more information about Audubon Interna-tional’s Five Year Strategy, or to learn whatyou can do to help, contact Kevin A. Fletcherat kfletcher@audubonintl.org.

Audubon International Sets Five Year Goals

A s 2003 gets underway, Audubon International will forge ahead followingits new Five Year Strategy. The plan lays a foundation for environmen-tal and programmatic efforts and includes a set of far-reaching goals.

Highlights include:

V o l u m e 6 , I s s u e 2 • M a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 0 3

• Increasing environmental enhancementand protection by reinforcing efforts toprotect the ecosystems and watershedswhere our members live, work, and play.

• Fifty in Five Campaign—Having 50%of all golf courses in the United States asmembers in five years.

• Growing Audubon Cooperative Sanc-tuary Programs for businesses andschools by as much as ten times over thenext five years.

• Advancing the Sustainable Commu-nities Program beyond its pilot stageto encourage increased environmentalstewardship and smart growth planningat a municipal level.

• Developing new programs to addressthe environmental needs of homeownersand residential communities, resort com-plexes, and agricultural stakeholders.

• Improving web-based education by pro-viding an increasing amount of envi-ronmental material and information onour website.

“While we’re pleased with the environ-mental progress and membership growth we’veachieved to date, now is the time to surgeahead with very aggressive goals,” states KevinA. Fletcher, Director of Programs & Admin-istration. Fletcher, and the rest of the AudubonInternational staff, developed the Five YearStrategy over a period of six months. For

STEWARDSHIP NEWSSTEWARDSHIP NEWSA P U B L I C A T I O N O F A U D U B O N I N T E R N A T I O N A L

Helping people help the environment in thecommunities in which they live remains at thecore of Audubon International’s programs.

Audubon International recently protected 88 acres of riparian wetland along the Schroon River in NewYork, thanks to the generosity of Ralph and Marsha Kent.

Schroon River Wetlands in New York’s Adirondacks Protected

A long the quiet Schroon River in New York’s Adirondacks, meandering watery pathways lead into fields ofsedges along the shore. Dark, wooded wetlands and forests beyond give the impression that no one has everbeen here before.

Permanent preservation of the SchroonRiver Sanctuary will benefit neighbors byhelping protect the environment and theintegrity of the river, as well as the natural

character of the area. Audubon Internationalintends to maintain the property primarilyas conservation land; it has no immediateplans for public access.

Now, this valuable riverine wetland has beenprotected in perpetuity by Audubon Inter-national, thanks to a generous donation byRalph and Marsha Kent. The 88-acre site,known as Jenks Swamp, includes rivershoreline, emergent and wooded wetlands,shrub swamp, and some areas of upland.

“Given the numerous homes and seasonalcamps located nearby along the shores of theriver, preservation of this property is impor-tant for providing local flood control andwildlife habitat, as well as filtering and trap-ping pollutants,” says Fred Realbuto, Directorof the Audubon Society of New York State.“In the long run, maintaining this naturalsystem along the river will help to mitigatethe impacts that existing development hason the river itself.”

Staring too hard at your goals on the distanthorizon makes you forget to notice the pathyou’re on and celebrate each step along theway. The same could be said for the way manypeople view environmental issues. The con-stant barrage of “doom and gloom” news andthe way environmental problems are framedby activists leaves many people feeling helplessand frustrated. It’s not to say we don’t haveproblems to solve, but people can only takeso much bad news.

David Suzuki and Holly Dressel addressthis in their latest book, Good News for Change,

countering that “the moment has finallyarrived to talk about the solutions to environ-mental decline—about the good news—fora change.” That’s what we’re providing atAudubon International—solutions. And that’swhat’s found in every issue of StewardshipNews—the good news.

