November 2025

Pennsylvania Audubon Council Chapter Networking for Conservation

NEXT MEETING: 7:00 PM, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025

Representatives from each of our chapters and conservation partners are encouraged to participate in this important meeting scheduled for 7:00 PM, Thursday, November 20, 2025. This meeting will outline the next steps that are being taken to implement this network. The first step will be to recruit a small number of individuals to serve as leaders on the Council’s Advocacy and Conservation Committee. The Committee will be recruited from our chapters, conservation partners and representation from Audubon MidAtlantic. The role and function envisioned for this committee will be outlined for review and discussion. We will also “roll out” the invitation and procedures to establish the Council’s “conservation google group” with the goal of having at least one contact from each of our chapters and conservation partners in the group. We presume that those chapters with a “conservation” or “advocacy” committee will have their committee chair or a member as their representative(s) in the “conservation google group.” Chapters without a “conservation committee” will be encouraged to have a representative as a participant in the “google group.” A representative(s) could be a chapter officer, board member, or a general member of the chapter interested in being informed and connected with our network to promote our conservation efforts on behalf of birds.

In addition, the Pennsylvania Audubon Council and Audubon MidAtlantic plan to schedule a presentation to help chapters use National Audubon’s new monthly membership report to find and recruit members in their chapter territories interested in conservation. Finally, we will seek the input of participants in this upcoming meeting on options to keep updated and informed about our priority issues and legislation at the state and Federal levels. Please plan to have representatives from your chapter participate in this session.

BIRD HABITAT RECOGNITION PROGRAM

Review and Evaluation of the Program Roll Out

7:00 PM, Wednesday, December 3, 2025

This “planning session” is scheduled as a forum for each of the chapters that are enrolled, or planning to enroll, in the Bird Habitat Recognition Program. Enrolled chapters will be invited to share their experience since the official September 1st launch of the Bird Habitat Recognition Program. Chapters may share what they have done to implement the program, share successes, and identify issues or challenges they have encountered in implementing the program. This is a “half-time” review for the Council and an opportunity to work with the chapters to make midcourse adjustments and improvements to the program. Chapters still evaluating the program or planning to enroll may find the experiences shared by the participating chapters useful. We will also welcome questions from chapters exploring participation.

We have over 170 properties that have submitted successful applications since the official launch of the program. We expect the rate of applications to the program to significantly drop as we move toward late fall and winter. Nonetheless, we fully expect that there will be 200 properties or more recognized before the end of the year. We currently have scheduled or conducted Bird Towns “clutch” meetings with Appalachian Audubon, Lehigh Valley Audubon, Liberty Bird Alliance, Valley Forge Audubon as well as the Bird Towns in Bucks County. The Bird Town leaders have demonstrated great enthusiasm for the program, and we look ahead to their assuming a greater role to promote the program in their municipalities. There have also been offers by leaders to help the local chapters with sign distribution. There will be opportunity at the December 3^rd meeting to learn more about the support Bird Towns can provide.

Please register through the link below to participate in the December 3^rd Bird Habitat Recognition discussion!

YEAR END UPDATE FROM HARRISBURG

Andy Loza, WeConservePA

7:00 PM, Tuesday, December 9, 2025

We have finally rescheduled the opportunity to receive a report and update from Andy Loza, Executive Director for WeConservePA, for 7:00 PM on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. We had cancelled the “third” and “fourth” quarterly updates from Andy earlier this year. The postponements of Andy’s scheduled reports were due to the budget impasse in the General Assembly. A budget is still not adopted at this time but there is word that negotiations are proceeding that will likely lead to a compromise budget. Important environmental issues, like Pennsylvania’s participation in RGGI, are reportedly on the table. It is realistic to presume that a budget will finally be adopted in the coming days or weeks. Andy’s “Year End Update” will provide us with a report of what is “in” and what is “out” of the state budget. We will also have an update on the status of funding of our state agencies and environmental programs. We will also take a broad look at the prospects for our legislative priorities as we look ahead to the second year of the current legislative session in Harrisburg. We will want to know the implications for the legislative agenda as we enter the campaign season and the November election. We welcome any members of your chapter or chapter board to participate! Please register to participate using the link below!

Council News and Updates

WHO’S WHO IN YOUR CHAPTER?

Keep Us Apprised of Your Leadership Changes!

Special thanks to those of you who have sent us the names and contact information of new board and/or committee members for additions to our DRUMMER mailing list. Some of our chapters operate on a fiscal year and conduct elections in May and June. Others operate on a calendar year and conduct elections in December or January. Please provide the names and email contacts for changes or updates of your officers and board members so that they can be added to the mailing list for the DRUMMER. Send contact information to paauduboncouncil@gmail.com.

PENNSYLVANIA AUDUBON COUNCIL FACEBOOK PAGE!

Share Your Chapter’s Highlights

The Pennsylvania Audubon Council has a Facebook Page that is available for the public to view. Permission to post to the Council Facebook is restricted but we provide access to individuals from chapters to share chapter Facebook posts with the Council. We look to share their Facebook posts about upcoming chapter programs and events. We encourage posts that document chapter activities like field trips, community outreach, educational programs, and similar items. Chapter newsletter editors, webmasters, social media captains, officers, or others may request permission to post through our Facebook. Please take the time to request access! We want our Facebook to demonstrate the vibrancy and breadth of the work our chapters are doing! Send Facebook access requests to paauduboncouncil@gmail.com.