November 30, 2005
#254
1) Hunting in Alabama: The Numbers and Economics
2) Alabama Hunters Help the Hungry
3) Alabama Land Trust Merges With Land Trust of East Alabama
4) Alabama Power Foundation "Community Forestry" Grants
5) BEN Notes: Beth Maynor Young - Kingfisher Editions, Alabama Wildlife Center, Birmingham Audubon's 70th Annual Bird Count, Save Energy - Energy Star, Little River Canyon Field School Releases - 2006 Schedule.
Alabama's gun season for deer hunting opened two weeks ago. Birmingham News writer Mike Bolton wrote an impressive November 20th article documenting the impact hunting has on Alabama's economy and society. Here are some of the most recent statistics about deer hunting in Alabama from the Dept. of Conservation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
* 1.6 million - Estimated number of deer in Alabama
* 378,000 - Number of deer hunters in Alabama
* 7.6 million - Number days people spend "in the woods" each season in Alabama
* 120,000 - Number of hunters from other states that visit Alabama
* $45 million - Estimated amount of taxes hunting brings into Alabama each year
* 16,861 - Number of jobs created in Alabama through hunting
2. Alabama Hunters Help the Hungry
Since 2000, the state of Alabama has promoted the "Hunters Helping the Hungry" program which provides a way that Alabama hunters can give thousands of pounds of ground venison to needy families and individuals in the state. In the past four years, approximately 229,000 pounds of ground venison have been donated to Alabama Food Banks in the state. The program began as a joint project of the Governor's Office (under Gov. Siegelman), the National Rifle Association, the Phillip Morris Company, the Alabama Department of Conservation and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Foundation.
To learn how to participate in the program, go to http://www.alapark.com/press/release.cfm?ID=361.
3. Alabama Land Trust Merges With Land Trust of East Alabama
The Alabama Land Trust and the Land Trust of East Alabama have announced that they will merge operations into a larger Alabama Land Trust.
Formed in 2000 as an outgrowth of the City of Auburn's Greenspace Advisory Task Force, the Land Trust of East Alabama's scope includes five counties - Tallapoosa, Chambers, Lee, Russell and Macon. The merger will expand and compliment Alabama Land Trust's efforts in Alabama. Recently, the Alabama Land Trust has announced land protection projects in the Black Belt Prairie region of west Alabama and the Paint Rock River area in Northeast Alabama.
For more information about the Alabama Land Trust visit their website at http://www.allandtrust.org.
4. Alabama Power Foundation "Community Forestry" Grants
The Alabama Power Foundation and the Alabama Urban Forestry Association have teamed up for the seventh consecutive year to award local communities grants to purchase trees for parks, schools and public spaces.
This year, the foundation provided $70,000 in tree grants, benefiting 74 communities throughout Alabama. Over the past seven years, more than $370,000 in grants has been distributed to more than 300 cities, counties, schools and community groups. For more information about the Alabama Power Foundation's efforts to preserve and enhance Alabama's natural beauty, visit their website at http://www.alabamapowerfoundation.com.
5. BEN Notes: Beth Maynor Young - Kingfisher Editions, Alabama Wildlife Center, Birmingham Audubon's 70th Annual Bird Count, Save Energy - Energy Star, Little River Canyon Field School Releases - 2006 Schedule
Beth Maynor Young - Kingfisher Editions - Alabama is blessed with our own "Ansel Adams" through the works of Beth Maynor Young. This holiday season share Alabama's "Natural Wonders" with your friends and family through Beth Maynor Young's beautiful images of Alabama and the Southeast. Check out her website at http://www.kingfishereditions.com.
Alabama Wildlife Center - The Alabama Wildlife Center is now taking orders for their Christmas Cards and Ornaments Sale. This year they are introducing the third collectible ornament in their Native Owls Series (they are really cool). Also on December 10th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Center will be holding their Christmas Craft and Bake Sale at Oak Mountain State Park. For more information about these activities go to http://www.awrc.org.
Birmingham Audubon's 70th Annual Bird Count - On December 23rd the Birmingham Audubon Society will be holding its 70th Annual Bird Count. In lieu of the Christmas shopping rush, celebrate the outdoors with our "winged" friends. Call Greg Harber at 251-2133 for additional information or visit http://www.birminghamaudubon.org.
Save Energy - Energy Star - Many folks are concerned about rising energy costs this winter. Take a look at the EPA's Energy Star website for helpful tips. Visit http://www.energystar.gov.
Little River Canyon Field School Releases - 2006 Schedule - From the deepest canyon to the highest mountain - check out the Little River Field School's 2006 schedule. Last year more than 20,000 people attended field school programs. Download the schedule at: http://www.jsu.edu/depart/epic/lrcfs/lrcfs_2006.html.