TogetherGreen Projects

by Christian MilNeil

November 23, 2009

Topics: Conservation | Vernal Pools | Birding

New support will fund a roost for chimney swifts and boost a ground-breaking volunteer program to conserve vernal pool habitat in Maine towns. 

A grant from Audubon’s TogetherGreen program will continue Maine Audubon’s innovative citizen-science program that sends volunteers into the woods to identify significant vernal pools in their communities. The results of their surveys will help town officials and developers plan development in a way that minimizes impacts to these ecological gems. 

Maine Audubon’s Merrymeeting chapter also received a TogetherGreen grant, to construct a roost for chimney swifts, a declining species, on the site of a new school in Brunswick that has replaced a school that was the state’s largest chimney-swift roosting site. A new roosting tower will serve as critical migratory roosting habitat for both swifts passing through and breeding resident birds. Merrymeeting Audubon also will help create educational signage and in-school programs about the swifts for students and the public.

Audubon and Toyota launched the five-year TogetherGreen initiative in 2008 to fund innovative conservation projects, train environmental leaders, and offer volunteer opportunities that significantly benefit the environment.