ANNUAL REPORT 2022/2023
2022
2 023
SINCE 1970, THE US HAS LOST N E A R LY A T H I R D O F I T S B I R D S In Alabama, dozens of bird species are extinct, endangered, or in steep decline—these losses diminish our quality of life and threaten our economic sustainability. AL ABAMA AUDUBON is building a community around the celebration and conservation of native birds, and we are pioneering science-based solutions to defend and restore our birdlife. These efforts, and many more, would not be possible without the generous support of our members, donors, and sponsors—we thank you.
T h a n k You
O u r Mission
The mission of ALABAMA AUDUBON is to promote conser vation and a greater knowledge of birds, their habitats, and the natural world.
O u r Work
ALABAMA AUDUBON provides a diverse array of programming across the state, including an abundance of in-the-field birding excursions, topical education courses, prestigious guest speakers, and access to our traveling Gosse Nature Art Collection.
During the year, our successful G osse Nature Walks were reimagined to become Nature@Noon walks that occur monthly, on a Friday afternoon, so community members may take advantage of the lunch hour to have cleansing moments in nature in good company. A social event series was also created, hosted at different locations each month in the Birmingham Metro Area, the Black Belt region, and on the coast. The gatherings offer an opportunity for friends and birders to enjoy one another’s company and introduce new friends to AL ABAMA AUDUBON. We welcomed two new staff members—Dr. R . Scot Duncan, Executive Director, and Allison Abney, Outreach & Communications Director—to an already accomplished and gifted team. In the spring, we formalized our new 5-year strategic plan to foster our current programs while creating a space to build new, innovative programs. A year of accomplishments confined to a brief few pages—we are proud of our work and hope you may observe here the deep impact of your contributions and support.
Yo u r Impact
3,000+ 3,000 + WE SERVED
70 0+ Speaker Series Guests INDIVIDUALS 2 0 Field Trips / 6 0 2 Birders 2 2 Bird Walks / 3 5 1 Birders 4 Audubon@Home Courses 16 0+ Black Belt Birding Festival Birders 2 8 Coastal Events & Presentations 1,6 3 5 Coastal Person-to-Person Interactions BL ACK BELT INITIATIVE Bringing the economic and environmental benefits of bird-based ecotourism to one of the countr y’s most economically challenged rural areas. A core activity of the initiative is the a n n u a l B L ACK B E LT B IRD IN G FE S TI VA L that offers visitors a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of many species of birds in a natural environment. In 2022, more than 160 visitors converged in Greensboro before spreading out across the Black Belt to partake in 15 field trips. Sponsored in party by the City of Greensboro, Alabama Power Foundation, the Daniel Foundation of Alabama, the Mike and Gillian Goodrich Foundation, The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation, and PepsiCola Bottling Co. of Selma
PROJECT SAFE FLIGHT In the spring of 2023 we launched PROJECT SAFE FLIGHT, an initiative to monitor and mitigate window collisions, and to raise awareness about the issue across Alabama. Through a grant from the National Audubon Society and private donations, we purchased Feather-Friendly decals and began retrofitting the windows where collisions are known to occur.
203 Surveys 19 Vo l u nte e r s 93 Buildings Surveyed 117 Birds Found / 114 Deceased Citie s Birmingham / Huntsville Auburn / Tuscaloosa
COA STAL MONITORING & CON SERVATION Nesting shorebirds face a number of challenges. Staff and volunteers monitored sites across the Alabama Gulf Coast and Mobile Bay to determine the numbers of pairs, nests, chicks, and fledglings present, and to discern causes of nest loss to document data trends over time.
NOTEWORTHY An A MERIC AN OYSTERC ATCHER chick was banded in 2019 before it could fly. In May 2022, it was observed with another oystercatcher attempting to nest—the first evidence of an oystercatcher that hatched in Alabama returning to nest.
SEASONAL SURVEYS COA STAL STEWARDSHIP
2 6 3 S t a f f & Vo l u n t e e r H o u r s 135 Surveys / 20 Sites
18 9 Person-to-Person Interactions 1 87 S t af f & Vo l u nte e r H o u r s 28 Days / 7 Sites
HIGHLIGHT Our first year to study the amount of human disturbance to L east Tern colonies
53 Hours of Observations 1 8 8 Total Disturbances 6 3% Disturbances by Humans
The AL ABA M A AUDUBON COASTAL STEWARDSHIP PROGRA M is funded with Deepwater Horizon natural resource damage settlement funds provided by the Alabama Trustee Implementation Group. This project is further supported by the National Audubon Society through funding from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
COA STAL BIRD BANDING Presented in partnership with the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, Mississippi State University, and Fort Morgan State Historic Site the AL ABAMA AUDUBON spring banding station is one of only a very few in the U.S. that are open to the public. With both outreach and datagathering components, the annual event offers our community unparalleled access to researchers and close-up looks at a variety of bird species.
