Connecticut Audubon Society Today: An Organization of Bird Watchers, Or Something More?
Perhaps you’ve gone on one of our nature walks, read about our work in the press, chanced upon us in a blog or on Facebook, or received our weekly Bird Finder email. Have you wondered what exactly Connecticut Audubon Society does, or what we stand for?
Are we simply an organization of bird watchers, or do we stand for something larger?
Connecticut Audubon Society aims to be the leading conservation organization in the state, and we seek to do that by leveraging the charismatic nature of birds to inspire a stronger conservation ethos.
We focus on three areas. We offer interesting and educational programs to school children, families and seniors. We advocate for wildlife and for clean, green, and sustainable public policies. We manage our sanctuaries to protect their beauty and biodiversity.
For Connecticut Audubon Society, the “C” also stands for conservation, and in such light we highlight birds both because we love them and because they are the most charismatic species in nature. Their flashy colors, interesting behaviors, and ubiquitous nature attract people like no other element on our planet.
Through birds we can reach more people, young and old, and engage them in science and connect them with nature.
A boy standing on a corner in Bridgeport noting the colors of pigeons is learning genetics. A woman gazing at a hawk overhead is watching physics in action. A school child in one of our programs measuring the acidity of pond water is learning to collect data, analyze statistics and use modern scientific instruments.
Because these teachable moments are all real life experiences, they will stick and last a lifetime. Today, a leading scientist at the Smithsonian, several renowned ornithologists, and even the State’s DEEP Commissioner were all shaped by their time with Connecticut Audubon.
Birds are also the most compelling representatives of our natural world. A flight of geese against the moon, the song of an oriole, a wren building its nest nearby: such events elicit awe and empathy for our feathered friends. They remind us of the beauty and fragility of the natural world, and they remind us of the values inherent in nature, as well as our moral obligation and determination to leave the world a better place for our children’s children.
At Connecticut Audubon we seek to capitalize on these emotions and engage our members and the public in advocating for our wildlife as well as for cleaner and greener policies. Whether garnering press for natural events, such as Snowy Owl invasions, or building a public advocacy campaign for legislation, we rely on birds to leverage public interest in the actions of our elected and appointed officials. Dirty water does not attract nearly the attention to an oil spill that dying pelicans or sea ducks do.
We’re working hard, in ways big and small, to derive our shared vision. We also work to bring it to fruition, through the programming at our centers, our member events, our outreach to the press, our advocacy campaigns, and our publications.
Our goal is simply to be your gateway to nature; to open your eyes and your heart to the beauty and values of the world around us, and to inspire you as a conservationist in the 21st century. – Alexander R. Brash, President
