President’s Letter: Navigating a Changed World
By Lori Danielson
With lots of time at home right now, I was reminiscing back to May of last year and the time I spent with so many of you. Just twelve months ago, I was on my first ever trip to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge with my two best birding buddies, excited to do my first Big Day: a quest to see as many birds as possible in one day to support Eastside Audubon’s biggest fundraiser of the year—Birdathon. In that beautiful and amazingly “birdy” location, I traversed many miles of the refuge and saw 81 species of birds on my Big Day, supported by my two friends. Thanks to the pledges and the generosity of my network of family and friends, the achievement financially supported Eastside Audubon’s conservation, education, and advocacy programs.
May of last year wasn’t just a busy time for me. With help from volunteers and friends, Eastside Audubon was busy with several events last May. The chapter held ten Birdathon bird walks for the annual fundraiser, which connected community members with our local birds. Birdathon also included Big Days by several teams who performed marathon efforts to spot birds and raise money. At our spring native plant sale, numerous plants were sold to enhance local yards and gardens, creating more bird-friendly habitat. Our Youth Education Committee participated in the Kids to Parks Day, a nationwide event to encourage kids to get outdoors. Eastside Audubon also helped to celebrate the Oxbow Farm’s Spring Welcome with a booth at the Carnation farm. And the Habitat Stewards led the monthly habitat restoration work party at Marymoor Park that put nearly 40 volunteers to work restoring bird habitat. These events were all part of the regular rhythm of our year and ways in which our supporters help us fulfill our mission and stay connected to our community.
Last May feels like a lifetime ago now. Life for our chapter and the work we accomplish through you has changed dramatically. This month we’ve had to push the pause button on birding walks, field trips, chapter gatherings and more. We can’t share the joy of birds together as a community in the ways we always have. Individually, we’re faced with the need to create new ways to stay in touch and support the people and communities that are important to us. I know the people I have met and the friendships I have made through Eastside Audubon have been at the front of my mind often these last few weeks.
Eastside Audubon, too, is working to find new ways to keep you connected to nature and the community we share. Your dedication to protecting our natural ecosystems and the wildlife that depend on them is what will see us through this tough time. Thank you for continuing to be such a passionate advocate for our planet.
Continue to stay healthy and lean on your birding community for connection. I look forward to the time when we all can be together again.