SPREADING THE WORD Audubon Network in Washington April 2015 Photo: Libby Schreiner Audubon chapters in Washington have been in the news and spreading the word on the impact of climate change to birds. Read their stories and more on the Audubon Washington Birds and Climate webpage under In the News. Several chapters are hosting programs, living room sessions, and sharing the data with local and state government offices. Efforts and outreach of special mention are outlined below. Black Hills Audubon Climate Summit Black Hills Audubon hosted a Birds and Climate Change Summit in the spring of 2015 to shape the chapter's agenda in regards to climate change and to discover steps that they as individuals can take to help reduce its impact. The summit involved brainstorming 3 concrete, specific climate change initiatives fitting into one of three topical areas: creating bird friendly yards; maintaining/expanding local IBAs; supporting policies that lower carbon emissions. Suggested projects will be voted on by the chapter board for funding. View the summit agenda and working materials, and the collaborative proposals being suggested - available here. Kittitas Audubon Climate Committee Members of Kittitas Audubon, a small rural Audubon chapter in Eastern Washington, were so inspired by the September 2015 Audubon Birds and Climate Report and Magazine, that the chapter formed a special Climate Change Committee to focus attention and efforts toward this alarming new challenge. The committee is working to partner with other climate-centric groups in Eastern Washington, writing informative and action oriented articles for their chapter monthly newsletter, and writing a chapter climate grant to help implement a locally important “Conserving Water, Preserving Birds” initiative that will involve local vegetation specialist and fire professional input. In the meantime, the chapter developed, organized, and set up a beautiful Birds and Climate Change display in a local library – pictures below! Rainier Audubon School Outreach A Water Festival for 4th and 5th grade students seemed like a great opportunity for Rainier Audubon Society to bring the message of birds and climate change to young people. Calen Randell, Rainier Audubon’s preeminent 16 year old birder, kicked off their presentation explaining how Audubon science allows us to see species ranges of the future, and how having the correct “habitatitude” can help birds adapt to a warming world. The chapter is looking forward to NAS birds and climate materials that they can use for outreach specifically to children. Audubon Washington Teen Advocacy Day Building on Audubon Washington’s very successful Audubon Advocacy Day in February, the state office and the Seward Park Audubon Center worked together to provide the same training and advocacy opportunities to local teens, specifically Seward Park’s Climate Leaders cohort and Tenacious Roots group, and the Seattle Aquarium’s Youth Ocean Advocates. Audubon Teen Advocacy Day began with a briefing on Audubon's 2015 legislative priorities, followed by a day of constituent meetings, gallery viewings, flyer dropping, AND a surprise visit with Governor Jay Inslee who designated one teen climate leader as "Washingtonian of the Day"! "I learned that I have more power to change things than I had previously thought. I now know that I can approach my representatives and they do care and will listen!" Liz A., Washingtonian of the Day for April 14, 2015 "The most important thing I can do to reduce the threat of climate change is inform my family and friends about it. If I know 10 people and each know 10 others, that would already be 100 people. And that's exactly what we want." Sahayra B. Read more about the day, who we met with, and access links to participant photos here. Birds and Climate in WA 61 60% 100 Number of origami pigeons in library climate display Of chapters in WA engaged in spreading the word Number of Bird Hope buttons we’ve given away this spring 2 189 Priceless TV interviews given regarding the birds and climate report Number of climate sensitive species in Washington state Cost to engage the next generation of climate leaders