On March 7, 2009, the Massachusetts Audubon Society held its 17th Annual Birders Meeting at the Worcester Technical High School.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service co-sponsored the event.  The theme of the meeting was "Birds and Birders On Our National Wildlife Refuges."  Over 225 birders and vendors participated in the event, as well as an additional 20 speakers.  Support for the event came from Houghton Mifflin Company and Birds & Beans Coffee.

This was the first time the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has co-sponsored this event, and it was very successful in raising awareness and understanding about the national wildlife refuge system.  Regional Director Marvin Moriarity welcomed the audience and provided many examples of the strong conservation partnership between the Service and MassAudubon.  Jon Andrew, Southeast Refuge System Regional Chief, gave an excellent overview of the refuge system, and Dwight Cooley, refuge manager at Wheeler NWR in Alabama, described the FWS' new birding initiative.  Both talks were very well received.  Kenn Kaufman, bird guide writer and strong supporter of the refuge system, discussed conservation connections and the value of shade grown coffee.  The National Wildlife Refuge Association was represented by Desiree Sorenson-Groves who spoke about the work of the NWRA and later discussed Friends groups with the president of the local Friends of Assabet River NWR.  The afternoon breakout session with Refuge Supervisor Janet Kennedy and Managers Mike Brady (Monomoy NWR), Graham Taylor (Parker River NWR), Libby Herland (Eastern Massachusetts NWR Complex), and Andy French (Silvio O Conte NFWR) was very informative and well attended.  Later, Dr. Rick Bennett of the Northeast Regional Office gave a great update on climate change and Eastern Mass NWRC biologist Stephanie Koch and Parker River NWR biologist Nancy Pau gave excellent presentations about research being conducted at Monomoy NWR and Parker River NWR.

Many speakers talked about the Federal Duck Stamp, which was available for sale. The value of these stamps for protecting wetlands was emphasized, including the most recent purchase of 91 acres at the Assabet River NWR with Migratory Bird Conservation Funds. Almost unbelievably, 87 duck stamps were sold at the meeting!

The meeting was a great success.  Members of the planning committee who worked since last summer to organize the meeting were Libby Herland, Graham Taylor, and Sarah Bevilacqua from Conte NFWR, as well as Barbara Volkle from the Friends of Assabet River NWR, and Wayne Petersen and Linda Cocca from MassAudubon.  Service staff were very pleased at the turnout and the enthusiasm the meeting inspired and are looking forward to additional conservation partnerships with MassAudubon and other birders in the future.