We're very excited to share the news about the great press coverage that UNCA Audubon, Blue Ridge Audubon and the Coalition for a Bird-Friendly Asheville received in the October 6 issue of Mountain Xpress. The article covered the wonderful work being done to make Asheville safer for migrating birds through a "lights out" initiative. This effort has been spearheaded by a committed group who have spoken before the Asheville City Council about this issue. The project’s aim is to protect birds from window strikes with the implementation of measures to support their safety during their migrations through bird-safe window treatments and a lights-out commitment.

A special shout out goes to UNCA Audubon president Sarah Branagan and to Paulina Jones, UNCA student who collected data on bird window strikes on campus. They're both featured in the article. Please take the time to read the article and appreciate the work these students and others are doing to make a safer city for birds a reality.

That’s the sound of a bird hitting your window, and it’s been going on for far too long. At the same time, Daniel Klem, Professor of Ornithology and Conservation Biology at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania, has been following and researching the “glass-and-bird scene” for nearly a half century, and the response to his work over the years has evolved, from openly dismissive to currently valued and sought. Now, Dr. Klem has provided us with a narrative of the cause combined with tested solutions in Solid Air – Invisible Killer: Saving Billions of Birds from Windows (2021, Hancock House).The book’s contents progresses from how birds see, to the enormity of the glass-impact problem, to the sad autopsies of the victims, and the seriousness of convincing the public about the extent of the problem.

This article is from the October 2021 Birding Community E-Bulletin, an email newsletter concerning birds, birding and bird conservation. Co-edited by Paul Baicich and Wayne Petersen, it’s full of up-to-date information. Check out past issues and subscribe here: https://www.refugeassociation.org/birding-community-e-bulletin

This Monday, November 15th at 7 p.m., join Blue Ridge Audubon along with other chapters from across for an evening of inspiration and advocacy planning! We’ll share stories about our biggest wins for birds over the past year and plot a path forward for even bigger victories in 2022.

Register now: https://bit.ly/3zPZzNT

Good News! Soon your car will not drop into that hole upon entering the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary parking lot. Blue Ridge Audubon is getting the paved parking lot redone. Paving will begin sometime in November and the parking lot will be closed for 4-5 days. When we know the dates, we'll post on our facebook page and send a notice to the listserv.

During the month of October, after a reopening of the Burton Street Community Center in Asheville, Blue Ridge Audubon donated kids’ backpacks filled with binoculars and birding guides. Children from under-served communities participate in after-school programs and, although they have held bird outings in the past, they now have new supplies to use for future birding activities.

Blue Ridge Audubon also provided materials in English and Spanish for birding-themed sheets to color and other adventures. Funding for this initiative was provided primarily from an Audubon Collaborative Grant and also from donations from our membership. Thank you for supporting our ongoing efforts to reach out to our local communities and share our love of birds and nature!