NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY MAY 2017 AUDUBON IN THE MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY THE MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY PAGE 1 MAY 2017 MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY: WORKING FOR BIRDS & PEOPLE

rom the backcountry of grounds in Canada and the northern Minnesota to the 5 northern United States to their Audubon offices F sands of the Gulf Coast, wintering grounds along the the Mississippi Flyway is home Gulf of Mexico and throughout to a diversity of communities, 118 Central & South America and chapters cultures, and, of course, birds. the Caribbean. From the tiny Through our network of nearly $11.6M+ Ruby-throated Hummingbird 120 chapters, 7 nature centers, in budget revenue to the dozens of warbler species 4 offices and the Paul J. Rain- and the lumbering White Peli- ey Sanctuary, Audubon works 8 can, forty percent of migratory across the flyway’s landscapes Audubon centers & birds in North America spend to protect birds and the places sanctuaries part of their lives in the Mis- they need to thrive. The results— sissippi Flyway. This varied set clean air, clean water, and vibrant 94,000 of species traverses a landscape ecosystems—support people and members dominated by agriculture and local economies, too. industry, using the water cours- More than 325 bird species 717 ing through our region to guide Cover: Bobolinks. Photo: Ruhikanta Meetei/Audubon Photography make the round trip each year Important Bird their journeys. Awards. Top: American White Pelicans. Photo: Constance Mier/ throughout the Mississippi Areas covering Audubon Photography Awards. Above: Prothonotary Warbler. Gary 51 million+ acres Flyway, from their breeding Robinette/Audubon Photography Awards THE MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY PAGE 2 MAY 2017 THE GREAT LAKES

olding 20 percent of the The Great Lakes Drainage Basin world’s and 84 percent H of North America’s fresh surface water within their nearly 11,000 miles of shoreline, the Canada Great Lakes are an iconic and globally significant ecosystem. The coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes provide critical nesting habitat for birds and filter pollut- ants from waters draining into the Great Lakes, a system which provides drinking water to the 40+ million people who live in the region. Audubon is implementing a cohesive strategy across the Great Lakes Basin to ensure the waters and lands of this iconic American ecosystem remain healthy for the communities of people and birds that rely on United States it for their survival. Audubon’s Great Lakes Initiative mobilizes our full suite of resources to Audubon drive a science-based con- Great Lakes servation approach for active protection and restoration of wetland and riparian systems. 5 The conservation strategies will states reduce the risk of flooding in our communities and decrease nutri- 58 ent pollution, sedimentation, and chapters urban runoff into the waters of the Great Lakes, improving water $1.4M+ in budget revenue quality, health of our birds, and recreation for all of us. 2 Audubon centers & Growing Audubon’s Influence sanctuaries in the Great Lakes Audubon Great Lakes creates 61,000 practical conservation solutions members in five states: Illinois, Indiana, region: landscape-level con- Audubon’s national priorities. For Top: Great Lakes Michigan, Ohio, and Wiscon- 392 servation decisions driven by project sustainability, we couple Drainage Basin. Courtesy Environ- sin. This expansive geography Important science, focused on birds, and our conservation actions with includes 392 Important Bird Bird Areas delivered in partnership with community engagement and ment Canada. covering 13.2 Above: Black Terns Areas covering 13.8 million million+ acres our robust network of chapters education, building a network acres and over 61,000 members and members. of advocates in the places we in Lake St Clair. in 58 chapters. The Great Lakes As a newly expanded pro- take action and creating durable Photo: Mike Fernan- has a very active conservation gram, we have designed our public will for larger conservation dez/Audubon community, and we have worked regional work and management objectives across the landscape. with partners and chapters to structure to develop programs define Audubon’s niche in the that are fully integrated with THE MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY PAGE 3 MAY 2017 TAKING CONSERVATION TO SCALE

Climate: With 11 of Audubon’s 60 priority geographies, Audu- bon Great Lakes aims to inspire over 80,000 people to participate in climate actions in the next two years. Using programs like Plants for Birds, we connect people to positive actions that they can take to improve habitat for birds in a changing climate while also helping to improve water quality.

Grasslands: Large-scale con- version of prairies to agriculture has led grasslands to be among the most threatened ecosystems in North America. Our 2015 analysis shows that the existing grasslands in the Chicago met- ropolitan region provide $900M in ecosystem services annually, with 73% of that in flood control. Working with landowners, stewards, and bird monitors, Audubon Great Lakes is coordi- nating and informing large-scale has collaborated with dozens of that nearly 70% of interns are Audubon Great Lakes is building a network of restoration across 50,000 acres, community organizations and hired annually by conservation over 400 restoration volunteers to protect the creating a shared monitoring has reached over 3,200 people, agencies and firms. future for grassland birds. program, and building a network with nearly 40% of people par- Photo: Camilla Cerea/Audubon of over 400 restoration volun- ticipating in multiple events. The Mississippi River teers to protect the future for Draining two-thirds of the states nutrient loading. grassland birds like the Bobolink Building a Next Generation of in the U.S. as well as several Ca- With our assets across the and Henslow’s Sparrow. Conservation Leaders: Each nadian provinces, the Mississippi Mississippi Flyway, Audubon can year, Audubon Great Lakes River and its tributaries link the look at the system as a whole and Engaging Communities: trains between 12 to 20 res- lives of millions of birds across work towards systemic change Created in 2013, Wild Indigo toration interns. These young the flyway. In a region dominat- that will improve the health of Nature Explorations introduces adults play a critical role in our ed by agriculture, forestry, and the river so that it continues to residents of Chicago’s South restoration of grasslands and industry, the waterways of this provide habitat for birds. For ex- Side and south suburbs to the wetlands. Through their time system not only guide birds’ mi- ample, by advocating for sound biodiversity of the Calumet at Audubon Great Lakes, they gration, but also provide narrow water management in the Upper Region, engages them in its care, receive hands-on mentorship, swaths of habitat for stopover and Mississippi River, we can ensure and builds ownership for sus- learn restoration techniques, and link the Gulf of Mexico to the that needed sediments are reach- tainable stewardship of specific receive professional certifica- Great Lakes. In the upper Mis- ing the Delta to rebuild marsh preserves. Through a framework tion in areas such as prescribed sissippi River Basin, the system habitat that also filters excess of culturally resonant activities fire management and treating faces an overloading of nutrients nutrients from the water before about local natural areas, Wild invasive species with herbicide. from industrial-scale agriculture they reach the Gulf of Mexico. Indigo facilitates local residents Audubon Great Lakes is working and urban run-off and highly While these activities certainly in writing a new chapter in the to expand the diversity of the altered hydrology. Those factors help the birds of the Mississippi Calumet region’s natural history: program participants; attendees significantly impact the lower half Flyway, they also reduce flooding one of empowerment and own- in the last 3 years identified as of the Mississippi River system risks for communities through- ership through knowledge, un- 86% white, 8% Latino, 4% black, and its delta, which is facing the out the river basin and protect derstanding, and conservation. and 2% Asian. The program’s threat of land loss from reduced economic activities, such as the Through Wild Indigo, Audubon success can be seen in the fact sedimentation and hypoxia from Gulf Coast fishing industry. THE MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY PAGE 4 MAY 2017 GULF OF MEXICO