Kevin FletcherDirector of Programs and Administration

Dear Members and Supporters,

46 Rarick RoadSelkirk, New York 12158(518) 767-9051www.audubonintl.org

AdministrationRonald Dodson, President,

rdodson@audubonintl.orgKevin Fletcher, Director of Programs and

Administration, kfletcher@audubonintl.orgHoward Jack, Vice President,

hjack@audubonintl.orgMary Jack, Executive Assistant to the

President, mjack@audubonintl.orgPaula Realbuto, Executive Assistant for

Operations, prealbuto@audubonintl.org

Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary SystemJennifer Batza, Membership Secretary,

jbatza@audubonintl.orgPeter Bronski, Staff Ecologist,

pbronski@audubonintl.orgJoellen Zeh, Staff Ecologist,

jzeh@audubonintl.org

Audubon Signature ProgramNancy Richardson, Signature Program

Director, nrichardson@audubonintl.orgLinda Snow, Administrative Assistant,

lsnow@audubonintl.org

Audubon Society of New YorkFred Realbuto, Director,

frealbuto@audubonintl.org

Education DepartmentJean Mackay, Director of Educational Services,

jmackay@audubonintl.org

Environmental Planning DepartmentNatalie Archambault, Administrative

Assistant; natarc@audubonintl.orgKraig Marquis, Sustainable

Communities Coordinator, Florida,kmarquis@audubonintl.org

Alicia Oller, Project Manager,aoller@audubonintl.org

Miles (Bud) Smart, PhD., Director ofEnvironmental Planning,bsmart@audubonintl.org

Larry Woolbright, PhD., Director of Research,lwoolbright@audubonintl.org

MIS DepartmentEric Dodson, Director of MIS,

edodson@audubonintl.orgAlicia Karas, Database Manager,

akaras@audubonintl.org

We begin this issue with a brief summation of Audubon Internation-al’s Five Year Strategy. Some of the things we look to accomplish arebold and aggressive—requiring even more effort by our dedicated

staff, as well as a renewed commitment by our members and supporters.Even though these goals seem lofty, it’s good to remember that this “jour-ney of a thousand miles” begins with a single step.

In This Issue…1 Audubon International News

Learn more about current accomplishments, upcoming events, and member news.

4 Capturing Environmental StewardshipTips and creative ideas to help you make the most of the photos you take.

6 Earth Day All Year RoundUse Earth Day as a catalyst for year round environmental education.

8 Feed Birds, Not Squirrels!Tired of pesky squirrels eating all your bird seed? Find out how to hang your feederto defy the most acrobatic squirrels.

9 The Corridor ConnectionCreate habitat corridors to help wildlife safely travel on your property.

10 Canada’s First “Mom and Pop” Course CertifiedEven golf courses with limited budgets can be operated in an environmentally-friendly manner.

11 Membership NewsWelcome to our newest members and certified properties.

A U D U B O N I N T E R N A T I O N A L N E W S

Teton Pines Country Club and Resort, WY

2 Stewardship News March/April 2003

A ll members of the Audubon Coopera-tive Sanctuary System—including back-yard, school, golf, business, cemetery,

and Signature program members—are invitedto participate in the sixth annual North Amer-ican Birdwatching Open on InternationalMigratory Bird Day, Saturday, May 10, 2003.Over the course of 24-hours, participants iden-tify as many different birds as they can on theirproperties. The data we gather provide usefulinformation about bird species commonlyfound on different types of properties. Membersare encouraged to invite someone experi-enced in bird identification to help, if needed,to contribute to a more accurate count.

To participate, visit our website atwww.audubonintl.org to register and down-load rules and information, as well as abird checklist. If you would like to participate,but do not have internet access, please callJennifer Batza at (518) 767-9051, extension12, to register.

Audubon International’s Dr. Larry Woolbright Assists Hawaii with Invasive Treefrog

A udubon International’s Director ofResearch, Dr. Larry Woolbright,recently was invited to Hawaii to help

government and university scientists evalu-ate a new exotic pest. A Puerto Ricantreefrog known as the coqui apparentlyarrived in Hawaii on a shipment of green-house plants around 1990. In the past twoyears it has spread dramatically, invadingmuch of the Big Island and causing con-cerns of possible ecological damage. Wool-bright is an expert on the ecology of thecoqui. His findings suggest that it is likelyto become extremely common and wide-spread across Hawaii, largely because of alack of frog predators on that island.

Join Us For This Year’s North American Birdwatching Open on May 10!

To Build or Not to Build?

WCI Communities, Inc., the largesthomebuilder in Florida and 10thlargest in the United States, currently

has 10 projects enrolled in Audubon Inter-national’s Sustainable Communities Initiative.As a further step in its commitment to envi-ronmentally responsible development, WCI

is working with Audubon International todevelop guidelines that will help the com-pany decide what properties to purchase.

