Meadville, PA — May 7, 2015 — Ernst Conservation Seeds has announced its sponsorship of the New Jersey Audubon Stewardship Department team, “The Fight’n Femelschlagers,” in the 32nd Annual World Series of Birding at Cape May, NJ this Saturday, May 9. This marks the second year Ernst Seeds has sponsored the New Jersey Stewardship Department team.
According to the New Jersey Audubon website, The World Series of Birding is the country’s largest and most prestigious birding competition and provides participants and sponsors with a fun and interactive way to raise money for critically needed conservation priorities.
Participating teams raise money for their own designated conservation organization or project. “The Fight’n Femelschlagers” are raising funds for habitat improvement projects in New Jersey. Femelschlag is a German term for a forest management practice designed to emulate natural disturbance patterns and encourage tree species diversity in multiple age classes, thereby enhancing ecosystem services and complexity.
“It’s great to welcome Ernst Conservation Seeds back to the World Series of Birding as a sponsor of New Jersey Audubon’s Stewardship Department team for the second year in a row,” states John Cecil, vice president for stewardship at New Jersey Audubon. “Ernst grows what the stewardship department plants – native seeds and plants for bird and other wildlife habitat. This makes Ernst Seeds the perfect partner to help us grow and steward habitat for the birds.”
The World Series of Birding has raised close to $9 million for bird conservation and has helped draw public attention to birding and the need for increased bird habitat globally during its first 31 years. It brings together birders of all levels of experience, local conservation groups, schools and youth groups, and businesses that care about the environment. Thousands of people participate in the event, which includes several categories and ways to play.
“Ernst Conservation Seeds has a deep respect for the ongoing habitat conservation and restoration work being done year-round by New Jersey Audubon,” said Randy Ferguson, director of communications. “The World Series of Birding is a globally recognized birding and fundraising event, and it serves as New Jersey Audubon Stewardship’s main habitat funding vehicle. Our support of the event represents the perfect marriage of our shared missions.”
Those wishing to make a contribution to the “Fight’n Femelschlagers,” or any participating team, can visit the World Series of Birding site, www.worldseriesofbirding.org and choose the “donate” link.
More information on New Jersey Audubon can be found at www.njaudubon.org. More information on Ernst Conservation Seeds can be found at www.ernstseed.com.
About Ernst Conservation Seeds
Founded by Calvin Ernst in 1964, Ernst Conservation Seeds grows, processes and sells over 400 species of native and naturalized seeds and live plant materials to conservation organizations, landscape architects, reclamation/restoration contractors, government agencies and private landowners throughout the United States and abroad.
About New Jersey Audubon
The New Jersey Audubon Society is a privately supported, not-for profit, statewide membership organization. Founded in 1897, and one of the oldest independent Audubon societies, New Jersey Audubon has no connection with the National Audubon Society. New Jersey Audubon fosters environmental awareness and a conservation ethic among New Jersey’s citizens; protects New Jersey’s birds, mammals, other animals, and plants, especially endangered and threatened species; and promotes preservation of New Jersey’s valuable natural habitats.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Randy Ferguson, Dir. Marketing & Communications
Ernst Conservation Seeds
814-336-2404 (office)
724-813-0839 (cell)
rferguson@ernstseed.com