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Tucson Audubon Society
March 28, 2024
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Welcome, , to Tucson Audubon's weekly update.

This week I would ask you to do just two things. First watch the online movie Disruption, details below, and then join in Tucson's Climate March on Sunday. Watching earth rise has transformed many astronauts over the years: you can experience it in the opening minutes of this movie.

Later today we are holding an urban bird habitat summit at Himmel Park library: details below.

Meanwhile Kendall is asking for engineering help for some construction projects at our Mason Center, including for building a low deck by our classroom, and reconstructing a shade ramada out on the trail. An ability to design and help supervisor volunteers in construction projects is what we seek.

We have a new staff opening for a Membership and Development Manager, details below. While some of our free birding trips for September are now full, some have openings, and there are others lined up for October. Sign up now in order to not be disappointed.

Now is the best time to buy your 2015 nature calendars while the selection is still at its best. See below for a message from Sarah Whelan in our nature stores.

And finally thank you for helping us reach our Summer Appeal target of $25,000. We just made it with 200 donors. Our thanks to each and every one of you. You are very special to the staff and board of Tucson Audubon.

Thank you for sharing your love of birds, birding, and the places they live through Tucson Audubon.

 



Disruption: Educate Your Friends About Climate Change


Disruption
is a short film about how we can change the world—before the fossil fuel industry irreversibly changes the climate. It looks at how social movements of the past mobilized at decisive moments to shift the course of history, and applies those lessons to the decisive fight of this generation.

It features author and filmmaker Naomi Klein, CNN host and movement leader Van Jones, MSNBC's Chris Hayes, plus many more, including some of the key scientific voices sounding the alarm.

Here’s the most exciting part of this story: it’s not finished yet. The next act will be written in the streets on September 21st, when the People's Climate March takes over Tucson, New York (and cities across the globe).

This is the history we'll tell the next generation—about the end of fossil fuels, about how the world was in crisis, about how we started to turn it around together. Forward your friends the link to watch the film.



Are You Passionate For Nature? Are You a Development Professional?

Are you ready for the challenge of developing supporters for the birds of southeast Arizona? Tucson Audubon seeks a passionate fund raiser who loves people and birds. You will have a passion for birds, the places they live, for birding, and an awareness of the conservation threats to our natural world. You will also have demonstrated success in nurturing a development program so that you can grow Tucson Audubon’s support base. We need your enthusiasm and support to complete our development plan, and craft a new membership plan. You will be great with people, from managing your own staff, reporting to the board of directors, and listening for what is important for our donors and supporters.  If you can bring benefits to Tucson Audubon, we’d like to hear from you.

Go here for more details, including how to apply.



Sneak Peak At the New Vermilion Flycatcher Cover At Birds & Beer

Share a drink with your bird buddies!

This and every third Thursday, Tucson Audubon members and friends are invited to a casual social at Sky Bar (536 N 4th Ave) at 5pm.

Enjoy free solar-powered pizza from Brooklyn Pizza and meet your newest birding buddy.

Members are encouraged to bring your bird photos on a flash drive or share your Flickr webpage. This Thursday, we'll get a sneak peak at the Vermilion Flycatcher October–December cover photo and the runners-up...it'll be a hoot!

Image by Doris Evans



New Fall Educational Experiences

Feeling the urge to plant, beautify you yard and create habitat for birds?

Have you taken Moving To Mastery? This course is the perfect follow-up.

Spend two days in Florida Canyon and take birding beyond species ID to deepening your connection with nature.

Find details and register online by clicking on the course name. For questions, contact Bete Jones.

 Image by Glenn Butler



News From the Paton Center for Hummingbirds

Join us Oct. 4 for our first of Seven Saturdays in Patagonia

  • 7:30: Corral Canyon Hike—FULL!
  • 11:00 Relaxed Lecture: "The Science of Nest Boxes" by Jonathan Horst—Registration required, sign up here!
  • 12:00 Picnic and Azure Bluebird Nest Box Building: Support the local economy by grabbing lunch in town and eating at the Paton Center. Help build boxes for the "Win-Win for Azure Bluebirds and Arizona Vineyards" conservation project. Bluebird image by Lois Manowitz.
Volunteer Carpenters and Handy-persons Needed!

Donate to our Paton Center Restoration and Renovation Projects. Now in full swing!
Give to the Virtual Sugar Fund here.



Urban Bird Habitat Summit—You Are Invited

TODAY: The Tucson Bird Count  is pleased to announce that we are moving to an exciting new phase that focuses on encouraging Tucson residents to provide native birds with habitat in their yards and neighborhoods. We are currently in the process of developing the materials that will engage members of the general public to participate in this endeavor as well as materials that give them the information they need to go about creating urban bird habitat. Costa's Hummingbird image by Jim Burns.


We could really use your help getting Tucson specific wildlife gardening information and refining drafts of the materials so far. If you are interested in attending this free meeting (refreshments provided) please let Jennie (jmacfarland@tucsonaudubon.org) know you are planning on coming.

If you know of someone who would be interested in receiving this invitation, please do forward it on. You do not need to RSVP for this event but it is appreciated if you do let us know you are planning on coming.



Now Is the Time To Plan

Before we know it the holidays will be upon us, our to-do lists will continue to grow and keeping track of all our engagements and all the little details will be a task all of it's own. Here at the Tucson Audubon Nature Shop we've got what you need to get yourself organized now. Hot off the presses we have the 2015 Calendar you've been looking for. With fantastic photos of birds and nature these calendars will not only help you stay on top of things this holiday season but throughout the year, all while offering a serene and beautiful view.

At $13.99 you can't go wrong with supporting Tucson Audubon Society and your sanity.

 

65 Years of Swarovski Sale



Tucson Audubon's Nature Shops are the best place in our region to try and buy binoculars. Check out our prices and you can see why. Come in and see us for the top brands.

