Montana Audubon - in the news
May 14, 2013. Otter Creek Coal and southeast Montana. Amy talks with two activists on how they are dedicated to NOT let this mine happen. Listen to In Other Words Radio for this inspirational interview about the impacts of coal to our wildlife, people, air and climate.
April 16, 2013. Our Center in the Billings Gazette: Audubon's naturalist-in-schools program proves a hit.
February 12, 2013. Amy Cilimburg talks about Climate Actions and Happenings on the In Other Words Radio program which airs on Montana Public Radio. Listen in.
January 28. Success! Amy, our Dir. of Conservation & Climate Policy, has been the co-chair of a task force that developed Missoula's Municipal Climate Action Plan. Msla's City Council unanimously passed this plan -- here's the Missoulian article, and our opinion piece.
January 16. Amy interviews our veteran lobbyist Janet Ellis and MEIC's Anne Hedges about the 2013 legislative session on Montana Public Radio. Listen to the 1/2 hour In Other Words Radio show. It's a great one!
January 14. Montana Audubon, together with many other conservation groups, ask the MT Dept of Environmental Quality to hold hearings in more affected communities so all Montanans can understand the ramifications of Otter Creek coal traffic. As reported in the Helena IR.
January 2, 2013. Kalispell's Bob Lopp and his Lifetime Achievement Award from Audubon as reported in the Flathead Beacon Journal. Nice!
December 21. A great story on the Great Falls area Christmas Bird Count: Duck Duck Pelican.
August 17. Great Falls Tribune: Developer to move 25 towers at wind farm over raptor concerns. And from the Associated Press: NaturEner to move wind turbines to protect birds.
August 16. Trumpeter swans released into restored Madison Valley wetlands. We're proud to be part of this collaborative effort. We love swans and we love wetland restoration efforts and the landowners that help make this happen. In the Madison Valley Important Bird Area.
July 26. A great article in the Ravalli Republic about all the Lewis's Woodpeckers along the Bitterroot and Clark Fork Rivers, a successful citizen science nest-finding project, and a reminder of the value of snags.
Summer 2012. Montana Quarterly. Read about citizen science efforts and bluebirds. See what keeps one of our Board Members, Lou Ann Harris, busy in the summers. Bluebird Days.
June 28. Our involvement, together with partners, helped: US Fish and Wildlife Service to revise plans for Benton Lake (Great Falls Tribune).
June 19. From the Great Falls Tribune: Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge plan causing stir.
June 14. Fowl Play In Foul Weather. Lake County Leader article about our bird festival and featuring Mission Mountain Audubon President Jim Rogers.
June 9. A brief but great article about our annual festival from the Bigfork Eagle.
April 24. Amy Cilimburg talks Renewable Energy in Montana - with AERO's ED Bryan and UM student Tess. Listen to the podcast from this one hour In Other Words Radio Show.
April 15. Audubon Center in the News: Heather Ristow talks and our Earth Day event and Audubon's naturalist-in-schools program proves a hit
April 3. We helped sponsor this great event: Missoula leaders tout new federal limits on carbon pollution.
March 21. Executive Director Steve Hoffman and Board Member Bob Martinka tell the Helena IR about migrating birds coming through this spring: Prime time for Helena birders starting as birds head north.
March 14. Good Helena Independent Record Editorial on the Rim Rock wind farm: Buffer zone in everyone's interest. Keep it up Janet Ellis!
March 9. We're keeping the pressure on: Great Falls Tribune follow-up article on the Rim Rock Wind Farm/Kevin Rim IBA: Wind Farm Considers Buffers (pdf).
January 15, 2012. The feature article in the Great Falls Tribune describes our concerns with a wind farm for raptors and an Important Bird Area: Wind Farm Faces Raptor Blowback (pdf). Learn more about Kevin Rim >>
December 2011 - January 2012. Snowies Descend: a few favorite articles: Arctic's Snowy Owls spotted across northern U.S. Great photos from the Missoulian. An article highlighting snowies across the US. David Sibley comments about the origin of this invasion. More from the New York Times. And finally, local birder Radd Icenoggle has mapped all the snowies reported to date on his blog.
December 2011. It's Christmas Bird Count season. Here's a great interview and radio report by Public News Service. Thanks to all you dedicated citizen scientists! Check out the Missoulian article, this from the Madisonian, or this from the Bigfork Eagle.
December 2011. Great ideas for Citizen Science efforts around Montana in this FWP article.
August 2011. Listen to Amy on In Other Words (Montana Public Radio, August 30) as she interviews Bill McKibben (author and of 350.org fame) and Carrie La Saur of Plains Justice. LISTEN HERE.
