Our mission

Walker Golder

White Ibis

The mission of the National Audubon Society's North Carolina State Office is to help conserve and restore the North Carolina habitats we share with all wildlife, focusing on the needs of birds. Audubon North Carolina achieves its mission through a blend of science-based research and conservation, education and outreach, and advocacy.

Audubon’s Important Bird Area (IBA) program is an evolving conservation blueprint that helps Audubon, its partners, and landowners identify and safeguard the natural areas and landscapes that are most critical for maintaining bird populations, diversity, and habitats. These living landscapes comprise more than four million acres ranging from manmade islands where nesting coastal birds find refuge, to rugged Grandfather Mountain, a state park where challenging trails and scenic vistas attract tourists and hikers from all over the country.

As watchful stewards of North Carolina’s 96 IBAs, Audubon staff encourages landowners to use environmentally friendly practices and works with partner agencies such as the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation to craft management plans that benefit key bird species and habitats within their holdings. Audubon North Carolina depends upon an army of volunteers, including members of the state’s local chapters, to help monitor close to 80% of the IBAs in the state through the Adopt an IBA program.

Audubon North Carolina’s 14,000 members and ten chapters comprise a growing force of grassroots activists that are involved in conservation at every level. Audubon North Carolina education and outreach programs combat “nature deficit disorder” by making natural connections for thousands of people every year. Ecotour participants explore untrammeled habitats such as Holly Shelter Game Land and the Black River.