Jeff Hullstrung, Green Mountain Audubon Society President
Header image: Eastern Bluebird in Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge, Jeff Hullstrung
As I mentioned in our last issue, the board of directors of the National Audubon Society voted to retain the “Audubon” name. The Green Mountain Audubon Society (GMAS) is a chapter of the National Audubon Society, so this decision directly affects us. At our May board meeting, the board of directors of GMAS reaffirmed our desire to remain connected with the National Audubon Society but also to monitor the issue of the “Audubon” name within the nationwide network of independent Audubon chapters, with a particular focus on the other chapters within the state of Vermont.
In the meantime, the Green Mountain Audubon Society will continue its focus on protecting birds and the places they need to thrive. During our 70-year history, we have served as a resource for conservation within our region. We have built a solid reputation and forged deep connections with people and organizations working to protect birds. Our partnerships are a source of strength and resilience in the face of the myriad challenges facing our planet and our feathered friends.
In late May, I was reminded of the importance of our reputation, partnerships, and connections. Lucie Lehmann, a GMAS board member, found a need for bird nesting boxes at the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge (CPWR), a popular park and eBird hot spot with miles of walking trails. I met Jessie Bradley, head of the CPWR Friends group, at the refuge and dropped off eighteen nesting boxes that will be installed along a field managed for grassland birds, including the charismatic Bobolink. As Jessie gave me a tour of the beautiful property, we encountered a half-dozen male Bobolinks in flight singing their unique songs. The boxes will be installed by volunteers within the community who share our enthusiasm for improving the success of Eastern Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, and other cavity-nesting species. Jessie and I were also greeted by a couple of bluebird pairs, perhaps wanting to be first in line for expanded housing on the property!
The nesting boxes were a gift from Fred Stone, a retired farmer in Pawlet who has made a hobby of building bluebird boxes. Fred makes the boxes and gives them away to folks who will put them to good use. I found out about Fred from Kathleen Guinness of the Rutland County Audubon Society (RCAS). Fred has donated boxes to RCAS for several years and wanted to share his work farther afield. WCAX featured Fred on a 2021 episode of their “Super Seniors” segment. Now Fred’s contribution will be put to use in Chittenden County.
While walking the property, I also encountered Mark LaBarr, Conservation Program Manager of Audubon Vermont. Audubon Vermont is the statewide program of the National Audubon Society and is a longtime partner of GMAS. Mark was performing a survey of Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warblers and their hybrids, known together as “winged warblers.” He was at the property because the Charlotte refuge team has managed a section of the property for winged-warblers for many years. In partnership with The Vermont Land Trust, the team recently won a significant grant to expand this conservation effort. Several years ago, I worked with Steven Lamonde of Antioch University surveying the Charlotte property for winged-warblers. Mark continues this work today with members of his team. There are many links in this chain of conservation work, and each one is important.
As important as our historical partnerships and connections are, the Green Mountain Audubon Society intends to develop new connections. For the past several years, we have been working to reach out to local communities that have been underrepresented within the Audubon network. We have leveraged training material and funding from the National Audubon Society to improve our performance in terms of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB). National Audubon has pledged $25 million over the next five years to expand its EDIB work. The Green Mountain Audubon Society will work to leverage those funds at the local level to develop new connections while we continue to maintain and strengthen our existing ones. We need everyone working together to protect our home planet, ourselves, and our beloved birds.