July 2011. Yellowstone Oil Spill. Montana Audubon has been in the news all month - both because of our understanding of birds along the river and because of our Audubon Center, located along the Yellowstone just south of Billings. Oil spill news is collected here.
June 13, 2011. News from the Audubon Conservation Education Center: watch this great Billings Gazette video of our ANTS education program.
March 27, 2011. News from the Audubon Conservation Education Center: Kids make use of recycled products at Conservation Center. Watch the accompanying video. What fun!
February 22, 2011. President's Day Rally. For the Love of Montana - let's protect our bedrock environmental laws. As reported in the Helena IR, Billings Gazette and Great Falls Tribune.
January 23, 2011. Eco-conscious partnership promotes innovative ranching practices. Montana Audubon and Western Sustainability Exchange in the Billings Gazette.
December 2010. Natural Ornament Making at the Audubon Conservation Education Center. Watch this short Billings Gazette VIDEO.
December 2010. Montana Audubon together with the Western Sustainability Exchange wins TogetherGreen Innovation Grant. Learn how ranchers are producing "wildlife-friendly" beef for concerned consumers via our press release.
November 2010. Montana Outdoors, the magazine of MT Fish Wildlife & Parks, has a new article about the Conservation Reserve Program and grasslands. Steve Hoffman is quoted! Read Goodbye CRP?
November 1, 2010. Billings Gazette. Audubon Educator wins environmental-ed fellowship. Way to go Heather!
October 2010. In Other Words Radio Program. Audubon's Global Warming Organizer, Amy Cilimburg, interviews 2 University of Montana Students and their instructor about their summer experience studying energy and climate change fist-hand by bicycling 600 miles across Montana. Listen to this 40 minute radio program: Cycle the Rockies (MP3 file, click to play or right click to save and download to computer).
October 11, 2010. 10.10.10 Global Work Party: Missoulians take on Environmental Projects for International Effort. Also on KPAX TV.
October 10, 2010. At the Audubon Center in Billings: Weed-pulling contest nets 1,142 pounds of pesky plants.
October 7, 2010. ACEC Education Director Heather Ristow has been recognized as a TogetherGreen Fellow. Learn more about the program and her plans for the fellowship HERE.
September 6, 2010. ACEC event in Billings. A great article in the Billings Gazette: Riverfest features cycling, paddling to benefit Audubon Center.
August 25, 2010. The Bitterroot Audubon Chapter was featured in this article for their work on the Bitterroot River IBA and their 2011 Special Achievement Award. From the Ravalli Republic - Birds of a Feather.
August 10, 2010. From the Audubon Center in Billings. Great article form the Billings Gazette: At 98, dedicated bird watcher gets her day >>
August 2, 2010. Swainson's Hawks, Important Bird Areas and Conservation in the Grass Valley. Read the Missoulian article and watch our own Jim Brown in this great video.
June 17, 2010. Grant offers students chance to dive into internships at the Audubon Center. Wearing camouflage rubber hip waders offset by a red and blue life jacket, Erin Tieszen awkwardly waded through a pond at the Audubon Conservation Education Center on Monday while scouring the pond’s bottom with a net to capture aquatic bugs. Read the rest of this great Billings Gazette article.
June 16, 2010. Helena growth policy receives critiques. Montana Audubon was in the news supporting land use planning in the city of Helena that benefits wildlife, streams, wetlands, and energy conservation. Read the complete ARTICLE.
June 14, 2010. Rare Migration: Western tanagers flock to rainy Missoula. If you thought you were seeing yellow spots in your vision last week, dont worry: It's not some new strain of spring fever. Western Tanagers.....
June 9, 2010. Madison County Commissioners and Planning Board Listen to Public Comments on Draft Stream Protection Measures. "Nearly 250 people turned out Monday night to share their thoughts with Madison County Commissioners"...and Montana Audubon staff Janet Ellis was on a panel of experts assembled to answer questions. Read the complete ARTICLE.
June 6, 2010. Guest Opinin: Clean energy and climate bill needed now. As oil washes ashore on our magnificent wildlife refuges in one of our most productive fisheries, unemployed workers across the country look for scarce jobs and the science of global warming becomes more compelling by the day, polls show a majority of Americans want climate change addressed and for polluters to pay their fair share. We, the undersigned organizations, representing thousands of members throughout Montana, are part of this majority who want action now. ... this was published in most to the major Montana Newspapers. read the complete opinion piece
June 3, 2010. Oil spill: a Fowl Welcome. Montana's population of American white pelicans might want to change its winter migration destination. The large birds with black-tipped wings, classified by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks as a "species of concern"... No matter the degree to which Montana's migrating bird populations are affected, Cilimburg says the spill should serve as a reminder of the interconnectedness of things—and of the real threats to birds. "It sure is a further indication of why we should move away from fossil fuels and address climate change... Read the rest from the Missoula Independent.
