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S e p t e m b e r – D e c e m b e r 2010 A N e w s l e t t e r f o r t h e M e M b e r s o f M A s s A u d u b o N Inside This Issue 2 A Vision for the Future 4 New Land Opportunities 6 Creating Conservation Communities 8 Bird Conservation in Action 9 Stay Connected 13 Young Environmental Leaders Inside Every Issue 10 ready, set, Go Outside! Seeds 11 Exploring the Nature of Massachusetts: Fruits 14 Volunteer Spotlight: Dick and Sally Avery 15 The Natural Inquirer: New Horizons Woolly Bears see page 2 Connections online · Regional news · Exclusive online content www.massaudubon.org/connections A Vision for the Future A Newsletter for the MeMbers of MAss AuduboN Volume 8, Number 3 Editorial Team: Hilary Koeller, Jan Kruse, Susannah Lund, Ann Prince, and Hillary G. Truslow We invite your comments, photographs, and suggestions. Please send correspondence to: Mass Audubon Connections, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773, tel: 781-259-9500, or e-mail: [email protected]. For information about becoming a member, or for questions regarding your membership, contact: Member Services, Mass Audubon, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 tel: 781-259-9500 or 800-AUDUBON, or e-mail: [email protected]. Connections is published three times each year in January, May, and September. Please recycle this newsletter by giving it to a friend by Laura Johnson, President or t donating i to a school, library, or business. Mass Audubon works to protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and wildlife. Together hen I first came to Mass Audubon nearly 12 years ago, there were huge withe mor than 100,000 members, we care for 34,000 acres of conservation land, provide Wpiles of rubble where the Boston Nature Center (pictured) now stands and educational programs for 225,000 children and adults annually, and advocate for sound envi- the site of the Joppa Flats Education Center was an empty parking lot. We had ronmental policies at local, state, and federal not begun our efforts to “green” Mass Audubon infrastructure, and we had no levels. Mass Audubon’s mission and actions have expanded since our beginning in 1896 when our photovoltaic (solar) installations on any of our facilities. Now, by year’s end, we founders set out to stop the slaughter of birds for use on women’s fashions. Today we are the will have 21 sites with solar energy systems, and we built a LEED-certified platinum largest conservation organization in New England. nature center—the highest level of green building—at Wellfleet Bay in 2008. Our statewide network of wildlife sanctuaries, in 90 Massachusetts communities, welcomes Over the last decade, our summer camps have also grown—the number of visitors of all ages and serves as the base for our o work. T support these important efforts, children attending camps has doubled. Now, nearly all of our nature centers call 800-AUDUBON (283-8266) or are ADA accessible, and in October we will open our tenth all-persons’ trail at visit www.massaudubon.org. our newest sanctuary in Attleboro (see page 5). The Coastal Waterbird Program Photography: is also more effective as a result of an expanded volunteer base and additional Cover Diamondback terrapin hatchlings— Courtesy of TurtleJournal.com© community outreach and education programs, and the acres of ecologically p. 2 Boston Nature Center grand opening— important land we’ve protected has increased substantially to 34,000 acres. Mass Audubon© p. 3 Children in garden—Shawn P. Carey©; bird- Of utmost importance: our sound science and advocacy expertise is respected watchers & solar panels—Richard Johnson© internationally, not only for our steadfast innovative work to engage citizens and p. 4 Salt marsh—Robert Buchsbaum; map of Great Marsh & McHugh property—Jeff Collins legislators to protect threatened turtles, birds, and other wildlife, but also for & Dinah Rowbotham addressing more recent threats, including encroaching invasive species and how p. 6 Canoeing on Housatonic River—Gayle Tardif- Raser clean energy technologies may affect wildlife. p. 7 Broadmoor illustration—Robert Comazzi© We remain committed—as we have been for more than 114 years—to protecting p. 8 Bluebirds—George Mclean; banding osprey important wildlife and habitat. The core of our success is the dedicated members, on the Westport River—David Cole©; IBA sign—Kristin Foresto volunteers, staff, board and council members, and partners who are Mass Audubon. p. 9 Family installing bird nesting box—Henrietta Yelle Ultimately, Mass Audubon is part of, and a builder of, community, as demonstrated p. 12 Cuttyhunk—Ian Ives; children at day camp— Mia Kheyfetz through our recent Connecting People and Nature Campaign. p.A 13 SC youth at Pleasant Valley—Janice Cullen p. 14 Sally & Dick Avery—Ann Prince Laying the Foundation p. 15 Birders in Belize—David Larson In the summer of 2005, Mass Audubon launched the $55 million campaign, Printedn o 50% recycled paper with soy-based ink. focusing on: Building