Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis

History:

In 1939 the Minneapolis Public Library organized seven science clubs for citizens interested in various aspects of the natural environment.  One of these, the Minneapolis Bird Club, met monthly and went on birdwatching field trips.  In 1949, the Minneapolis Bird Club became a branch of the National Audubon Society, and in 1975 the name was changed to the Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis.

Membership:

The Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis currently has about 2,500 members.  Of these, about 200 participate in a variety of activities, from field trips to attending program meetings to helping with conservation efforts.  The remainder help with the important job of supporting Audubon in its conservation and education efforts nationally, statewide, and locally.

You can become a member of Audubon, or  support the efforts of Audubon through a cash donation, by following this link  (link will be added in the near future).

Conservation:

Our Conservation Committee is currently involved in helping in removal of invasive species, such as buckthorn and garlic mustard, that crowd out native plants and are less conducive to survival of both migratory and locally nesting birds.

Education and Field Trips:

The first bird class was held in 1939 and continues today.  We offer field trips led by expert birders to a variety of Minnesota’s habitats.  We also supply curriculum materials called “Audubon Adventures” to elementary classrooms in our area.

Bluebird Recovery Program:

This nationally recognized program was formed in 1978 with the goal of restoring bluebird populations in Minnesota.   We have had significant success in bringing back the bluebird populations with the erection and monitoring of nestboxes around the state.  (Link to field trips will be added at a later date).

Chapter Meetings:

Chapter meetings are held at Mayflower Church at I35W and Diamond Lake Road on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. from September through May.  Program speakers cover a wide variety of birding, nature, and conservation interests, and are an excellent way to meet other birding enthusiasts.