,

Kindness, Love, and Care

,
Kindness, Love, and Care

I think Madison Audubon's grappling with the John James Audubon legacy and deciding to change the Chapter's name is also motivated by kindness, love, and care. We want to reach out to everyone in our community with care and kindness and share our love of the natural world. We can't share that love and extend a hand of kindness and camaraderie if we ignore the effects of Audubon's cruelty and racism. Madison Audubon’s staff and board have certainly been extraordinarily careful in their consideration of Audubon's history and the pain it still causes today.

Photo by Arlene Koziol

A better future for local bird conservation

Birds are the heart of Madison Audubon’s mission, and they always will be. Protecting and restoring habitats, reducing dangers to our feathered friends in urban areas, and creating spaces to share in the joy of nature together are essential. We need all the support, from all the people who care, to build a better future for the birds we love.

Photo by Mike Budd/USFWS Midwest

,

Beauty and Guilt

,

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel revealed yesterday what southern Wisconsin birders have known for several days.  The Lake Michigan shoreline in Milwaukee is hosting a male Mandarin Duck, arguably the world's most spectacular and beautiful duck.  

If you don't want to drive to Milwaukee and join dozens of other birders, check out the photos below. WOW, WOW, WOW.

Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

,

Renewing a land trust

,
Renewing a land trust

Maybe you’ve heard that Madison Audubon is one of only a few Audubon chapters around the country that is also a nationally-accredited land trust. But what exactly does that mean?

photo by Jeff McDonald

,

Payne a gain for the DNR

,

On Dec. 27, Governor Evers announced that he appointed Adam Payne the new Secretary of the DNR.

Mr. Payne might be appropriately named because he has a lot of that awaiting him. The DNR always has contentious issues and he'll step into two of the most controversial: wolf management and water pollution, PFAS  immediately and agriculture-related run off soon thereafter. Powerful legislators and lobbyists for some business and agricultural interests don't want much, if anything, done about the pollution. Wolves always evoke passion; I don't know if any management plan will achieve a consensus among the folks for whom the plan is important. Plenty of other tough issues will arise.

Photo by Karen Viste-Sparkman/USFWS