitalimportance to a wide range of birds. Coastal habitats are especially vulnerable to developmentin this heavily populated part of the country. Global warming and sea level riseare other looming threats to coastal habitat. Audubon’s successful beach stewardshipprograms, which enlist Chapters, members, and local volunteers to help protect beachnestingsites, provide a powerful and practical solution. By engaging more communitiesup and down the coast, we can create a web of protection. Already, beaches on NewYork’s Long Island and North Carolina’s Cape Hatteras are becoming safer for prioritybirds like the Piping Plover. Audubon currently has active stewardship programs at 61sites in the Atlantic Flyway.theory of victory: Audubon can restore populations of eight priority species throughstewardship, habitat maintenance, and threat abatement at key breeding, migration, andnon-breeding coastal sites used throughout the annual cycle across the flyway.the Bottom Line: Conservation impact on 57,000 U.S. acres and 43,000 acres inthe Bahamas; improved outcomes for 12 priority bird species.Least ternc reAtinG Bird-f riendLy communitiesAudubon At Homewithout protected, welcoming stopover habitat, even the hardiest AtlanticFlyway migrants are hard pressed to complete their spring and fall journeys. Fortunately,Audubon provides the expertise and resources volunteers need to welcome birdsto their backyards and parks through its Audubon At Home program. Audubon Connecticut,for example, engages Chapters, garden clubs, and other groups, through theUrban Oasis program, to promote landscaping with plants that are beneficial to birds.The Cape Fear Audubon Society in Wilmington, North Carolina, introduces “birdscaping”to local residents. As these programs produce encouraging results, Audubonwill continue to mobilize its network of Centers and Chapters to empower individualsand communities to create more bird-friendly habitat all along this flyway.theory of victory: Audubon can inspire and empower homeowners and communities tocreate healthy habitat in their backyards and neighborhoods, and their actions will provideAtlantic Flyway birds with safe places to rest and refuel on their long migrations.the centernetW orKGreen MountainAudubon CenterThe 255-acre Green MountainAudubon Center is locatedwithin one of Vermont’s priorityforest blocks for breedingneotropical migratory birds.The Center’s forests, fields,wetlands, and rivers play astarring role in environmentaleducation and workshopsfor landowners and foresters,serving as demonstrationsites for a range of birdfriendlyhabitat managementpractices. Participants in thelow-impact-logging workshoplearn how to conserveforest soils and surroundingtrees as they harvest timber—measuresthat improvehabitat for Canada Warblersand many other species. Inaddition to workshops, Centernaturalists have creatededucational materials forlandowners and developedthe Foresters for the Birds program,which has trained morethan 80 foresters in how toassess and improve breedinghabitat. Through these efforts,Audubon is helping to fostergood forest managementon more than a million acresin Vermont.54 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 55

A t LAnticf L y WAysAvinG i mportA nt Bird AreA sEverglades Ecosystemthe centernetW orKThe BlairAudubon Centerand CorkscrewSwamp SanctuaryThe Blair Audubon Center andboardwalk sit in the heart ofthe 13,000-acre CorkscrewSwamp Sanctuary, in Florida’swestern Everglades. At Corkscrew,science points the way,education engenders support,and advocacy advancesthe conservation actionnecessary to ensure that thewestern Everglades continuesto support birds and otherwildlife. Perhaps most important,the beauty of the swampitself inspires all who walkthe Center’s famous 2.25-mile boardwalk, which windsthrough the world’s largestvirgin bald cypress forest.For decades Sanctuary andCenter programs have helpedensure that the full suite ofspecies native to the westernEverglades and representedin the Corkscrew watershedhave the habitat quantity andquality they need to thrive.as the only conservation organization working throughout the ecosystem,Audubon’s goal for the Everglades is to reestablish colonies of wading birds that havebeen displaced by drainage, development, and dirty water. Science, grassroots reach,sophisticated policy work, and partnerships with landowners, businesses, and otherstakeholders all drive our success.Important Bird Areas are central to this effort. One of the first victories in ournew Atlantic Flyway IBA strategy was the formation of the Everglades HeadwatersNational Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area. This new, 150,000-acre refuge supportspriority birds like Grasshopper Sparrows and many migratory birds. Focusing ongetting the right amounts of freshwater flowing into the remnants of the Everglades,Audubon has shaped federal and state policies and secured funding for projects thatstore, treat, and deliver clean water to the natural system. Audubon Florida and thestate’s 44 Chapters collaborate with other partners and local, state, and federal decisionmakers to marshal much-needed support for the ambitious Everglades restorationproject, the nation’s largest ecosystem project. Among recent successes are measures toreduce pollution in Lake Okeechobee, improve freshwater flow to Everglades NationalPark, and restore 20 miles of the Kissimmee River.theory of victory: Audubon will harness its full network to restore natural hydrologicalprocesses, reduce pollution, and advance sound land management practices thatsupport the health of the full Everglades system.the Bottom Line: Conservation impact on 7.7 million acres; improved outcomesfor six priority bird species.snail KitesAvinG i mportA nt Bird AreA sLong Island Soundroughly 10 percent of americans live within 50 miles of Long Island Sound.Audubon is leading an ambitious effort to restore the Sound’s health in a way thatsupports populations of priority waterbirds and shorebirds while balancing the needs ofnature and people. Our national policy team joined forces with Audubon Connecticutand Audubon New York to rally federal, state, and local lawmakers and other stakeholdersto endorse Sound Vision, a two-year action plan to protect and restore the Sound.The plan, developed by the Long Island Sound Citizens Advisory Committee, combinesrestoration projects with unified legislative efforts. Science plays a key role in Audubon’sefforts in the Sound, exemplified by Audubon Connecticut’s work to assess breedingsuccess and identify optimal nesting locations that will ultimately benefit AmericanOystercatchers, Piping Plovers, Saltmarsh Sparrows, Roseate Terns, and otherpriority bird species.theory of victory: Audubon will marshal its network to restore Long Island Sound as ahealthy, functioning estuary that supports priority waterbirds and shorebirds in balancewith human use and recreation. This includes a network of permanently protected andproperly managed coastal and upland habitats that ensure adequate areas for breeding,migrating, and wintering birds, and also strong fisheries to provide food for birds.the chA pternetW orKNew York CityAudubonMost birds migrate at night,often navigating by usingnature’s lights: the moon andstars. Nighttime holds greatperil for migrating birds, whichget confused by the artificiallights in our cities’ brightly litbuildings. It is estimated thatmore than 100 million birdsdie each year from strikingbuildings. New York City Audubonis making a differencefor thousands of migrants byurging building owners to dimor turn off lights during springand fall migration. Many of thecity’s most iconic buildingsparticipate in Lights Out, includingthe Chrysler Building,Rockefeller Center, the TimeWarner Center, and Audubon’shome office at 225 VarickStreet. Now in its seventh year,Lights Out has been embracedin cities from Boston to Chicagoand San Francisco.Bottom Line: Conservation impact on 875,000 acres; improved outcomes foreight priority bird species.56 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 57

