Cats kill an estimated 2.7 billion birds a year in the US. They are the greatest threat to birds in North America — killing more birds than the loss of habitat, climate change, wind energy, and building strikes. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of the magnitude of the problem.

Please join me on a journey to our Cuming City Prairie! Through my work at Fontenelle Forest and as an ASO volunteer, I have visited this prairie several times and would love to take you there in person. But until we can do so safely, let’s gather on the page! And let’s make our sojourn more about the experience than analysis.

During my time on the leadership team, Audubon Society of Omaha has worked strategically to actively promote environmental awareness to our community through education, conservation, and enjoyment of our natural heritage, with a special focus on birds.

Each year Audubon Society of Omaha elects or re-elects officers and directors. Here are the results for the term that starts July 1, 2021:

They are, virtually, Best of Show. Don’t wait another minute to mosey through the galleries on display during the 2021 Audubon Society of Omaha Student Art Show at audubon-omaha.org. Posted April 5, the more than 300 entries have amazed and delighted site visitors and judges, who awarded more than 200 prizes for Excellence and Merit.

Neotropical migrants pass through in May and are considered favorites by many for the vivid varieties of color in their plumage.

Like Yogi, Smokey is smarter than the average bear. Visit smokeybear.com, and you’ll see that, “Prescribed fires help reduce the catastrophic damage of wildfire on our lands and surrounding communities by:

Entries for ASO’s 2021 Online Student Art Contest were accepted through March 1. This year’s show will be available to view in an online gallery via the Special Events tab on our website starting April 5.

Help birds by installing rooftop solar panels. It’s never been so easy. Every day, the sun channels energy onto your roof. Solar panels let you capture some of that energy and use it to power your home, business, or electric car while lowering your electricity bill. By switching to solar power, you’ll reduce the carbon pollution behind climate change that threatens many birds, and their habitats.

INTERACTING WITH THE BIRD WORLD IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

As we pass the one-year anniversary of the arrival of Covid-19 in the U.S., it is a good time to reflect on how it has affected the birding world that so many of us enjoy. Unlike many aspects of our daily lives, the pandemic has had a largely positive effect on birdwatching.