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Director's Message
Amy Weeks
Valentine's Day may be a few days away, but we try to show our love of birds every day. And, we know you love them, too!
We know this because our Bird of the Week and free birding field trips are more popular than ever before. Volunteers continue to dedicate their time and talent and have contributed more than 3,000 hours of service over the last year. And, a group of enthusiastic birders just left for a birding trip to Belize (stories and pictures to come in the March issue). Our hearts are overjoyed and filled with gratitude with this kind of engagement!
Additionally, the 2024 Bring Conservation Home season ended with 224 total consultations and certifications, a 41% increase over 2023. 2024 was also a tremendous year of growth for the BirdSafeSTL program. BirdSafeSTL expanded beyond the historic survey area in downtown St. Louis and began surveys in downtown Clayton. This was also the first time that the program conducted more than 100 surveys in a year.
We continually strive to make it easier for you to connect with nature. In this issue of Tale Feathers, you'll see a variety of opportunities to join others who share your interests in nature, birds and wildlife. We hope you will join us for one of the upcoming joint partner programs, maybe we'll see you on the trails during a bird walk, or perhaps you're ready to join the team and apply for our part-time Conservation Ecologist position with the Bring Conservation Home program (details below).
If the unpredictable winter weather has you feeling a little hesitant to wander far, we'd like to encourage you to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. The Great Backyard Bird Count will take place over four days beginning February 14 and ending February 17, 2025. It's easy to participate and so important for helping scientists understand how our changing climate may be affecting birds. If you are interested in participating, I encourage you to visit this link, which will detail what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. You can even sign up for a webinar with live Q&A from experts.
I hope you enjoy all that St. Louis Audubon Society is offering and the many ways we continue to positively impact our community.
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Ornithological Forecast
February 2025
Bill Rowe
We all know that winter is not done with us in February, although what this amounts to is variable from one year to the next. Any cold fronts may still bring us some cool (sorry) birds in the form of northern gulls, raptors like Rough-legged Hawks, possible irruptive species such as Northern Shrikes, Redpolls, or Snow Buntings, or many other possibilities. Birds that settled in to spend the winter with us will probably still be here, including easily identified and sought-after individuals like Spotted Towhees, often tied to a well-known location and still findable. But we can also recognize some signs of spring: (1) Our local resident passerines start practicing their singing, and it is normal to hear the songs of cardinals, titmice, House Finches, and many others around our neighborhoods, especially on sunny days. Out in open farmland, you can hear the jingling song of Horned Larks on their territories, and in all marshy or grassy areas, male Red-winged Blackbirds will be similarly engaged. (2) Some raptors like Bald Eagles and Great Horned Owls will be building or repairing nests and laying and incubating their eggs. (3) Especially from mid-February onward, waterfowl will be on the move. Overhead, skeins of Snow Geese will be heading north, usually with some Ross’s Geese among them (grab your binoculars and check for smaller white geese among the Snows). Augmenting the ducks that spent the winter, more dabblers like Mallard, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, and Green-winged Teal will appear in shallow grassy marshes, and more divers like Canvasback and scaup on larger lakes and rivers. By the end of the month, it can feel even more like the beginning of spring, with the arrival of a few Tree Swallows and some early shorebirds like the two yellowlegs species.
Photo above: Northern Pintail
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At Home Ecology, Curated Conservation
February 2025
Shannon Callahan
Before we fully melt from all the snow, take a minute to notice the seeds scattered across the white surface. Winter is the perfect time to spread seeds for visual help in evenly distributing things and properly sinking them into the upper layer of soil as the snow melts. Best gardening practices often mimic nature, so spreading seeds when they naturally fall makes sense. Resist the urge to start your spring cleanup until temperatures are consistently in the 50s, which won’t be for another month or two. Seedheads are a welcomed sight to a hungry bird visiting your garden. If you frequent wooded areas, be vigilant for the yellow-orange blooms of our Ozark Witch-Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis). If you visit these plants on a warm sunny day, you may be surprised to find a variety of native pollinators buzzing around, temporarily awoken from their winter snooze.
Photo above: Ozark Witch-Hazel
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JOINT PROGRAM WITH WGNSS COMING UP
PLEASE JOIN US
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12
7 - 8:30 PM
Webster Groves Public Library
301 E Lockwood Ave, Webster Groves, MO 63119
Registration not required.
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Building Community Canopy
We cannot effect change in essential spaces without including the voices of the people. Climate change is a global concern, and to effectively address it, we must also tackle the environmental injustices that have systematically affected underrepresented communities. Treesilience offers a solution to one of these issues. Building relationships is key to building tree canopy in urban communities.