a T lanT icfly wayIncubator ProjectsShaping a h ealthy c limate& c lean e nergy futureSaltmarshh emisphericconnecT ionsBahamasAudubon’s InternationalAlliances Program partneredwith Audubon North Carolinaand the Bahamas NationalTrust to discover where PipingPlovers that breed on the EastCoast of the United Statesand Canada spend the winter.They found their answer in aBahamas population censusin February 2011. The counttallied more than 1,000birds—one-eighth of thehighly endangered species’entire population and themajority of the East Coastbreeders. The census alsoidentified two new globallysignificant Important BirdAreas. As a result of this work,we now know that theBahamas is second only toTexas in importance to thesurvival and recovery of this,one of Audubon’s highestpriorityspecies.sharing our seas & shoresSaving Seabirds Coast to Coastover the past 38 years Audubon’s Seabird Restoration Program, pioneered in theAtlantic Flyway by Steve Kress (above), has restored breeding Atlantic Puffinsand other seabirds to islands off the coast of Maine. Now the program’s innovativeapproach, which uses decoys, mirrors, and recordings to attract birds to suitable nestingsites, is being implemented in Baja California. The Cassin’s Auklet, Ashy Storm-Petrel,and Xantus’s Murrelet are priority species that will benefit from this collaborative effortinvolving Audubon and other conservation organizations in the United States andMexico. It is a living demonstration of how the Audubon network bridges boundarieson behalf of birds. It is also only one of the ways our Saving Seabirds project willprotect seabirds; we will also advance sound fishing and marine practices and policies,and provide rapid response to oil spills and other environmental emergencies.Theory of Victory: By advancing measures that ensure food supply and cleanmarine habitat, and by restoring and supporting breeding colonies, Audubon willprotect at-risk seabirds.Audubon Maryland-DC and its partners are working to help imperiled saltmarsh birds adaptto sea level rise threatening coastal marshes in the Chesapeake Bay. Audubon’s 205,891-acreSouthern Dorchester County Important Bird Area is globally significant for Saltmarsh Sparrowsand provides habitat for Seaside Sparrows. It is anchored by Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge,several state wildlife management areas, and private landholdings, including the ChesapeakeAudubon Society’s 750-acre Farm Creek Marsh Sanctuary. Audubon will identify appropriatesites for protection and restoration to keep marsh migration corridors free of development, andwill protect high-quality existing marshes to bolster bird populations especially susceptible tosea level rise. This project will also guide efforts at other Atlantic Flyway sites.theory of Victory: Audubon will manage and protect a network of saltmarsh landscapes acrossthe Atlantic Flyway to sustain priority bird species in the face of sea level rise and other threats.the Bottom line: Conservation impact on 500,000 U.S. acres; improved outcomes for fivepriority bird species.p utting w orking l andS tow ork for BirdS & p eopleEastern Grasslands & ShrublandsAtlantic Flyway birds that depend on grassland and early successional shrubland habitatshave experienced significant population declines. The flyway provides essential habitat notonly during the breeding season but as a migratory pathway and wintering area. Audubonand its partners will create a network of private and public grasslands and shrublands thatsupports viable populations of priority bird species throughout their lifecycles.theory of Victory: Audubon will develop, deploy, and implement proven management strategiessuch as modified haying practices, especially on private lands, to improve grassland and shrublandhabitat for priority species throughout the Atlantic Flyway.the Bottom line: Conservation impact on 5 million U.S. acres; improved outcomes for eightpriority bird species.the centernetworkThe Donal C.O’Brien Jr. AudubonSanctuary & Centerat Pine IslandThis sanctuary and plannedCenter, named for the formerAudubon board chair, sitson North Carolina’s beautifulOuter Banks. The site encompassesmarshes along CurrituckSound as well as bottomlandhabitat, dry sandy areas,and upland maritime forests.Audubon is partnering withthe surrounding communityto develop programming andactivities that will offer visitorsan array of environmentalexperiences, from exploringthe vast expanse of CurrituckSound to studying the smallerwonders of nature. Pine Islandis also one of the string ofvulnerable saltmarsh landscapeson the Atlantic Flywaywhere Audubon is working toaddress a plethora of threats,including the potentialimpacts of climate changeand sea level rise. The futureof such Audubon priority speciesas the Saltmarsh Sparrow(top) and the Seaside Sparrowis at stake.58 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 59

how we workHow we workThe Audubon Network works from backyardsto legislatures across the hemisphere. Throughscience, education, advocacy, and on-thegroundconservation, we protect birds and theirhabitat. Where birds thrive, people prosper.Melanie Driscoll, Director ofBird Conservation for the Gulfof Mexico and the MississippiFlyway, was an unstoppableforce for birds during the BP oildisaster, and she exemplifiesAudubon’s leadership in longtermrecovery for the region.60 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 61