Dr. Joel Howard, WCI Senior NaturalResource Manager, was in New York inDecember to discuss sustainability criteriawith Audubon International scientific staff.

“WCI is looking to purchase properties thatwill better meet Audubon International’sPrinciples of Sustainability once develop-ment begins,” says Howard. “By choosingproperties carefully, we can better protectthe environment.”

A U D U B O N I N T E R N A T I O N A L N E W S

March/April 2003 Stewardship News 3

Chris Pekarek

Capturing Environmental Stewardship

Pictures speak a thousand words. How true that is when documenting your stewardship activities. Pictures arean excellent way to educate patrons and the general public about what you have done. They also serve as valu-able documentation as you apply for certification. Pictures provide a visual record of projects, help commu-

nicate your plans, and can be used to promote your work. A few simple tips and creative ideas will help you makethe most of the photos you take.

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4 Stewardship News March/April 2003

Wildlife photos like this one, sent to us by ScottGibson of Indian Tree Golf Club in Arvada, CO,help to document the diversity of species pres-ent when applying for certification in Wildlifeand Habitat Management. Close ups of wildlifealso can be used to enhance displays, photoalbums, newsletters, and brochures.

Take advantage of good photo opportunities! Stu-dents learned about the use of biodiesel, an alter-native fuel used to power golf course machinery,during a field trip to Mount Juliet Golf Course inCounty Kilkenny, Ireland. A few good photos byphotographer Tom Brett helped the golf coursegain good publicity and fuel interest in its entireenvironmental initiative.

Close-up photos of people in action are highly effective. Notice how well this photo by CatherineWaterhouse draws your attention to the focal point of the student checking his catch during a streammonitoring activity at Fauquier Outdoor Lab in Warrenton, VA.

By Joellen Zeh

G E T T I N G S T A R T E D O N S T E W A R D S H I P

March/April 2003 Stewardship News 5

• Take before and after pictures from the same vantage point toshow the progress you have made and emphasize the aesthetic andenvironmental values of good stewardship. Subjects for beforeand after photos include: naturalization, garden improvements,water enhancements, and facility improvements.

• Take photographs of people in action. Instead of a close up of anest box, how about a close up of someone checking a nest box?Instead of a garden, include someone digging in it. People willenliven your subject. Avoid “back and butt shots.” Instead, zeroin on people’s faces or on the work being accomplished.

• Use photos to communicate your progress and plans and inviteparticipation. Enlarge several of your best images or group photostogether to create a display. You might also arrange photos in analbum or scrap book that can be kept someplace where patrons orvisitors will see it. Include a simple sign to catch people’s attention,e.g., “Take a look…Environmental Stewardship Efforts at (name).”

• People love to see their efforts recognized! Whenever employees,patrons, or community members help with environmental projects,take lots of pictures and use them to promote the stewardshipefforts of the individuals involved. Send several pictures with apress release to the local paper.

• Digital cameras have become increasingly popular. They enablethe user to take photographs and immediately send images viacomputer. We accept digital images with certification requests,but unless the resolution is set at 300dpi or greater, we cannot usethem to promote your efforts in our publications or in othermedia outlets.

• For landscape shots, early morning or late afternoon work best.The midday sun often washes out color. If possible, avoid over-cast skies that dull the scene.

• Avoid including things in the photo that detract from the mainsubject, e.g., your shadow, part of a vehicle, or body parts.

• For close-ups, consider the rule of thirds. Mentally divide theframe into three parts and line up the subject along one of themiddle third edges.

• For certification, we will accept photographs, slides, and high resolu-tion scanned and digital pictures. Please provide digital pictureson a CD or disk.

The effect of a new butterfly garden at Winghaven Country Club in O’Fallon, MO, can be fully appre-ciated when contrasted with what the site looked like before the addition.

Few people think to take photos of indoor con-servation projects, such as someone switchingto compact florescent light bulbs, recycling, orupgrading insulation. But these types of photosare valuable for illustrating good stewardshipindoors. We recently used this photo, taken bybackyard member Daniel Mackay, in a publica-tion on environmental stewardship at home.

Make the Most of Your Photos

By Jean Mackay

This year, why not use Earth Day as akick off to an entire season—or, better still,year—of Audubon Cooperative SanctuaryProgram (ACSP) activities at your school?With a little planning and organization,you can help children learn and practicegood environmental stewardship all yearround.

