About

Mission Statement

The Madrone Audubon Society, Inc., a Sonoma County Chapter of the National Audubon Society is a non-profit organization which promotes public education, enjoyment, study and protection of the natural world, especially birds.

We also recognize our responsibility to influence decisions affecting all wildlife and natural resources. Our interests are worldwide: our focus is on the local community, the State of California, the West Coast, and the high priority campaigns of the National Audubon Society.

Our members, volunteers and board seek to involve the community in these endeavors.

–Amended August 9th, 1997

History

Established in January, 1967 by Evalyn and Les Bowen "to speak up for the wildlife that was losing its local habitat", Madrone Audubon Society was the "first politically involved conservation organization in Sonoma County" and the first Audubon Chapter in Northern CA, anywhere north of Marin County and Sacramento.

A Chapter is shaped by the energies of individuals, especially Charter and long time members. Evalyn and Les Bowen inspired others to participate:

J. Tom Olds gave conservation lectures while he carved bird pins, to be sold to support the new Chapter and later to establish a Nature Center Fund (this fund provided the basis for the Bouverie Preserve's lab).
Martha Bentley dedicated herself to local conservation battles and to establishing The Bird Rescue Center; a Charter member she worked for the Chapter for 41 years.
Ernestine Smith stood beside Martha, speaking up in the major conservation battles of Sonoma County Warm Springs Dam, Bodega Harbor nuclear plant, Jenner dredge, Fountaingrove, and the Coastal Act.
Betty Burridge focused on Citizen Science, to get the Christmas Bird Count on sound footing for 17 years with Deyea Harper and to organize and edit the first edition of the Sonoma County Breeding Bird Atlas, published in 1995 with data surveyed from 1981-1986.

The Chapter has established awards in honor of a number of these people, recognizing their contributions and inspiration to others.

Some of the first logo designs, from left to right: 1967 design by Les Bowen, 1973 design, 1974 design.

Madrone Audubon Society logos

Board of Directors

Please contact the appropriate board member shown below for information or inquiries. The Board meets at 7:00 PM the first Thursday of the month, except for the months of January, July, and August, at 55 Ridgway Ave, Ste. A, Santa Rosa, CA in the Environmental Center.

Officers

President (2-year term)

707-241-5548

Vice President (2-year term)

Corresponding Secretary

360-481-2646

Recording Secretary

707-889-0800

Treasurer

Past President (1-year term)

Programs

Audubon Adventures

805-443-7289

Bird Walks, Saturdays

707-583-3115

Bird Walks, Wednesdays

707-546-1812

Bird-A-Thon Coordinator

805-443-7289

Breeding Bird Atlas

707-829-9017

Breeding Bird Atlas

Christmas Bird Count

Conservation

707-785-1922

Education & Outreach

Education Kits

707-795-3996

Ex Officio Board Member

707-294-6423

Hospitality

707-823-4389

International Migratory Bird Day

Junior Audubon

707-795-2498

Leaves Co-Editor

707-528-3648

Leaves Co-Editor

Leaves Circulation

707-523-4373

Leaves Production

707-824-8449

Membership

Observations

707-479-2918

Outreach

Program

Publicity

707-823-1073

Renewable Energy

Research

707-829-9017

Revised Financial Statements

Madrone Audubon has revised its financial statements for fiscal year 2016. Click here for Madrone's statement. Click here for a separate PWA statement.