Funke to Lead Michigan Audubon

Tom Funke

Michigan Audubon Society is 104 years old, has 2000 members, and a new leader. Tom Funke comes to the society from the Battle Creek Binder Park Zoo, where he had been the director of conservation.

Funke, a conservation biologist, is no stranger to the outdoor enthusiast community. He's a "member" of the very unoffical 1000-mile club of the North Country Trail Association, meaning that he's hiked more than 1000 different miles of that trail. He's written a number of columns for the Battle Creek newspaper on various outdoor adventures.

Now he's ready to take on the problems of Michigan birds. There are 19 bird sanctuaries in the state which need management. There are habitat loss problems, toxins, and other environmental issues. Funke also serves as the resident manager of Michigan Audubon's Otis Sanctuary near Hastings.

Data obtained over 40 years of Christmas Bird Counts and breeding bird surveys shows steep declines in bird populations around the country. The Audubon Society is focused on bird conservation. Its mission: Connecting people with birds for the benefit of both.

from The Grand Rapids Press, "New state Audubon director faces a challenge", by Howard Meyerson, Jan 11, 2008
See Michigan Audubon
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