Conservation

Leading protection for birds and their habitats

Photo: Lindsay Addison

Audubon implements five strategic initiatives to further the protection of all birds, with an emphasis on our most threatened birds, across North Carolina.  As part of the Atlantic Flyway, North Carolina is an important location for birds that need specific habitats to safely breed, rest and migrate. Our five initiatives hone in on providing that safety and the habitat resources that our 473 bird species need to thrive. Our geographic diversity allows for an equally wonderful diversity of bird species that can be found in our state. Audubon North Carolina takes its responsibility for the protection of all birds seriously, basing our programs on sound science and engaging our vast network of supporters and partners to enact preservation where it is needed most. Learn more about our five strategic conservation initiatives.

North Carolina’s Climate Initiative

Saving North Carolina's Climate Threatened Birds
Climate

Saving North Carolina's Climate Threatened Birds

Learn about 13 climate-threatened species in North Carolina, and see how we are working to help them survive and thrive.

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Climate Threatened Birds Need Your Help – Act Now
Climate

Climate Threatened Birds Need Your Help – Act Now

Make a difference for our birds. Pledge to take action against climate change in North Carolina.

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Shaping a Healthy Climate and Clean Energy Future
Climate

Shaping a Healthy Climate and Clean Energy Future

Creating science-based policies protecting our forests, wetlands, rivers, coast and other important areas.

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Bird-Friendly Communities

Creating Bird-Friendly Communities
Bird-Friendly Communities

Creating Bird-Friendly Communities

Bringing conservation efforts on where most people live – in cities and towns.

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Make A Little Room for the Brown-headed Nuthatch
Bird-Friendly Communities

Make A Little Room for the Brown-headed Nuthatch

The Brown-headed Nuthatch, a southern bird born and bred, needs your help to find a good home.

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Find Bird-Friendly Native Plants Retailers
Bird-Friendly Native Plants

Find Bird-Friendly Native Plants Retailers

Find a retailer near you that carries the Native Plants of the Year

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Lights Out North Carolina
Bird-Friendly Communities

Lights Out North Carolina

Each morning, volunteers walk the city streets collecting and documenting bird species killed by collisions with specific buildings.

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Bird-Friendly Families
Bird-Friendly Communities

Bird-Friendly Families

There are many opportunities to make your home a more bird-friendly environment and to bring your kids along for the journey.

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Saving Important Bird Areas

Saving Important Bird Areas
Important Bird Areas

Saving Important Bird Areas

Saving our Important Bird Areas (IBA) is a strategic initiative serving as a conservation blueprint identifying areas that are of critical importance to priority bird species. 

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Explore the Important Bird Areas of North Carolina
Important Bird Areas

Explore the Important Bird Areas of North Carolina

Audubon North Carolina has released a new edition of Important Bird Areas of North Carolina, a full-color publication with detailed descriptions of North Carolina’s most critical bird habitats. 

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Adopt an Important Bird Area
Important Bird Areas

Adopt an Important Bird Area

Want to get involved in an exciting community science project? Read more about how you can help monitor North Carolina's irreplaceable bird habitats.

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Sharing Our Seas and Shores

Coast Islands and Sanctuary Program
Coast

Coast Islands and Sanctuary Program

For more than 25 years, Audubon’s Coastal Island Sanctuary Program has been a model for conservation along the Atlantic Flyway.

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This Summer, Share the Shore With Nesting Birds
Coast

This Summer, Share the Shore With Nesting Birds

A day at the beach is a vacation for most people. But for birds, it can be the difference between a failed nest and successfully raising chicks.

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American Oystercatcher Research 2010-2016
Coast

American Oystercatcher Research 2010-2016

This fine bird is most striking in appearance and exceedingly conspicuous.

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Putting Working Lands to Work for Birds and People

Putting Working Lands to Work for Birds and People
Working Lands

Putting Working Lands to Work for Birds and People

Audubon is partnering with landowners to make working lands benefit birds, people and communities, focusing on forests, agricultural lands, and grasslands and ranchlands.

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GWWAWG BLOG SERIES: Collaborating for Protection of the Golden-winged Warbler
Working Lands

GWWAWG BLOG SERIES: Collaborating for Protection of the Golden-winged Warbler

In this series of blog posts, learn about all the work of the GWWA Working Group and what this collaborative effort has done to protect this tiny gem of our forests.

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What is "Treasure Highlands"? The July Important Bird Area of the Month
Working Lands

What is "Treasure Highlands"? The July Important Bird Area of the Month

The Treasure Highlands project seeks to provide easy to access information about our partners, opportunities to volunteer, attend programs, take pare in citizen science projects, and take action.

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Latest Conservation Posts

Seabird that Depends on NC’s Offshore Waters Gains Federal Protections
Conservation

Seabird that Depends on NC’s Offshore Waters Gains Federal Protections

Endangered species protections will help Black-capped Petrel as offshore wind energy ramps up.

Executive Order to Restore and Protect NC’s Natural and Working Lands
News

Executive Order to Restore and Protect NC’s Natural and Working Lands

Executive order to conserve and restore 2 million acres of forests and wetlands in North Carolina and plant 1 million new trees in urban areas by 2040.

Trail Cameras Show Perils Facing Oystercatcher Families on the Cape Fear River
Coast

Trail Cameras Show Perils Facing Oystercatcher Families on the Cape Fear River

Less than a quarter of oystercatcher parents were able to successfully raise chicks on the river last summer. Trail camera footage reveals some of the reasons why.

Expansion of Eastern NC Refuge Would Bring Critical Bird Habitat into Conservation
News

Expansion of Eastern NC Refuge Would Bring Critical Bird Habitat into Conservation

Audubon and our members backed the proposed expansion of a refuge that supports the highest density of nesting birds in our state.

Your Guide to the Sights and Songs of North Carolina’s Overwintering Birds
Birds

Your Guide to the Sights and Songs of North Carolina’s Overwintering Birds

Winter is a great time to catch a glimpse of unique winter residents as well as some familiar favorites right in your backyard.

Native Plants Policy, Conservation Funding Increases Pass the Legislature
News

Native Plants Policy, Conservation Funding Increases Pass the Legislature

New law requires native plants at state parks, historic sites, and roadways.

Get a Bird’s Eye View of this Year’s Coastal Nesting Season
Coast

Get a Bird’s Eye View of this Year’s Coastal Nesting Season

Audubon's coastal sanctuaries saw another generation of baby birds into the world. With new projects on the horizon, we’ll be better equipped to help them survive.

Curtis Smalling Named Interim Executive Director
News

Curtis Smalling Named Interim Executive Director

Curtis is taking the reins after more than 20 years with Audubon.

Tagged Golden-winged Warblers Return After Cross-Continent Journey
Conserve Golden-Wings

Tagged Golden-winged Warblers Return After Cross-Continent Journey

Tiny songbirds bring radio-tracking backpacks back to North Carolina, along with important data.

How you can help, right now