Use Earth Day as a starting point

As you plan for an Earth Day event orindividual classroom activities, think abouthow you can tie those activities to the ACSPthemes of wildlife habitat conservation,waste reduction and recycling, and water andenergy conservation at school. This will giveyou a good starting point for year roundprojects.

In addition, focus your attention on thelocal environment, rather than on far away,exotic habitats, like the Arctic or tropical

rainforests. Studying local habitats, watersheds,and environmental issues allows for hands onobservation, experimentation, and research. Incontrast, focusing on far flung places limitsstudent learning to book-oriented researchonly. By focusing locally, you can also drawupon the assistance of local experts, includ-ing parents, community members, localnaturalists, town water commissioners,Cooperative Extension staff, and others.

Make a plan!Gather a group of interested teachers,

parents, and students to steer your efforts.Solicit ideas and opinions and make a list ofprojects you would like to undertake. Fromthese suggestions, begin to prioritize.

Choose a variety of projects that can bestarted as Earth Day activities and thencontinued. It’s generally best to begin yourenvironmental efforts with projects that arerelatively simple. This will help to maximizeyour success and encourage school-wideparticipation and support.

Earth Day All Year Round

Each April, Earth Day serves as a catalyst for environmental awareness and action. On this one day, scores ofschools, organizations, and governmental agencies host Earth Day fairs, conduct clean-up projects, stage lob-bying events, and vie for media coverage. All well and good, but the trick is to keep the momentum going.

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6 Stewardship News March/April 2003

Students learn from local environmental educators at Hobe Sound Elementary School’s Earth Faireach April. The Earth Fair is one of many environmental activities taking place throughout the year.

Connect Earth Day activities with curriculum. These students are painting clay flower pots to be usedas toad abodes. The activity is a good introduction to learning about the habitat requirements ofamphibians.

G R E E N A T S C H O O L

March/April 2003 Stewardship News 7

Earth Day Activities and Follow-up StudyTopic Earth Day Activity Follow-up Study and Action

BirdConservation

Make nest boxes or feeders for birds that will be mountedat school.

Check the feeders or nest boxes weekly from April throughthe end of the school year. Research the birds that are usingthem. Record and graph your findings.

FrogConservation

Paint “toad abodes”—simple clay flower pots—and burythem half way into the ground in moist, sheltered locationsaround the school grounds.

Check the toad abodes once a week and record your find-ings. Read books about frogs and toads and their habitats.

NaturalHistory

Make a nature mural of local trees, plants, birds, and otherwildlife.

Ask students to research and write about one of the plants orwildlife species in the mural. Post their reports nearby. As aneasy field trip, take a walk around the school grounds or inthe neighborhood to identify trees, birds, signs of spring,etc. Record observations in the students’ Earth Journals.

ButterflyConservation

Make a mural of the butterfly life cycle. Construct raised garden beds to make a butterfly or hum-mingbird garden. Raise and release butterflies.

Recycling Set up a paper recycling bin in each classroom (copy paperboxes work well for this). One class could make bins for theentire school. Involve children in decorating and labelingthe bins. Coordinate with the maintenance staff so that thebins are emptied regularly.

Count the number of full paper bins at the end of each weekfor one month. Calculate how much paper is diverted fromthe landfill each month/year. Publish your findings in theschool newsletter.

WasteReduction

Sort your class’s garbage! Students in grades three and up willsquirm enthusiastically when they sort classroom or schoolgarbage into piles for trash and recyclables—paper, plastic,cans, etc. Plastic gloves and a large work area are a must forthis project! Put math skills to work analyzing your findings,measuring the weight and volume of each type of trash.

Start or improve a school-wide recycling program. Take a fieldtrip to the local recycling center or landfill. Host a contestbetween grades to encourage waste reduction—the classwith the least trash at the end of each week/month wins.

WatershedProtection

Where does your drinking water come from? Make a mapof your watershed that traces the water from its source tothe filtration plant and holding tanks to your school. Wheredoes water go after it goes down the drain? Map it out andpost it in a visible location at school.

Find out about the health of your watershed on the EPA’sSurf Your Watershed website at www.epa.gov/surf. Take afield trip to the water filtration plant.

