National Audubon Society

A new study says the death toll from a 2015 marine heatwave—already considered the worst die-off for a bird species—was much higher than earlier estimates: 4 million Common Murres died, wiping out half of Alaska's population and sending a stark warning about how quickly the impacts of a changing climate can bring devastation to a wildlife population. “It was a gut punch to realize how much worse it was than what we had expected,” says one of the study's authors. bit.ly/4gPq3F6

In 2024, Audubon worked tirelessly to "bend the bird curve" and continue our rich tradition of advocating for and protecting the space, clean air, and clean water that birds and people need to live and thrive across the hemisphere. Join us in taking a look back at the year. Let's make 2025 even better. Support our work protecting birds and the places they, and we all, need: bit.ly/4iO9V8A

Migratory birds don’t recognize political borders, so ensuring their survival is a global mission. This week, Congress created the U.S. Foundation for International Conservation, a fund that can provide up to $3 billion to support habitats around the world. Read more: bit.ly/4iJBrUC

There are few places as important for birds as Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. On the Alaska Peninsula, Izembek is a stopover site for multitudes of birds migrating to and from Arctic breeding grounds, making it one of the most critical migratory bird staging and wintering habitats in the world. Learn how Audubon Alaska is working to protect this land from new threats: bit.ly/49Iftxa

A harmful mining project in Southeast Alaska's Chilkat Valley has been de-funded after its major funder backed out. As Audubon Alaska explains, this is a major win for Tribal leaders and local partners: https://bit.ly/4fnHzyN

Dr. Elizabeth Gray, CEO of Audubon, appears on the latest episode of the Engineering With Nature podcast to discuss the bold steps Audubon is taking to Bend the Bird Curve—and how science-based conservation is tackling the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. Part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineering With Nature initiative, the podcast explores innovative ways to align engineering and nature-based solutions for a more resilient future. Listen on all podcast platforms or here: bit.ly/3OQURsY

Louisiana's Maurepas Swamp is one of the largest remaining swamp forests in the United States—providing a critical link for birds like Prothonotary Warblers migrating between their nesting and wintering grounds across the hemisphere. However, due to logging, cutting off fresh water by leveeing the Mississippi River, and saltwater intrusion, the swamp is deteriorating. Read about a new project that will reconnect the swamp with the mighty Mississippi River, restoring the flow of fresh water, bringing balance to the food web, and protecting over 45,000 acres of swamp forest: bit.ly/3VzrUpj

We worked with volunteers from DC Bird Alliance to hand deliver Audubon advocates’ messages supporting the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act to their members of Congress. Fully funding the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act helps ensure birds like the Wood Thrush can continue their annual return to North America. Thank you to all of our advocates who have already made their voices heard. Together, we can protect these incredible journeys and bring birds back. Act now: bit.ly/41h4rNf

We are already experiencing the serious impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss on birds, people, and our planet. Yet leaders from around the world fell short of taking meaningful action to address the scale and urgency of the crises at this years’ United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. This year, COP29 was a missed opportunity for people and wildlife. Audubon is working with global partners, and Indigenous peoples and local communities to ensure that next year's gathering in Brazil will be a game-changer. bit.ly/4g0Hpi3

For more than 100 years, Audubon has embraced the mission of protecting birds and the places they need for the benefit of humanity as well as the earth’s biodiversity. Your gift funds a well-integrated program of science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. In 2024 alone, we've helped secure more water for birds and people across the western landscapes, launched impactful new conservation programs, conducted field research to better understand birds across the United States and beyond, welcomed birds back to lands that they had previously abandoned, and much more. Your support on Giving Tuesday lets us stand up for birds, defending the clean air, clean water, healthy habitat, and stable climate they—and we all—require: https://bit.ly/3COV6Sv