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Staff Highlight: Cathy Wise

You don't have to be a Burrowing Owl to appreciate her work (but it helps!)

Cathy has been with Audubon for fifteen years after a career with the Arizona Game and Fish Department that included co-authoring the Arizona Breeding Bird Atlas. She has worked for Audubon Arizona, now Southwest, leading innovative youth programming and connecting education and outreach to Audubon bird science priorities.

Cathy has a passion for engaging volunteers and youth interested in outdoors careers in meaningful efforts that benefit birds and other wildlife and fish. Conservation Workdays and Downtown Owls have been hugely successful programs. She has been our regional leader for National Audubon Plants for Birds initiative. Projects include planting native pollinator plants and trees through her Conservation Workdays program. An innovative twist during Covid-19 was asking volunteers to raise plants at home to be planted later at restoration sites. Her newest endeavor is developing a community science Pinyon Jay initiative in partnership with Northern Arizona Audubon Society and Great Basin Bird Observatory. Watch our website and social media posts for more on that!

Anyone who has had the chance to hear Cathy speak about birds, plants for birds, or any nature topic has been captivated by her enthusiasm and knowledge. Congratulations and thank you Cathy for 15 years of service with Audubon!

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