Those of you who participate -- or want to participate -- in Christmas Bird Counts may be interested in taking a survey recently released by Audubon. If you haven't seen this already, click on the link below (scroll down to see it) to take the survey. Note that you do not have to be an Audubon member to take the survey. It takes only a few minutes. Bill Heck ---------- Forwarded message ---------- ** Having trouble viewing this email? Read it in on the Web<http://eidertrk.audubon.org/trk/r.emt?h=chapterservices.audubon.org/news%2Dannouncements&t=4u7w&e=ba&m> . *Chapter Leader Update Wednesday, May 9, 2012* Chapter Services | 30 Fort Missoula | Missoula, MT 59804 | (800) 542-2748 | [log in to unmask] ------------------------------ *In this issue:* - The Christmas Bird Count Wants Your Opinion! - Audubon Opposes Rule Change for Eagle Permits - Chapter Leader Orientation Webinar May 16th ------------------------------ <http://eidertrk.audubon.org/trk/r.emt?h=www.audubon.org/newsroom/press%2Dreleases/2012/audubon%2Dwarns%2Dagainst%2Dreckless%2Ddrilling%2Darctic&t=4u7w&e=ba&m> *Cedar Waxwings by Cathy Ellis* *The Christmas Bird Count wants your opinion!* The 112-year CBC tradition has been instrumental in the conservation of birds throughout the western hemisphere. Audubon wants to hear from anyone interested in the CBC to help inform some next steps for this important Citizen Science program. **** **** Click here to take our brief survey<http://eidertrk.audubon.org/trk/r.emt?s=www.surveymonkey.com/s/YZ8K2G3&t=4u7w&e=ba&m> The survey should take less than 10 minutes and will be available until May 15, 2012. ------------------------------ ** *Audubon Opposes Rule Change for Eagle Permits* Chapter Sign-On Letter Coming Soon**** The wind industry has asked the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to change the required permit for taking of golden and bald eagles at wind facilities from five years to 30 years. Audubon is preparing comments on this proposed change, and will be seeking sign-ons from our chapters and state offices before filing them with USFWS. We hope your chapter will consider signing on to our comments. Audubon opposes a 30 year term, and we have already conveyed that position to both the USFWS and the wind industry. Audubon believes such a lengthy term is inconsistent with the protection of eagles. There is simply too much uncertainty over the status of eagle populations to commit to such long time frames and the proposal may constrain future adaptive management action. We also will be calling attention to the many significant data gaps that impede effective management of eagle populations as required of the USFWS under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Ensuring that the Service has sufficient funds to carry out this work, as well as the need for a better array of mitigation options, will also be included in our comments. Look for a Chapter sign-on letter in June. ------------------------------ *Chapter Leader Orientation Webinar * *May 16th at 3pm Pacific/4pm Mountain/ 5pm Central6pm Eastern* This webinar will orient you to the services and resources that National Audubon provides to Chapters. If you are new to your role as a Chapter officer, staff, board member or committee chair, we recommend that you participate in this training opportunity. Register for the Chapter Leader Orientation and see our list of archived and upcoming webinars: http://ow.ly/aO6fP<http://eidertrk.audubon.org/trk/r.emt?h=ow.ly/aO6fP&t=4u7w&e=ba&m> ------------------------------ Connect with Audubon Chapters on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/groups/audubonchapters/<http://eidertrk.audubon.org/trk/r.emt?h=www.facebook.com/groups/audubonchapters/&t=4u7w&e=ba&m> ------------------------------ If you are no longer an Audubon Chapter leader, please click here<[log in to unmask]@gmail.com>to unsubscribe from these mailings. If you are still a Chapter leader, but do not wish to continue receiving news and information from Audubon Chapter Services, please click here <[log in to unmask]@gmail.com>to unsubscribe. -- Bill Heck ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]