April 22, 2010. Earth Day. The Missoula Independent wrote a great article mentioning Derek Goldman and the work of Montana Audubon (scroll down to Legislation - All Together Now) Happy Earth Day?
April 13 & 18, 2010. News from the Audubon Conservation Education Center. The Billings Gazette announced our upcoming Earth Day Celebration, and the Gazette wrote about the arrival of our new Center Director. They then followed up with news from the actual Restoration for Earth Day. And we made Billings television: KULR8 and KTVQ.
March 11, 2010. State of the Bird Report, Climate Change, and Montana. Amy Cilimburg is interviewed for this short piece on Montana Public Radio's Evening News. Listen NOW >> More information on the report is HERE >>
February 2010. Will Steger Eyewitness to Climate Change Tour. Montana Audubon was a key sponsor of this 3 city tour. The Will Steger Foundation has compiled all the great media stories - read about the tour HERE >>. If you didn't see Will's presentation, listen to his interview on Montana Public Radio - an inspiring and compelling message HERE >>.
January 2010. Land Conservation. Montana Audubon is one of the seven conservation organizations that, along with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, purchased a 177-acre in-holding with the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, along the Missouri River. The CMR Refuge is one of our Important Bird Areas. Read a Great Falls Tribune article HERE >>
December 2009. Christmas Bird Count. The Five Valley's count was featured in this Missoulian Article. Steve Hoffman was also interviewed for a feature story on Montana Public Radio.
November 25, 2009. Helena Woman gets Grant to Help Protect Wetlands. Janet Ellis of Helena has received a $10,000 grant to be used to protect streams and wetlands in Montana through the national TogetherGreen fellowship program. The fellowship is a five-year joint program launched in 2008 by the Audubon Society and Toyota, and issues 40 fellowships each year...the rest of this Helena Independent Record story is HERE >>
November 20, 2009. Weekly Webb: Healing with Words, Nature’s Inspiration. Seven would-be writers congregated around a table at the Audubon Conservation Education Center near Norm’s Island last Saturday, eager to see the island through naturalist Carol Ward’s eyes. Over the next hour they would sample eatable berries, learning to differentiate between the tart buffalo berries and the toxic white berries that grow on poison ivy vines...the rest of this Billings Gazette story is HERE >>
October 5, 2009. Clean Energy Works for Montana. Clean energy and climate legislation is making its way through the US Congress just as the first commercial cargo ships in history are making their way through an ice-free arctic passage. Thanks to obstacles created by special interests in the fossil fuel industry the big freighters are having the easier trip... Amy Cilimburg provided the evening news commentary on Montana Public Radio. The rest of this commentary is available at the MTPR website or download the pdf HERE >>
October 3, 2009. Return to the Wild. ENNIS -- In the piercing cold of a clear October morning, members of a wetlands preservation partnership huddled at the edge of a bluff, scanning the horizon for sandhill cranes. Sandhill cranes take flight with the Madison Range as a backdrop north of Granger Ranches near Ennis, Friday. The tall, gray birds had amassed by the thousands in the robust wetland flats .... the rest of this Bozeman Chronicle story is HERE >>
August 26. 2009. Cap and trade bill supporters say Montanans support clean-energy. Our collaborative efforts supporting national clean energy and climate legislation was the lead story in four major Montana newspapers. A good read HERE >>.
August 10. 2009. Citizen scientists volunteer in field. Auduboner's Jim Brown and Terry and Carol Toppins are featured in this Missoulian feature article about our Important Bird Area and Flammulated owl survey efforts. Read what they have to say HERE >>.
July 22. 2009. Clean-energy backers point to inacation's cost. Amy Cilimburg helped explain what is at stake with climate change legislation in this Billings Gazette article: "Proponents of the Waxman-Markey energy legislation say opponents typically fail to consider the cost of taking no action...." The rest is HERE >>
July 20. 2009. Audubon to add 2 Projects to Education Center. Here's the latest from the Billings Gazette about the ACEC: "With a 3,500-square-foot field lab nearing completion, Montana Audubon is working on a new round of improvements at the Audubon Conservation Education Center near the Yellowstone River..." The rest is HERE >>
May 28, 2009. Bird Enthusiasts Flock To Town. Read about what the Great Falls Tribune has to say about our festival HERE (or on our website ) >>
May 7, 2009. Clean Energy and Climate Solutions: A panel discussion co-sponsored by MT Audubon. We received great media coverage (event information is posted HERE >>)
- The KFBB (ABC affiliate) TV broadcast can be seen HERE >>
- Montana Public Radio. Listen to a feature interview with Gregg Small of Climate Solutions HERE (mp3) >> This KUFM interview was broadcast on May 8.
