Latest News

St. Louis International Film Festival Features Environmental Works

• At the Edge of the World (Whaling)
• Burning the Future (Coal)
• Chasing Birds (Bird Watching)
• Fuel (Alternative energy)
• Homegrown (Organic Urban Farming)

Click here for more info

 

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Audubon on the Mississippi
An Education Center for the Great Rivers Confluence

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Creve Coeur Community Center

Click here to view new page

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Forest Park Forever
Beginner Bird Walk
First Saturday of every month

> 8:30-10:30 am
Bird Walk
Meet at 8:15 am
November 1st, December 6th
in front of the Education/Visitor's Center

St Louis Audubon Society Board Members, Lynne Breakstone and Jim Wilson, will continue to lead beginning bird walks on the first Saturday of every month. Chris Ferree, Nature Reserve Technician at Forest Park Forever, also has been added to the list of leaders.
Walks will be outdoors; we will meet in front of the Education and Visitor Center (5595 Grand Dr.)

Kindly RSVP to Anne Grossman at (314) 367-7275, x 14
or email to agrossmann@forestparkforever.org

All ages and birding levels welcome!

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Volunteer Hosts Needed
at Two Rivers Refuge

Audubon members and friends might enjoy hosting at the refuge headquarters - visitors' center, located near Brussels, in Calhoun County, Il. This contribution helps the public learn more about their local wildlife refuge and how to enjoy it. Volunteer hosts spend a few hours there on a Saturday or a Sunday. They greet visitors who come by for information or the chance to look around. There are hiking trials, a wildlife observation blind, and restored prairie units close by the center. The location gives a good view of Swan Lake, plus close looks at ponds with waterfowl. Massive flocks of snow geese and white pelicans are present in season, along with Bald Eagles.

Managers of the Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge explain that the pool of volunteers who keep the center open on weekends needs expanding. Most visitors prefer to come during fall and winter months. Since many come from the St Louis area, it would help to get more St Louis area volunteers.

Host volunteers must sign up for specific dates and are provided a key, used to open the center. They may also have a prior orientation meeting. One or two volunteers can serve at one time, which might be morning or afternoon hours. The center closes by 4 p.m. Vistiors sign the guest register and may take free literature, such as maps and bird checklists. To sign up or ask for information ( speak to Curt McMurl, Assistant Manager), call the Refuge headquarters on weekedays at 618.883.2524.

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St Louis Audubon Society
Strategic Plan
2008 - 2010

Through its history, the St Louis Audubon Society's principle goal has been to educate about the wonders of the natural world. Every year, our Education Committee reaches out to the community, especially young people. We annually make presentations to 2,000 schoolchildren and 800 adults. The Commitee engages its audiences with a diversity of subjects, including bird identification and migration, plus special topics such as owls, bats and avian adaptations.

The St Louis Audubon Society , in partnership with federal and state environmental agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), have participated in a variety of other educational programs. Including:

• Eagle Days
• International Migratory Bird Week
• The Back Yard Birding Festival, sponsored by the Missouri Botanical Garden
• The Wings of Spring Confluence Birding Festival at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Moreover, to support education, the Society sponsors a substantial scholarship program for graduate students studying ecology and those undertaking science teacher training.

In addition to the wonderful work of the Education Commitee, the Society offers monthly program meetings covering topics of interest in natural history and conservation. These meetings are always free and open to the public.

The St Louis Audubon Society has an active conservation program, supporting bird and wildlife surveys under the sponsorshp of the Missouri Department of Conservation and other governmental agencies. The Conservation Committee has submitted important comments and position letters to agencies and lawmakers on a host of vital issues. This includes the health of our national forests, the management of the Mississippi River, and the development of local parks and wildlife conservation areas. In addition, the Society has funded special projects, including the construction of Chimney Swift towers and Barn Owl nest boxes on Missouri Department of Conservation properties.

In response to requests from the government for the help of citizen scientists, the Society has met the challenge. We've made new partnerships to support the Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative and the Conservation Area Checklist, (CACHE) as well as the State Parks Checklist (SPARKS) projects.

The Society continues to sponsor its popular field trips, with 25-30 scheduled every year. Trips include outside the St Louis metropolitan area. For example, field trips to U&S HS Dunn Ranch in northwest Missouri to study Greater Prairie-Chickens. Again, education is emphasized and the newest birder is the most important.

Having origins dating to 1915, the St Louis Audubon Society has a noteworthy history. As the first chapter of the national organization, the Society has supported the programs and projects of the National Audubon Society since 1943.

The St Louis Audubon Society is proud to present its Strategic Plan 2008-2010 as a blueprint for advancing its Mission and Goals through the next four years.