For many people when they think of NH Audubon, an image of Phil Brown’s smiling face is conjured in their heads, likely holding a pair of trusted binoculars. For the past 17 years, Phil has worked with many of you stewarding our wildlife sanctuaries around the state and sharing the wonder of birds with people of all ages. We deeply appreciate his commitment to the organization, making NH Audubon a better place to work through his thoughtful attitude and welcoming personality. It is sad to say that Phil is moving on, but we couldn’t be more excited for him. He will be staying closer to home and working for one of our amazing conservation partners, the Harris Center for Conservation Education, as their Bird Conservation Director & Land Specialist. Although he is leaving his official role with us, he has assured us that, “we won’t be getting rid of him that easily!” We are excited for Phil to continue as a professional partner and a sanctuary volunteer for some of our properties in the Monadnock Region that Phil himself helped make better during his tenure with us. We wish the best to Phil as he takes on these new responsibilities and new adventures.

After an extensive search and interview process, we are excited to announce that T. Parker Schuerman has joined our team as the new Director of Lands and Ecological Management. For the past 25 years, Parker has been working locally and regionally in restoration ecology, forestry, fire ecology, and land management. With an M.S. in Natural Resource Management, he has spent most of his professional career trying to understand, create, and monitor how natural and prescribed disturbances influence and improve habitats for all types of wildlife.

In his new role, Parker will help us develop and implement a long-term strategy to dovetail our sanctuaries into our educational mission and implement management practices which support biological diversity and ecological integrity at NH Audubon properties. Working with our education and communication staff, Parker will help update and enhance sanctuary maps, signs, and trailhead information. In addition to carpentry, Parker spends his free time hiking, birding, rearing butterflies, camping, raising blight resistant American Chestnut trees, and gardening.