Banding and Birding

Students Give Back to Audubon Vermont

Audubon Vermont's Education programs recently received a donation from Mr. Kellog's class at Williston Central School. These 3rd and 4th grade students created a business plan, made bird-themed greeting cards and temporary tattoos, and sold them to students and community members. They raised over $800 and donated it to Audubon Vermont!

Some of these students have been Audubon campers or participated in our afterschool programs. We're grateful for their support and their passion to give back! A huge THANK YOU!

-The Audubon Vermont Education Team

Karma Yoga is for the Birds!

Yoga Roots is excited to announce they will be partnering with All Souls Interfaith Gathering for the second year of Karma Yoga.

Sundays, June 25, July 9, July 23, August 6, August 20, Sept 3 from 8 - 9 am, Yoga Roots’ yoga instructors will hold an all levels donation yoga class outdoors, overlooking the mountains and Lake Champlain. All proceeds this year will benefit Audubon Vermont. For more than 100 years, Audubon Vermont has protected birds, wildlife and their habitat through engaging people of all ages in education, conservation, stewardship and action.
 
“Karma Yoga is one of our favorite Summer offerings. Supporting Audubon Vermont seemed like a natural fit. What do birding and yoga have in common? Practice, patience and presence! Come listen to the birds this summer and practice yoga in this beautiful setting at All Souls. The views can’t be beat! Enjoy the gifts of yoga for yourself and help Audubon Vermont at the same time.” says Lynn Alpeter, co-owner of Yoga Roots.

“Yoga and nature both feed the soul and cultivate mindfulness. Audubon Vermont is all about connecting people with nature and meeting people where they are at. Birdsong focuses my mind on the moment in a very similar way that breath grounds my yoga practice. Many thanks to Yoga Roots and All Souls for connecting with Audubon Vermont for the summer yoga series.”  - Gwendolyn Causer,  Audubon Vermont Teacher/Naturalist.
 
Suggested donation of $10 per class. Free registration is encouraged so you may get the most up to date information regarding weather, etc.

For more information and class registration go to yogarootsvt.com or call 985-0090. In case of inclement weather classes will be held at the Yoga Roots studio.

All Souls Interfaith Gathering, 291 Bostwick Farm Rd., Shelburne, VT 05482

More information:

Yoga Roots
yogarootsvt.com
lynn@yogarootsvt.com

All Souls Interfaith Gathering
allsoulsinterfaith.org
Mariko Middleton: asig@allsoulsinterfaith.org

Audubon Vermont
vt.audubon.org
Gwendolyn Causer gcauser@audubon.org

How are Vermont's forest bird populations doing?

Audubon Vermont​ addresses the findings of a recent study published by our colleagues at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies​. We are taking a holistic approach to keeping our forestland intact using all of our program areas: policy, science, and education.  From taking a leadership role in supporting H.233 legislation, to partnering with natural resource managers, and offering educational workshops for landowners, Audubon Vermont is leading the way in ensuring a positive future of our forests for people and birds.
Learn more...

The Terns Have Returned!

The Common Terns are back and nesting on Audubon's Popasquash Island. As of June 4th over 100 nests have been observed on this small island in Lake Champlain's Inland Sea. Audubon biologist Mark LaBarr monitors this island as well as 2 other Audubon island sanctuaries in partnership with The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.

Learn more about our Common Tern Recovery Project: http://vt.audubon.org/conservation/common-tern-recovery-project

Audubon Vermont and the Paris Climate Accord

We are writing in response to President Trump’s misguided decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Accord. Although this is challenging news to face, it’s an important reminder of how we be united in our action. Audubon Vermont’s work to conserve habitat and address the impacts of climate change is more important now than ever. As an organization, we are safeguarding our environment and addressing climate change in meaningful ways:

Reducing our dependency on fossil fuels which reduces carbon emissions:

• Our Pollinator-Friendly Solar Project is working directly with the renewable energy sector to make solar installations more friendly to birds while supporting Vermont’s shift towards renewable energy. We support Vermont’s energy goal to have 90% renewables by 2050
• With over 5,000 student contacts each year, our education programs are building a strong foundation of science in our next generation. These future leaders will understand the reality and science behind human induced climate change and will meet the challenge to work together in reducing our dependency on fossil fuels.  More and more, our education team is delivering climate content in our programs.

Helping Vermont birds, wildlife, and people adapt to our changing climate:

• Our Bird-Friendly Maple Project is working with sugarmakers to responsibly manage forests in ways that promote species diversity and interconnectedness. These management techniques ensure our forests can adapt to a changing climate. Additionally, encouraging larger trees and leaving deadwood in the forest results in more stored carbon in our forests.
• A recent study by UVM’s Bill Keaton shows how forest practices promoted through Audubon’s Foresters for the Birds project result in greater sequestration of carbon, helping to keep it from adding to the blanket of atmospheric carbon that is warming our planet. 
• Our Plants for Birds program is promoting the use of native plants in backyards, schoolyards, and community gardens. These native plants help birds find necessary food and shelter when working to adapt and survive in the face of a changing climate.
• Our policy work promotes keeping Vermont’s large forests blocks intact. Did you know that Vermont’s forests annually store over 8 million metric tons of CO2? That’s almost as much as Vermont’s annual carbon emissions. Our work to safeguard these forest blocks addresses impacts of climate change in many ways:
  • Intact forests continue to sequester carbon;
  • They aid in offsetting Vermont’s carbon emissions;
  • They help our landscape be more resilient to flooding, which is predicted to increase as our climate warms.

Despite the short-sighted decisions of this administration, Audubon Vermont will continue to address climate change as the biggest threat to birds and people.

Vermonters can take steps together to combat climate change.
1.    Commit to Solar, reduce carbon emissions – Utilities across the state are offering solar programs where customers can take advantage of clean, renewable solar energy. You can also install rooftop solar on your home or business.
2.    Green Your Commute, use less fossil fuels – Reduce your transportation pollution by purchasing fuel-efficient cars, carpooling, and biking or walking to your destination. Ride sharing apps make it easier save emissions!
3.    Grow Bird-Friendly Plants at Home – Native plants can reduce your water and energy consumption. Check out Audubon’s Native Plant Database to learn more about native plants for your area!
4.    Reduce Home Energy Use – Install energy-efficient lightbulbs, check your house for leaks, and ask your utility company for a free energy audit.
5.    Get Involved and Informed – The biggest threat to birds is climate change. Join Audubon’s action network and add your voice to Vermont’s most effective conservation organization.

Golden-winged Warbler Recaptured!

It's all a buzz!!! Biologists Margaret Fowle and Mark LaBarr have recaptured the first Golden-winged Warbler of the season. For the past year, this bird carried a small transmitter called a geolocator that has been collecting data about his migration routes and wintering grounds. Mark and Margaret will be out and about trying to recapture more geo-tagged birds in the Champlain Valley this spring in hopes of learning more about Vermont's population and its needs for conservation. Stay tuned for what we find out, and in the meantime, visit http://vt.audubon.org/gwwa for more information.