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

Madrone Contacts

Please contact the appropriate board member shown below for information or inquiries. Our Board meets monthly (virtually via Zoom) at 6:30 PM on the first Thursday of each month, except we do not meet in June, July and August.

President
Carolyn Johnson
cjohn@sonic.net

Vice President
John Lundblad
johnlunchbag@gmail.com

Recording Secretary
Sandra Settle
Sandra.settle@gmail.com

Corresponding Secretary
Marie Witt
Mariewitt8@gmail.com

Treasurer
Claudia Norby
Cnorby100@gmail.com

Membership
Marie Witt
Mariewitt8@gmail.com

Conservation
Diane Hichwa
707.483.3130
tsrbirdlady@gmail.com

Stewardship Task Force (Coast)
Diane Hichwa
tsrbirdlady@gmail.com

Publicity
(position open)

Outings/bird walks
Janet Bosshard—Thursdays
707.480.3432
Linda Fraley—Saturdays

Habitat Gardening
Susan Kirks
susankirks@sbcglobal.net

Christmas Bird Count—Co-coordinators
John Lundblad johnlunchbag@gmail.com
Chris Grabill cgrabill@gmail.com