how we workscieNceHemisphericPartnershipBirdLife International is theworld’s largest partnershipof bird conservation organizations.As its U.S. partner,Audubon is part of a globalnetwork that spans 120 countriesand territories and providesan international safetynet of people and places(Important Bird Areas) thathelp conserve birds. Audubonworks directly with 19 BirdLifepartners in the Americas, amplifyinglocal conservation effortsand helping to educateand empower local citizensand decision makers. Accordingto BirdLife, 12 percent ofbird species in the WesternHemisphere are currentlythreatened with extinction,and many more are in decline.These include priority specieslike the Cerulean Warbler andthe Piping Plover that nest inthe United States every summer.The power of the BirdLifepartnership holds the key totheir survival.Citizen SCienCemore than a century ago, Audubon pioneered the idea of citizen science with the firstChristmas Bird Count. Today the longest-running wildlife census in the world continuesto shape and inform our approach to conservation, providing vital information about birdpopulations and trends, data that alerts us to environmental threats not only to birds butto the larger ecosystems we all depend on. As partners with the Cornell Lab of Ornithologyin ebird.org, Audubon has helped transform citizen science into an everyday activityfor tens of thousands of birders. Their observations, reported online anytime and fromanywhere throughout North America, provide an ongoing assessment of bird populationsthat is fast becoming an invaluable resource for conservation.oPen StAnDArDS For the PrACtiCe oF ConServAtionNew tools and resources are amplifying the impact and influence of Audubon’s scientificwork and driving conservation impact. These include the adoption of an adaptivemanagement tool, the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation, for conservationplanning and implementation. Using this results-driven methodology throughoutthe Audubon network will make us more agile and nimble, and support a continuousimprovement model of assessment and refinement.iMPortAnt BirD AreASScience is the foundation of Audubon’s Important Bird Areas program. As partner ofBirdLife International, we use science to identify, assess, and monitor the most essentialhabitat for birds. To date, 2,544 IBAs, covering 375,000 acres, have been identifiedin the United States. These sites help us focus our conservation efforts where they aremost needed.CliMAte ChAnGeBy increasing our use of GIS-based modeling, Audubon can provide clear pictures ofchanges in bird abundance and distributions through space and time. It enables us topredict the impacts of climate change on particular species or habitats—and designconservation approaches that will mitigate them.Gary langham, Audubon’s ChiefScientist, is pioneering theuse of predictive modeling toanticipate the effects of climatechange on habitat and to helpbirds adapt to those changes.62 Audubon StrA tegic PlA n Audubon StrA tegic PlA n 63

how we workeducATioNANd ceNTersAudubon At HomeThis popular program hasalready proven its power tomobilize people in urban,suburban, and rural areasto make environmentallyfriendly choices in their ownbackyards. The new strategicplan will further focusits activities on vulnerableand at-risk species in eachflyway—enlisting a growingshare of the 50 million birdwatchersacross our nationto protect and enhance thehabitat these vulnerable birdsdepend on. Audubon Chaptersand Centers will expandworkshops and demonstrationsites, while our communicationsand outreachwill provide new resourcesfor homeowners, apartment/condo dwellers, and parkstewards. Audubon's strategicplan is just the catalystneeded to grow this alreadysuccessful initiative.our eDuCAtion leGACya commitment to education is at the heart of the Audubon tradition. By inspiringmore people in more places to value and protect the natural world, we are laying thefoundation for future conservation. Audubon Centers are one of the principal elementsof our education work. They have inspired more than 10 generations of Americans tolearn about and protect birds, other wildlife, and the natural world. Our network ofnature Centers now reaches more than a million visitors each year.MovinG PeoPle to ConServAtion ACtionUnder our new strategic plan, Audubon will strengthen and refine Audubon Centerprogramming and activities with the goal of making visitors more active participants inour conservation work. This model for engaging people in conservation, based on fiveyears of rigorous research in partnership with other major conservation organizations,breaks new ground with its focus on measurable conservation results. It is how we willtransform Audubon Centers into more robust hubs for saving birds and protectinghabitat and advancing the objectives of our priority projects in each flyway.BuilDinG DiverSityEducation also plays a pivotal role as Audubon engages new, more diverse audiences. Itis why many of our most recently developed Centers are found in urban neighborhoodsin such cities as Los Angeles, Phoenix, Columbus, Seattle, Dallas, and New York. EachCenter is a vital community resource, with innovative programming that introducespeople of all ages and backgrounds to nature and conservation. By aligning our programmingwith our conservation goals, we can build on this solid foundation to expandboth reach and influence even further.ProGrAMS with iMPACtPrograms like Audubon Adventures, which reaches more than 100,000 children a year,along with newer additions like Urban Oasis, which enlists urban communities to protectcity parks that serve as rest stops for migrating birds, extend Audubon’s educationimpact beyond Centers. By recasting these successful programs to better support ourconservation priorities, we will generate more conservation actions.Audubon educators like theGrange insurance AudubonCenter’s tori Stricklandin Columbus, ohio, areinspiring a new generationof conservation leaders incommunities coast to coast.64 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 65

how we workpolicyMarshaling theAudubon NetworkIt had never happenedbefore. As the U.S. House ofRepresentatives consideredthe budget in spring 2011,landmark conservationprograms were simply zeroedout. Gone were things likestate wildlife grants. The Landand Water Conservation Fundsuffered deep cuts. The EPA’sbudget was in tatters. Audubonstepped in and mobilizedour Chapter network, getting325 Audubon Chapters tosign a letter to the U.S. Senateurging restoration of thesetried-and-true conservationprograms. Restore themthey did, holding the line onbudget cuts that would havedevastated bird and wildlifeconservation. Says AudubonPresident David Yarnold, “It’sall about the network . . . ournetwork enables us to workfrom the halls of Congress toanyone’s backyard.”exPertiSe AnD CreDiBilityaudubon is a respected and influential voice on public policy issues, from townhalls to the U.S. Capitol. We have the power to convene diverse stakeholders to solveeven the toughest problems—like energy planning. The balanced approach to energyexploration and extraction siting we spearheaded in sagebrush country has protected15 million acres and is expanding to protect millions more. We used the same balancedapproach to advance new federal guidelines for wind energy that will keep clean energytruly green by steering development away from critical habitat.A network oF inFluentiAlS AnD ACtiviStSAudubon’s members are four times as likely to be opinion leaders, with interest andinvolvement in policy issues. Thousands take action as Audubon Activists. We mobilizethis formidable force through communications outreach and Chapter-based grassrootstraining. It is how we bring the full power of Audubon to bear on behalf of legislationaddressing issues such as bird conservation, ecosystem restoration, and clean air andwater. And as we further align and strengthen our network, Audubon will become aneven more powerful advocate for birds and the environment.the voiCe For BirDSFrom clean air and water to support for the nation’s iconic national parks and nationalwildlife refuges, many of the same issues that touch people also touch birds. In addition,protections for birds conferred by such milestone legislation as the Neotropical MigratoryBird Conservation Act and the Endangered Species Act have long-term implications forpeople along with more immediate impact on birds. By safeguarding our great naturalheritage, we protect our nation’s distinctive ways of life, from the Mississippi Delta to thehigh plains of Wyoming. That’s why Audubon’s policy team works tirelessly on behalf ofa healthy environment, rich in biodiversity. Now the sharper focus and clear goals in ourstrategic plan will amplify our voice for birds and people alike.As vice President for Audubonrockies, Brian rutledge spearheadsour successful efforts topromote a balanced approachto wind and other energy developmentin the region.66 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 67

