Audubon Minnesota - Helping Minnesota Birds

Audubon Minnesota is a state office of the National Audubon Society. According to its website, its mission "is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and their habitats, for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity."

Pileated woodpecker on the cherry tree.

(Taken on December 12, 2007.)

To do that, Audubon Minnesota's work focuses on "accomplishing four goals:

=> Stabilize or increase populations of at-risk bird species (e.g., cerulean warblers, trumpeter swans, short-eared owls)
=> Prevent declines in numbers or range area of common native birds (e.g., bobolinks, red-headed woodpeckers, canvasbacks)
=> Protect and restore essential sites for vulnerable bird species
=> Improve the health of landscapes that support or could support birds."

Eagle in the oak tree by the driveway.

(Taken on March 15, 2011.)

Audubon Minnesota' website has a list of Minnesota Birds at Risk, newsletters, and events. There's also a more local chapter of the Audubon Society - Wild River Audubon Society - with activities even closer to home.

One of the things I did right away was sign up for Audubon Minnesota's action alerts. Over 2,500 people in Minnesota are on their email list already.

Trumpeter swans in the next door neighbor's field.

(Taken on March 11, 2012.)

Another thing that was easy to do, and hopefully will make a difference, was sending an email to Tom Landwehr, Commissioner of Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources, regarding a Sandhill Crane Management Plan that included a hunting component.

Bascially, I told him that I was surprised and disappointed when I heard that Sandhill Cranes are being hunted in Minnesota. These beautiful birds need to be protected and enjoyed...not hunted.

There's a suggested letter with some ideas to help people write a letter in support of removing the hunting component from the management plan. The hope is that Mr. Landwehr would put the focus back on studying the migration and breeding patterns of the Sandhill Cranes; and to develop a greater understanding of the effect of the existing hunt and population dynamics before putting this newly recovered species back at risk.

This is the LINK to letter that can be sent to Mr. Landwehr.

Male cardinal and black-capped chickadee

at one of the birdfeeders.

(Taken on February 22, 2011.)

Audubon Minnesota is a worthwhile organization to support - especially for anyone who enjoys birds and nature. It is a logical one for us to support given how much we enjoy the birds that visit the feeders and live in the trees here at the farm.