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 above.
Grant Deadline: April 1, 2025
2024 LAS GRANT RECIPIENTS
GRANT SUMMARIES
LAS received four grant proposals in 2024, and we dispersed $6000 in grant funds among these
worthy organizations for projects that support our mission: To conserve and restore natural
ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity
and the earth’s biological diversity.
Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve
Project Title: Make Way For Natives!
The Make Way For Natives project at Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve will remove six acres of
dense, non-native, invasive shrubs and vines through hiring a company to use a large masticator
machine to conduct a “forest-mow” of trees up to 1- to 12 inches in diameter. The area will be
replanted with native species that will benefit birds and pollinators.
Falls of the Ohio Foundation
Project Title: Falls of the Ohio Bird Collision Deterrent Window Film
The Louisville Audubon Society continues to make an impact at the Falls of the Ohio State Park
in 2024. Generous funding from the society supported the installation of bird collision deterrent
film on the window panels of the Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center’s bird viewing room,
overlooking the newly renovated bird garden. Visitors can continue to experience observing
several species of local avifauna while birds safely enjoy the garden with reduced the chances of
collision with the viewing glass. This funding dovetails with the 2023 grant from the Louisville
Audubon Society that helped renovate the bird garden with new feeders and native perennial
plants.
Kentucky Natural Lands Trust, Inc.
Project Title: Pine Mountain Wildlands Corridor
This project will expand Salt Trace Gap Preserve (2,392 acres) by protecting an additional 175
acres in Harlan County. Salt Trace Gap is within the original protection plan for Blanton Forest,
the old growth forest project that launched KNLT in 1995. The preserve is part of a matrix of
conservation lands along Pine Mountain that protects a biodiverse and climate resilient
landscape. The mountain is one of the most biologically diverse areas of Kentucky and Central
Appalachia. Pine Mountain provides habitat for thousands of species of plants and animals;
nearly 200 of these species are considered rare, some found nowhere else on the planet. Funds
from the Louisville Audubon Society will support the purchase and due diligence costs related to
the acquisition and protection of vital Kentucky wildlands within the PMWCAdditionally, Pine
Mountain Wildlands Corridor is a vital link of the migratory pathway for neotropical birds and
monarch butterflies.
Second Chances Wildlife Center
Project Title: Native pollinator field
We have been working on a large pollinator field for a couple of years. LAS funds will be used to
purchase additional native wildflower seeds to cover our 2.2 acres.
This pollinator field will allow bats, birds, bees, and butterflies to flourish by providing food
sources, nesting habitat for meadow birds and shelter for the animals. Students and other
visitors will also benefit from the aesthetics and research potential.
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 above.
Grant Deadline: April 1, 2025
2024 LAS GRANT RECIPIENTS
GRANT SUMMARIES
LAS received four grant proposals in 2024, and we dispersed $6000 in grant funds among these
worthy organizations for projects that support our mission: To conserve and restore natural
ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity
and the earth’s biological diversity.
Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve
Project Title: Make Way For Natives!
The Make Way For Natives project at Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve will remove six acres of
dense, non-native, invasive shrubs and vines through hiring a company to use a large masticator
machine to conduct a “forest-mow” of trees up to 1- to 12 inches in diameter. The area will be
replanted with native species that will benefit birds and pollinators.
Falls of the Ohio Foundation
Project Title: Falls of the Ohio Bird Collision Deterrent Window Film
The Louisville Audubon Society continues to make an impact at the Falls of the Ohio State Park
in 2024. Generous funding from the society supported the installation of bird collision deterrent
film on the window panels of the Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center’s bird viewing room,
overlooking the newly renovated bird garden. Visitors can continue to experience observing
several species of local avifauna while birds safely enjoy the garden with reduced the chances of
collision with the viewing glass. This funding dovetails with the 2023 grant from the Louisville
Audubon Society that helped renovate the bird garden with new feeders and native perennial
plants.
Kentucky Natural Lands Trust, Inc.
Project Title: Pine Mountain Wildlands Corridor
This project will expand Salt Trace Gap Preserve (2,392 acres) by protecting an additional 175
acres in Harlan County. Salt Trace Gap is within the original protection plan for Blanton Forest,
the old growth forest project that launched KNLT in 1995. The preserve is part of a matrix of
conservation lands along Pine Mountain that protects a biodiverse and climate resilient
landscape. The mountain is one of the most biologically diverse areas of Kentucky and Central
Appalachia. Pine Mountain provides habitat for thousands of species of plants and animals;
nearly 200 of these species are considered rare, some found nowhere else on the planet. Funds
from the Louisville Audubon Society will support the purchase and due diligence costs related to
the acquisition and protection of vital Kentucky wildlands within the PMWCAdditionally, Pine
Mountain Wildlands Corridor is a vital link of the migratory pathway for neotropical birds and
monarch butterflies.
