About Us

Mission Statement:
To further the protection of birds, other wildlife and their habitats through science, education, advocacy and conservation, for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.

Vision
We envision an Arizona with a rich and diverse natural heritage, where there is ample habitat for birds and other wildlife, where a majority of its people appreciate and participate in their natural environment, and whose children are educated and motivated to become the conservation leaders of tomorrow.

History
Audubon Arizona started as an idea of Audubon chapter leaders Anita MacFarlane and Ruth Russell, along with National Audubon Society executive Les Corey. Corey’s first task was to find the right person to lead Audubon Arizona. He was looking for someone well respected and connected in the metropolitan Phoenix area, a person who understood political process, a person who loved nature and had a background in habitat preservation, and a person who could gain consensus from the close to 10,000 members and eight chapters scattered around the state. Corey found that well-rounded person in Sam Campana who opened the office in February 2002.

The Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch joined the Audubon Arizona family from the very beginning. The 8,000-acre research ranch in southeastern Arizona is dedicated to the study of southwestern grassland ecosystems, conservation and education. Originally the only environment sanctuary of its kind in Arizona, the research ranch has become a nationally known center for environmental research, involving several universities, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and numerous other organizations.

In the early days of Audubon Arizona, Campana worked out of her vehicle as she went out and met decision-makers she had known in her previous lives as Mayor of Scottsdale, City Council person, and the head of a statewide arts organization. She then set out to recruit a board for Audubon Arizona and found Randy Bain, a birder and Partner in the prestigious law firm of Brown and Bain. She also hired office manager Jane Layne and Director of Development Randy Schilling.

With Bain and Campana’s leadership, Audubon Arizona recruited other nature enthusiasts to form a formidable board, who crafted the organizations first strategic plan and Audubon Arizona began implementation at the end of 2002. The main goals of the strategic plan are for Audubon Arizona to be well known and well respected for its scientific and well-reasoned approach to conservation issues, to be recognized as a premier provider of high–quality environmental education programs, be a powerful and effective force for the conservation of birds, other wildlife and their habitats in the state, and encourage a vibrant, active chapter network.

First order of business was for Audubon Arizona to find the perfect location for Audubon’s first education center in the state of Arizona. After looking at several interesting locations, it found the Rio Salado project in Phoenix, a $100 million restoration of the dry river that runs through the center of the Phoenix area. After many discussions, the City of Phoenix and Audubon Arizona signed a lease agreement in November 2004 for four acres next to the Rio Salado project. On those four acres, Audubon Arizona and National Audubon Society will develop an urban nature education and interpretive center telling the story of the Salt River and the importance of water in the desert.

In October 2004, Audubon Arizona hired its first Director for the planned center. Cheryl McNab has been charged with developing relations with the school districts and communities neighboring the river and planning early programs with community input.

In January 2005, Audubon Arizona welcomed its first Director of Bird Conservation Tice Supplee. Supplee and Scott Wilbor of Tucson Audubon Society are overseeing the Arizona Important Bird Area program. There are 26 identified Arizona IBAs and all are being assessed for Global and Continental status using the criteria from BirdLife International and the National Audubon Society Science Office. Wilbor and Supplee have already provided bird-monitoring training to over 40 volunteers and scientists from other agencies. Teams have been afield collecting the bird data needed for additional IBA nominations. The Science Program has been participating in the Arizona Bird Conservation Initiative and the Teaming with Wildlife national effort to secure conservation funding for our wildlife agency, the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

During the Spring 2005, Audubon Arizona created a team of community leaders to help build its first Audubon Center and to raise the nearly $6 million in a capital campaign. In March 2005, Audubon Arizona received a $1 million grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and the center was formally renamed the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center.