CMAS is a group of concerned citizens who are committed to the preservation of a clean and healthy environment for people and wildlife. We believe in the preservation of unpolluted lakes, rivers, and forests and the continued existence of critical habitat for birds and other wild life. We offer friendship, good company, and the chance to make a difference.


OUR NEWSLETTER

The Green-Backed Gazette, is published September through May. Currently, Ralph Gundersen serves as the editor. the Green-Backed Gazette contains notices of upcoming field trips, monthly seminars and other activities. In addition you will find many interesting articles on conservation, natural history, and news about conservation efforts in the Central Minnesota region.
As a member of the National Audubon Society, your subscription to the Green-Backed Gazette is mailed to you at no charge.
Members are encouraged to contribute articles.


MEETINGS

Monthly meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month during the school year at the Unitarian Fellowship, which is located at 3226 Maine Prairie Road, St. Cloud. Meetings feature guest speakers, updates on local conservation activities, a program, and time to socialize with new and old friends over refreshments. See the program announcement for specific details regarding the guest speaker, changes in time or location, or other inportant information.


FIELD TRIPS

Periodically, CMAS sponsors field trips which are announced in our newsletter, the Green-Backed Gazette and at the monthly meetings. Past field trips have included bird watching, cross country skiing, trips to museums and zoos, and night owling trips.


EDUCATION


CMAS is actively involved with environmental education. We sponsor over 30 Audubon Adventure classrooms. Audubon Adventures reflects the science standards set by the National Academy of Sciences for grades 4 and up. Audubon Adventures are designed to help students achieve science and environmental literacy at a cost of about $35 per classroom. If you are an interested teacher, operate a homeschool, or are interested in sponsoring and Audubon Adventure classroom for a school in your area then please contact us for more information.

In addition we sponsor old nature workshops, and support local environmental education efforts as well as the Audubon Center of the North Woods.


CONSERVATION


The CMAS Conservation Committee monitors environmental issues in the community and throughout the state. We are concerned with issues such as wetlands preservation, land use planning, and water quality. Visit the following sites for information about some national issues:

National Audubon Society Campaign Page

Natural Resources Defense Council's Biogems Web Site


BIRD COUNTS

Every year CMAS participates in the Christmas Bird Count, a nationwide census of winter birds. In May we participate in the Migratory Bird Count. Click on the button below for data from the last Christmas Bird Count.  

QUARRY PARK

Stearns County is in the process of developing this new park. CMAS did a detailed ecological survey of the park and is continuing to participate in the development of Quarry Park.


NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY

The Audubon Society was founded in 1886 by George Bird Grinnell in response to the slaughter and exploitation of birds for their plumage, eggs, and stuffed specimens. Although this first organization was disbanded in 1888, new 'Audubon' organizations continued to form in a number of states. In 1905 the various state organizations were incorporated into the National Association of Audubon Societies for the Protection of Wild Birds and Animals. Currently, there are more than 600,000 members of the National Audubon Society who belong to more than 500 Chapters, such as CMAS. In addition to an emphasis on birds, the NAS has evolved into one of the worlds most respected environmental groups.

The goals of the NAS are to:

• Conserve wildlife and their habitats
• Promote regional strategies for energy use
• Protect all life from pollution, radiation
• Further the use of land and water

• The NAS maintains 80 nature sanctuaries and six nature centers throughout the country. These sanctuaries protect more than a quarter of a million acres.
• The NAS publishes its award-winning magazine, Audubon and American Birds.
• The NAS sponsors many educational programs such as the following: Summer ecology camps, Nature Education centers, Audubon Expedition Institute, Audubon Television Specials, the Audubon Travel Program.
• The extensive network of Audubon chapters provides a means for enlisting local action on environment issues. Action alerts keep members informed about timely environmental issues.

• The National Audubon Society
• The Minnesota Audubon Council works to preserve and enhance the ecological diversity of the environment through education and public policy.
• The Birds of America , an online version of John James Audubon's original work.
• Birding from GORP provides information and resources on birds.
• Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology seeks to interpret and help conserve the earth's biological diversity through research and education focused on birds.
• BIRDNET provides information about ornithology and the scientific study of birds.
• Hummingbirds provides information on attracting, watching, feeding, and studying North American hummingbirds.
• EE Link provides lists of web sites and other information about Environmental Education.
• Audubon Center of the North Woods The Audubon Center of the North Woods is a 535 acre sanctuary located on Grindstone Lake, MN. The Center has offered residential programs in environmental education since 1971.
• NEARCTICA Web Site is a website which brings together a large amount of web based information about the natural sciences.

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