Category Archives: Get Involved

In Response to News About Paris Climate Accord

Posted on May 31, 2017 by Mass Audubon

A message from Mass Audubon’s President, Gary Clayton. 

I am extremely disappointed at the news that President Trump is considering withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord, which is a massive step backward from confronting the greatest environmental threat to the planet.

As the world’s second largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions, the U.S. should be setting an example for the world in combating increasing global temperatures and the devastating impacts it will cause such as catastrophic weather events, sea-level rise, and rampant disease.

Abandoning the Accord would put America alone with Syria and Nicaragua (the only countries not officially participating in the deal). More disturbing, it turns our back on 194 other nations that remain steadfast to ensuring the Earth’s health and geo-political stability.

Mass Audubon, founded more than 120 years ago by a pair of women who pledged to speak out on behalf of the environment and biodiversity, today honors their legacy in re-asserting our commitment to protect the nature of Massachusetts and America for people and wildlife.

President Trump’s disheartening action will only inspire us to re-double our efforts at the state and local levels of government to combat the ill-effects of climate change.

But we need your help.

Talk about climate change with your friends and family, get involved in your communities, protect open space, and stand with Mass Audubon to advocate on behalf of the environment.

UPDATE: On June 1,  2017 President Trump officially withdrew from the Paris Climate Accord.

Help Count Meadowlarks

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Hillary T.

The eastern meadowlark is arguably the grassland bird species that has been hardest hit by the loss of grasslands (think large meadows and farmland) in Massachusetts.

Eastern meadowlark by David Larson

In fact, eastern meadowlarks have disappeared from more than 75 percent of the locations they were found in during the 1979 Breeding Bird Survey.

Mass Audubon’s Bird Conservation team is on a mission to not only protect the remaining meadowlarks, but to also create a plan to increase the population. But they need your help.

Become a Meadowlark Citizen Scientist

Between now and June 15, you can provide valuable data via the Eastern Meadowlark Survey. All you need to do is:

  • Visit a pre-set location 3 times during the early morning hours.
  • Look and listen for eastern meadowlarks (as well as other grassland species including bobolinks and grasshopper sparrows).
  • Record what you did or didn’t see. (Not seeing anything is just as valuable as seeing something)

Get more info on how to participate, see pictures of the grassland birds, and hear the meadowlark song >