450 Visitors 494 Birds Banded 47 Birds Recaptured 41 Species Represented
NOTEWORTHY
The recapture of a GRE ATC R E S T E D F LYC AT C H E R , b a n d e d by Bob Sargent in 2014, making the bird at least 10 years old. Sponsored by The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation, Sweet Home Alabama, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, Greer’s Grocer y, Sybil & White Smith Foundation, Edwin L . & Elizabeth L . Skelton Foundation, Carolyn Williams Saunders Foundation
GivingBack WA LT E R F. COXE R E S E A R C H AWA R D S
Wa l t e r F. C o x e Re s e a r c h A w a r d s s u p p o r t s c i e n t i f i c r e s e a r c h d i r e c t l y a p p l i c a b l e to the exploration and conser vation of Alabama’s plant and animal life. In 2022 , AL ABAMA AUDUBON awarded a total of $10,000 in grants to 6 students studying biodiversity in the Southeast. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA Jamie Bucholz / Emma Torija
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSIT Y David Pounders
AUBURN UNIVERSITY Samuel Monger / Ethan Rowe
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI Jonathon Osborne
EDUC ATION MINIGR ANT AWARDS
Kermit Johnson Elementary School was awarded funds for the maintainence of bird feeders, the growth of its pollinator garden, the implementation of rainwater collection practices, and the refurbishment and replenishment of garden beds. The garden area serves as an outdoor classroom for students. The Troy Universit y A rboretum was awarded funds to improve its nature preser ve, sustaining its Magnolia L oop Trail, Meadow L oop Trail, and an outdoor classroom with the purchase of native plants.
EQUIT Y, DIVERSIT Y, & INCLUSION
Through more than sevent y-f ive year s of conser vation work in one of our nation’s most ecologically rich states, AL ABAM A AUDUBON has seen f irsthand how diversity strengthens natural communities. This same principle applies to human communities, which is why our organization is committed to providing equitable and inclusive opportunities for all Alabamians to learn about and enjoy wild birds, their habitats, and the natural world. One of the best ways to support that belief is by valuing and actively seeking to strengthen diversity among our staff, o ur b o a rd , a n d o ur m e m b e r s hip . To t h at e n d , A l a b a m a A u d ub o n we l co m e s eve r yo n e to p a r ticip ate in our work, and strives to make our programs, classes, and events welcome, inclusive, and accessible to all.
SupportedBy
Diane and Tram S essions Foundation Alabama Power Foundation The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation The C. Eugene Ireland Foundation Protective Life Foundation Shoals Chapter, National Audubon Society Alabama Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau Red Mountain Garden Club Edwin L . and Elizabeth L . Skelton Foundation The Community Foundation of South Alabama Jones Family Fund GRE AT BLUE HERON Dana Pigford
REDDISH EGRET
Cliff & Cindy Martin Hans Paul & Lori Oswald
GRE AT EGRE T
Ed Senter & Jessica Germany Heather & Winston McCalley Cindy Armour
SNOWY EGRET
Rick Horsley, Charles Ball , S andra A llinson , A nn Forster, A ngie Co Jo Hofmann & Jeanne Marrazzo, Lois Woodward & Henr y Hughes Steven N. Austad & Jveronika Kiklevich, Linda Neighbors J u n e F l e t c h e r, C a m e r o n & S c o t t Vo w e l l , B i l l & P a u l a B a r n h i l l
STAFF
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
R. SCOT DUNCAN Executive Director
MELANIE SIEBOLD President
ALLISON ABNEY Outreach & Communications Director
MAGGIE AMSLER President Elect
LIANNE KOCZUR Science & Conservation Director
LOIS WOODWARD Secretary
CHRIS OBERHOLSTER Development Director
LORI OSWALD Treasurer
ALLIEMARIE HUMPHRIES Administrative Coordinator
GREG HARBER Vice President, Conservation
CORTNE Y WE ATHERBY Coastal Outreach Manager
R A SHIDAH FARID Vice President, Education
OLIVIA MORPETH Coastal Biologist
LINDA NEIGHBORS Vice President , Field Trips
RUBY ROLLAND Coastal Biologist
JONAH COHEN Vice President, Programs
K ATHRY N G R AY Seasonal Coastal Bird Steward
KEN MARION Vice President, Science
MAIN BL ACK BELT COASTAL
BARRY FLEMING M AT T HUNTER TIMOTHY JOE HE ATHER MCCALLE Y JACQ UE LINE G R AY MILLE R JOE WAT TS
AL AUDUBON.ORG
P. O . B o x 1 3 0 8 1 9 Birmingham, Alabama 35213
1014 Whelan Street G re ensb oro, AL 3674 4
28740 US Highway 98 , S uite 9 Daphne, AL 36526 GREAT BLUE HERON Detail / Chris A . Ruznak GREAT BLUE HERON Detail / Gar y Crandall GREAT BLUE HERON / Bonnie Block REDDISH EGRET / Lorraine Minns
REDDISH EGRET / William Pully GREAT EGRET Detail / Tim Timmis SNOW Y EGRET / Walter Golder