Conservation Communities, Protecting Land and Habitat, By using Rolland Opaque 50% post-consumer Preserving a Common Wealth of Birds, and establishing a Fund for Nature. As is paper, Mass Audubon annually saves 128 trees, 72,264 true of most things at Mass Audubon, our success is the result of superb teamwork gallonsf o water, and avoids 18,750 pounds of air emissions, including CO2. throughout the organization as well as with the Mass Audubon Board, the Campaign © Mass Audubon 2010 Steering Committee, and Campaign Cochairs Franz Colloredo-Mansfeld and Anne Brooke—and most of all our generous donors. Looking back over what has been 2 a spectacularly successful campaign, will mobilize and focus our science the picture is bright. We have: and land protection resources and, • Forged new conservation bonds together with our members and partners, throughout the Commonwealth, with accelerate our work to protect our additions to programs including in state’s diminishing natural heritage. underserved urban communities; Responding to Climate Change. Mass • Preserved more than 5,000 acres of Audubon recognizes that the disruptive biologically significant and aesthetically effects of rapid climate warming are a magnificent land; major threat to people and wildlife in the Commonwealth and on the planet. • Enhanced the visitor experience Current scientifically based expectations throughout our sanctuary system for the coming changes in the earth’s by improving facilities as well as climate patterns predict severe challenges “greening” them; for our economy, security, and health. • Created one of the most aggressive, Therefore: Through energy conservation, multifaceted bird conservation public outreach, policy initiatives, and programs in our history; scientific research, Mass Audubon will erosion of the bond between people • Supported the passage of important be a leader in helping people learn to and nature. Increasingly, people are legislation, including the first-in-the- live sustainably and respond to the disconnected from the natural world nation Ocean Management Act; threats posed by the changing climate. that sustains them. This is especially Our goals are ambitious and urgent. • Continued comprehensive inventories true for our children. We must heal this We know we will need to attract ever of plant and animal species at our breach not only because nature enriches more volunteers, members, and financial sanctuaries; and our lives aesthetically and spiritually, resources to achieve them. And, to • Developed a meaningful, yet practical but because our mental, emotional, and protect the nature of Massachusetts, we response to climate change. physical health depend on it. Therefore: need to continue widening our circle to Using our remarkable statewide network The accomplishments of the campaign be even more welcoming to all people. of wildlife sanctuaries and nature centers, have advanced our conservation Please read the next six pages for more we will redouble our efforts to engage and mission significantly (read about other details of some of our (and that includes motivate people to learn about and enjoy successes at www.massaudubon.org/ you!) accomplishments of the recently the natural world and to act to preserve it. connecting). Yet, there’s more to do. completed campaign and of specific goals Protecting and Stewarding we’ve set for the next five years. May it Building a Flourishing Future Massachusetts Habitats. Massachusetts inspire you to roll up your sleeves and It is perhaps even more inspiring is losing unprotected open space at help Mass Audubon continue to lead by to realize that the experience of the last an alarming rate. Critical wildlife example as one of the top conservation five years has created a foundation for habitat such as salt marshes, coastal organizations in the United States. In still greater achievement and crystallized heathlands, and vernal pools continue short, may it inspire you to take action! a vision that will form the basis of our to be destroyed and fragmented as a conservation strategy over the next result of poorly planned development. five years. Protecting and managing habitat is the Read the Strategic Plan at Connecting People and Nature. One most effective strategy for reversing www.massaudubon.org/strategicplan of the greatest challenges we face is the the loss of biodiversity. Therefore: We 3 Protecting Land and Habitat The essential element in Mass Audubon’s land conservation vision is people. We understand and celebrate the deep connections between people and special properties—linking each of us to nature and to past, present, and future generations. Mass Audubon’s efforts to preserve and care for land across the Commonwealth through the Connecting People and Nature Campaign was made possible through the generosity of our members, donors, and landowners. What We Did network is completed, the property Why It Matters will open to the public later this year Since 2005, we have made great Strategic conservation of land, and be managed by Mass Audubon.