how we workeNgAgemeNTA PowerFul BrAnDaudubon has been introducing birds, nature, and the importance of conservationto generations of Americans since Bird Lore, the precursor to Audubon magazine,published its first issue in 1899. As the leading brand in bird conservation, we are awell-known, trusted, and influential messenger on behalf of birds and the environment.Birding the NetAudubon, the original socialnetwork, has built a hundredyearlegacy of conservationsuccess by mobilizingour members. In late 2011Audubon let 34 species ofanimated birds loose onmore than 100 websites inan unprecedented campaigndeveloped by leading adagency Goodby, Silverstein &Partners. Nearly 10,000 onlinebirders competed for prizes,donated by corporate partners,in a virtual “Big Month.”The viral campaign introduceda new audience toAudubon and birding, boostingour web traffic by 50 percentand nearly doubling thesize of our Facebook community.Audubon.org featuredprofiles of each species, openinga window onto conservationand encouraging onlinebirders to get outside and seebirds in the real world. Birdingthe Net is just one of the wayswe’re getting more peopleinvolved in taking action toprotect birds and the planetwe share with them.GrowinG reACh AnD DiverSityLike the environmental movement overall, Audubon faces a challenge: Ourmembers and supporters do not fully reflect the nation’s changing demographics. Andthere is proof in our network and all around us that our conservation and education effortsare more effective when we have a broader base of cultural knowledge and when we betterreflect the groups we call our partners—whether they represent business, government,communities, members, or friends.Our strategic plan recognizes that reaching a broader and more diverse audience iscritical to building a more effective, transformational Audubon. It calls for a new,sophisticated approach to communication that reaches beyond the 1.8 million whoread each issue of Audubon magazine, to embrace audiences more likely found onFacebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms. Our new approach will provideopportunities for volunteers, friends, Center visitors, Chapter members, and othersupporters to shape their own relationship with Audubon, even as we work to deepentheir connection and commitment to our work.This new donor- and audience-centric model for engagement will be as much a keyto our success as our strategic conservation planning. By extending our brand throughcorporate partnerships, we will broaden both awareness and support. By expanding ourmembership model, we will attract new, more diverse audiences to our work. And byutilizing social media and other new communications platforms, we will engage a newgeneration of conservation leaders.new communications tools arevital for introducing new audiences,including these studentsat the richardson Bay AudubonCenter outside San Francisco,to the wonder of birds and theimportance of conservation.68 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 69

how we workTogeTHergreeNtogethergreen is changing lives and communities aroundAmerica. The passion and authenticity that fuel the Audubonnetwork become even stronger when paired with Toyota’spowerful brand and commitment to the environment. Toyota’sgenerous $20 million, five-year grant to Audubon helped usshape TogetherGreen, which has funded people-powered conservationthrough fellowships, grants, and volunteer activities.Together, Toyota and Audubon have protected 250 speciesof birds, improved 10,000 acres of habitat, mobilized220,000 volunteers, collected 2 million pounds of recyclables,and captured $5 million worth of volunteer time. Todate, TogetherGreen has supported the creation of1,550 partnerships.TogetherGreen has also been one of most effectiveAudubon initiatives to strengthen our group identity asOne Audubon with Chapters and across the network. Andunder our new plan, TogetherGreen will deliver even moreengagement and conservation impact.Four years of the TogetherGreen partnership havekick-started hundreds of successful projects—as well asimpressive results—across all five Audubon conservationstrategies. The following are only a few examples.PuttinG w orkinG lAn DS tow ork F or BirDS & PeoP leAudubon Rockies, the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory,and the Natural Resources Conservation Service are workingtogether to help landowners foster bird habitat on theirproperties by providing them with technical assistance,conducting workshops on Farm Bill programs and managementpractices, and helping enroll landowners in FarmBill conservation programs.ShA rinG ourSeAS & ShoreSCornell University’s Robin Hadlock Seeley is using herfellowship to inspire shore-land owners, land trusts, andother citizens to make an investment in their local environmentby working to conserve marine habitat vital tocoastal birds in Maine.ShAPinG A h e A lthy CliMAt e &CleA n e nerG y FutureThe Klamath Basin Audubon Society and its partners inthe Klamath-Siskiyou Bioregion in Oregon are creating anaffordable renewable heating energy program for rural residents,in which they restore forest habitat and convert theby-products into firewood for heating and cooking.CreAtinG BirD -FrienD lyCoMMunitieSThe Milwaukee Audubon Society, along with other Wisconsinconservation groups, launched Bird City, modeledon the Tree City USA program. To date, 50 Wisconsincities, villages, towns, and counties have received the BirdCity designation for their highly public commitment tocreating a better place for people, birds, and other wildlife.S AvinG iMPortA n tBirD AreASThe Nevada Important Bird Areas program, along withthe Yomba Shoshone Tribe, the Great Basin Bird Observatory,and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, teamed upto launch the Sagebrush Celebration Project to conserveendangered wildlife populations dependent on sagebrushon the Yomba Shoshone reservation.togetherGreen, a collaborationbetween toyota and Audubon,has supported the creation ofmore than 1,500 partnerships.70 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 71

