[CT Birds] Welcome new Important Bird Areas Program Coordinator

[COMINS, Patrick]

Please see bleow press release about the hiring of Chris Field as Connecticut's IBA Coordinator.  Chris' Audubon email address doesn't yet work, but he can be reached at the Bent of the River (203)264-5098 x 309 and soon his email address will be cfield at audubon.org should you want to contact him regarding IBAs in Connecticut.  Chris will also be one of the co-leaders at the upcoming COA Birding By Ear Seminar on June 7th if you want to meet him:

Patrick Comins, Meriden

CHRIS FIELD TAKES THE HELM OF IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM IN CONNECTICUT

Southbury, CT April 29, 2008 – Audubon Connecticut, the state office of the National Audubon Society, is pleased to announce Chris Field as the new Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program Coordinator.  Mr. Field graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2007 with a Masters of Science, Biodiversity and Conservation Biology and most recently worked at Yale University as was a research assistant in their west Nile virus ecology and epidemiology lab.  He studied Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows as part of his graduate work at UCONN and had previously worked as an intern in the IBA program in 2005 and has served as principle author of two IBA conservation plans and remained active as a volunteer with the program since 2005.

Mr. Field will bring new technical skills to the IBA Program, being an expert in geospatial analysis and database management.   “Having a staff person 100% focused on the IBA Program will allow us to give this program the attention it deserves,” said Thomas R. Baptist, vice president and Executive Director of Audubon Connecticut.  “Having someone with Chris’ technical skills and knowledge of the habitats and conservation needs of Connecticut’s birds will really take the IBA Program to the next level. “

As a first task, Mr. Field is organizing geographic data for the state’s IBAs in a centralized database, to allow better mapping of key areas for birds in the state, and to tie habitat and bird data directly to the maps.  Over the next year he will be finalizing the 12 IBA conservation plans that are in progress and getting started on three new plans.  Chris will also organize and support Site Support Groups at each IBA, administering a small grants program to implement conservation plans.  Funding for this position was provided by the generosity of the Fairfield County Community Foundation, the Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation, the Benjamin Olewine III family and Emily McKay, with additional support for computer equipment by the Jeniam Foundation.

About the IBA Program:
The Important Bird Areas Program is an international effort that draws on science-based criteria and grassroots-level participation to identify and conserve a network of key habitats for birds.  An IBA is a site that provides essential habitat to one or more bird species during some portion of the year, including breeding season, migration, and winter.  An IBA may be on private or public land, may be currently protected or not, and may range in size from a few to thousands of acres.  The recognition of an IBA does not confer any legal or regulatory status, and is entirely voluntary, requiring landowner permission in Connecticut.  There are currently 26 publicly recognized IBAs in Connecticut, including two globally-significant IBAs for Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows.  For more information on Connecticut’s IBA program and information on our IBAs, please see:
http://iba.audubon.org/iba/stateIndex.do?state=US-CT

Now in its second century, Audubon connects people with birds, nature and the environment that supports us all. Our national network of community-based nature centers, chapters, scientific, education, and advocacy programs engages millions of people from all walks of life in conservation action to protect and restore the natural world. www.audubon.org

As the state office of the National Audubon Society, Audubon Connecticut works with a network of 10 chapters and over 9,000 members throughout the state to promote the conservation of habitat and wildlife.  The state office is located in Southbury at 203-264-5098.  http://ct.audubon.org/