Birds Connect Seattle

The City of Seattle is home to at least 75 species of breeding birds, and an additional 34 likely breed within city limits. There are as many as 109 bird species that rely on a healthy urban environment to sustain them, to say nothing of migratory visitors. Moreover, scientists agree that climate change is the greatest threat to birds; Audubon's peer-reviewed research shows that roughly half of all North American bird species are threatened with the loss of at least 50 percent of their habitat by 2080. Protecting the places that birds need in a warmer world is paramount. To that end, Seattle Audubon is determined to advance the habitat connectivity and landscape-scale resilience essential to help bird populations adapt to a truly global threat. These threats make clear the challenges that birds face and they transcend state and national boundaries, which is what makes the extensive Audubon network so absolutely critical. Seattle Audubon's local work is a crucial piece of the hemispheric-scale conservation work of the entire network. We are poised to exert significant leadership in engaging new communities, empowering citizens to restore healthy bird habitats, and building a more resilient natural system in the face of climate change. We know that by conducting high-quality outreach and education with our community we can increase appreciation of birds and their ecosystems. Developing citizens' knowledge of birds and promoting scientific inquiry enhances understanding. By instilling leadership and the skills to act, we develop our members' means of engaging in direct conservation action, which protects birds and their habitats.

Seattle Audubon aims to achieve our vision for the future by focusing our work in three main areas:

Urban Conservation: We will advocate for bird-safe cities with new emphasis on reducing anticoagulant rodenticide use, maintaining our city's tree canopy, and promoting bird-friendly building practices. Our education programs will include specific conservation calls to action for attendees.

Equity: We are taking steps to understand and eradicate racial inequity and injustice in our field and in our own organization, shifting our culture and practices to create welcoming spaces where everyone can enjoy the wonder of birds and nature.

Resilience: We will continue to be excellent stewards of our existing resources as we simultaneously work to diversify and develop our funding sources. We will further develop our valued staff, board and leadership to maximize retention.

Since 1916, Seattle Audubon members and volunteers have continually worked for the protection, restoration and preservation of natural habitat for birds and other wildlife. These years of experience have never been more important than today as the growth in our region stresses many habitats and their inhabitants. Faithful volunteers work hand-in-hand with dedicated staff to provide education programs to children and adults, to engage neighborhoods in community science projects, and to protect birds and nature through conservation activities. Field trips give members the opportunity to enjoy birding from waters of Puget Sound to the shrub-steppe of Eastern Washington. Volunteers at the Seattle Audubon Nature Center staff a bird question hotline and sell quality backyard bird supplies and gifts through the Nature Shop.

Seattle Audubon is currently embarking on a new effort to improve the organizations equity, inclusion, and engagement of underrepresented communities within the environmental movement. This is a critical element of our new strategic plan. We are engaged with several of our partners to understand how our allies are meeting the challenges of engaging diverse audiences. We all share the common goal of ensuring that everyone benefits from our progress and programs. It's clear we have significant support from our partners for developing more inclusive environmental programs, overcoming barriers to engagement, and aligning our priorities with communities who may have never heard of Seattle Audubon. It's hard work, and we're all learning and figuring it out as we proceed, but genuine equity work is like a muscle, it gets stronger the more we exercise it. When we say that we want to ensure that those served by Seattle Audubon represent the demographics of the city we call home, we know it will take time and a consistent focus and practice to achieve the reality we envision. Some people might say, What does Seattle Audubon Society have to do with race and equality? Well, the answer is: why shouldn't it? Equity, inclusion, and connecting with diverse communities is essential for the long term success of any organization, especially one so focused on engaging new audiences. Seattle Audubon is recognized as a formidable force in our community, so why not apply the weight and tenacity of our history to an area of urgent need that just happens to currently have the nation's attention? Now can be a transformative time for our work in urban conservation and community engagement. It's up to us to consider how far we go with it. We can tell you, from our view here in the crow's nest, the horizon is clear and we are only limited by what we can think we can accomplish.