Arizona is at a crossroads. Our water is at risk if we don't take action.

In 80% of the state, groundwater pumping is unlimited. This makes Arizona communities easy targets for outside interests to set up shop, take advantage of our lax groundwater laws, and extract limited groundwater resources for free.

Urge your legislators and Governor Hobbs to protect our precious water resources for generations to come.

We are gathering signatures and will send the letter to Governor Katie Hobbs and Arizona legislators at the beginning of the legislative session in January 2024.

Protect Arizona’s Groundwater petition

Answer this Action Alert to stop the Ambler Road in the Brooks Range where thousands of acres of wetlands and migration pathways will be affected.

The proposed Ambler industrial mining road would be an irreversible blow to the Brooks Range and would open the floodgate to widespread and destructive mining operations across Northwest Alaska. This proposed 211-mile, private, industrial access corridor would run through the Arctic's critical caribou and bird habitat, salmon and sheefish spawning areas, and the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. Fifteen species of boreal birds found along the proposed Amber Road corridor, including the Blackpoll Warbler and Olive-sided Flycatcher, already face significant decline across their ranges and would be directly impacted by the road.

Protect America's Nesting sites

Avian Point-Count Technicians in Four Corners National Parks

Spend your summer doing field work in the beautiful National Parks of the Southern Colorado Plateau! We are looking for field technicians to conduct breeding bird point-count surveys as part of a long-term monitoring plan for the National Parks.

PROJECT DATES: Early April – early July 2024

TRAINING: The field season will begin with a three-week intensive training period focusing on field safety and implementation of unlimited-radius point counts with distance sampling. Field crews should aim to have a good knowledge of the songs and calls of southwestern birds before the training period begins and will participate in online review sessions of bird songs prior to the in-person training period.

Read more:

IBP Point Count Technician Ad.pdf

Audubon's 124th Christmas Bird Count will be held from Dec 14, 2023 to January 5, 2024!

You must contact these people to join a team on the CBCs:

Sedona, Friday, Dec 15th - contact Rich Armstrong: richarmstrong47@gmail.com

Jerome, Sunday, Dec. 15th - contact Rob Gibbs: Robgibbs54@gmail.com

Flagstaff, Friday, Dec. 29th - contact John Wilson: JGWilson195413@gmail.com

Camp Verde, Tuesday, Jan 2nd - contact Kay Hawklee: khawklee@gmail.com

Learn more about CBCs

Groundwater in Coconino County - Networking and lunch in Flagstaff

Wednesday, October 25
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

The Aspen Room; 2223 E. 7th Avenue c; Flagstaff, AZ 86004

Join us for networking and lunch in Flagstaff to learn about groundwater in Coconino County.

Hear from our panel of experts about the importance of this vital resource to the region, how groundwater and surface water are connected, and how managing groundwater is critical to local communities.

11:15 a.m.: Doors open

11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Lunch and networking

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Program with panelists

Panelists:

• Supervisor Patrice Horstman, Coconino County
• Mayor Clarinda Vail, Town of Tusayan
• Erin Young, City of Flagstaff
• Dr. Abe Springer, Northern Arizona University
• Tom Osterday, Blue Ridge Domestic Water Improvement District

RSVP here:  RSVP

Diane Hope recently contacted our chapter to write a KNAU Earth Note on the establishment of two Motus stations by NAAS. 

Listen to learn more: KNAU Earth Note on NAAS Motus stations

NAAS can further conservation knowledge to help make stopover sites for migrating birds safer. 

Support NAAS's goal of funding these Motus stations both above the rim on Anderson Mesa and below the rim on Rancho Tres Brisas.

Calling All Photographers

Northern Arizona Audubon Society and the International Hummingbird Society are hosting a Birds of the Verde Valley ... and the Rest of the World photo exhibit at the Sedona Public Library in West Sedona from October 3 to 14.  (Set up will be October 2 and take down will be on Monday, October 16.)

Photographers, we would love to have you participate!

A few notes: 

This is a display to celebrate the beauty of birds.  We are looking for engaging, non-violent images from around the world and the Verde Valley.  We want to amaze people with the variety of birds they can see here and on their travels, and inspire them to take some time to learn more about birds. If we have multiple images of one species and limited space, we may select only one or two of that species for exhibit. 

Photos will be displayed in the library's indoor entrance area on white corkboards.  Photos need to be matted before you deliver them to us.  If you need help with matting, please send an email to alicemadar.ihs@gmail.com.  If there is enough interest, we may have a pre-display matting party!  

You can list your photos as for sale, with a price and contact info.  

The Library is not responsible for the photos.

1)  Please plan to submit no more than 4 images.
2)  Max size is 11x14, including mat
3)  Each photo must have a label on the back stating your name, bird species, the image title, and a price if it is for sale. 
4)  On or before September 26, please email Alice Madar (alicemadar.ihs@gmail.com) with your name, email, phone number, and a list of your (up to) 4 images.  For each image, include the following:

• Image title

• Bird species

• Where photographed

• A sentence or two about the bird or your experience taking the photo

• Price and information on how you can be reached, if the image is for sale

 We need this information in advance so we can create an image tag for each photo.  

Please contact Alice to let her know if you plan to participate either as a photographer or as a volunteer to help prepare the exhibit.  Then invite all your friends to come see the photos between October 3 and October 14!

Advocacy Watch

Supreme Court Decision Threatens Waterways that Birds (and People) Need. The Court’s ruling in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency removes crucial protections for wetlands, limiting the Clean Water Act. “This Supreme Court ruling weakens our federal standards for clean water, threatening our ability to protect ecosystems and landscapes needed for birds and communities across the country,” said Julie Hill-Gabriel, Audubon’s Vice President for Water Conservation. “Federal experts will no longer be able to require certain development permits in America’s decimated wetlands. This decision undermines Clean Water Act protections for many types of waterways that birds and people need, all while birds are telling us that more action is needed to protect their future.” Western Water News 

"The decision focused specifically on wetlands, but it may hold implications for numerous other waterways throughout the nation. Five out of the nine judges ruled that wetlands can only be regulated under the Clean Water Act if they have a “continuous surface connection” to larger bodies of water. The seasonal streams are so beneficial because they protect our surface and groundwater quality, the buffer downstream private property by conveying floodwaters and sediment and dirt, they replenish our groundwater," said Haley Paul, policy director at the Southwest branch of the Audubon Society."  Wetlands water

• Live migration over Coconino County
  
• Live migration over Yavapai County
  

Verde River Monitoring and Education Program with the Verde River Institute - (must sign up: doug@verderiverinstitute.org)

These classes serve as an excellent way to educate Audubon members on the Verde River and how its ecosystems conserve birds!

The Institute's Spring/Summer Monitoring and Education course is still open for new students! The Wednesday slots have all been filled, but we still have space on the Saturday lessons!  Classes will be held weekly for 10 weeks from April 29th until July1st for Saturday students. Classes meet at Tuzigoot River Access Point (TuziRAP) in Clarkdale, where we'll have a 1-hour discussion of that day's topics; followed by a 4-hour (or so) kayak trip from Lower Tapco River Access Point (TapcoRAP) to TuziRAP.

Along the way, we'll discuss experiential things about the day's lesson topics, and we'll stop halfway down to e at lunch and talk. The kayak trips always present unexpected opportunities to discuss something about the river along the way.

Summer/Fall classes will start in mid-July (probably July 19. )

If you are interested in becoming a "Verde River Nerd," email Doug at doug@verderiverinstitute.org.