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Speaker:
Kelly Hicks-Holloway
Environmental Justice Lead
Pivoting from her 20-year career in the hair care industry as a salon owner and producer of holistic hair, body, and wellness products, Kelly brings her passion for sustainability and equitable resources to the Environmental Justice Lead role at Forest ReLeaf. With certifications in medicinal herbalism, foraging, urban growing, and urban farming, she demonstrates her passion for environmentalism and biophilia. She leverages her entrepreneur and leadership skills, her influence as a community organizer, and her duties as a PTO Mom, board member, and wife to amplify unheard voices and foster equitable resource distribution in underserved communities. Managing the Treesilience program for Forest ReLeaf, Kelly hopes to reduce “urban heat island effect” while providing community resources centered on biodiversity, land preservation, and capacity building. Her entrepreneurial experience enables her to build strong community relationships, mentor, and influence future leaders in underserved areas. Kelly is unwavering in her commitment to amplifying unheard voices and ensuring equitable resource distribution in these communities.
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PARTNERS FOR NATIVE LANDSCAPING WEBINAR SERIES-
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
- February 19 at 2 pm- Front Yard Rain Gardens
- March 5 at 2 pm- Native Garden Design Panel
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March 19 at 2 pm- Monarchs and Mosquitoes: Control the Pests, Protect the Pollinators
- And, more!
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The Creley Memorial Conservation Grant
Is Open - Apply Soon!
The St. Louis Audubon Society has worked to positively impact birds and their habitats for over 100 years. The establishment of the Cathleen Creley Memorial Conservation Grant was made possible by a generous gift of the Creley family and is used to annually award grants that support bird conservation and education projects throughout the St. Louis region.
These grants have allowed SLAS to financially support organizations and projects that further bird conservation and education, strengthen current collaborations, and establish new partnerships that magnify our influence on bird conservation in St. Louis.
The total amount available for the 2025 grant cycle is estimated to be $7000. One or more grants will be awarded depending on the income of the fund for a given fiscal year, the quality of the grant proposals received, and the results of the grant evaluation system.
Review and download the 2025 grant application here.
Completed grant applications should be submitted no later than 5 pm on Monday, March 31st, 2025.
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SAVE THE DATE
Joint Program with The Sierra Club- Eastern Missouri Group
Tuesday, March 11
7 - 8:30 pm
Webster University, Browning Hall Auditorium
Guest Presenter: Cameron Gromek
Plastic Pollution Education Coordinator, Missouri River Bird Observatory
Registration is required and will be coming soon! Watch our calendar for the link.
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PART-TIME, TEMPORARY POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT | |
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Title: Conservation Ecologist – Bring Conservation Home Program
Employment: Part-time Pay: $20-$25 per hour
Supervisor: Bring Conservation Home Director
The part-time Conservation Ecologist will conduct a wide range of community outreach efforts, including volunteer training and mentoring, events, community presentations, and especially native landscape consultations and certification assessments on evenings and weekends, to accommodate the limited availability of some land stewards and volunteers. This position is dependent on outside funding from sponsorships and grants.
Primary Responsibilities:
● Conduct on-site habitat consultations and certification assessments in the region.
● Write timely follow-up reports
● Assist with the ongoing development of program tools and resources
● Assist with community events and presentations to increase awareness about the adoption of wildlife-friendly landscape practices Qualifications:
● Ability to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions
● Excellent written/verbal communication and interpersonal skills
● Working knowledge of native plants, ecology, and best practices in ecological landscaping
● Ability to identify invasive plants found within the St. Louis region
● Familiarity with general residential stormwater management and rainscaping best practices
● Experience working with people from a wide range of communities and cultures across the St. Louis Metro Area
● Valid driver's license with a good driving record and up-to-date insurance
● Competence with Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Forms, Calendar), Zoom, and various mobile applications
● Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and also independently with minimal direct supervision
● Ability to move throughout most residential landscapes to assess site conditions
● Access to reliable internet and workspace
Education:
● A bachelor’s degree in Biology, Botany, Ecology, Environmental Science, Horticulture, or a related field is preferred, but a combination of working knowledge, experience, and skills will also be considered.
This position is ideal for someone who has a passion for learning about and advocating for ecological landscaping and wildlife stewardship. The ideal candidate is dependable, adaptable, open-minded, and detail-oriented with strong problem-solving & interpersonal skills. St. Louis Audubon Society seeks to build a diverse, welcoming, and equitable working environment and encourages candidates from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. Candidates who may not meet all of the qualifications listed but are excited about being involved with this work are encouraged to apply.
Application Deadline: February 28, 2025
Send a letter of interest and resume that outlines relevant work experience to Dan Pearson by email at: dan@stlouisaudubon.org
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Photo Credit: Elaine Collins | |
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ST. LOUIS AUDUBON SOCIETY BOARD MEETINGS
Next meeting: Tuesday, February 11
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Please Note: Most Board meetings will be held by Zoom. If you have an interest in joining our volunteer Board, please contact one of the officers or staff members. | |
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Officers & Staff
Ellen Harmon, President
president@stlouisaudubon.org
Michael Meredith, VP of Conservation
Stephanie Schroeder, VP Education
Gail Saxton, Secretary
Nick Eaton, Treasurer
Amy Weeks, Executive Director
amy@stlouisaudubon.org
Dan Pearson, Director, BCH
dan@stlouisaudubon.org
Shannon Callahan, Outreach Specialist, BCH
shannon@stlouisaudubon.org
Matt Barton, Urban Conservation Specialist
matt@stlouisaudubon.org
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