Dear readers,
Happy summer! As we welcome new ASO board members and officers, I want to take a moment to introduce myself and share some of the values that guide our leadership team.
Growing up in St. Louis, I had a sense for how precious native ecosystems are from an early age, thanks to my parents. Despite Missouri’s heritage as a prairie state, very little tallgrass habitat remains. When I moved to Omaha in 2016 to study for my master’s degree in biology at UNO, I was excited to learn about several grassland preserves just a short drive from downtown. I trained in the company of outstanding conservation biologists who cared deeply about understanding and protecting the unique grassland ecosystems all around us.
Since graduate school, I have focused on communicating how to take action to protect birds and other wildlife, including three years as the managing producer of BirdNote Daily, a public radio program and podcast. My participation in ASO is an extension of that goal to communicate and spread awareness. I believe effective action begins at the local level through community building.
More recently, my wife and I have been grateful to start introducing our two-year-old son to the natural world. I have already learned so much from him about how early relationships with nature begin with small moments in the backyard with a Mourning Dove pecking for seeds. That’s partly why I see events like ASO’s Student Art Show as crucial opportunities to connect young people to the world of birds.
ASO seeks to educate and inspire people to protect wildlife. We are a volunteer-led organization that depends on our members’ generosity and enthusiasm. We accomplish our mission through free educational programs and field trips all over the metro area. We also support our student chapter, the UNO Conservation Society, in their on-campus efforts. We encourage members who think they might want to lead an event or volunteer with us to get in touch — visit our website, Audubon-Omaha.org, and click “Get Involved.”
While we live in uncertain times, the National Audubon Society is clear about its commitments to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. ASO shares those commitments. We believe the environmental movement is for everyone, especially those who have historically been excluded from it due to their backgrounds or identities. We are working to share our love for birds and all wildlife with the broadest community possible, and we invite you to join us in this effort.