Second Chances Wildlife Center
Project Title: Native pollinator field
We have been working on a large pollinator field for a couple of years. LAS funds will be used to
purchase additional native wildflower seeds to cover our 2.2 acres.
This pollinator field will allow bats, birds, bees, and butterflies to flourish by providing food
sources, nesting habitat for meadow birds and shelter for the animals. Students and other
visitors will also benefit from the aesthetics and research potential.
2023 RECIPIENTS OF LAS GRANTS
GRANT SUMMARIES
LAS received ten grant proposals in 2023, and $6000 in grant funds were disperse to very
worthy organizations for meaningful projects.
Belmar Farm Urban Nature Preserve
Project Title: Belmar Farm: Creating a More Bird-Friendly Neighborhood Woodland.
After two years of invasive non-native shrub and vine removal in a 3.3 acre wooded property in
the Camp Taylor neighborhood, there is now opportunity to plant more native herbs shrubs and
tree seedlings that will support a more diverse ecological community. Work being done here has
engaged community members, members of Wild Ones Louisville, Master Naturalists and the
Kentucky Native Seed Swap Group so we can all teach each other techniques for removing
invasive plants and the value of native plants in supporting wildlife such as birds. Funds are
requested to purchase native, bird-supporting shrubs that are not readily obtained through
informal channels. This work is ongoing, but shrubs will be planted in spring or fall.
Falls of the Ohio Foundation
Project Title: Falls of the Ohio Bird Garden Renovation
Funding for updates to the Falls of the Ohio bird garden and adjacent viewing room will carry on
the legacies of both Audubon and Brecher, will benefit area bird enthusiasts and novices alike,
and local birds by providing a continued source of food, shelter when needed, and respite.
Additionally, the bird garden and viewing room affords visitors the opportunity to learn about
local species and how to spot them, thus creating more educated environmental citizens and bird
advocates. Funding would be used to purchase new, native perennial plants for the bird garden.
Renovations are currently underway in the bird garden. The initial work has been done to replace
the fishpond in the space and to add a water feature. Ideally the additional updates will be
complete by the end of spring 2023.
Kentucky Natural Lands Trust, Inc
Project Title: Forest Restoration - Pine Mountain Wildlands Corridor
The project will restore riparian forest habitat within a major migratory route through Central
Appalachia. Located within Kentucky Natural Lands Trust’s Laden Trail Preserve (459 acres),
the 27-acre site targeted for restoration is a former coal wash facility that operated along the base
of Pine Mountain from 1981 to around 1995. The operations during that time washed off the soil,
rock and other impurities from coal extracted from the Cumberland Plateau. Funds are requested
to help with site preparation costs. The project is planned to be finish in 2024.
Louisville Nature Center, Inc.
Project Title: Louisville Nature Center Pollinator Garden
This year’s project will be an expansion on last year’s project, converting even more of the
overgrown, weedy garden bed in front of the building into a pollinator garden. Funding from
Louisville Audubon and the Re-Wilding project allowed us to plant a number of native pollinator
species in the garden. We hope this year to have the bed fully converted to native pollinator plants: a
garden to be proud of right by the front door! The proximity of the pollinators will benefit the edible
garden, and the two gardens will be useful education tools. In addition to growing native plants for
our own pollinator garden, we plan to collect seeds from the native pollinator plants to propagate new
plants for sale, giveaways, or replanting. Project completion by early summer 2023.
Office of State Nature Preserves
Project Title: Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves Prescribed Fire Program
Prescribed fire is an integral tool the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves (OKNP) has utilized
for decades to manage and restore our state natural areas. Over the past five years, OKNP has
burned over 3,000 acres of natural areas across the state. OKNP’s Fire Program has increased our
capacity to implement prescribed burns in recent years with increased staff support and new
partnerships. Prescribed fire also helps restore degraded grasslands that have been converted to
non-native cool season grasses via agriculture back to native warm season grasses that provide
better nesting site conditions and increase the available nesting habitat for a wide range of
grassland birds. OKNP currently requires updates and expansion of equipment to accommodate
the increased capacity. Safety is of paramount importance on a prescribed burn. To ensure the
safety of each individual fire practitioner everyone should have a radio capable of
communicating with other crewmembers. We are requesting funding to purchase additional
radios so we can equip each crewmember on our burn crew with a means of communication. The
project will start with the fall 2023 prescribed fire season.