WaterQuality

Where does storm water go? Make a map of where rain waterand snow melt go after leaving school parking lots. See if youcan trace the runoff all the way to the nearest major river,lake, or ocean.

Identify the types of pollution that enter our waterways fromhousehold and parking lot runoff (e.g., motor oil, gas, chemicals,animal wastes). Conduct water quality testing of a nearby stream.Test kits can be obtained from scientific supply companies.

EnergyConservation

Host an essay contest about energy use, “What would I dowithout electricity?” Invite students to spend a “day in the dark”and write about it, or investigate how fuel and electricity areused at school.

Conduct an energy audit at school and evaluate your results.Report findings to maintenance staff and school officials.Adopt energy-saving measures.

More to exploreEnvironmental projects and activities on

each of the topics in this article can be foundat our website at www.audubonintl.org/esourceunder “environmental education.” Or callus and we’ll send you a booklet of activities.

An excellent website for background infor-mation and ideas for Earth Day activities iswww.earthday.net. Lesson plans on a varietyof environmental topics can be downloadedat Teacher’s Corner.

Plan for success!• What grade is best suited for the activity?

• How much time will the project take?

• What supplies are needed? Can they be donated? What costs are involved?

• How can the project be tied to curricula?

• Are there long-term maintenance requirements? Do school maintenance staff need tobe involved?

• Who will take on behind-the-scenes organization and coordination?

By Fred Realbuto

Over the years, we’ve tested a number of“squirrel proof” bird feeders and done morethan our share of squirrel feeding. We’re notalone. The single most frequently askedquestion put to us by visitors is “How do Istop those #!$#! squirrels from taking over mybird feeder?”

Until recently, I really didn’t have a goodanswer. Squirrels work tirelessly to figure outthe most complicated of devices designed tothwart their invasion. Once they figure itout, they have great recall. What may havetaken them over an hour to figure out thefirst time is accomplished in mere minutes thesecond. Then it’s back to the drawing boardfor me.

But recently I hit upon a relatively simpleway to hang a bird feeder that makes it squirrel

proof. This design has kept our squirrels at bayfor more than six months. Try it at home;then let me know your results.

Supplies needed:plastic covered steel cabletwo small pulleysnylon twinetwo medium sized threaded hooksone medium naval cleattwo small cable clampscanopy-style or covered bird feeder

Instructions:

1. Suspend the plastic covered cable betweentwo solid supports, at least eight feet high.Use the side of a building, a mediumsized tree, etc. Attach the cable by meansof the two threaded hooks.

2. Attach one of the pulleys to the cable,about half way between the two supports.The pulley should be far enough fromeither side so that a squirrel won’t beable to jump to the feeder from above.

3. Secure the other pulley to one of thesupports at the height of the suspen-sion cable.

4. Thread the twine through both pulleys,allowing enough twine to connect thefeeder while the feeder is on the groundbelow the centered pulley. The twineshould also reach the ground below thepulley that is secured to the support.

5. Mount the cleat vertically about fourfeet above the ground, on the supportwith the pulley.

6. Fill the feeder with seed and hoist to alevel far enough above the ground thatsquirrels can’t jump up to the feeder.

7. While continuing to keep tension onthe twine, tie the twine onto the cleat.

Fred Realbuto, Director of the AudubonSociety of New York State, can be reached at(518) 767-9051, extension 15, or frealbu-to@audubonintl.org.

Feed Birds, Not Squirrels!

Hollyhock Hollow Sanctuary outside Albany, NY, is home to Audubon International, as well as more than 90species of birds. The property’s woods, meadows, gardens, pond, and creek provide a diversity of excellentwildlife habitats, while feeders and nest boxes offer additional food and cover sources. We use the 140-acre

sanctuary as a place to experiment with habitat management and conservation techniques, and to educate the vis-iting public about ways they can practice good stewardship in their own backyards.

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8 Stewardship News March/April 2003

Audubon International’s squirrel-proof feederhangs seven feet off the ground, suspendeddown from a cable that stretches 16 feet highbetween a tree and a building.

A simple pulley system makes it easy to raise and lower the feeder to fill it.

S U S T A I N A B L E B Y D E S I G N

March/April 2003 Stewardship News 9

Cars and wildlife are often a deadly combination. An attractive steel bridge carries a cartpath highabove a wildlife corridor at Coyote Moon Golf Course in Truckee, CA.