- Newspaper coverage. Read the Queen City News Helena Handbag >>
- Helena Civic TV will broadcast the event May 15 at noon & May 16th at 11:30 pm. For more information on this station, go HERE >>
March 16, 2009. The Audubon Conservation Education Center and its student programs are featured in the Billings Gazette. Read about the great work happening at the ACEC HERE >>
February 10-12, 2009. Montana Birds on the Move. Ecological Disruption in Motion.
- Radio Clips. Listen to the MT Public Radio interview (Amy Cilimburg, Erick Greene) HERE. Listen to a short Public News Service audio clip HERE >>.
- Newspaper coverage: Read the Missoulian's front page article HERE; the Billings Gazette short piece HERE; the AP story as reported in the Great Falls Tribune HERE >>
- Press release from Feb 10 is HERE >>
- Information about the report is posted HERE >>
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December 21, 2008 . Read about the Christmas Bird Count from the Missoulian: Missoula-area birders take annual census in name of science.
December 18, 2008. For another great article on our annual Christmas Bird Counts in The Big Sky Sun see Local birders persevere winter cold to maintain annual event. And here's a good read from the Great Falls Tribune: Feathered fans flock to count birds.
December 11, 2008. News about the upcoming Christmas Bird Counts in our press release.
October 14, 2008. Montana Audubon's Amy Cilimburg joins 3 other Missoula women working on solutions to global warming. Listen to what they have to say on this hour long KUFM public radio program In Other Words -- Global Warming (MP3 file, click to play or right click to save and download to computer. 14 MB, patience required).
October 6, 2008. The Audubon Conservation Education Center is once again in the news with a feature article in the Billings Gazette. See great photos and read about our new "wet lab" and the Billings buzz it's creating HERE.
October 6, 2008. The Missoulian reports on a recent float trip to educate County Commissioners and others on issues surrounding streamside protection. Here our Policy Director Janet Ellis sings the praises of streamside setbacks.
September 2008. Clean and green energy that reduces our global warming pollutants, keeps wildlife needs in mind, and provides good jobs for Montana - that's for us! There's a new economic study touting such benefits (see the 'economic' section of our website). The Missoulian quoted Amy Cilimburg in a piece entitled Report: Investment in 'green' jobs could help Montana.
July 2008. Wind and wildlife in Montana is in the news. Read what Janet Ellis and others have to say about the Judith Gap wind site and its effects on bats, birds, and other wildlife. The most extensive article appeared in the Great Falls Tribune.
July 2008. Amy Cilimburg is working with others in the Missoula County Conservation Roundtable to encourage action on global warming at the local level. These efforts made the front page of the July 9 Missoulian newspaper: Missoula considers hiring energy-conscious official.
July 2008. A great article in High Country News highlights efforts to enact streamside setback regulations in Montana and ends with a quote by Janet Ellis. Read this article HERE >>.
June 2008. The online news service NewWest covered issues of wildlife and wind development at Judith Gap, and once again quoted Janet Ellis. Read the article HERE >>.
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April 2008. The Audubon Conservation Education Center (ACEC) in Billings broke ground for the new Center. The Billings Gazette covered this event BEFORE & AFTER >>.
November 2007. This past November, we released the “WatchList 2007”. Forty of the bird species that Audubon and the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) have identified as in need of immediate conservation attention spend at least part of the year in Montana. They imperiled species are included on this WatchList 2007, the newest and most scientifically sound list of America’s birds at greatest risk. These species are often rare and limited in range; consequently, they face a more imminent threat of extinction. Conservation efforts in Montana as well as nationally will play a critical role in determining their future. To read the full press release click HERE. For a link to an article on these declines from the Billings Gazette click HERE >>.
June 2007. We reported on “Common Montana Birds in Decline”. Many of these species inhabit our waterways, lakes, ponds and marshes. To read the original press release, including a list of the 20 most common birds in decline across the US, click HERE >>.
For Montana Audubon’s newsletters, the Magpie Muse, see PUBLICATIONS.