About Us >

© Linda Krueger

Audubon Minnesota is the state office of the National Audubon Society. Established in 1979, we share Audubon’s 100-year heritage of working to protect our environment, as well as the Audubon mission to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats. While we are part of the national organization, we establish our own statewide programs and pursue our own funding for Minnesota efforts.

Our Goals

Audubon Minnesota’s work is strategically focused on accomplishing four goals: 1. Stabilize or increase populations of at-risk bird species (e.g., CeruleanWarblers, Trumpeter Swans, Short-eared Owls) 2. Prevent declines in numbers or range area of common native birds (e.g., Bobolinks, Red- Headed Woodpeckers, Canvasbacks) 3. Protect and restore essential sites for vulnerable bird species 4. Improve the health of landscapes that support or could support birds

Our Mission

The mission of Audubon Minnesota is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems in Minnesota, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats by working with our chapters and others using education, science, advocacy and on-the-ground conservation.

Audubon Minnesota’s work is directed towards accomplishing four bird and habitat conservation goals that reflect this mission, each with a specific target upon which we focus our conservation efforts.

Goal 1: Stabilize and increase populations of at-risk species of birds in Minnesota

Goal 2: Prevent persistent declines or range contractions in populations of common native birds of Minnesota

Goal 3: Protect and restore sites essential for vulnerable species

Goal 4: Improve the health of landscapes that support or could support Minnesota birds

Our Approach – Bird Conservation, Education, and Policy

Audubon Minnesota offers a comprehensive approach to conservation that achieves results by working in three areas – bird conservation, education, and policy – and across three levels of conservation engagement – local, state, and national.

Bird Conservation

Important Bird Areas (IBA)—Protecting Minnesota’s Great Natural Heritage
The Important Bird Areas Program is a global effort to identify and conserve those areas most important to birds. In Minnesota, we have identified over 20 sites that are critical to our state’s bird populations as part of over 7500 sites in nearly 170 countries, and continue to evaluate sites to ensure that key habitats in Minnesota are protected. The IBA process also identifies threats and opportunities facing these critical habitats. Through local, state, and national public policy efforts, Audubon Minnesota is working to mitigate these threats. By engaging volunteers in IBA protection, we work to empower volunteers and preserve and restore the environment we share.

Conservation of Specific Bird Species
Much of our conservation work is focused on specific bird species. For example, working with others, we monitor the recovery and status of Peregrine Falcons, Ospreys, and Bald Eagles. We have the longest on-going inventory and monitoring program for Red Shouldered Hawks on the Mississippi River, an indicator of older growth, bottomland forests. In addition, we are part of the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership – using ultralight aircraft to restore a migratory Whooping Crane flock in our region.

Education

Audubon Chapters – Opening New Eyes to Nature
Audubon’s 14 chapters in Minnesota provide hundreds of opportunities each year for children and adults to connect with nature in their neighborhoods and to learn about area birds and wildlife. Through nature and school programs, field trips, bird festivals, and local projects, chapters across Minnesota encourage awareness and provide opportunities for action in a shared commitment to improve their communities and their country.

Mississippi River Program – Creating Awareness about a Global Resource
About 60 percent of all North American bird species depend upon the Mississippi River Flyway. The Mississippi River Program, begun in 1998, protects and restores the River’s ecosystem while supporting the continued economic vitality of the river communities and the river navigation system. Through education and outreach, we have emerged as the leader in building public support to restore nearly 1,400 miles of the upper river in a fivestate region.

Citizen Science – Connecting People with Nature
Drawing on the knowledge and enthusiasm of Audubon Minnesota’s membership, we have an active and growing list of citizen science projects. For over 100 years, Minnesotans have participated in Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count. More recently, the annual Backyard Bird Count has been widely adopted by citizens across the state.

Policy

Audubon Minnesota is one of the state’s most prominent, non-partisan voices for the environment. With a firm foundation in science and a powerful national, state, and grassroots network, we advocate for sound policy that protects birds, other wildlife, and their habitat. Our members’ participation is informed through our e-mail network of 1500 activists and guided by an annual process that gives our members a direct say in recommendations to our Board for priority issues. We do not to participate in election activities or other partisan politics, but stress public education and involvement.

Each year we organize an Audubon Lobby Day that brings together chapter members from around the state to learn about current issues and to speak to their representatives about these topics. Our legislative work includes funding for conservation, better management of off-highway vehicles, protection of Minnesota’s wetlands, clean lakes and rivers, and habitat protection.

We also coordinate with National Audubon on federal legislation directly affecting Minnesota such as Mississippi River and Great Lakes issues, transportation, wildlife, and land use policies, as well as other legislation of interest to Minnesotans including protecting Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil drilling, preservation of the Florida Everglades, and support of the National Wildlife Refuge System.