River City Paddle Sports
Project Title: Ohio River Documentary
Morgan Atkinson is making a documentary that will change the way people perceive the Ohio
River as well as the manner in which they embrace it. Our documentary will show how this river,
once called "the beautiful river" but now derided by some as the dirtiest river in America, is an
invaluable asset. The documentary will bring to life the people and choices that can make the
Ohio a beautiful river once again. When people appreciate and understand the history, the
environmental issues and the current work to enhance the biodiversity of the Ohio River there
will be more political will to clean it up. River City Paddle Sports has been involved and is
requesting funds to help with final editing for this documentary. The documentary should be
done by the end of August, hopefully the premier will be at the Kentucky State Fair in
conjunction with the Ripple Effects exhibit.
Second Chances Wildlife Center
Project Title: Native wildlife enclosure rebuild
We seem to always run short on outdoor enclosures, however, we have experienced some
damage due to a large tree falling on three enclosures, damaging two and destroying one. We are
definitely short at the moment! This will affect the number of people and animals that are are
able to help. We will build and repair damaged enclosures this Spring to assure we have adequate
space for the final stage in the rehabilitation process for wildlife.
TreesLouisville
Project Title: Residential Tree Adoption Program
Each year, TreesLouisville distributes hundreds of potted trees to Louisville-area residents at
multiple events throughout the city. Data from the 2015 Louisville Urban Tree Canopy
Assessment revealed that nearly 70% of land in Jefferson County is privately owned; therefore,
individual residents and homeowners have the power to significantly contribute to increasing our
city’s tree canopy. Canopy gains cannot be achieved by the public sector alone, and by providing
free trees to residents, we are offering incentives for individuals to participate directly in
Louisville’s tree canopy improvement efforts and reap the benefits of additional shade, etc. in
their yards. To ensure greater access to the program for residents throughout Louisville, we select
and rotate between different event sites throughout the year. We focus our pickup locations in
West, South, or Southwest Louisville where tree canopy coverage is the lowest in an effort to
engage with residents in neighborhoods closest to the event sites. We also collect basic
information from the participants in order to learn where the trees are being planted (ZIP code)
and to follow up with them regarding their tree health. This data helps us to better gauge the
program’s efficacy and adapt our program’s strategy if we feel we need to increase participation
from our target audience. Tree Adoptions take place in early spring and late fall every year.
Waterfront Botanical Gardens
Project Title: Waterfront Botanical Gardens Berry Producing Shrubs
WBG desires 58 native berry-producing shrubs to feed our songbirds during the year when other
sources are not available along the Butchertown Greenway along our eastern frontage. one of
WBG’s goals with this project is to protect our growing population of songbirds at WBG and at
the Avish. We feed birds in their natural habitat which protects the environment from intruding
species. We include educating about songbirds and their habitats in our environmental education
programs. We would like to plant the bushes as soon as funding is available. By June 1, 2023 at
the latest.
Kentucky Audubon Council 2024 Scholarship
One scholarship is available for Audubon’s Hog Island Camp for an individual with a serious interest in ornithology, bird watching, environmental and nature studies, etc.
The following camp program is available for the scholarship recipient for 2024:
__ Sharing Nature: An Educator’s Week, July 14-19
Primary eligibility: A resident of Kentucky who has demonstrated curiosity and/or passion about birds, ornithology, bird watching, environmental and/or nature studies. The scholarship will be awarded based on outreach involvement and potential benefit to others.
Amount of Award: The scholarship award covers the tuition fee of $1,590.00
How to apply: Complete the application form linked in the KY Audubon Council website http://www.kentuckyauduboncouncil.org/ and submit it to KY Audubon Council scholarship chair Maggie Selvidge at [email protected].
Or you may email Selvidge requesting an application form.
Application Deadline March 30, 2024
Post-camp requirement: The scholarship is given on the stipulation that the recipient share their Hog Island experience with a presentation at the nearest Audubon chapter or at a meeting of the KY Audubon Council (more details on the scholarship application).
