Quck answer
The Audubon Society Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving and protecting wildlife and their habitats. They work towards their mission through various initiatives, including habitat restoration, education, advocacy, and scientific research. The fund also supports local chapters and partners with other organizations to achieve their goals. Donations to the Audubon Society Fund go towards funding these initiatives and supporting their ongoing efforts to protect our planet’s biodiversity. By supporting the Audubon Society Fund, individuals can make a meaningful impact towards preserving the natural world for future generations.
Animal Facts
Birds are excellent indicators of our constantly changing environment. Due to their various habitats, observable nature, and their position at the top of the food chain, disrupted or unhealthy birds signify that the environment is out of balance. Birds are threatened by water and air pollution, habitat destruction, and the effects of toxic chemicals and pesticides. The National Audubon Society is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife, as well as conserving the ecosystems that support them.
| Bird Image GalleryВ
|
Up Next
|
ВThe National Audubon Society is a non-profit organization headquartered in New York City with state and local chapters throughout the United States and internationally. The national organization primarily focuses on advocating for legislation that strengthens or protects federal environmental and wildlife policies. The society also promotes scientific research and educational programs about birds and their habitats.
The Audubon Society is most famous for its chapters’ efforts to promote bird watching and create backyard and local habitats for birds. The society has played a significant role in making bird watching the popular hobby it is today. According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, there are 63 million bird watchers in the country [source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service].
| John James Audubon В Although the Audubon Society’s namesake died 35 years before the organization’s first incarnation, his career as a scientific illustrator of birds made his name the perfect choice for an ornithological society. After a failed business venture in Kentucky, Audubon headed west with his gun, art supplies, and an assistant to begin a collection of avian illustrations. His large, colorful, and extremely detailed depictions of birds proved enormously successful when they debuted in London in 1826. The illustrations were eventually printed in a collection entitled “Birds of America.” |
In this article, we will explore the history of the Audubon Society and its programs, starting with the organization’s origins.
History of the Audubon Society
When the Audubon Society was first established in 1886, plume hunters were decimating North American bird populations in the name of fashion. Ladies adorned their hats and clothing with the exotic feathers of birds. Shorebirds and migratory birds that stayed near the water were the most affected as hunters targeted large flocks, indiscriminately injuring animals and orphaning chicks.
George Bird Grinnell, who founded the Audubon Society, was not a typical animal activist. He was the editor of a hunting and fishing journal called “Forest and Stream” and enjoyed hunting big game. However, he was disturbed by the excessive killing of birds for their feathers by even the most passionate hunters. Grinnell began publishing articles against plume hunting in his magazine and eventually created “Audubon Magazine,” an independent pamphlet named after the illustrator John James Audubon. The society initially existed only in the magazine’s pages, with no members or meetings, but subscribers who opposed plume hunting and enjoyed reading about birds’ histories and ornithological biographies. However, Grinnell could not keep up with the magazine’s success and stopped publishing in 1888.
In 1896, Harriet Hemenway, a Boston socialite, took her own stand against plume hunting. She and her cousin identified fashionable women who wore plumes in the Boston Blue Book and invited them to join a society for bird protection. Hemenway brought together women, naturalists, and others interested in ornithology, and the group called itself the Massachusetts Audubon Society. By the early 1900s, the society had expanded across the country and advocated for federal and state legislation against plume hunting. The Audubon Society helped create the first Federal Bird Reservation, which led to the formation of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Plume hunters took their work seriously and sometimes violently resisted the Audubon Society’s efforts to protect wild birds. In 1905, plume hunters illegally killing nesting birds shot Guy Bradley, an Audubon warden near Flamingo, Fla., in the throat. Three years later, another warden, Columbus G. MacLeod, died in the line of duty. The murders intensified the Society’s condemnation of plumes for fashion.
The Audubon Society expanded its mission from protecting birds from plume hunters to advocating for federal policies on air, water, and endangered species. Today, the society funds conservation programs for birds while also promoting initiatives to control invasive species, manage the human population through family planning, and protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Much of the society’s work focuses on restoring ecosystems in high-risk areas, such as the Everglades, the Mississippi River, and the Great Lakes.
