The Audubon Society of Northern Virginia, a 5,000-member chapter of the National Audubon Society, voted overwhelmingly to change the chapter’s name to the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance (NoVA Bird Alliance), effective Aug. 1. The group’s new motto is "Conserving and Enjoying Nature."
Elizabeth Lyons, president of the organization, explained, “We are excited about our new name for two primary reasons. First, ‘Bird Alliance’ better describes what we do. Second, protecting nature is so urgent that we need everyone’s help yet we found that John James Audubon’s history was keeping people, especially those in younger and more diverse groups, from joining our cause. Our new, more welcoming name will enable us to conserve nature for the benefit of birds, other wildlife and people because it will help us engage and serve all of Northern Virginia’s communities.”
One reason that at least 20 chapters dropped the Audubon name is that John James Audubon, a naturalist and painter, supported his work by buying and selling enslaved people. Board member Tom Blackburn elaborated, “The National Audubon Society decided not to change its name. Our organization is not attempting to erase John James Audubon, but we felt it was time to change our name so our focus on birds and the environment is more easily recognizable and so our name is more welcoming to all the people in the area we serve.” The organization will continue as a chapter of the National Audubon Society.
“Our new, more welcoming name will enable us to conserve nature for the benefit of birds, other wildlife and people because it will help us engage and serve all of Northern Virginia’s communities.”
— Elizabeth Lyons, president, NoVa Bird Alliance
The NoVA Bird Alliance’s member territory encompasses all of Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William and Stafford Counties; portions of Fauquier, Loudoun, Rappahannock and Spotsylvania Counties; and the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas and Manassas Park.
Many Birds in Decline
For over 40 years, the group has surveyed birds, butterflies, dragonflies and bloom dates of plants in southeastern Fairfax County and Prince William County. The bloom dates project is one of the longest-duration such surveys in the country.
One study of North American birds showed that three billion birds – 25 percent of the total bird population – have been lost in the last 50 years, because of spreading agriculture and urbanization, and the pollution and loss of habitat that comes with that.
Nearly 500 species of birds spend part or all of the year in Virginia.
“Bird population trends in Virginia are consistent with the rest of North America,” noted Blackburn. “Preliminary data from the state’s Second Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas indicate that many bird species are in steep decline in Virginia.
“Some birds, such as gadwalls and blue-winged teals, no longer breed in Virginia. Climate change has resulted in southern birds, such as Mississippi kites and anhingas, starting to breed in Virginia. Many bird species are nesting two to five weeks earlier than they were 35 years ago, when the first Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas was compiled,” he said.
Greg Butcher observed, “Northern Virginia remains one of the most rapidly developing regions in the world. A major downside to this development is that we are losing natural areas that support birds and wildlife. In the last few decades, we have lost the bobwhite quail as a breeding bird in northern Virginia and we no longer hear its namesake whistle in our neighborhoods.
“Similarly, the wood thrush used to provide a familiar and lovely song that is increasingly rare to hear anywhere near Washington, D.C., where it is the official bird.” Butcher is the retired Migratory Species Coordinator for U.S. Forest Service International Programs and former Director of Bird Conservation for the National Audubon Society.
He continued, “Our parks provide our best chance to maintain healthy bird populations. We need to add more parks, increase their sizes and promote their natural values.
“Both grassland birds and forest-interior birds require large patches of habitat to survive and breed. These large habitat patches are the first to disappear during urbanization. Species like bobwhite quail and wood thrush are at risk when these large habitat patches disappear.”
Why Care about Birds?
“Many studies have shown that exposure to nature contributes to human health and happiness,” Butcher said. “Birds are especially important because they provide both visual and aural beauty.
“In addition, birds are easy-to-measure indicators of the health of the environment. Birds need many of the same natural elements that humans need, so when bird populations decline, it’s a warning that human wellbeing is also at risk.”
Conservation Activities
With a 44-year history, the organization, newly renamed Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, offers educational programs on birds, conservation and natural history and leads walks. Their Stretch Our Parks initiative works with people to expand the ecological impacts of parks beyond their borders and into surrounding neighborhoods. The Wildlife Sanctuary Program offers trained ambassadors to help property owners restore natural habitat, including free on-site visits.
The Advocacy Committee works with elected and other officials and “sister” organizations on local, state and federal policies to preserve and restore wildlife, habitats and ecosystems.
For more information and to join, visit www.nvbirdalliance.org or email president@nvba.org. Annual dues are $20.