[Birdtalk] Ogden Nature Center Board Meeting Tonight - Now Open toMEMBERS and MEDIA

Thu Jan 22 11:12:15 MST 2009

Here is the official statement from the ONC:

OGDEN, UTAH, Jan. 20, 2009 

Because of a very tight budget year in 2008 and even less income expected in
2009, the Nature Center¹s Board of Directors grappled last night with how to
cut over $100,000 from its annual budget. ³We are faced with the reality of
less funding, and the need to shrink our budget significantly,² said Mary
McKinley, Executive Director. ³We are concerned with how the needs of
wildlife will be met in the future and recognize the need in our community.²

During the meeting, very passionate bird rehabilitation staff and
volunteers, along with concerned citizens were encouraged to express how
bird rehabilitation has touched their lives and educated their families
about wildlife.

As a solution to this dilemma, The Ogden Nature Center Board of Directors
voted to stipend $12,000 to be spent on transitioning the Bird
Rehabilitation Program into an independent organization which will serve the
Northern Utah community with caring for wild birds that have been injured or
orphaned.

The Nature Center voted to form an ad hoc committee, comprised of six Board
Members to help with the transition.  The Nature Center hopes to be a sister
organization and aid in a successful launch of a dedicated bird
rehabilitation organization.

The Nature Center will continue to focus on its wide-ranging nature
education programs which teach citizens about the environment. More than
10,000 local school children participate in field trips at the Nature Center
each year, using the 152-acre nature preserve as an outdoor classroom.

The live birds of prey and other animals on display at the Nature Center
will continue to be an integral part of the Center.  All resident animals
will continue to reside at the Nature Center and carry on with their role of
helping to teach our community about wildlife.

The Nature Center will care on-site for wild birds, until the new
organization takes flight.

Donations for all programs are needed.  Contributions are accepted at the
Ogden Nature Center¹s website, www.ogdennaturecenter.org
<http://www.ogdennaturecenter.org/> , or by mailing to Ogden Nature Center,
966 W. 12th St., Ogden, Utah 84404.

On Thu, Jan 22, 2009 at 9:15 AM, MarJean Muhlestein <wingsnwind at msn.com>wrote:

>  I was unable to attend this meeting due to another...could someone please
> fill us in.
> Thanks
> MarJean
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Jeff Bilsky <jbilsky at gmail.com>
> *To:* Birdtalk <Birdtalk at utahbirds.org>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 21, 2009 1:22 PM
> *Subject:* [Birdtalk] Ogden Nature Center Board Meeting Tonight - Now Open
> toMEMBERS and MEDIA
>
> I just received word that the Ogden Nature Center Board meeting scheduled
> for tonight is now OPEN to members and to the media. It begins at 5:30 pm
> and usually they run for a couple of hours. Directions are on the left hand
> side of their home page: http://www.ogdennaturecenter.org/
>
> A great opportunity to show your support for the Bird Rehab program if you
> are willing and able.
>
> Thank you.
>
>
> On Tue, Jan 20, 2009 at 4:28 PM, DaLyn Erickson <
> wildlife at ogdennaturecenter.org> wrote:
>
>>  I apologize to the group for somewhat of a soapbox post but their seems
>> to be some with a misconception about what would be lost with the loss of
>> the Ogden Nature Center Bird Rehab Program.  I would like to offer these
>> thoughts and opinions.
>>
>>
>>
>> The bird rehabilitation center brings in thousands of people into the
>> Ogden Nature Center, most are first time visitors. These people buy
>> memberships, attend events and community programs, donate funds, materials,
>> and volunteer time which help support the Nature Center as a whole.
>>
>>
>>
>> It also provides a volunteer opportunity to hundreds of volunteers.
>> Several of them have even taken Dr. Cavitt's classes because they found an
>> injured bird and that sparked an interest so they volunteered and decided to
>> continue their education. They learn about animal husbandry, diets of native
>> species, behaviors of native species, avian anatomy, habitats, environmental
>> impacts, and much more, including life skills (responsibility, patience,
>> public communication skills, phone skills, math..............????). All of
>> these people learning and talking does have an environmental impact. One of
>> our volunteers started at age 15 and is now in attending Colorado State to
>> become a veterinarian.  We have had volunteers that have been nature lovers
>> and gardeners since childhood who until volunteering with the rehab program
>> have never really saw the light (the impact of fertilizers, herbicides,
>> pesticides on their small little eco-systems...their yards) and now allow a
>> few weeds and bugs in their yard and by withholding these chemicals and have
>> noticed the positive change with the return of aquatic life and amphibians
>> and have watched the birds removing "pests" from lawns and vegetation.
>>
>>
>>
>> When an injured bird is found and brought into the Ogden Nature Center, it
>> is often accompanied by 3-5 people. At that time we have the opportunity to
>> educate them about the bird. What kind of bird is it? What does it eat?
>> Where does it normally live? The list of questions go on and on. We are able
>> to educate them as to their impacts and what they can do to limit them.
>> People are incredibly receptive to the information being given because they
>> care about the bird they just found and want to ensure no others fall into
>> the same situation.  We also use that opportunity to enlighten them on the
>> Nature Center's other treasures; the 152 acres, walking trails, ponds,
>> wildlife, our resident animals, family picnic opportunities right in the
>> heart of Ogden without having to travel for miles to "get away" and of
>> course all the on-going community programs--most state, "I never knew this
>> place existed".
>>
>>
>>
>> Will we save a species?  Likely not.  But what we do provide is hope to
>> the community and place to relieve the huge stress of "what to do" with this
>> poor helpless, suffering animal in their hands and the huge opportunity to
>> educate, educate, educate in unlimited directions with unlimited
>> possibilities to its positive effects on the communities of Northern Utah
>> and beyond.
>>
>>
>>
>> The combination of these things does have an environmental impact and in
>> my opinion is priceless.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> DaLyn
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> Birdtalk at utahbirds.org
>> http://utahbirds.org/mailman/listinfo/birdtalk
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Jeff Bilsky
> Salt Lake City
> jbilsky at gmail.com
>
>
>
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>
>

-- 
Jeff Bilsky
Salt Lake City
jbilsky at gmail.com
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