By Larry Woolbright, Ph.D.

The obvious solution to this pressingproblem is to preserve large areas of habitat.Yet, when small patches of habitat are all thatexist, connecting them together with corri-dors of similar habitat is one way to helpwildlife populations survive, despite growthand development.

A safer way to goScientific research shows that animals, even

birds, prefer to travel along habitat corridorsrather than cross clearings or other obstacles.In one study, songbirds chose wooded routesto travel between forested patches, even whenthey were three times as long as cutting acrossa clearing.

Not only forest animals, but even speciesthat live in open habitats use habitat corridorsfor travel. Butterflies, for example, use grassycorridors to move between open clearingssurrounded by dense woodland and theirnumbers are higher in patches connected bycorridors than in isolated patches.

For that reason, in Audubon International’scollaboration with WCI Communities, Inc.’sTuscany project in south Florida, we recom-mended that golf course roughs and com-munity gardens be planted with butterflyfood plants and all be connected to a localpower line easement to link together habitatpatches. Power companies are often willingto work with local communities to providebutterfly plantings along their power lines.

Sometimes habitat corridors can be com-bined with other conservation projects. Many

of our members maintain vegetated bufferzones to protect the edges of streams, rivers,or other water bodies from run-off. Thesebuffers often can be connected to nearbypatches of habitat to serve as corridors. AtThe Old Collier Club in Naples, Florida, aGold Signature Sanctuary, naturalized bufferzones along stream drainages connect habitatpatches on the golf course to hundreds ofacres of protected mangrove swamp.

How wide should the corridor be?

There are no simple rules about how wideor tall a naturalized area must be in order toserve as a corridor. One study found that onlycorridors over 33-feet wide were used by thebirds on that site, while another found that avole used corridors only 1.5-feet wide. Eachspecies of animal has its own requirements.We recommend that corridors be made aswide and tall as possible. Forested corridorsmust also include understory and groundcover vegetation.

Among the most common obstacles togood corridors are roads and cartpaths. Notonly do they cause gaps in the corridor, butcars cause a great deal of direct mortality toanimals trying to cross roads. The best solu-tion is not to have roads in wildlife habitat.

The designers of WCI’s Evergrene commu-nity in Florida moved two roads in response tothese concerns. Placing a roadway on a bridgeover the corridor can help, if the roadwaycannot be moved. Coyote Moon Golf Coursein California has an attractive steel bridge thatcarries the cartpath high above the wildlifecorridor, and Raptor Bay in south Floridahas a cartpath on a boardwalk that crosses anentire slough.

Most properties offer opportunities to pro-vide corridors to connect patches of wildlifehabitat. Every place serves as home to somesort of wildlife, if only insects or other verysmall animals. The goal is to connect thevegetated and naturalized areas of eachproperty with corridors that are as wide, asmuch like the habitat being connected, andas continuous as possible. And keep in mindthat prime habitat to connect with themmight lie on neighboring property.

Many human activities convert wildlife habitat to other uses, like farming, housing, or recreation. In theprocess, habitat gets broken up into small patches in which wildlife can have a harder time surviving. Whenpatches become too small, existing wildlife populations can go extinct.

The Corridor Connection

A U D U B O N . . . I N T E R N A T I O N A L

10 Stewardship News March/April 2003

to 75% native species have been used in land-scape plantings for many years, the Julies’goal is now to use 100% native species oflocal origin.

Students from environmental scienceand hydrology courses at nearby NiagaraCollege have been recruited to conduct

water quality testing and macroinvertebratestudies. In a win-win arrangement, the stu-dents are allowed full access to the course tocomplete these tests as part of their curricu-lum, in exchange for providing the coursewith written results.

Many compliments,no complaints

Sawmill Golf Course management hascreated vegetative buffer zones ranging fromten-to-forty feet wide around 100% of allponds and stream banks. “The surest signthat our education efforts are working isthat I have never heard a complaint aboutthe long grass, naturalized areas, and bufferzones around water features,” says JeremyJulie. “Rather, all comments are compli-ments on how these areas increase the aes-thetic and natural appeal of the property.”

The course has been ranked in the top 10Ontario courses with greens fees under $40.Sawmill is a testament to how golf courses,especially those with limited budgets, canbe operated in an environmentally-friendlymanner, while still providing an enjoyablegolf experience.