how we workOur Partnersno single organization can meet all the environmental challenges facing birds,habitat, and people. That’s why Audubon collaborates with partners throughout theUnited States and beyond to shape a healthy, vibrant future for all of us and the planetwe share. The following are only some of the many international, national, state, andlocal nonprofit partners we worked with this year.Alaska Wilderness LeagueAlianza Para las Aras SilvestresAmerican Bird ConservancyAmerican Farmland TrustAppalachian Mountain ClubBirdLife International and 19 partnersArmoniaAves & ConservaciónAves ArgentinasAves UruguayBahamas National TrustBelize Audubon SocietyBird Studies CanadaCentro Nacional de Áreas ProtegidasCODEFFFalklands ConservationFoundation for Nature Conservation inSurinameGrupo JaraguaGuyra ParaguayNature CanadaPanama Audubon SocietyPronaturaSalva NaturaSAVE BrazilSociedad OrnitológicaPuertorriqueña, Inc.California Rice CommissionCentro de Estudios y Conservación delPatrimonio Natural (CECPAN)Clean Water/Jobs CoalitionConservation Measures PartnershipCornell Lab of OrnithologyDefenders of WildlifeDucks UnlimitedEarth JusticeEarthShareEl JaguarEnvironmental Defense FundFauna and Flora InternationalFundación CocibolcaGarden Club of AmericaGulf Renewal ProjectIsland ConservationLand Trust AllianceNational Fish and Wildlife FoundationNational GeographicNational Wildlife FederationNational Wildlife Refuge AssociationNatural Resources Defense CouncilOceanaOcean ConservancyPoint Reyes Bird ObservatoryRainey Conservation AllianceRARESierra ClubTejon Ranch ConservancyThe Nature ConservancyThe Wilderness SocietyTrout UnlimitedTrust for Public LandWestern Resources AdvocatesWorld Wildlife FundWhat We're Not Doingstrategic thinking means making informed decisions about what we will not do aswell as what we will do. We owe it to our funders and supporters, as well as to birds, tomake sure we manage all of our resources for the highest conservation return. In thatspirit of discipline and focus, here is some of what Audubon will no longer do.We will stop investing in nonessential or unsustainable organizational administrativeunits and operations:• We will consolidate Audubon Colorado and Audubon Wyoming into a more efficientAudubon Rockies Region program, with one board and one executive director.• We will close The Mississippi River Institute, which is no longer core to our growingMississippi Flyway program.• We will consolidate the Missouri State program, relocating state-oriented activitiesinto the Riverlands Center.We will stop spending scarce dollars on headquarters overhead.• We will reduce these costs through technology, by eliminating redundancies,and by outsourcing.We will stop Education programs that do not serve our conservation agenda.• We will discontinue prescribing Nature for Kids.• We will discontinue the Youth Conservation Corps.• We will discontinue camp scholarships.We will stop small-scale federal invasive species policy work.We will stop allocating substantial policy resources to general environmental policy atthe expense of specific bird-related policy work.We will stop conducting retrospective Christmas Bird Count analyses as the effort does notjustify the outcomes.We will stop pursuing funding that is not aligned with our priorities.We will stop committing staff time or other resources to participation in non-strategicconservation initiatives.We will stop investing in projects if they do not pass a basic“fitness” test, which includes:• Relevance for our flyway-based conservation plan.• Sufficient return on investment/financial sustainability.• Critical support for our core engagement tactics.72 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 73

What SucceSS lookS likeConservation Impact at ScaleConservation Results64 priority bird species saved118 million acres conservedWorking as "One Audubon"••Network-wide focus on criticalconservation prioritiesFlyways framework and integrationBroader Reach and Diversity• More members, supporters,and friends• Support for strategicconservation and strategiesA Mobilized Network74 Audubon StrA tegic PlA n Audubon StrA tegic PlA n 75

AudubondirectoryNATIONAL ANDPROGRAM OFFICESAUDUBON HOME OFFICEAudubon225 Varick Street, 7th FloorNew York, NY 10014(212) 979-3000www.audubon.orgAudubon Licensing(212) 979-3065Audubon MagazineEditorial (212) 979-3151Subscriptions (800) 274-4201Audubon Travel(212) 979-3066, (800) 967-7425Development Bequestsand Charitable Trusts(212) 979-3033General Inquiries(212) 979-3000Membership(800) 876-0994CHAPTER SERVICESAudubonBuilding 30Fort Missoula RoadMissoula, MT 59804(800) 542-2748EDUCATION & CENTERSAudubon1150 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 600Washington, DC 20036(202) 861-2242Audubon Adventures225 Varick Street, 7th FloorNew York, NY 10014(212) 979-3184Audubon At Home1150 Connecticut Avenue NWSuite 600Washington, DC 20036(202) 861-2242Great Backyard Bird Count1150 Connecticut Avenue NWSuite 600Washington, DC 20036(202) 861-2242FIELD OPERATIONSAudubon194 Woodlawn AvenueSaratoga Springs, NY 12866(518) 424-29797400 North Oracle Road, Suite 202Tucson, AZ 85704(520) 617-0607Upper Mississippi FlywayPrograms Office201 West Riviera Drive , Suite AJoplin, MO 64804(417) 626-8842Lower Mississippi FlywayPrograms Office34 East Center St.Fayetteville, AR 72701(479) 527-0700Gulf of Mexico Conservation andRestoration Office51 Park LaneFolsom, LA 70437(504) 344-4328International Alliances Program1150 Connecticut Avenue NWSuite 600Washington, DC 20036(202) 861-2242PUBLIC POLICYAudubon1150 Connecticut Avenue NWSuite 600Washington, DC 20036(202) 861-2242SCIENCEAudubon545 Almshouse RoadIvyland, PA 18974(215) 355-9588Christmas Bird CountImportant Bird Areas545 Almshouse RoadIvyland, PA 18974(215) 355-9588Seabird Restoration Program(September–May)159 Sapsucker Woods RoadIthaca, NY 14850(607) 257-7308(June–August)12 Audubon RoadBremen, ME 04551(207) 529-5828STATE OFFICES, CENTERS,AND SANCTUARIESALASKAState OfficeAudubon Alaska441 West Fifth AvenueSuite 300Anchorage, AK 99501(907) 276-7034ARIZONAState OfficeAudubon Arizona3131 South Central AvenuePhoenix, AZ 85040(602) 468-6470Centers and SanctuariesAppleton-Whittell Research Ranch366 Research Ranch RoadHC1 Box 44Elgin, AZ 85611(520) 455-5522Nina Mason PulliamRio Salado Audubon Center3131 South Central AvenuePhoenix, AZ 85040(602) 468-6470ARKANSASState OfficeAudubon Arkansas4500 Springer BoulevardLittle Rock, AR 72206(501) 244-2229Centers and SanctuariesLittle Rock Audubon Center4500 Springer BoulevardLittle Rock, AR 72206(501) 244-2229CALIFORNIAState OfficeAudubon California4225 Hollis StreetEmeryville, CA 94608(510) 601-1866Centers and SanctuariesAudubon Bobcat Ranch25929 County Road 34Winters, CA 95694(530) 795-0660Audubon Center at Debs Park4700 North Griffin AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90031(323) 221-2255Kern River PreserveP.O. Box 1662Weldon, CA 93283(760) 378-2531Richardson Bay AudubonCenter and Sanctuary376 Greenwood Beach RoadTiburon, CA 94920(415) 388-2524Starr Ranch Sanctuary100 Bell Canyon RoadTrabuco Canyon, CA 92679(949) 858-0309COLORADORegional OfficeAudubon Rockies Region105 MontanaFort Collins, CO(970) 416-6931CONNECTICUTState OfficeAudubon Connecticut613 Riversville RoadGreenwich, CT 06831(203) 869-5272Centers and SanctuariesAudubon Center at Bent of the River185 East Flat Hill RoadSouthbury, CT 06488(203) 264-5098Audubon Center in Greenwich613 Riversville RoadGreenwich, CT 06831(203) 869-5272Sharon Audubon Center325 Cornwall Bridge RoadSharon, CT 06069(860) 364-0520Edith Leopold Sanctuary182 Rengerman Hill RoadEast Hartland, CT 06027(860) 364-0520Emily Winthrop MilesWildlife Sanctuary99 West Cornwall RoadSharon, CT 06069(860) 364-0520Fairchild Wildflower GardenCaldwell SanctuaryGimbel SanctuaryOneida MarshHemlock GorgeWood Duck Swampc/o Audubon Center in Greenwich613 Riversville RoadGreenwich, CT 06831(203) 869-5272Guilford Salt Meadows Sanctuary330 Mulberry Point RoadGuilford, CT 06437(203) 458-2582FLORIDAState OfficeAudubon of Florida444 Brickell AvenueSuite 850Miami, FL 33131(305) 371-6399Conservation Office308 North MonroeTallahassee, FL 32301(850) 222-2473Centers and SanctuariesAudubon Center for Birds of Prey1101 Audubon WayMaitland, FL 32751(407) 644-0190Blair Audubon Center at CorkscrewSwamp Sanctuary375 Sanctuary Road WestNaples, FL 34120(239) 348-9151Florida Coastal IslandsSanctuaries410 Ware Boulevard, Suite 702Tampa, FL 33619(813) 623-6826Lake Okeechobee SanctuariesP.O. Box 707Lorida, FL 33857(941) 467-8497Tavernier Science Center115 Indian Mound TrailTavernier, FL 33070(305) 852-5318ILLINOISProgram OfficeAudubon of the Chicago Region1718 Sherman Avenue, #210Evanston, IL 60201(847) 328-1250KENTUCKYCenters and SanctuariesClyde E. Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary andAudubon Center1305 Germany RoadFrankfort, KY 40601(859) 873-5711LOUISIANAState OfficeAudubon Louisiana6160 Perkins RoadSuite 135Baton Rouge, LA 70808(225) 768-0820Centers and SanctuariesPaul J. Rainey Wildlife SanctuaryP.O. Box 187Perry, LA 70575(225) 768-0820MAINEState OfficeMaine Audubon20 Gilsland Farm RoadFalmouth, ME 04105(207) 781-2330Centers and SanctuariesBorestone Mountain SanctuaryEast Point SanctuaryHamilton SanctuaryJosephine Newman SanctuaryMast Landing SanctuaryTodd Audubon Sanctuaryc/o Maine Audubon20 Gilsland Farm RoadFalmouth, ME 04105(207) 781-2330Fields Pond Audubon Center216 Fields Pond RoadHolden, ME 04429(207) 989-2591Gilsland Farm Audubon Center20 Gilsland Farm RoadFalmouth, ME 04105(207) 781-2330Hog Island Audubon Centerc/o Seabird Restoration Program159 Sapsucker Woods RoadIthaca, NY 14850(607) 257-7308Project Puffin Visitor Center311 Main StreetRockland, ME 04841(May–Dec.) (207) 596-5566(Jan.–April) (607) 257-7308Scarborough Marsh Audubon CenterRoute 9/Pine Point RoadScarborough, ME 04074(May–Sept.) (207) 883-5100(Oct.–April) (207) 781-2330MARYLAND-DCState OfficeAudubon Maryland-DC2901 East Baltimore Street, Box 2Baltimore, MD 21224(410) 558-2473Centers and SanctuariesPatterson Park Audubon Center2901 East Baltimore StreetBox 2Baltimore, MD 21224(410) 558-2473Pickering Creek Audubon Center11450 Audubon LaneEaston, MD 21601(410) 822-4903MINNESOTAState OfficeAudubon Minnesota2357 Ventura DriveSuite 106St. Paul, MN 55125(651) 739-9332MISSISSIPPIState OfficeAudubon Mississippi285 Plains RoadHolly Springs, MS 38635(662) 252-1155Program OfficeAudubon Mississippi1208 Washington StreetVicksburg, MS 39183(601) 661-6189Centers and SanctuariesStrawberry Plains Audubon Center285 Plains RoadHolly Springs, MS 38635(662) 252-1155Pascagoula River Audubon Center7001 Frank Griffin RoadMoss Point, MS 39563(228) 475-0825MISSOURIState OfficeAudubon Missouri201 W. Riviera Drive, Suite AJoplin, MO 64804(417) 626-8842Centers and SanctuariesAudubon Center at Riverlands301 Riverlands WayWest Alton, MO 63386(636) 899-0090Wildcat Glades Conservation andAudubon Center201 W. Riviera DriveSuite AJoplin, MO 64804(417) 782-6287NEBRASKAState OfficeAudubon NebraskaP.O. Box 11711700 SW 100th StreetDenton, NE 68339(402) 797-2301Centers and SanctuariesIain Nicolson Audubon Center atLillian Annette Rowe Bird Sanctuary44450 Elm Island RoadGibbon, NE 68840(308) 468-5282Spring Creek PrairieAudubon CenterP.O. Box 11711700 SW 100th StreetDenton, NE 68339(402) 797-2301NEW MEXICOState OfficeAudubon New Mexico1800 Upper Canyon RoadSanta Fe, NM 87504(505) 983-4609Centers and SanctuariesRandall Davey Audubon Centerand Sanctuary1800 Upper Canyon RoadSanta Fe, NM 87504(505) 983-4609NEW YORKState OfficeAudubon New York200 Trillium LaneAlbany, NY 12203(518) 869-9731Centers and SanctuariesBeaver Meadow Audubon Center1610 Welch RoadNorth Java, NY 14113(585) 457-3228Buttercup Farm Audubon SanctuaryRamshorn-Livingston Audubon Centerand SanctuaryRheinstrom Hill Audubon Centerand SanctuaryP.O. Box 1Craryville, NY 12521(518) 325-5203Constitution Marsh AudubonCenter and SanctuaryP.O. Box 174Cold Spring, NY 10516(845) 265-2601Jamestown Audubon Centerand Sanctuary1600 Riverside RoadJamestown, NY 14701(716) 569-2345Kaler’s Pond Audubon CenterP.O. Box 865Center Moriches, NY 11934(631) 878-5576Montezuma Audubon Center2295 State Route 89 NorthSavannah, NY 13146(315) 365-3580Prospect Park Audubon Center95 Prospect Park WestBrooklyn, NY 11215(718) 287-3400Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuaryand Audubon Center134 Cove RoadOyster Bay, NY 11771(516) 922-3200NORTH CAROLINAState OfficeAudubon North Carolina400 Silver Cedar Court, Suite 240Chapel Hill, NC 27514(919) 929-3899Centers and SanctuariesDonal C. O’Brien Jr. AudubonSanctuary and Center at Pine Islandc/o Audubon North Carolina300 Audubon DriveCorolla, NC 27927(252) 453-0603NORTH DAKOTAState OfficeAudubon Dakota118 Broadway NorthSuite 512Fargo, ND 58102(701) 298-3373Centers and SanctuariesEdward M. Brigham III Sanctuary2646 90 R. Avenue SESpiritwood, ND 58481(701) 298-3373Frederick L. Wicks Prairie WildlifeSanctuary118 Broadway North, Suite 512Fargo, ND 58102(701) 298-3373OHIOCenters and SanctuariesAullwood Audubon Center and Farm1000 Aullwood RoadDayton, OH 45414(937) 890-7360Grange Insurance Audubon Center505 W. Whittier StreetColumbus, OH 43215(614) 545-5475PENNSYLVANIAState OfficeAudubon Pennsylvania100 Wildwood WayHarrisburg, PA 17110(717) 213-6880Centers and SanctuariesJohn James Audubon Center atMill Grove1201 Pawlings RoadAudubon, PA 19403(610) 666-5593Waggoner’s Gap Hawk Watchc/o Audubon Pennsylvania100 Wildwood WayHarrisburg, PA 17110(717) 213-6880SOUTH CAROLINAState OfficeAudubon South Carolina336 Sanctuary RoadHarleyville, SC 29448(843) 462-2150Centers and SanctuariesAudubon Center and Sanctuary atFrancis Beidler Forest336 Sanctuary RoadHarleyville, SC 29448(843) 462-2150Silver Bluff Audubon Center andSanctuary4542 Silver Bluff RoadJackson, SC 29831(803) 471-0291TEXASState OfficeAudubon Texas510 South Congress AvenueSuite 102Austin, TX 78704(512) 782-0895Centers and SanctuariesDogwood Canyon Audubon Center1206 West FM 1382Cedar Hill, TX 75104(469) 526-198076 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 77

