National Audubon Society

Trivia time! True or false: Great Blue Herons hunt both day and night.
^{(See the bottom of this email for the answer.)}

Newsletter | July 2023

Five individuals stand behind the Governor Polis, who is seated at a table, as he signs a document.

Stream Restoration Legislation Will Benefit Birds and People in Colorado

Good news! This legislative session, SB23-270, Projects To Restore Natural Stream Systems, was passed and signed into Colorado law on June 5. SB23-270 is a solid win for Colorado’s streams and a good first-step opportunity to steward our rivers back into health. Thanks to more than 1,200 Coloradans taking action with Audubon, we were able to get this critical legislation over the finish line. Here is what you should know about the final legislation; why Colorado’s rivers, birds, and people need this bill; and what’s next for advancing stream restoration.Read more

Governor Polis signs SB23-270 into law. Photo: Abby Burk

Milkweed Rediscovered in Wyoming!

We rediscovered a plant!! During Virtual Wyoming BioBlitz 2020, one participant stumbled across an interesting milkweed in Albany County and submitted it to iNaturalist.org. Another user flagged it as a noteworthy observation, and the lead botanist of Wyoming Natural Diversity Database determined that this was in fact Hall's milkweed (Asclepias hallii), a species that hadn't been recorded in Wyoming since 1958! Learn the fascinating history of this plant and sign up to participate in Statewide Wyoming BioBlitz 2023!

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Sheep Mountain near where the plant was found. Photo: Evan Barrientos

A brown and grey bird wades among tall, aquatic plants.

Supreme Court Decision Threatens Waterways that Birds (and People) Need

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency removes crucial protections for wetlands, limiting the Clean Water Act and threatening our ability to protect ecosystems and landscapes needed for birds and communities across the Rockies region and the country.

Learn more

Sora. Photo: Claudio Contreras Koob

A plant with purple flowers blooms in a grassland.

Diggin’ Deeper into the Underworld of Grasslands

As a habitat certification program, Audubon Conservation Ranching works to stabilize grassland bird populations, primarily through the practice of well-managed rotational grazing. As indicator species, grassland birds can represent the overall health of their environments. But just how deep do the environmental benefits (beyond birds) run? The answer lies in the hidden world of native plants and their root systems.

Learn more

Penstemon. Photo: Evan Barrientos

A tall; blue-grey, white, and copper-colored shorebird runs across shallow water with a fish in its beak, splashing.

What’s in a River’s Name?

Is the name of a river really that important? If it's the "Colorado River," absolutely. The Colorado River is a lifeline in the American West for people, birds, and nature. To celebrate Colorado River Day, coming up on July 25, we pause to reflect on some of the colorful history of this awe-inspiring river.

Read more

Great Blue Heron. Photo: Scott Suriano/Audubon Photography Awards

Events

A beige, yellow, and black songbird stands on a boulder.

Statewide Wyoming BioBlitz 2023

How many species can you spot in four days? Wyoming Statewide BioBlitz is the time to find out! From July 21-24, nature lovers across Wyoming will be exploring outdoor areas to observe and record as many plant and animal species as possible to help inform conservation science. Join in from anywhere in Wyoming, any time throughout the event! Learn more and register

Western Meadowlark. Photo: Evan Barrientos

Four individuals stand side-by-side tending to plants alongside a river.

Flowing Together: Colorado’s Streams Need Your Help

We’re excited to share upcoming volunteer opportunities to help restore Colorado’s streams. If you are passionate about environmental and wildlife conservation, enjoy spending time in nature, and want to make a tangible difference for the birds, people, and ecosystems that depend on healthy waters, these are perfect opportunities to get involved! Learn more and register

Volunteers tend to riverside plants. Photo: Evan Barrientos

Trivia answer: True! Great Blue Herons have a high percentage of rod-type photoreceptors in their eyes that enhance their night vision, allowing them to hunt both day and night.

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320 E. Vine Dr., Suite 312, Ft. Collins, CO 80524 USA
(970) 416 6931 | www.audubon.org/rockies

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