Grants

In order to preserve birds and ecosystems for future generations, we must be willing to work toward a better future.  That is why Louisville Audubon provides grants for organizations working to conserve our local environment.  We encourage groups to apply that are interested in birding and environmental conservation, restoration and education.

To apply for a grant from the Louisville Audubon Society, download the grant application form below.

LAS Grant Application 2020

Louisville Audubon Society
2018 Grant Requests Summary
LAS GRANT REVIEW COMMITTEE
TAVIA CATHCART BROWN, MATT LAHM

We had a total of six grant requests submitted for review in 2020, which were received from the following organizations. Here is a summary of their requests, followed by the amount we decided to award each organization.
  1. Kentucky Natural Lands Trust-Pine Mountain Wildlands Corridor Project KNLT is focused on connecting existing protected areas along Pine Mountain, and the greater purpose of working to protect, connect, & restore wild lands in ways that benefit local, regional, & global communities. Pine Mountain is home to nearly 1/7 (100) of the states’ rare plant and animal species. Because of the necessity to create and protect more contiguous quality habitat and the mission of the KNLT, we decided to fund this project for $1,000.
  2. Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission- Restoring Shortleaf Pine-Oak Barrens at Mt. Victory Seeps nature Preserve, Pulaski, Co., Ky.  The shortleaf pine-oak woodland communities at Mt Victory Seeps SNP on the Cumberland Plateau are at risk of disappearance due to a lack of cyclical fires and competition from an influx of invasive exotic species. The removal of less desirable, mid-story vegetation to a more open barrens structure will have a positive effect on a host of bird species that are dependent on pine-oak habitat. We agreed that the project was a priority due to the importance of preserving habitat and the mission of the KSNPC.  We decided to fund this request in the amount of $1,600.
  3. Oldham County Conservation District- Oldham Co. Monarch Butterfly Program. This program was created in 2005 and OCCD provides the program to local schools, home schools, and occasional scout troops to educate, and raise awareness of, the life cycle and conservation threats contributing to the decline of Monarch butterfly populations nationwide. We decided to fund this project for $550 because of the importance of educating children on building community relations, biodiversity, pollinators, and being proactive land stewards to support habitat for wildlife.
  4. River City Paddle Sports- Birds of Beargrass: A flash card set for common birds of Beargrass Creek. This project is part of a program to train naturalists who will conduct educational programs on Beargrass Creek and at Waterfront Park to understand the ecology of the creek and increase student knowledge of biodiversity of the creek and its riparian habitat. The purpose of this grant is to develop a set of informational flash cards of the 10 common birds of Beargrass Creek. One side will be a photograph or drawing and the other side would give the name and identification information.  This program will promote bird watching by identifying the common birds along Beargass Creek. We are funding this project for $525 because of the importance educating students and increasing interest in public stewardship of the most populated watershed in Jefferson County.
  5. Waterfront Botanical Gardens – Citizen Science for the Birds  Funds would go to purchase an assortment of bird feeders to install near our Beargrass Creek Pathway (currently under construction) and at WBG’s satellite growing site, the Avish, as well as a portable bird blind. The feeders and the blind will be part of the citizen science project, Project FeederWatch, administered in the United States by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We liked the project mission to support local and migratory bird species and secondly due to the education of the public through the incorporation of a Citizen Science project. We decided to fund this project for $525.
  6. Second Chances Wildlife – Wheelchair accessible path from parking area to outdoor classroom The request from Second Chances Wildlife is to remove debris, level ground to create a level path to an outdoor classroom pavilion, which will be used as part of their public events and educational programs. It will be important to provide wheelchair accessibility so that anyone who wants to visit may do so, no matter their disability. School programs, scouting groups and the general public will be able to visit. We are funding this project for $300.