Happy Spring!

From my home to yours, I hope this post finds you well. This is a note to check in with you, say hello, and offer an update from the Madison Audubon crew. It's also an invitation to email us or comment below to let us know how you're doing.

Not surprisingly, we’ve had to make some tough choices recently regarding programming and events. That’s been a real bummer. But, amid all the uncertainly and adversity, there’s a lot of joy and good news out there.

As I worked from my home "office" this week, trying to make sense of things, keeping my 11-year-old son busy, and pondering the future, I had a few visitors. Not the kind that ring the doorbell... these were of the feathered variety. First was the pair of house finches, adding material to their nest on my front downspout. Then I listened in as the black-capped chickadees counter-sang their version of “hot cross buns.” An overhead scan for the bugling cranes led me to spot a red-tailed hawk perched in my black walnut tree (the chickadees were not so entertained).

While all the birds called and flitted about, I felt a sense of gratitude for the joy that birds bring. What a welcome feeling that is. And now, Spring has sprung and so has spring migration!

As we start down this road of the new normal (the image below shows what that looks like for us), the Madison Audubon team is bringing a heightened focus to these joys, as well as some fresh ideas for approaching bird conservation. It will look a bit different than usual, but we’re optimistic about what we will be able to accomplish working together and with you.

Here are a few examples:

Want to do Bird Yoga with us?
Our staff are creating ways to interact with families and children via Facebook and Zoom, to share a variety of home- and nature-based DIY activities, to create resources that used to be "wish-list items" and are now "must-do projects" in the era of sudden home-schooling.
Now is a great time to learn about birds!
Instead of in-person adult education classes this spring, we are hosting interactive, online webinars that let instructors share their expertise and attendees to ask and answer questions, test their knowledge, take notes, and listen to birds.
GO BIRDING!
Our sanctuaries are always open and free to the public, and that continues now as well! You can come on out, or tune in on Facebook where our Facebook Live events will feature sanctuary staff providing updates on first-of-the-year sightings, new buds showing on plants, and more.
Live vicariously through a snowy owl.
You can watch the migration progress of Columbia (currently in northwestern Minnesota) and Fond du Lac (all over the place!). These are the two snowy owls that the Goose Pond Sanctuary team, volunteers, and partners tagged this winter.
Read and watch the day away.
The website is and will be flappin' with Friday Feathered Features (write-ups on great birds and critters at the sanctuaries), blog posts, and more. Or check out National Audubon's Joy of Birds page for fun articles, videos, and bird-cams.

Of course, there are just some things we can't do because, like you, we are committed to ensuring our community members, especially those most vulnerable, are protected as best as possible. That means our events, field trips, and educational programming are suspended until further notice. Like I said, total bummer.

BUT, that's not stopping you or us from being creative, enjoying nature, or connecting with each other in new ways!

This is a new landscape for all of us, and like you, we are working hard to adapt to it. Your patience, ideas, and support mean a lot to us as we navigate these waters.

We will be in touch again soon. Please don't hesitate to contact any of our staff (see list below) with questions or to say hello. We are working remotely and leaning into all the new ways we can continue our work together.

Thank you and take good care!
Matt

P.S. Yay birds!

Matt Reetz, executive director
Madison Audubon
mreetz@madisonaudubon.org

Madison Audubon contact list:

Matt Reetz, executive director: mreetz@madisonaudubon.org
Carolyn Byers, education director: carolyn.byers@madisonaudubon.org
Drew Harry, Faville Grove Sanctuary land steward: faville@madisonaudubon.org
Brenna Marsicek, communications director: bmarsicek@madisonaudubon.org
Mark Martin and Sue Foote-Martin, Goose Pond Sanctuary resident managers: goosep@madisonaudubon.org
John Minnich, financial manager: jminnich@madisonaudubon.org
David Musolf, Faville Grove Sanctuary resident manager: dmusolf@uwalumni.com
Roger Packard, board president: rpackard@wisc.edu
Caitlyn Schuchhardt, communications and outreach assistant: cschuch@madisonaudubon.org
Graham Steinhauer, Goose Pond Sanctuary land steward: gsteinhauer@madisonaudubon.org