Updates from the 2024 Audubon Wildlife Fund Grant recipients
Recently, we checked in with the recipients of last year’s Audubon Wildlife Fund Grants: the Montana Raptor Conservation Center and the Park County Environmental Council’s Livingston Loves Trees project.
As of the end of August 2024, the Montana Raptor Conservation Center has had 126 raptors come through the Center for assessment and treatment this year. In total, they released 31 raptors back into the wild this year! Audubon Wildlife Grant funds were put towards their costs, which include $1,033 spent on medications; $6,764 on food for patients; and $727 on veterinary care.
MRCC staff carefully untangling a Great Horned Owl from a soccer net.
A Great Horned Owl being examined by MRCC’s Director of Raptor Rehabilitation.
A Golden Eagle being X-rayed at the Montana Raptor Conservation Center.
Park County Environmental Council’s Livingston Loves Trees 2024 planting cycle concluded on May 17 with a community celebration at Mike Webb Park, where the final two trees of the season were planted. In the span of one week, a total of 102 trees were planted throughout Livingston, 42 of the trees being native species or cultivated from native tree species, including Helena maples, American elms, bur oaks, and Canada red Chokecherry trees. Funding provided by the Audubon Wildlife Grant accounted for approximately 7 trees.
The planting team, composed of several local landscapers, program staff, and over 20 community volunteers celebrated the enduring investment not only of enhancing the urban forest, but also educating members of the community on the importance of trees and best planting practices to maximize sapling survival. Preliminary surveying in July showed a mortality rate of less than 5%, well below the average. This demonstrates not only exceptional planting, but also the care that tree adopters provide to ensure a legacy of healthy community trees for generations to come.
Students from Park High School’s climate-centered Green Initiative club take a day off from school to give back to their community and learn what it takes to plant a tree.
Park High students, PCEC staff, and AmeriCorps VISTA work to fill in the soil around a newly planted tree.
2024 Map of Tree Planting Inventory in Livingston.
Montana Audubon is honored to support both of these organizations in their efforts to benefit Montana’s native birds and wildlife!
The application period for the 2025 Audubon Wildlife Fund Grant opens later this fall. Sign up for Montana Audubon’s email list, or follow us on social media, for updates.