AudubondirectoryCoastal Sanctuariesc/o Audubon Texas510 South Congress AvenueAustin, TX 78704(512) 782-0895Mitchell Lake Audubon Center10750 Pleasanton RoadSan Antonio, TX 78221(210) 628-1639Sabal Palm Audubon SanctuaryP.O. Box 5169Brownsville, TX 78523(956) 541-8034Trinity River Audubon Center6500 Great Trinity Forest WayDallas, TX 75217(214) 398-8722UTAHCenters and SanctuariesGillmor Audubon Sanctuary and SouthShore Preserve3868 Marsha DriveWest Valley, UT 84120(801) 966-0464VERMONTState OfficeAudubon Vermont255 Sherman Hollow RoadHuntington, VT 05462(802) 434-3068Centers and SanctuariesGrammas Island, Hen Island,Popasquash Island, Rock Islandc/o Audubon Vermont255 Sherman Hollow RoadHuntington, VT 05462(802) 434-3068Green Mountain Audubon Center255 Sherman Hollow RoadHuntington, VT 05462(802) 434-3068WASHINGTONState OfficeAudubon Washington5902 Lake Washington Boulevard S.Seattle, WA 98118(206) 652-2444Centers and SanctuariesDungeness River Audubon CenterRailroad Bridge Park2151 West Hendrickson RoadSequim, WA 98382(360) 681-4076Seward Park Environmental andAudubon Center5902 Lake Washington Boulevard S.Seattle, WA 98118(206) 652-2444WISCONSINCenters and SanctuariesSchlitz Audubon Nature Center1111 East Brown Deer RoadMilwaukee, WI 53217(414) 352-2880WYOMINGAudubon Center at Garden Creek101 Garden Creek RoadCasper, WY 82604(307) 473-1987AUDUBON CHAPTERSALABAMABirmingham Audubon SocietyCullman Audubon SocietyMobile Bay Audubon SocietyShoals Audubon SocietyTennessee Valley Audubon SocietyALASKAAnchorage Audubon SocietyArctic Audubon SocietyJuneau Audubon SocietyKodiak Audubon SocietyPrince William Sound Audubon SocietyARIZONADesert Rivers Audubon SocietyHuachuca Audubon SocietyMaricopa Audubon SocietyNorthern Arizona Audubon SocietyPrescott Audubon SocietySonoran Audubon SocietyTucson Audubon SocietyWhite Mountain Audubon SocietyYuma County Audubon SocietyARKANSASAudubon Society of Central ArkansasGarland County Audubon SocietyHot Springs Village Audubon SocietyLittle Red River Audubon SocietyNorthwest Arkansas Audubon SocietyThree Rivers Audubon SocietyCALIFORNIAAltacal Audubon SocietyBuena Vista Audubon SocietyCentral Sierra Audubon SocietyConejo Valley Audubon SocietyEagle Lake Audubon SocietyEastern Sierra Audubon SocietyEl Dorado Audubon SocietyFresno Audubon SocietyGolden Gate Audubon SocietyKern Audubon SocietyKerncrest Audubon SocietyLa Purisma Audubon SocietyLaguna Hills Audubon SocietyLos Angeles Audubon SocietyMadrone Audubon SocietyMarin Audubon SocietyMendocino Coast Audubon SocietyMonterey Audubon SocietyMorro Coast Audubon SocietyMount Diablo Audubon SocietyMount Shasta Area Audubon SocietyNapa-Solano Audubon SocietyOhlone Audubon SocietyPalomar Audubon SocietyPalos Verdes/South Bay Audubon SocietyPasadena Audubon SocietyPeregrine Audubon SocietyPlumas Audubon SocietyPomona Valley Audubon SocietyRedbud Audubon SocietyRedwood Region Audubon SocietySacramento Audubon SocietySan Bernardino Valley Audubon SocietySan Diego Audubon SocietySan Fernando Valley Audubon SocietySan Joaquin Audubon SocietySanta Barbara Audubon SocietySanta Clara Valley Audubon SocietySanta Monica Bay Audubon SocietySea and Sage Audubon SocietySequoia Audubon SocietySierra Foothills Audubon SocietyStanislaus Audubon SocietyTulare County Audubon SocietyVentura Audubon SocietyWhittier Audubon SocietyWintu Audubon SocietyYolo Audubon SocietyYosemite Area Audubon SocietyCOLORADOAiken Audubon SocietyArkansas Valley Audubon SocietyAudubon Society of Greater DenverBlack Canyon Audubon SocietyBoulder County Audubon SocietyEvergreen Audubon SocietyFort Collins Audubon SocietyGrand Valley Audubon SocietyPlatte and Prairie Audubon SocietyRoaring Fork Audubon SocietyWeminuche Audubon SocietyCONNECTICUTAudubon GreenwichHousatonic Audubon SocietyLitchfield Hills Audubon SocietyMattabeseck Audubon SocietyMenunkatuck Audubon SocietyNaugatuck Valley Audubon SocietyNew Canaan Audubon SocietyPotapaug Audubon SocietyQuinnipiac Valley Audubon SocietyDELAWAREDelaware Audubon SocietyDISTRICT OF COLUMBIAAudubon Society of the District of ColumbiaFLORIDAAlachua Audubon SocietyApalachee Audubon SocietyAudubon of Martin CountyAudubon Society of the EvergladesAudubon Society of Southwest FloridaBay County Audubon SocietyChoctawhatchee Audubon SocietyCitrus County Audubon SocietyClearwater Audubon SocietyCollier County Audubon SocietyDuval Audubon SocietyEagle Audubon SocietyFlagler Audubon SocietyFlorida Keys Audubon SocietyFour Rivers Audubon SocietyFrancis M. 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Butler Audubon SocietyDunes-Calumet Audubon SocietyEvansville Audubon SocietyKnob and Valley Audubon SocietyPotawatomi Audubon SocietyRobert Cooper Audubon SocietySassafras Audubon SocietySouth Bend-Elkhart Audubon SocietyStockbridge Audubon SocietySycamore Audubon SocietyTippecanoe Audubon SocietyWabash Valley Audubon SocietyIOWABig Bluestem Audubon SocietyCedar Rapids Audubon SocietyDubuque Audubon SocietyLoess Hills Audubon SocietyNorthern Iowa Prairie Lakes AudubonSocietyPrairie Rapids Audubon SocietyQuad City Audubon SocietySoutheast Iowa Audubon SocietyTallgrass Prairie Audubon SocietyUpper Iowa Audubon SocietyKANSASJayhawk Audubon SocietyKanza Audubon SocietyLeavenworth Audubon SocietyNorthern Flint Hills Audubon SocietySand Hills Audubon SocietySmoky Hills Audubon SocietySoutheast Kansas Audubon SocietySperry-Galligar Audubon SocietyTopeka Audubon SocietyWichita Audubon SocietyKENTUCKYBuckley Hills Audubon SocietyDaviess County Audubon SocietyFrankfort Audubon SocietyHenderson Audubon SocietyJackson Purchase Audubon SocietyLittle River Audubon SocietyLouisville Audubon SocietyLOUISIANAAcadiana Audubon SocietyBaton Rouge Audubon SocietyOrleans Audubon SocietyMAINEDowneast ChapterFundy ChapterMerrymeeting AudubonMid-Coast AudubonPenobscot Valley ChapterProuts Neck Audubon SocietyWestern Maine AudubonYork County AudubonMARYLANDAudubon Society of Central MarylandChesapeake Audubon SocietyPrince George’s Audubon SocietySouthern Maryland Audubon SocietyMICHIGANDetroit Audubon SocietyMichigan Audubon SocietyMINNESOTAAgassiz Audubon SocietyAlbert Lea Audubon SocietyAudubon Chapter of MinneapolisAustin Audubon SocietyBrainerd Lakes Area Audubon SocietyCentral Minnesota Audubon SocietyDuluth Audubon SocietyMinnesota River Valley Audubon ChapterMississippi Headwaters Audubon SocietySt. Paul Audubon SocietyWild River Audubon SocietyZumbro Valley Audubon SocietyMISSISSIPPIJackson Audubon SocietyMississippi Coast Audubon SocietyOkatibbee Creek Audubon SocietyOktibbeha Audubon SocietyPine Woods Audubon SocietyMISSOURIBurroughs Audubon SocietyColumbia Audubon SocietyEast Ozarks Audubon SocietyGreater Ozarks Audubon SocietyMidland Empire Audubon SocietyOzark Gateway Audubon SocietyOzark Rivers Audubon SocietyRiver Bluffs Audubon SocietySt. Louis Audubon SocietyMONTANABitterroot Audubon SocietyFive Valleys Audubon SocietyFlathead Audubon SocietyLast Chance Audubon SocietyMission Mountain Audubon SocietyPintlar Audubon SocietySacajawea Audubon SocietyUpper Missouri Breaks Audubon SocietyYellowstone Valley Audubon SocietyNEBRASKAAudubon Society of OmahaBig Bend Audubon SocietyWachiska Audubon SocietyWildcat Audubon SocietyNEVADALahontan Audubon SocietyRed Rock Audubon SocietyNEW JERSEYAtlantic Audubon SocietyBergen County Audubon SocietyMonmouth County Audubon SocietyWashington Crossing Audubon SocietyNEW MEXICOCentral New Mexico Audubon SocietyMesilla Valley Audubon SocietySangre de Cristo Audubon SocietySouthwestern New Mexico AudubonSocietyNEW YORKAudubon Society of the Capital RegionBedford Audubon SocietyBronx River-Sound Shore AudubonSocietyBuffalo Audubon SocietyCentral Westchester Audubon SocietyChemung Valley Audubon SocietyDelaware-Otsego Audubon SocietyEastern Long Island Audubon SocietyFour Harbors Audubon SocietyGenesee Valley Audubon SocietyGreat South Bay Audubon SocietyHudson River Audubon Society ofWestchesterHuntington-Oyster Bay AudubonSocietyJamestown Audubon SocietyNew York City Audubon SocietyNorth Fork Audubon SocietyNorth Shore Audubon SocietyNorthern Catskills Audubon SocietyNorthern New York AudubonOnondaga Audubon SocietyOrange County Audubon SocietyPutnam Highlands Audubon SocietyRockland Audubon SocietySaw Mill River Audubon SocietySouth Shore Audubon SocietySouthern Adirondack Audubon SocietySullivan County Audubon SocietyNORTH CAROLINAAudubon Society of Forsyth CountyCape Fear Audubon SocietyElisha Mitchell Audubon SocietyHigh Country Audubon SocietyHighlands Plateau Audubon SocietyMecklenburg Audubon SocietyNew Hope Audubon SocietyT. 