he coastal beaches and Our conser- the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon nities, and the economic liveli- Erik Johnson, marshes along the Gulf of vation teams oil spill, loss of coastal marsh hab- hood of the entire region. Driven Director of Bird T Mexico offer rest and nour- itat due to reduced sediment flow by cutting-edge science, our Conservation for ishment for species like the Pro- are working from the Mississippi River, fewer conservation teams are working Audubon Louisiana, thonotary Warbler that have trav- food sources because of degraded to restore the places that are most monitoring birds on eled the great expanse of the Gulf to restore water quality from nutrient pol- important to birds in the Gulf. The Fourchon Beach, of Mexico during their spring the places lution, and rising sea levels from Paul J. Rainey Sanctuary is our liv- part of the Camina- migration. The region provides climate change. ing laboratory, where we can test da Headland Beach critical breeding habitat for iconic that are most Audubon is working to ensure more efficient and cost-effective Renourishment birds like the American Oyster- important to that the billions of dollars flowing methods of rebuilding marsh habi- project. Photo: catcher and wintering habitat for into the Gulf to restore coastal tat. And our network of thousands Camilla Cerea/ numerous species of shorebirds. birds in the habitats will support and protect of volunteers is taking action to Audubon These species face a complex web Gulf. the diverse Gulf ecologies, the protect nesting birds across the of threats: continued impact from unique cultures of local commu- region’s beaches. THE MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY PAGE 5 MAY 2017 ACTIVATING THE NETWORK THROUGH NATIVE PLANTS

hroughout the Mississippi Flyway, Audubon offices and T centers are taking innovative approaches to take action on climate change and create more habitat for birds with native plants.

Solar farms do double-duty as bird habitat Working with Minnesota’s leading renewable energy nonprofit, Fresh Energy, Audubon Minnesota helped to pass a state bill that calls for the use of native plants on land surrounding solar panels. The bill ensures that solar farms will be planted with local grasses, flowers, and plants, which will support birds like the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, as well as bees and other pollinators. It will also reduce water pollution by decreasing storm water runoff. Several solar companies have already pledged to plant native plants on sites in Minnesota. In 2016, 4,500 acres of solar were planned for siting on former farmland—the equivalent of more than two million backyard In 2016, 4,500 Flocking together for birds of Showing off native plants in Ruby-throated native plant gardens. the Big Easy Chicago Hummingbird. acres of solar Audubon Louisiana is providing The 170 year old Chicago Flower Photo: David Native grasslands: good for were planned habitat for birds and life-enriching and Garden Show attracts 40,000 Shipper/Audubon birds, good for business opportunities for New Orleans visitors each year, but most of the Photography Once covering 400,000 acres of for siting on youth at the same time. Working plants showcased wouldn’t attract Awards Arkansas’s Grand Prairie, native former farm- with partners, we ran a native very many birds. So this year grasslands are being replaced by planting project in the 1,300-acre volunteers from Audubon Great cropland—and birds that rely on land—the City Park last month. Volunteers Lakes introduced the show’s audi- grassland habitat are disappearing. equivalent removed invasive plants and ence to the beauty of native plants So Audubon Arkansas is working replaced them with bird-friend- by talking to them about changes with farmers and landowners of more than ly native plants throughout the that they can make in their home to bring it back. Through our two million City Park Birding Corridor to gardens for the benefit of birds. NATIVE Seed Project, we have re- benefit birds that live in and The partnership with the show introduced native grasses on crop- backyard migrate through the park, from was such a success that next year land unusable for agriculture. The native plant Ruby-throated Hummingbirds Audubon Great Lakes will host farmers harvest some of the seeds and American Goldfinches to its own demonstration garden on and sell them on the open market; gardens. Great Blue Herons and Red-tailed site. Staffed by an army of native Audubon harvests some, enabling Hawks. The City Park Birding plant ambassadors, we aim to us to build a native seedbank for Corridor is a network of healthy have at least 5,000 people in 5 the Grand Prairie ecoregion. The habitat throughout the park; we days pledge to plant native species grasslands springing up throughout work with New Orleans City that support Chicago’s birds. the region benefit declining species Park, Grow Dat Youth Farm, and like the Northern Bobwhite and New Orleans Town Gardeners to Eastern Meadowlark. manage and enhance it.