Sawmill Golf Course in Fenwick, Ontario has become Canada’s first family-owned golf course to be designatedas a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Through the hard work and leadership of owner George Julie,a Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS), his son Jeremy, CGCS and Director of Golf, and CGCS

Don Blatchley, who oversees daily turf maintenance, the natural qualities of the property have been enhanced forgolfers and wildlife alike.

Canada’s First “Mom and Pop” Course Certified

By Scott Martin

Since its inception in 1976 on the fami-ly’s dairy farm, Sawmill has grown to becomeone of the most popular and reputablecourses in the Niagara Peninsula area.

Cultivating interest in the natural side of golf

Having farmed the land for years, the Julies’deep respect and understanding for its naturalhabitats and wildlife are infused into day-to-day operations. The Julies share their knowl-edge and enthusiasm openly with membersand public golfers and have cultivated aloyal following from others interested in thenatural side of golf. Sawmill members areregularly updated on environmental activitiesthrough a course newsletter and an Audubonprojects display. Jeremy produced a colourbrochure to help educate golfers on the naturalhistory of the property, of which more than200 are snapped up each year. The coursealso has a hole-by-hole nature guide thatgolfers may carry with them as they play orwalk the property.

Members are encouraged to participate inprojects, which they regularly do. Most of thebird and bat boxes located at Sawmill havebeen built and donated by members. Mem-bers also add their wildlife sightings to theproperty list.

The many gardens around the Sawmill GolfCourse property are filled with perennials,

trees, and shrubs donated by members as theythin out their own gardens each spring. Saw-mill’s gardens have become so attractive andpopular that the local town of Pelham includedthem as a judging stop in the provincialCommunities in Bloom competition. While up

Two areas in which Sawmill Golf Course efforts really stand out are Outreach and Education andWildlife and Habitat Management. The course’s naturalized areas increase the aesthetic and naturalappeal of the property.

“The surest sign that our education efforts are working isthat I have never heard a complaint about the long grass,naturalized areas, and buffer zones around water features.”

AUDUBONCOOPERATIVESANCTUARY PROGRAMNew MembersGolf ProgramArizonaTatum Ranch Golf Club, Cave Creek

ArkansasRebsamen Park Golf Course, Little Rock

CaliforniaCorde Valle Golf Club, San MartinFoxtail Golf Club, Rohnert ParkGlen Annie Golf Club, GoletaPleasanton Golf Center, PleasantonVista Valley Country Club, Vista

ColoradoThe Homestead, Lakewood

FloridaFiddlesticks Country Club, Fort MyersForest Country Club, Fort MyersGator Creek Golf Club, SarasotaHollybrook Golf & Tennis, Pembroke PinesKelly Plantation Golf Club, DestinLPGA International Golf Course, Daytona BeachMiles Grant Country Club, StuartMisty Creek Country Club, SarasotaOrlando Outdoor Resorts, ClermontPine Tree Golf Club, Boynton Beach

GeorgiaDewitt Weaver Golf Solutions, CummingFord Plantation Club, Richmond HillsGolf Club at Cuscowilla, EatontonLaurel Island Links, KingslandPine Oaks Golf Course, Warner Robins

IllinoisChicago Heights Park District Golf Course,

Chicago HeightsRuffled Feathers Golf Club, Lemont

IowaTPC of Iowa, Polk City

KentuckyChampion Trace Golf Club, Nicholasville

LouisianaCarter Plantation, Springfield

MinnesotaHazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska

MississippiDancing Rabbit Golf Club, Choctaw

MissouriBear Creek Golf Club, Wentzville

NebraskaFremont Golf Club, Fremont

New JerseyBasking Ridge Country Club, Basking RidgeBrigantine Golf Links, BrigantineStanton Ridge Golf and Country Club, Stanton

New YorkSunken Meadow, Kings Park

North CarolinaChallenge at Hideaway Farm, GrahamPreserve at Jordan Lake Golf Club, Chapel HillStatesville Country Club, Statesville

OhioThe Golf Club, New AlbanyWestwood Country Club, Rocky River

OklahomaMohawk Golf Course, Tulsa

OregonBandon Dunes, BandonQuail Point Golf Course, MedfordTualatin Country Club, Tualatin

