Now in its fifth year, Mass Audubon’s annual photography contest, Picture This: Your Great Outdoors, has evolved into a “must” for hundreds of photographers eager to express a love of nature through their images. After reviewing more than 2,000 entries, judges chose Arindam Ghosh of Framingham as the 2014 Grand Prize Winner for his picture of a male mallard duck, wings spread and seemingly standing on water.
People now have a quick and easy way to shrink their household carbon footprint. They can support sustainable energy sources for home electricity—and move away from fossil fuels—by signing up for “Make the Switch,” a partnership between Mass Audubon and the nonprofit Massachusetts Energy Consumers Alliance (Mass Energy).
In her keynote address before Mass Audubon’s Annual Meeting Friday evening, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy exhorted the audience to stand up for a healthy environment.
The more than 200 Mass Audubon members, other conservation advocates, and environmental leaders assembled in Kirsch Auditorium at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology took McCarthy literally, rising to their feet on multiple occasions to applaud her message.
Mass Audubon has appointed Karen Stein Director of its Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary in Sharon, the respected conservation organization’s very first sanctuary, dating back more than 98 years.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy will be the keynote speaker at Mass Audubon’s Annual Meeting this Friday, November 7 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the respected conservation organization has announced.
Photographers have until Tuesday, September 30 to submit images to Mass Audubon's annual statewide photo contest, Picture This: Your Great Outdoors, which attracts thousands of entries from hundreds of photographers of all abilities, ages, and backgrounds.
Mass Audubon has just released Losing Ground: Planning for Resilience, which documents land use patterns in Massachusetts from 2005-2013 and shows that while development slowed in that period, 13 acres per day were lost and the rate of development is once again picking up as the economy recovers.
For the first time, the challenges of climate change thread through a Losing Ground document, most notably in its call for identification and protection of climate-resilient landscapes.
Mass Audubon’s Statewide Volunteer Day Saturday, April 26, attracted an estimated 450 enthusiasts to spring-cleaning projects at 16 of the respected conservation organization’s statewide network of wildlife sanctuaries.
Volunteers showed a commitment to the annual gathering’s theme, “Work for Wildlife,” by clearing trails, removing brush, preparing gardens, and otherwise getting things “shipshape” at the sanctuaries in time for the warm-weather months.
Jan Adams, a respected figure in nonprofit financial guidance, philanthropic planning, and charitable asset allocation, has been appointed Mass Audubon's Director of Planned Giving.
As nonprofits continue to meet the challenges of a still-recovering economy, the appointment of Ms. Adams further strengthens Mass Audubon’s commitment to engaging members and other donors with sophisticated charitable gift and estate planning options.
Mass Audubon has appointed Becky Cushing as Berkshire Sanctuaries Director, succeeding 29-year veteran René Laubach. Cushing will oversee Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Lenox, as well as Canoe Meadows and Lime Kiln wildlife sanctuaries in Pittsfield and Sheffield, respectively.
Mass Audubon’s annual Bird-a-thon, a friendly fundraising competition to support conservation throughout the state, is again expected to inspire hundreds of dedicated enthusiasts on Friday and Saturday, May 16-17. The statewide contest, Mass Audubon’s single largest annual fundraising event, challenges teams of birders see or hear the most species in 24 hours.
Mass Audubon invites photographers of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to enter its statewide photo contest, “Picture This: Your Great Outdoors,” and connect with nature while portraying the beauty of the Bay State.
The contest, which runs April through September, annually encourages shutterbugs to reveal the Commonwealth’s natural wonders, large and small: mist-filled valleys and nesting birds, wildflower meadows and people enjoying the outdoors.
Mass Audubon eighth-annual Statewide Volunteer Day takes place Saturday, April 26, at 16 wildlife sanctuaries. The volunteer event has become a rite of spring for hundreds of Mass Audubon members and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages who are eager to help their favorite sanctuaries get ready for the busy outdoor season.
Mass Audubon has been honored by the Environmental League of Massachusetts for its support of the state Endangered Species Act and commitment to vulnerable plants and animals. The longtime conservation leader will be presented with a Green Star award by the Environmental League at its annual Earth Night Gala, to be held Saturday evening, April 5.
Last Saturday’s Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference, for which Mass Audubon was a major sponsor, drew more than 540 environmental advocates, the largest turnout in the Conference’s 24-year history.
On March 15, Mass Audubon’s Norman Smith released the 100th snowy owl to be captured at Boston's Logan International Airport. The large, white raptor named "Century" was released at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Newburyport.
The Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference, convened annually by the Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition and taking place Saturday, March 22, at Worcester Technical High School, will feature more than 30 workshops designed to connect people with nature, including a presentation on greater access to the outdoors for individuals with disabilities.
The annual Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference, the nation’s largest regional gathering of environmental advocates, returns Saturday, March 22 to Worcester Technical High School for a full day of workshops on improving our quality of life through land protection.
The Mass Audubon Birders Meeting, now in its 22nd year, takes place Saturday, March 8, at Bentley University in Waltham. The Birders Meeting has long been one of the most popular regional gatherings of people who appreciate birds and the habitats they depend upon, and who understand the role birdlife can play in connecting people with nature.
Help keep bird populations strong and healthy throughout the coldest season and all year long by participating in Mass Audubon’s annual Focus on Feeders statewide winter bird count Saturday and Sunday, February 1-2.