The Audubon Society has identified three major ecosystems in the United States that require protection: the Everglades, the Mississippi River, and the Great Lakes. The Florida Everglades is home to around 350 bird species, and the Audubon Society has been working to preserve the area for over a century. The Mississippi River is home to 60% of North America’s bird habitats, but pollution and altered flow have threatened the ecosystem. The Great Lakes and their surrounding wetlands are home to 400 bird species, but face threats from development, dams, and invasive species. The Audubon Society designates Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and initiates protection and restoration projects to safeguard these ecosystems. The restoration efforts require significant funding, which has been allocated through the Water Resources Development Act. In addition to large-scale initiatives, the Audubon Society encourages individuals to participate in Audubon Birding, a grassroots effort to protect birds and other wildlife. The Audubon at Home program supports individuals in creating healthy habitats for birds in their yards and public spaces. The annual Christmas Bird Count, a voluntary census of bird populations, allows researchers to examine the long-term health of North American bird species.
| Wind turbines are often recommended as a clean and efficient alternative to fossil fuels, but some bird advocates are concerned about the impact of the large turbines. Poorly placed wind turbines can cause significant harm to local and migratory bird populations. Despite this, the Audubon Society approves of wind turbines as essential for preserving avian ecosystems threatened by global warming. While the organization still protests against high-risk developments, they also use their knowledge of birds and their habitats to help plan and site projects [source: Audubon Society]. |
If you want to learn more about the Audubon Society, other conservation organizations, and ways to help clean up the environment, check out the links on the next page.
Lots More Information
Related HowStuffWorks Articles
- How the EPA Works
- How the Sierra Club Works
- How Greenpeace Works
- How Bird Flu Works
More Great Links
- The National Audubon Society
Sources
- Audubon Timeline.
http://www.audubon.org/states/fl/fl/main/timeline.htm - “Bird Conservation.” Birds in Backyards. http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/about/related.cfm#indicator
- “The Bottom Line.” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. http://training.fws.gov/library/Pubs/mbd_bottom_line2.pdf
- Cubie, Doreen. “On the Front Lines.” The Audubon Society. http://magazine.audubon.org/features0601/wardens.html
- Flicker, John. “Wind Power.”
Audubon Magazine. November-December, 2006. http://www.audubon.org/campaign/windPowerQA.html - Graham, Frank Jr. “The Audubon Ark.”
Alfred A. Knopf. New York: 1990. - “John James Audubon 1785-1851.” The Audubon Society. http://www.audubon.org/nas/jja.html
- The National Audubon Society. http://www.audubon.org/
FAQ
1. What is the Audubon Society Fund and what does it do?
The Audubon Society Fund is a non-profit organization that supports the National Audubon Society in its conservation work. It provides grants to support research, education, and advocacy efforts that aim to protect birds and their habitats. The fund also helps to support the development of new programs and initiatives that advance the mission of the National Audubon Society.
2. How can I donate to the Audubon Society Fund?
There are several ways to donate to the Audubon Society Fund. You can make a one-time donation online or by mailing a check to the National Audubon Society. You can also become a monthly donor, which provides ongoing support for the fund’s conservation work. Additionally, you can donate through workplace giving programs or by including the Audubon Society Fund in your estate planning.
3. What types of projects does the Audubon Society Fund support?
The Audubon Society Fund supports a wide range of projects that are focused on conserving birds and their habitats. This includes funding for research projects that investigate the ecology and behavior of individual bird species, as well as for larger-scale conservation efforts that protect entire ecosystems. The fund also supports educational projects that aim to engage people of all ages in bird conservation and advocacy initiatives that work to influence public policy on environmental issues.
4. Is the Audubon Society Fund affiliated with any political parties or organizations?
No, the Audubon Society Fund is an independent non-profit organization that is not affiliated with any political parties or organizations. Its work is focused solely on supporting the conservation efforts of the National Audubon Society and advancing its mission to protect birds and their habitats.
5. How can I get involved with the Audubon Society Fund?
There are several ways to get involved with the Audubon Society Fund and support its conservation work. You can make a donation to the fund, become a monthly donor, or volunteer with the National Audubon Society at one of its many local chapters. Additionally, you can participate in advocacy efforts that aim to influence public policy on environmental issues or engage in educational programs that promote bird conservation and appreciation.
Leave a Reply