South CarolinaSnee Farm Country Club, Mt. Pleasant

South DakotaHillsview Golf Course, Pierre

TennesseeGovernors Club, BrentwoodLandmark Golf Club at Avalon, Lenoir City

TexasDallas Cowboys Golf Club, Grapevine

WashingtonLake Padden Golf Course, Bellingham

WyomingJackson Hole Golf & Tennis, Jackson

Business ProgramCaliforniaCity of Modesto, ModestoCollege of the Desert, Palm Desert

IllinoisBrickman Group Ltd., Huntley

VirginiaThe Parke at Ocean Pines, Burke

School ProgramNew YorkVeeder Elementary, Albany

Recently Certified AudubonCooperative SanctuariesSustainable Communities ProgramCity of Eufaula, Eufaula, Alabama

Golf ProgramCoyote Moon Golf Course, Truckee, CaliforniaDupont Country Club, Wilmington, DelawareHighwood Golf & Country Club, High River,

Alberta, CanadaLethbridge Country Club, Lethbridge,

Alberta, CanadaKeswick Hall at Monticello, Keswick, VirginiaMidland Trail Golf Club, Middletown, KentuckyValley Country Club, Aurora, ColoradoWinghaven Country Club, O’Fallen, Missouri

Recertified AudubonCooperative SanctuariesFox Hills Golf and Banquet Center, Plymouth,

Michigan, certified since 1995The Legacy, Springfield, Tennessee, certified since 1998TPC at River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut,

certified since 1995

AUDUBON SIGNATURE PROGRAM

New Signature MembersTrue North Golf Club, Harbor Springs, Michigan

Re-certified Signature SanctuariesSummerGrove Golf Club, Newnan, Georgia,

certified since 2001

M E M B E R S H I P N E W S

March/April 2003 Stewardship News 11

A yearly Maintenance Education Day at Crystal Downs Country Club in Frankfort, MI, is an excellentvehicle for educating patrons about maintenance practices. Kids activities, food, and, best of all, achance to sit on big equipment draws 400 adults and children to the event.

STEWARDSHIP NEWSSTEWARDSHIP NEWSA P U B L I C A T I O N O F A U D U B O N I N T E R N A T I O N A L

Unique Environmental Golf Yardage Book Available

A udubon International and TheHoleView, creator of the 3-DPhotographic Yardage Book,

have joined together to offer a uniqueyardage book for Certified AudubonCooperative Sanctuary golf coursesand Audubon Signature Sanctuarycourses. The yardage book highlightsnot only golf information, but also thecourse’s Audubon International programmembership and hole-by-hole informa-tion on its environmental stewardship,helping meet the course’s outreach andeducation requirements. Audubon Inter-national staff will consult with golf course staff to assist in developingthat information. The HoleView provides a substantial discountfrom the normal price of the yardage book and makes a contribu-tion to Audubon International. For more information about TheHoleView/Audubon International 3-D Photographic YardageBook, contact Terry Gamer of The HoleView at 1-800-438-3661x.103 and visit www.holeview.com.

Audubon International publishes Stewardship News six times ayear. Inquiries, contributions or letters to the editor should beaddressed to:

Editor, Stewardship NewsAudubon International

46 Rarick RoadSelkirk, NY 12158

Or sent via e-mail to: jmackay@audubonintl.org

Editor: Jean Mackay, Director of Educational Services

Design and Printing: Benchemark Printing, Schenectady, NY

Audubon International is a non-profit environmental organizationdedicated to improving the quality of life and the environmentthrough research, education, and conservation assistance.

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System (ACSS) and theAudubon Signature Program provide environmental education andtechnical assistance to facilitate voluntary environmental stewardshipon private and public lands.

Funding is provided by memberships, donations, and programsponsorship. The ACSS Golf Program is sponsored by The UnitedStates Golf Association.

This newsletter is printed on recycled paper. C

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 55

Delmar,NY 12054

Helping people help the environmentAudubon International

46 Rarick RoadSelkirk, New York 12158

(518) 767-9051Web Page: http://www.audubonintl.org

e-mail: acss@audubonintl.org

Help us to keep up to date!If you have a change of address or contact person,please let us know.

Call (518) 767-9051,ext.12 or E-mail jbatza@audubonintl.org

R E S O U R C E S