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Hayes Audubon SocietyTri-Moraine Audubon SocietyWestern Cuyahoga Audubon SocietyOKLAHOMAAudubon Society of Central OklahomaCleveland County Audubon SocietyDeep Fork Audubon SocietyGrand Lake Audubon SocietyIndian Nations Audubon SocietyPayne County Audubon SocietyTulsa Audubon SocietyOREGONEast Cascades Audubon SocietyAudubon Society of CorvallisAudubon Society of Lincoln CityAudubon Society of PortlandCape Arago Audubon SocietyKalmiopsis Audubon SocietyKlamath Basin Audubon SocietyLane County Audubon SocietyRogue Valley Audubon SocietySalem Audubon SocietySiskiyou Audubon SocietyUmpqua Valley Audubon SocietyPENNSYLVANIAAllegheny Plateau Audubon SocietyAppalachian Audubon SocietyAudubon Society of WesternPennsylvaniaBartramian Audubon SocietyBucks County Audubon SocietyConococheague Audubon SocietyGifford Pinchot Audubon SocietyGreater Wyoming Valley AudubonSocietyJuniata Valley Audubon SocietyLehigh Valley Audubon SocietyLycoming Audubon SocietyNortheast Pennsylvania AudubonSocietyPresque Isle Audubon SocietyQuittapahilla Audubon SocietySeneca Rocks Audubon SocietySeven Mountains Audubon SocietySouth Mountain Audubon SocietyTiadaghton Audubon SocietyValley Forge Audubon SocietyWyncote Audubon SocietyYork Audubon SocietySOUTH CAROLINACharleston Natural History SocietyColumbia Audubon SocietyHilton Head Island Audubon SocietyPiedmont Audubon SocietyWaccamaw Audubon SocietySOUTH DAKOTAMissouri Breaks Audubon SocietyPrairie Hills Audubon SocietyTENNESSEECumberland-Harpeth Audubon SocietyWarioto Audubon SocietyTEXASAudubon DallasBastrop County Audubon SocietyBexar Audubon SocietyBig Country Audubon SocietyCentral Texas Audubon SocietyCoastal Bend Audubon Society El PasoTrans Pecos Audubon SocietyFort Worth Audubon SocietyGolden Triangle Audubon SocietyHouston Audubon SocietyHuntsville Audubon SocietyLlano Estacado Audubon SocietyMonte Mucho Audubon SocietyPrairie and Timbers Audubon SocietyRio Brazos Audubon SocietyRio Grande Delta Audubon Society TexasPanhandle Audubon SocietyTravis Audubon SocietyTwin Lakes Audubon SocietyTyler Audubon SocietyUTAHBridgerland Audubon SocietyGreat Salt Lake Audubon SocietyRed Cliffs Audubon SocietyWasatch Audubon SocietyVERMONTAscutney Mountain Audubon SocietyGreen Mountain Audubon SocietyNortheast Kingdom Audubon SocietyOtter Creek Audubon SocietyRutland County Audubon SocietySoutheastern Vermont Audubon SocietyTaconic Tri-State Audubon SocietyVIRGINIAAudubon Society of Northern VirginiaCape Henry Audubon SocietyNorthern Neck of Virginia Audubon SocietyNorthern Shenandoah Valley AudubonSocietyRichmond Audubon SocietyVirginia Beach Audubon SocietyWASHINGTONAdmiralty Audubon SocietyBlack Hills Audubon SocietyBlue Mountain Audubon SocietyCentral Basin Audubon SocietyDiscovery Coast Audubon SocietyEastside Audubon SocietyGrays Harbor Audubon SocietyKitsap Audubon SocietyKittitas Audubon SocietyLower Columbia Basin Audubon SocietyNorth Cascades Audubon SocietyNorth Central Washington Audubon SocietyOlympic Peninsula Audubon SocietyPalouse Audubon SocietyPilchuck Audubon SocietyRainier Audubon SocietySan Juan Islands Audubon SocietySeattle Audubon SocietySkagit Audubon SocietySpokane Audubon SocietyTahoma Audubon SocietyVancouver Audubon SocietyVashon-Maury Island Audubon SocietyWhidbey Audubon SocietyWillapa Hills Audubon SocietyYakima Valley Audubon SocietyWEST VIRGINIAMountaineer Audubon SocietyPotomac Valley Audubon SocietyWISCONSINAldo Leopold Audubon SocietyChequamegon Audubon SocietyCoulee Region Audubon SocietyFond Du Lac County Audubon SocietyGreen-Rock Audubon SocietyHoy Audubon SocietyLakeland Audubon SocietyMadison Audubon SocietyMilwaukee Audubon SocietyNortheastern Wisconsin Audubon SocietySheboygan County Audubon SocietyWinnebago Audubon SocietyWisconsin Metro Audubon SocietyWYOMINGBighorn Audubon SocietyCheyenne-High Plains Audubon SocietyLaramie Audubon SocietyMeadowlark Audubon SocietyMurie Audubon SocietyRed Desert Audubon Society78 Audubon StrA tegic PlA nAudubon StrA tegic PlA n 79

oard of directorsChair of the BoardB. Holt ThrasherVice-ChairsLloyd SempleAllen J. ModelAlan WilsonTreasurerDavid HartwellSecretaryMargot ErnstAssistant SecretariesPeggy E. MontañoMichael StolperWhoopingcraned irectorsLeigh AltadonnaJon A. AndaA. Peter Cannon Jr.Mary McDermott CookAlan R. DolanJoseph H. EllisDavid B. FordFrank GillJoy HesterJane-Kerin MoffatHector E. Morales, Jr.Jess MortonKristi PattersonTerry L. RootDavid RouxHugh SimmonsMarina SkumanichDouglas VarleyVictor VidalesAlexander E. Zagoreosceo a Nd PresideN tDavid Yarnoldeditor: Nancy Severance Roylancedesign director: Kevin FisherManaging editor: Jerry GoodbodyPhoto editor: Lila GarnettProduction Manager: James Loganbird illustrations: David Allen SibleyIllustrations from the National Audubon Society: SibleyGuide to Birds, by David Allen Sibley, published by AlfredA. Knopf, Inc. Copyright © 2000 by Andrew Stewart Publishing,Inc. and The Sibley eGuide to the Birds of NorthAmerica smartphone application. All rights reserved.Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder.flyway maps: Peter HoeyPhoto credits: (Page 1) Peter Frank Edwards;(2) Arthur Morris; (5) Jim Urbach/www.jimurbach.smugmug.com;(10-11) Brown W. Cannon III; (12-13) RandalFord; (14-15) Joel Sartore; (16-17) Chip Simons; (18-19)Kevin Keith; (20-21) Steve Kaslowski; (23) Wil Hershberger;(24) Brown W. Cannon III; (26, from left): EwanBurns; Michio Hoshino/Minden Pictures; (27, fromleft) Jeff Larsen;Harrison Shull/Aurora Photos; (28,from left) Robert Royse; Subhankar Banerjee; (29, fromleft) JohnnyJohnson/Photographer’s Choice/GettyImages;TogetherGreen; (30, from left) Andy Anderson;Ewan Burns; (31, from left) Amanda Friedman;Brown W. Cannon III; (33) Rick A. Brown; (34, from left)Houston Audubon Society; Andrew Geiger;(36) Joel Sartore; (37) Michael Forsberg; (38, from left)Robert Royse; Joel Sartore; (39, from left) Michael Lyon;TogetherGreen; (40, from left) www.bluegranola.com;Joel Sartore; (41) Bill Timmerman (2); (43) Michael D.Stubblefield; (44) Rob Howard; (46, from left) RobertRoyse; Annie Griffiths Belt/Corbis; (47) ©Trivers; (48, fromleft) Kim Hubbard; Robert Royse; (49, from left)Clint Farlinger; Eric Lipschutz; (51) Tom Vezo/MindenPictures; (52, from left) © JoAnn Jordan and CathyHarmans; TogetherGreen; (54, from left) AndrewKornylak/Aurora Photos; Walker Golder; (55, from left)Ann Cutting/Botanica/Getty Images; Kim Hubbard;(56, from left) Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Jim Neiger;(57, from left) John Huba; Urban Green Council;(58) Alexandra Daley-Clark/The New York Times;(59) Robert Royse; (61) Ericka Larsen/Redux Pictures; (62)Ewan Burns; (63) Ericka Larsen; (64) Jules Frazier; (65)Ian Londin; (66) TogetherGreen; (67) Matt Slaby;(69) Angela Wyant; (71) TogetherGreen; (74-75)Randal Ford (2); (inside back cover) David LittschwagerPrinted on 30 percent post-consumer recycled fiber.Elemental chlorine-free.

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