Finally, we have rain on the prairie. As you may know, the past few months have been incredibly dry here at Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center. Fires have burned on neighboring properties, and the constant threat of those flames left me feeling ready for winter – but then the rain came. I spent a few moments outside in the tall grass, listening to the water droplets dissipate in the grasses around me.

It's been a busy summer! We’ve had tons of people out learning about bugs, wildlife, and birds. Recently, we’ve been honing our programing on bird research and science. In June, we had a Motus tower installed at the Center. “Motus” is Latin for movement or motion, and the tower tracks banded birds that fly within a certain radius. We’ve utilized this new system in our education programming by having kids band stuffed animal birds to learn about how the band connects to the Motus receiver and contributes to bird science across the hemisphere.

This idea of connectedness has been a recurring theme at Audubon as we dive into Flight Plan: Our ambitious strategic plan that emphasizes how people connect through birds. Through measurable climate science, habitat conservation, community building, and policy work, we aim to increase bird populations and reverse the extreme decline birds have been experiencing throughout the last one hundred years.

At Spring Creek Prairie, we focus on habitat conservation and community building. We steward over 1,000 acres of native tallgrass prairie, covering a variety of ecosystems like grassland, wetland, and riparian woodland. Staff and volunteers remain busy removing cedar trees, creating grazing plans, and burning sections of tallgrass to improve and maintain these critical habitats. We build relationships with nearby landowners, local education and indigenous leaders, and visitors to our center, whether for the first time or the hundredth.

I’m hopeful that the rain continues to fall for a few more days, saturating the ground and satiating the native roots across our grassland. Thank you for being part of our community and joining us in bending the bird curve, and in doing so, protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.