Stability

You can provide stability during tumultuous times and reduce our dependence on more variable income streams.

The spending policy of the Conservation Action Fund will release its interest into the general operating fund to fuel Birds Connect Seattle’s mission to advocate and organize for cities where people and birds thrive.

Flexibility

Traditional endowments lock away gifts that are needed to protect birds now.

As a board-designated strategic reserve, Birds Connect Seattle’s Board of Directors can release additional funds for special projects to provide innovative, equitable, and responsive solutions to local birds’ biggest challenges.

Birds Connect Seattle (then Seattle Audubon Society) is founded as an independent nonprofit organization with 116 members.

Birds Connect Seattle began leading bird walks and field trips around the region.

We pressed the City of Seattle to establish a bird sanctuary in Seward Park.

Birds Connect Seattle lobbied to protect raptors, owls, and other birds not protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The feather trade was also of concern during this time, and Birds Connect Seattle wrote letters and distributed conservation pamphlets.

Greenlake and Seward Park were both considered as future “bird sanctuary” sites.

A new emphasis was placed on youth education.

Bird houses and a feeding table, filled by volunteers, were installed in the Arboredum. 

During WWII field trips were suspended after a small group of birders with binoculars was temporarily detained and questioned by the military as potential spies.

Screen Tours, showing bird and nature films around the region begin.

Birds Connect Seattle presses the Washington State Game Commission and Fish and Wildlife Service to end hunting on Mourning Doves, as well as the Mountain Goat. Letters are also written about the shooting of Bald Eagles in Alaska.

Lobbied the City of Seattle to make Fort Lawton a park rather than a missile base (now Discovery Park).

In 1962, we become an official independent chapter of National Audubon Society, the first in Washington State.

In 1970, we hosted the 65th annual National Audubon Convention at Seattle Center. This increased awareness about our organization and boosted our membership significantly.

In 1979, the first full time staff position was filled to work alongside hundreds of dedicated volunteers.

Joined other conservation groups in our decades-long efforts to protect the habitats of the Northern Spotted Owl and the Marbled Murrelet.

Martin Miller Fund established to acquire habitat to protect wildlife in perpetuity.

The Puget Sound Seabird Survey (PSSS) begins collecting baseline population data powered by volunteers across numerous sites along the Salish Sea.

Neighborhood Flyways and Urban Bird Treaty City programs protect urban bird habitat, reduce hazards to migrating birds, and connect people to nature.

Cities at the Center strategic plan prioritizes urban conservation, equity, and organizational resilience.

We have more than 4,000 members and  700 volunteers contributing their resources and talents for the benefit of both birds and people.