Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance Inc

WILDLIFE SANCTUARY MANAGEMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY.

WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES: MADISON AUDUBON ACTIVELY PROTECTED, RESTORED, AND MANAGED OVER 2000 ACRES AT GOOSE POND SANCTUARY, FAVILLE GROVE SANCTUARY, AND OTSEGO MARSH. WE CONTINUED PERFORMING HIGH-QUALITY HABITAT CONSERVATION, INCLUDING PRAIRIE PLANTING, INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL, NATIVE SEED COLLECTION (FROM 400+ NATIVE SPECIES), PRESCRIBED BURNS, AND BIRD/WILDLIFE/PLANT SURVEYS. WE CONDUCTED TWO SUMMER INTERN PROGRAMS (11 INTERNS) AND IMPACTFUL VOLUNTEER CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTS LIKE MONARCH BUTTERFLY TAGGING, KESTREL AND SONGBIRD NEST BOX MONITORING, FROG AND TOAD SURVEYS, AND MORE. COUNTLESS VISITORS SAFELY ENJOYED NATURE AT OUR SANCTUARIES IN PERSON AND VIA A WEBCAM AT GOOSE POND, AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WITH INTERNET ACCESS. WE MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST STANDARDS FOR EXCELLENCE AND LAND CONSERVATION PERMANENCE THROUGH NATIONAL LAND TRUST ACCREDITATION, A MARK OF DISTINCTION.

EDUCATION: MADISON AUDUBON NOW HAS TWO FULL-TIME EDUCATORS ON OUR STAFF! WE TAUGHT WEEKLY IN ABOUT 12 CLASSROOMS SPANNING KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SEVENTH GRADE. WE ALSO WORK WITH ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AT LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTERS. OUR PARTNERSHIPS ARE USUALLY WITH ORGANIZATIONS SERVING GROUPS WITH MORE THAN HALF OF THE KIDS BEING PEOPLE OF COLOR OR FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. OUR FUN, HANDS-ON LESSONS GET KIDS RUNNING, EXPLORING, AND THINKING LIKE SCIENTISTS. WE ALSO PROVIDED MANY ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS LIKE BIRDING 101 AND BIRDING BY EAR (FOR PEOPLE OF ALL VISION ABILITIES) IN ADDITION TO A VARIETY OF FIELD TRIPS WELCOMING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS AND ABILITIES.

ADVOCACY: ALONG WITH ITS MEMBERS, MADISON AUDUBON SUPPORTED MEANINGFUL CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND ADVOCATED WIDELY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES THROUGH A BLOG, NEWSLETTER, EMAIL, SOCIAL MEDIA, WEBSITE, AND MORE. WE PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC OUTREACH THROUGH VIRTUAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, WORKING DILIGENTLY TO IMPROVE REPRESENTATION IN CONSERVATION AND ACCESS TO NATURE FOR BIPOC, LGBTQ+, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. WE COORDINATED MULTIPLE VOLUNTEER-LED CITIZEN SCIENCE EFFORTS ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING BALD EAGLE NEST WATCH, NOW ESTABLISHED IN ABOUT HALF OF THE COUNTIES AROUND WISCONSIN. WE ALSO PROMOTED BIRD-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES THROUGH OUR BIRD-WINDOW COLLISION MONITORING PROGRAM, WHICH LED TO THE PASSAGE OF WISCONSIN'S FIRST BIRD-SAFE GLASS ORDINANCE. IN 2022, IT EXPANDED TO EVEN MORE PARTNERS, RESULTING IN BIRD-FRIENDLY IMPROVEMENTS TO DOCUMENTED PROBLEM BUILDINGS, AND PROVIDED NUMEROUS RESOURCES AND WORKSHOPS OF WINDOW SOLUTIONS FOR HOMEOWNERS.