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MEDIA CONTACT:
Paula Maxfield
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paula@millermaxfield.com

AUDUBON CANYON RANCH ANNOUNCES 2008 HELEN PRATT FELLOW TO CONTINUE HERON & EGRET RESEARCH

March 19, 2008 - Stinson Beach, CA - Audubon Canyon Ranch (ACR), a leader in conservation science, regional habitat protection and restoration and hands-on environmental education programs, today announced Christine Rothenbach has been named ACR's 2008 Helen Pratt Fellow for ACR's Cypress Grove Research Center.

ACR's Helen Pratt Fellow focuses on the study of herons and egrets in the northern San Francisco Bay area, including ACR's heron and egret nesting site at Bolinas Lagoon Preserve which is open to visitors now through July 13, 2008. The work includes measuring reproductive performance at heronries throughout the region and measuring the directions and distances of egret foraging flights.

ACR has researched heron and egret populations in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 40 years. In 2006, ACR published its comprehensive "Atlas of Heronries" which details the affects of land use, predation and weather patterns on regional populations. ACR's Egret Atlas is used by land planners, government agencies, local conservation organizations, environmental consultants, and other organizations that monitor changes in land use, in order to protect these lands. In 2008, ACR's web site made the locations of regional heronries available through Google Earth.

The work of the Helen Pratt Fellow continues ACR's commitment to the protection of nesting herons and egrets in the greater San Francisco Bay area. This commitment began in 1962 when ACR was established to protect and important heronry on Bolinas Lagoon. In 1967, Audubon Canyon Ranch began its ongoing study of nesting herons and egrets at the Bolinas Lagoon heronry, and in 1990 ACR expanded its scientific efforts to study the health of regional heron and egret populations.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science from Arizona State University in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and a Master of Science in Ecosystem Science and Management from the University of Northern British Columbia.

About Audubon Canyon Ranch

The mission of Audubon Canyon Ranch is to protect the natural resources of its sanctuaries while fostering an understanding and appreciation of these environments. Through ACR's preservation, education, and research programs, Audubon Canyon Ranch educates children and adults, promotes ecological literacy that is grounded in direct experience, and conducts research and restoration that advances conservation science.

Audubon Canyon Ranch properties include the Cypress Grove Research Center on Tomales Bay, the 535-acre Bouverie Preserve in Sonoma and the 1,000-acre Bolinas Lagoon Preserve in Stinson Beach, which is home to one of the San Francisco Bay Area's largest Great Egret and Great Blue Heron nesting sites.

Audubon Canyon Ranch (ACR) is an independent non-profit organization with 501(c)3 status. ACR is not affiliated with the National Audubon Society. Audubon Canyon Ranch programs are made possible thanks to the contribution of thousands of hours of volunteer service, and donations from caring individuals, foundations and businesses. For more information, call (415) 868-9244, email acr@egret.org or visit www.egret.org.