FES research associate Jim Rivers was awarded the 2012 Ned K. Johnson Young Investigator Award from the American Ornithologists' Union at the recent meeting of the North American Ornithological Conference. This award recognizes researchers who have made outstanding and promising ornithological contributions early in their career and show a distinct promise for leadership in ornithology within and beyond North America. Congrats, Jim!

The chronic drought that hit western North America from 2000 to 2004 left dying forests and depleted river basins in its wake and was the strongest in 800 years, scientists have concluded, but they say those conditions will become the “new normal” for most of the coming century.

Some butterfly species could adapt to climate change better than others, according to a new study involving researchers at Oregon State University. “We’re already expecting localized extinctions of about one third of butterfly species, so we need to understand how climate change will affect those that survive,” said Javier Illan, with OSU’s Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society. “This research makes it clear that some will do a lot better than others.”

Climate Change Handbook –A Citizen’s Guide to Thoughtful Action won both a Western Regional and National Educational Piece - Team Award from NACDEP – the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals.  FES professor Viviane Simon-Brown was one of the authors of this handbook and was recognized at the annual conference in Park City, UT.