Grant Program Forges "Pathways To Nature"

Friday, March 1, 2002

Grant Program Forges “Pathways To Nature” (NAPS)—There are plenty of ways for everyday citizens to play a role in the protection of wildlife. In addition to direct donations to worthwhile causes, people can contribute by shopping at stores that sponsor conservation efforts. One environmentally friendly business, Wild Birds Unlimited, stands behind its mission to bring people and nature together through its Pathways To Nature Conservation Fund. As part of the company’s effort to be a good corporate citizen, its more than 290 stores donate a portion of proceeds to this fund to support education, conservation and wildlife viewing projects at wildlife refuges, parks, sanctuaries and nature conservan- cies throughout North America. For its dedication to environmental causes, Wild Birds Unlim- ited received the Corporate Wildlife Stewardship Award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2002. The award wasgiven for the company’s exemplary role as a retail business that has led natural resource and bird conservation efforts for more than 20 years. “Our company mission is ‘We bring people and nature together,” said Jim Carpenter, founder and CEO of Wild Birds Unlimited, and creator of the Pathways To Nature Conservation Fund. “Our store owners do this every day by helping people attract and enjoy birds and wildlife in their backyards.” Pathways To Nature Conservation Fund is a partnership established in 1999 between the franchised birdfeeding supply stores of Wild Birds Unlimited and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The available grant money is a combination of Wild Birds Unlimited and the Foundation’s federal funds and will total nearly $680,000 in grants awarded by Birdwatching is the fastest growing outdoor recreation activity in the United States. the end of 2002. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation manages the fund, helps select grant recipients and requires a matching grant from the recipi- ents. Considering the recipient match, the total impact of the program is nearly $1.3 million to date. The program funds projects including the creation and maintenanceoftrails, boardwalks, wildlife viewing platforms and nature center exhibits—and these birding areas are visited by more than 2.3 million people each year. Some of the places with projects made possible by the grants include: Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, McAllen, Texas, to help rebuild its wildlife viewing platform. Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges, Tulelake, Calif., to construct blinds for shorebird photography and watching. Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, Necedah, Wis., for sup- porting Whooping Crane reintroduction efforts. * Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Denver, Colo., for education pro- grams and remotevideolinks. * Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, N.M., for native plant exhibits and remote video links. “Wild Birds Unlimited store owners knowthat to fully appreciate and help conserve birds and wildlife, our customers and the public have to be able to see and experience nature firsthand,” said Carpenter. “We are also pleased that this program addresses one of the most pressing needs for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: funding for wildlife viewing and education projects on refuges.” A primelocation is the wildlife viewing platform behind the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge visitor’s center, which transports birders into another world. Perched at the edge of a lagoon, the platform gives visitors a wide view of a South Texas wetland. Rare Least Grebes sometimes glide through the quiet waters, their red eyes glowing in the sunlight. Wait long enough and a Green Kingfisher may dart by. With patience, you might even complete the “kingfisher hat trick” by spotting the Giant, Ringed and more common Belted kingfishers. Flotillas of Fulvous and Black-bellied Whistling ducks sail by or perch on the nest boxes that spring from the marsh. According to a University of Georgia survey, birding is the fastest-growing outdoor recreation activity over the last decade, up 155.2 percent. This pastime has an economic impact of $25 billion annually. Based in Carmel, Ind., Wild Birds Unlimited is the original and largest franchise system of backyard birdfeeding and nature specialty stores with more than 290 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. For more information and for retail locations, visit www.wbu.com.