 Need directions to our Nature Shops? Find all the info here.



Conservation News

Did you know that September is Voter Registration Month?
Why? In 2008, 6 million Americans didn't vote because they missed a registration deadline or didn't know how to register. Let's make sure that they aren't  left out this year!
National Voter Registration Day is September 23, when volunteers, celebrities, and organizations from all over the country will "hit the streets" for National Voter Registration Day. This single day of coordinated field, technology and media efforts will create pervasive awareness of voter registration opportunities--allowing us to reach tens of thousands of voters who we could not reach otherwise. Learn more at http://www.nationalvoterregistrationday.org/

National Public Lands Day Offers Free Entrance & Volunteer Projects on September 27
The 21st annual National Public Lands Day is coming up soon on Saturday, September 27th.  The even’ts theme is “Helping Hands for America’s Lands”. What better way to celebrate our precious public lands then getting outside to enjoy them with family and friends? Entrance fees are waived to the public on September 27 for all lands managed by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Forest Service. Or better yet, if you want to roll-up your sleeves to be among the hands helping, there are plenty of projects organized in Arizona that need your help.

California Grants Approval of Controversial Solar Power Tower in Pacific Flyway
The state of California has granted initial approval of Phase I of BrightSource Energy’s Palen Solar Electric Generating System, a proposed 500-megawatt solar power tower located near Joshua Tree National Park and in the middle of the Pacific Flyway. The approval, which is still subject to a 30-day comment period, has renewed debate as to whether the project's production of clean energy is worth the potential negative impacts to migrating birds.

E&E News reports, “. . . the project has raised concerns that birds flying between the heliostat mirrors and the power tower could be burned, leading to significant injury or death -- a phenomenon referred to as "solar flux." The problem has been observed at the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, also developed by BrightSource Energy.” The California Energy Commission acknowledges Palen "would very likely result in significant and unmitigable impacts to biological resources, mainly due to the Solar Power Tower Technology's introduction of solar flux danger to avian species."

Proposed Diversions of the Gila River Raise Concerns Over Flawed Science
The High Country News reports that The Interstream Commission “must decide whether it will pursue a diversion along the Gila River that would provide more water for southwest New Mexico, or whether to serve regional water needs through non-diversion alternatives, such as conservation and watershed restoration . . . environmental groups like the Nature Conservancy and the Gila Conservation Coalition say the commission is silently pushing for a diversion — and selling flawed science to the public in an effort to win support for that agenda. These critics say the commission is unlikely to choose options that forgo grabbing more water for the state, no matter the cost. At stake are a $46 million federal subsidy reserved for a diversion project, and the rare chance to bolster shrinking water supplies for drought-prone New Mexico, before thirsty Arizona takes it.” The commission will meet twice more before making its final decision in November.



Dates For Your Calendar


4th Annual Arizona Insect Festival—University of Arizona
THIS SUNDAY

Insects play unique and diverse roles in maintaining healthy ecosystems, enhancing crop productivity, pollinating native plants, spreading disease, and impacting our urban environments. The 4th annual Arizona Insect Festival will take place on Sunday, September 21, from 11 am to 4pm at the University of Arizona. The festival highlights insect-related research conducted by UA scientists from a wide range of academic departments. More than 20 booths in the Student Union Grand Ballroom will offer theme-based, interactive activities and exhibits highlighting the importance of insects in our lives.

Learn more at www.arizonainsectfestival.com

Celebrating the Sonoran Desert: Phenology Week
The USA National Phenology Network's Tucson Phenology Trail, Pima County Natural Resources Parks and Recreation, and the Tucson Audubon Society are sponsoring family-friendly science events during the week of September 27–October 4, 2014. Together, with 11 other local organizations, we are hosting a series of lectures, youth activities, and a celebration of phenology. What’s phenology? It is the study of the timing of life cycle events in plants and animals and their relationship to the environment. Think bird migration; plants in bloom; butterflies emerging from their cocoons; and showy wildflower displays in the desert after the winter and summer rains. 
Visit our event website www.usanpn.org/nn/phenoweek2014 for information about the activities that will be held throughout week.

Bird Experts & Bird Lovers Flock To Miami (Arizona) Conference
Sign-up soon for the Arizona Field Ornithologists (AZFO) gathering planned Oct. 3–5 if you've wanted to hone your skills identifying backyard birds by their field marks, their birdcalls or behavior. Registration is a bargain at $10 (no charge for AZFO members), which includes the opportunity to join Friday or Sunday field trips guided by Arizona's "A-List" birders (such as Troy Corman, AZGF and ASU Professor Dave Pearson) and presentations of research about bird population status and field research throughout the state. Go online for complete details and registration.

Wednesdays Sweetwater Wetlands Bird Walk. Join Mike S. for an easy walk through the wetlands to see waterfowl, regular and visiting warblers, and several exciting species hiding in the reeds. Birders of all experience levels welcome! Contact leader for start time and to sign up.

Every Thursday! Wake Up With the Birds at Agua Caliente Park. Explore the ponds and Molino Basin occasionally. FREE. Call 615-7855 for meeting time or see tucsonaudubon.org/fieldtrips.html.

February 10, 2015 Tucson Audubon's Seventh Annual Gala. An Evening for the Birds: Bringing Nature Home. Featuring Brad Lancaster. Oasis Tucson:Transforming Mirage to Reality. Sponsorship details from Kara Kaczmarzyk


Thank you, , for being a part of Tucson Audubon and helping to protect birds, other wildlife, and the places they live in southeast Arizona for future generations. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Paul Green
Executive Director | Tucson Audubon

 

Connecting people with birds & the places they live

Plain-capped Starthroat banner by Bryan Holliday

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