San Diego Audubon Society has a new name for a new era in conservation: San Diego Bird Alliance.

“As we look to the future to accomplish our mission to preserve the nature of San Diego for generations to come, we want a name that is clear, inclusive, and visionary,” reported the nonprofit dedicated to conservation by using science, education, and advocacy to advance the protection of birds in a recent release. “People are integral to fulfilling our mission. We want everyone to know that they are invited, included, and appreciated, and it became clear that retaining the Audubon name would negatively impact our ability to do so.”

This year, San Diego Bird Alliance is celebrating 75 years of working for birds, for people, and for the planet. “A year ago we announced our decision to discontinue the use of the name Audubon and find a new name that better reflects our mission and values,” said SDBA. “On July 3, 2024, our board of directors voted unanimously to adopt San Diego Bird Alliance as our new name.

“Over the better part of a year, we worked with the board, staff, community partners, members, volunteers, and the public to find a name that would keep our mission clear and at the forefront, connect with more diverse communities, and help maintain a vital connection to other chapters across the region and country. Hundreds of people shared their thoughts and provided insightful feedback. We listened, and chose a name that we believe everyone can be proud of.”

While SDBA is an independent 501(c)(3), the organization remains an affiliated chapter of the National Audubon Society. The Audubon network is made up of more than 450 individual chapters. “We currently have no plans to leave the network as it is a powerful system of organizations with similar goals,” said SDBA. “We regularly work with our partner chapters across the state and with the National Audubon Society to accomplish great things in conservation and amplify our message.”

“Our mission remains the same, as does our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging,” said Travis Kemnitz, executive director for San Diego Bird Alliance. “The future is diverse, and we are excited to walk into that future as a welcoming space for even more in the community. This change will allow more people to enjoy, participate in, and help drive our work of creating a brighter future for birds, for people, and for the planet. Birds are for all, and need all our help to thrive.”

Donations and legacy gifts made out to San Diego Bird Alliance or San Diego Audubon will both be accepted by the bank. SDBA appreciates your support. The new website for the organization is SanDiegoBirdAlliance.org. Emails made out to the old email addresses will still come through, but you can change to the new email addresses by using the first letter of the first name, and then the full last name. For example: Bob Thomas would be [email protected].

GIVE THE GIFT OF HOPE

San Diego Bird Alliance is engaging an expanding network of nonprofit organizations, local businesses, governmental agencies, binational partners, and thousands of dedicated individuals to fight for increased protections for the endangered California least tern across the San Diego – Ensenada region. The long-term vision is to restore and maintain the breeding population of the species at a level where it can be removed from the endangered list. There has been significant progress over the past 30 years, and believe that coalition-building efforts will be a catalyst for significant long-term change for these tiny enigmatic birds. This holiday season, join in making a difference by giving hope and a chance of survival to the endangered California least tern, who face threats from introduced predators, disturbance from recreation events, nesting site vandalism, warming oceans, and a shortage of suitable coastal dune habitat.

NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY

The National Audubon Society launched in 1905, on the heels of American conservationism and a growing movement to protect birds. As with many efforts to conserve nature, women led the way: The first Audubon Society was organized by two Boston environmentalists, Harriet Hemenway, and Minna B. Hall, in response to the widespread slaughter of waterbirds, the gorgeous feathers of which were used to make women’s hats. The pair’s efforts in Massachusetts soon helped inspire similar organizations across the country.

By the time the National Audubon Society was incorporated in New York State, local members had already established key bird conservation efforts across the country. In the decades that followed, the organization was on the front lines of the conservation movement, influencing policymakers to pass key legislation. Notable conservation laws, which Audubon helped pass include the Audubon Plumage Law in 1910 which protected wading birds from the depredations of the plume industry, the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act — still one of the strongest bird-protection laws in the world today — that made it illegal to kill any non-game bird in the U.S., the Endangered Species Act in 1973, and the mammoth climate-change-focused Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. Audubon has also built nature centers and sanctuaries across the country; and helped to increase populations of many imperiled bird species, including bald eagles, piping plovers, California condors, least terns, great egrets, and many more. Audubon’s work continues across the hemisphere in the form of scientific research, policy making, education, community engagement, and the conservation and management of 300 million acres of bird habitat.