Honoree Receives Audubon/Toyota TogetherGreen Fellowship
New York, NY: A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania man is the recipient of a new national fellowship designed to advance the work of individuals with outstanding potential to help shape a brighter environmental future.
Keith Russell is one of only 40 people selected from competitors nationwide for the TogetherGreen Conservation Leadership Program, part of a new conservation initiative of the National Audubon Society with support from Toyota. Fellows receive specialized training in conservation planning and execution, the chance to work and share best practices with gifted conservation professionals, and assistance with project outreach and evaluation. Each Fellow will also receive $10,000 towards a community-focused project to engage local residents in conserving land, water and energy, and contributing to greater environmental health.
For his fellowship, Keith will focus on organizing a volunteer monitoring effort to collect data on bird collisions with building windows, combining citizen science and wildlife conservation efforts. This study will help reveal how building lights and building glass in downtown Philadelphia affect many of the migratory birds that pass through the city each spring and fall, allowing Russell and others to work towards making the city a safer place for these prodigious travelers. Turning off lights and reducing the transparency and reflection caused by building glass will help protect these birds from deadly collisions, educate community members and business owners about the perils migratory birds face in cities, and ultimately help slow the rate at which many of these species are now declining.
Involved in conservation efforts for more than two decades, Russell is currently an Outreach Coordinator for Audubon Pennsylvania. He works directly with the staff of Fairmount Park as well as Benjamin Rush State Park to improve habitat for birds through activities such as meadow restorations and invasive plant removal. Russell has also helped to initiate monthly bird walks, encouraging residents and visitors to learn about and enjoy the impressive diversity of their local birds.
“Keith is the kind of person who can make a real difference in the health of our environment and the quality of our future,” said Audubon President John Flicker. “Each of our TogetherGreen Fellows demonstrates exceptional environmental understanding and commitment, combined with tremendous potential to inspire and lead others. Together, they represent the talented and diverse leadership the environmental community will need to tackle the huge challenges and opportunities confronting us now and in the years to come.”
“I am extremely grateful to have received support from Audubon and Toyota to study the problem of bird collisions in Philadelphia,” stated Russell. “We hope the study’s results will be instrumental in bringing about the changes necessary to reduce the number of collisions locally and helpful to raise awareness of the problem in other geographic areas.”
Russell has been affiliated with Audubon Pennsylvania since 2005. Half of the TogetherGreen fellows come from within Audubon’s far-reaching national network; half channel their environmental efforts through other organizations.
Russell received a Masters degree in zoology from Clemson University and a Bachelors degree in biology from Cornell University. In addition to his current position, he is the founder of the Philadelphia Mid-Winter Bird Census and has coordinated it since 1987. A dedicated birder, Russell has received several awards from the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club for his contributions to the field. His writings have appeared in a number of ornithological publications including the Birds of North America and Pennsylvania Birds.
“Toyota believes in the power of grassroots efforts to develop the environmental leaders of tomorrow,” said Patricia Salas Pineda, Group Vice President, Toyota Motor North America. “These 40 TogetherGreen Fellows will receive invaluable training for the future while immediately making a difference today with on-the-ground community projects.”
A complete list of TogetherGreen fellows can be found online at www.TogetherGreen.org/fellows.
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Philadelphia Man Singled Out for Environmental Leadership
