Thanks to our BEN Bulletin
sponsor:
The Bird Education Network (BEN) was
created following the February 2007 National Gathering, hosted
by the Council for Environmental Education (CEE). BEN is a CEE
initiative that seeks to connect and support a community of
bird education professionals.
Over 3,000 individuals representing
300 organizations receive communications and engage in
professional dialogue through the BEN-run Bird Education
Listserv.
A BEN Committee has been established to
provide advice and guidance for this important initiative, to
advance "bird conservation through
education." |
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 The 2010 Roger Tory
Peterson Nature Education Achievement
Award
The Roger Tory
Peterson Institute (RTPI) is accepting nominations now
through April 30 for the 2010 Roger Tory Peterson Nature
Education Achievement Awards. RTPI seeks to honor Roger
Tory Peterson (1908-1996), the great nature educator of
the 20th century, by discovering and recognizing those
who are continuing in his footsteps.
For more information,
including how to submit a nomination for the
2010 RTP Nature Education Achievement Awards, click here. The
deadline is April 30. A panel
of judges that includes Peterson Institute staff,
advisors, and research associates will review the
application of each Peterson Certificate
nominee. The Peterson
Institute will notify 2010 Awardees by June 30 and will
announce recipients at the Peterson Institute Annual
Meeting in August
2010.
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 2010 Federal Junior Duck Stamp
Winner Announced
The
2010 Federal Junior Duck Stamp
Contest winners were recently announced by U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service April 23rd. This marks the 18th year
for this program which combines art and science to teach
wetland habitat and waterfowl conservation to students
in kindergarten through high
school.
The program incorporates
scientific and wildlife management principles into a
visual arts curriculum with participants completing a
Junior Duck Stamp design as their visual "term papers."
Today, all 52 states and territories are involved in the
program with participation by more than 28,000 students.
 On April 23rd judges
deliberated to select one winning design from all "Best
of Show" art entries. The stunning Hooded Merganser with
autumn foliage was chosen for the 2010-2011Federal
Junior Duck Stamp. Eighteen year old, Columbus, Ohio
student, Rui Huang took first place, making this the
second year in a row for an Ohio artist to be selected.
Second place went to Ciara
Davis, age 18, from Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Third place
went to Miri Kim, age 15 from Charlestown, Rhode Island.
The Junior Duck Stamp Conservation message winner was
Patrick Hull from Arizona with his
entry:
"Wildlife speaks only the
truth about our planet's future, but our greatest
challenge is learning to listen."
Junior Duck Stamps can be purchased
through the United States Postal Service's website and many of their post office
locations, Amplex Corporation's website, and many National
Wildlife Refuges.
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 IMBD
May 8, 2010:
Power of Partnerships in
Bird Conservation
International
Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) celebrates and brings
attention to one of the most important and spectacular
events in the Americas - bird migration. Bird Day
is celebrated in Canada, the United States, Mexico,
Central and South America, and the Caribbean. This
year's theme focuses on the importance partnerships
play in bird conservation efforts.
IMBD
2010 officially takes place on Saturday, May
8th in the U.S. and Canada and in
October in Mexico, Central and South America, and the
Caribbean each year.
Why Celebrate Migratory
Birds?
Public awareness and
concern are crucial components of migratory bird
conservation. Citizens who are enthusiastic about birds,
informed about threats, and empowered to become involved
in addressing those threats, can make a tremendous
contribution to maintaining healthy bird populations. By
modeling what can be done and involving people, their
interest and involvement in stewardship can grow. One of
the most successful vehicles for public education on
migratory birds is International Migratory Bird Day
(IMBD). Across the Americas Bird Day events (i.e.
habitat projects, bird education, bird conservation,
birdwatching and bird festivals) are providing great
ways for people to get involved.
For more information
about International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) visit
www.birdday.org. |
 The Federal Bird-Safe Buildings Act
of 2010
As many as one billion birds, both
residents and migrants, die annually in the United
States after colliding with buildings.
A new bill, the
Federal Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2010 (H.R.
4797), calls for each public building newly constructed,
acquired, or altered by the federal government to
incorporate, to the maximum extent possible, bird-safe
building materials and design features. The legislation
would require the government to take similar actions on
existing buildings where practicable. This has already
been demonstrated to be attainable, as some newer
government buildings are already bird-friendly. This
bill will help prevent the deaths of millions
of birds that collide with windows at thousands of
federal buildings across the country.
For more information or to send a letter to your
representative, click here. Bird educators
may also refer to a helpful handout by the American
Bird Conservancy on how to save birds from flying into
windows by clicking here.
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For more
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