New York City Audubon Society Inc

NYC AUDUBON SOCIETY IS A GRASS ROOTS COMMUNITY THAT WORKS FOR THE PROTECTION OF WILD BIRDS AND THEIR HABITATS IN THE FIVE BOROUGHS OF NEW YORK CITY, IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL NEW YORKERS.

NYC AUDUBON'S CONSERVATION AND SCIENCE EFFORTS ARE ORGANIZED INTO THREE PROGRAMMATIC AREAS THAT PROTECT BIRDS IN THE CITY AND ALONG THE ATLANTIC FLYWAY. FIRST, OUR "WATERBIRDS" PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THE HEALTH OF NEW YORK HARBOR USING WATERBIRDS AS BIOINDICATORS. WE MONITOR AND SAFEGUARD THE BIRDS THAT BREED, STOPOVER, AND WINTER IN THE CITY'S WATERWAYS, ISLANDS, BEACHES, AND WETLANDS. IN 2020-2021, WE CONDUCTED OUR 37TH ANNUAL HARBOR HERON SURVEY AND AN ANNUAL HARBOR HERON CONFERENCE; MONITORED AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER POPULATIONS IN THE ROCKAWAYS; AND BANDED AND TAGGED SHOREBIRDS INCLUDING SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS TO TRACK THEIR MIGRATION PATTERNS AND ADVOCATE FOR HABITAT AND FLYWAY PROTECTION.OUR SECOND PROGRAM AREA, "PROJECT SAFE FLIGHT", AIMS TO MAKE NYC SAFER FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS BY REDUCING THE HAZARDS OF WINDOW COLLISIONS AND ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AT NIGHT. IN 2020-2021, OUR VOLUNTEERS MONITORED COLLISIONS AT BUILDINGS AROUND THE CITY - INCLUDING NEW ROUTES IN BROOKLYN AND QUEENS; INCREASED ORGANIZATIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL USE OF OUR INNOVATIVE CROWDSOURCE PLATFORM D-BIRD WHICH COLLECTS CROWDSOURCED DATA ON BIRD MORTALITY; CONSULTED WITH BUILDINGS AROUND THE CITY ON VOLUNTARY RETROFITS TO THEIR GLASS AND LIGHTING TO REDUCE COLLISIONS; AND WORK ON SEVERAL CITY, STATE, AND FEDERAL INITIATIVES FOR BIRD-FRIENDLY BUILDING LEGISLATION INCLUDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING LEADING THE PASSAGE OF LANDMARK "LIGHTS OUT" LEGISLATION FOR CITY-OWNED BUILDINGS IN THE NYC COUNCIL. NYC AUDUBON'S THIRD PROGRAM AREA, "GREENSPACE AS HABITAT" WORKS TO ENHANCE BIRD HABITAT IN PARKS, GARDENS, GREEN ROOFS, AND OTHER GREEN SPACES IN THE CITY'S BUILT ENVIRONMENT. IN 2020-2021, WE CONTINUED TO MONITOR THE JAVITS CENTER GREEN ROOF SYSTEM FOR ITS BIRDS AND BIODIVERSITY, AND MANAGED ITS HERRING GULL ABATEMENT PROGRAM. WE CONSULTED WITH PARKS AND PRIVATE GREEN SPACE OWNERS ON IMPROVING THEIR HABITAT FOR BIRDS AND URBAN BIODIVERSITY, AND COORDINATED THE GREEN ROOF RESEARCHERS ALLIANCE, AN INFORMATION HUB AND CATALYST FOR ACTION ON GREEN ROOFS IN NEW YORK CITY, INCLUDING FURTHERING LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES TO INCENTIVIZE GREEN ROOF INSTALLATION IN NYC AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

NYC AUDUBON'S PUBLIC PROGRAMS ENGAGE THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS IN LEARNING ABOUT AND APPRECIATING URBAN WILDLIFE. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO OFFER IN-PERSON PUBLIC PROGRAMS IN SPRING/SUMMER 2021 DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC (THUS RESULTING IN A LOSS OF REVENUE) BUT RESUMED IN-PERSON GUIDED BIRD OUTINGS IN FALL 2022, INCLUDING EXPANDING FREE PROGRAMMING AND ACTIVELY REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE NOT TRADITIONALLY BEEN INVOLVED IN BIRDING AND CONSERVATION. WE ALSO OFFERED CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS, A FREE VIRTUAL LECTURE SERIES, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY SCIENCE AND HABITAT STEWARDSHIP. THOUGH WE TYPICALLY OPERATE A SEASONAL NATURE CENTER ON GOVERNORS ISLAND, OUR IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENT ON GOVERNORS ISLAND WAS ALSO LIMITED IN 2021 DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC. IN ADDITION TO OUR PUBLIC PROGRAMS THAT EDUCATE AND ENGAGE NEW YORKERS, THE ORGANIZATION LED ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS AND ENLISTED GRASSROOTS AVIAN ADVOCATES TO TAKE ACTIONS SUCH AS WRITING LETTERS, MAKING PHONE CALLS, AND TESTIFYING AT HEARINGS IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION TO PROTECT BIRDS, RESULTING IN THE PASSAGE OF LANDMARK "LIGHTS OUT" LEGISLATION BY THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL.

MEMBERSHIPNYC AUDUBON'S MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM ENGAGED 10,000 NEW YORKERS WITH BIRDS, HABITAT PROTECTION, AND CONSERVATION ACTION IN 2020-2021. WE PUBLISHED A QUARTERLY PRINT NEWSLETTER AND BI-WEEKLY EMAIL UPDATES, AND ENGAGED OUR AUDIENCE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR WEBSITE. IN ADDITION, WE HELD SPECIAL BIRD OUTINGS AND EVENTS FOR MEMBERS IN ALL FIVE BOROUGHS.