Monthly Newsletter November, 2021

Gratitude For Our Great Lakes Flock As fall comes to an end and we approach winter season, we are grateful that YOU are part of our mighty Audubon Great Lakes flock. The power of our collective wingspan is how we protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Our conservation successes would not be possible without our amazing volunteers, partners, and supporters. By taking action, educating, and uniting diverse communities in conservation, our flock across our Great Lakes region, has been critical to the work we do. We are thankful for everything you do for birds and communities in the Great Lakes.

Wild Turkeys. Greenfield/Audubon Photography Awards

Infrastructure Bill Will Help Address A Cleaner Future For Birds and People in the Great Lakes Region Last week, President Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, H.R. 3684). Much has been reported on how this bipartisan infrastructure package paves the way for historic investments in roads and bridges, but it is also brings much needed funds to restore the Great Lakes and rebuild failing drinking and wastewater systems.  Securing a better future for the birds and people of the Great Lakes region has never been more important. As the largest freshwater ecosystem on the planet, the Great Lakes provides drinking water to 40 million people and serve as a global resource to millions of birds. Learn more about what this means for the Great Lakes region.  Read more

Piping Plover. Lorraine Minns/ Audubon Photography Awards

Indiana Senator Todd Young Joins Audubon Great Lakes to View Sandhill Crane Migration Spectacle This fall, a chorus of loud, trilled calls can be heard across the  skyline as thousands of Sandhill Cranes flock to their favorite spot in Northwest Indiana. Earlier this month, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN) joined Audubon Great Lakes at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area alongside Indiana State Representative Hal Slager (R-IN-15) to witness this incredible migration spectacle, and discuss bipartisan conservation and climate solutions that are good for Hoosiers, birds and the economy. Read more

Photo Credit: Nicole Minadeo

Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act This week, U.S Rep. Dave Joyce (OH-14), along with Reps. Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Darin LaHood (IL-18), and Paul Tonko (NY-20), introduced bipartisan legislation to support fish and wildlife in the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act of 2021 would reauthorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to work with states, Tribes, and other interested entities to develop and execute proposals to conserve, restore and manage fish and wildlife populations and their habitats.  More than 350 bird species rely on a healthy Great Lakes region to survive. They newly introduced Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act will protect and restore the habitat that the Great Lakes birds need while ensuring a healthy ecosystem for all. Read more

Black Tern. Debra Potts/Audubon Photography Awards

Get Involved in Community Science with Audubon's Christmas Bird Count The Community Bird Count, also known as the Christmas Bird Count, happens from December 14 to January 5 every year. The data collected by observers over the past century allow Audubon researchers, conservation biologists, wildlife agencies, and other interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. You can add to a century of community science by joining a count near you. Sign up today!  Join Us

Federal Bill Will Protect the Tiny Ocean Fish that Great Lakes Birds Need to Survive Migration Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI-12) reintroduced the Forage Fish Conservation Act, which will help protect forage fish — the small but important schooling fish that serve as a critical food source to vulnerable seabirds during their difficult and often-dangerous migration journeys. “This fall, seabirds like the Black Tern are taking flight from the Great Lakes marshes where they built their summer homes, to travel thousands of miles over the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico towards their winter homes. But they can only make this strenuous migration journey if there are abundant ocean fish for them to eat along the way,” said Michelle Parker, Vice President and Executive Director of Audubon Great Lakes. Read more

Black Tern. Photo: Dan Irizarry

Preventing Bird Collisions: Solutions and Successes Across Audubon Up to 1 billion birds die each year from building collisions. Join Audubon for the webinar, “Preventing Bird Collisions: Solutions and Successes Across Audubon,” to hear from a panel of experts on the steps we can take to prevent bird collisions and protect birds, including a new law in Illinois that will make more buildings bird-safe.   RSVP Today

Cooper's Hawk. Photo: Jason Kandume/Audubon Photography Awards

Nature Center News

Internationally Renowned Artist Thomas Dambo Debuts New Troll Exhibit at Aullwood Audubon Center “The Troll That Hatched an Egg,” an exhibit from world renowned artist Thomas Dambo, is now open at Aullwood Audubon in Dayton, OH. Visit three giant trolls made from recycled materials and discover the story of birds, flight and why it's important to preserve habitats!   Visit and Learn More Internationally Renowned Artist Thomas Dambo Debuts New Troll Exhibit at Aullwood Audubon Center The Art of Wildlife Conservation Exhibition at Grange Insurance Audubon Center Grange Insurance Audubon Center in Columbus, OH features a free art exhibition that includes 50 pieces of work and showcases 25 species of animals featuring a diversity of creatures including amphibians, birds, crayfish, fish, insects, mammals, and reptiles.  Each species is depicted by one of Juliet Mullett's watercolor pencil illustrations, and one of Jim McCormac's images, acccompanied by brief text explaining its significance and conservation issues, pro or con.     Learn more Art at Audubon

Celebrate the Wild Turkey In the early 1900’s Wild Turkey’s were nearly extinct. Thanks to conservation efforts, their population count today is approximately 6.5 million. Discover how collaborative conservation efforts over the last half-century have helped Wild Turkey populations rebound, and how you can support the unmistakable species in Michigan. You can also learn more about the hottest neighborhood to spot Wild Turkey’s in Wisconsin.  Read More

Wild Turkey. Ryan O'Kevin/Audubon Photography Awards

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