NYC Bird Alliance is part of a national network of 400 local, independent chapters affiliated with the National Audubon Society.

About our name change
Founded as New York City Audubon Society in 1979, we were renamed NYC Bird Alliance in 2024 following a multi-year process involving input from thousands of members and other stakeholders,

We remain a chapter of National Audubon

Despite bearing a new name, NYC Bird Alliance remains a chapter of National Audubon, with whom we share a commitment to bird conservation amid a global climate crisis and habitat degradation. Our work did not change with the new name; it expanded in impact.

Our partnership alongside the other chapters will continue and we will amplify the work of the national organization in order to maximize successes for birds and biodiversity. The problems that birds face are too important for any one organization to take on. We will work together as we have for more than 45 years, to conserve birds and habitat, strengthening biodiversity in NYC and across the country. 

For several years, organizations in the network have been assessing the complicated legacy of John James Audubon and considering his name in the context of bird conservation. In 2023, the National Audubon Society announced its plan to keep the Audubon name after a year-long deliberation.  

As of the time of this writing, we know of nearly 60 chapters that have changed or plan to change their name (see list below), including us. 

Chapters which have changed, or plan to change, their names (as of Nov 2025): 

Maricopa Audubon Society is now Maricopa Bird Alliance
Tucson Audubon Society is now Tucson Bird Alliance

Altacal Audubon Society is now AltaCal Bird Alliance
Fresno Audubon Society will change its name
Golden Gate Audubon is now Golden Gate Bird Alliance

Mount Diablo Audubon Society is now Mount Diablo Bird Alliance 

Pomona Valley Audubon Society is now Pomona Valley Bird Alliance
Sacramento Audubon Society (to be renamed Sacramento Bird Alliance, subject to member approval)

San Diego Audubon Society is now San Diego Bird Alliance
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society is now Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance

Sequoia Audubon Society is now San Mateo County Bird Alliance
Wintu Audubon Society is now Shasta Birding Society
Yolo Audubon Society is now Yolo Bird Alliance

Fort Collins Audubon Society is now Northern Colorado Bird Alliance 

DC Audubon Society is now DC Bird Alliance

Georgia Audubon is now Birds Georgia

Chicago Audubon Society is now Chicago Bird Alliance 

John Wesley Powell Audubon is now Grand Prairie Bird Alliance
Northwest Illinois Audubon Society is now Northwest Illinois Bird and Nature Alliance

South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society is now South Bend-Elkhart Bird Alliance
Stockbridge Audubon Society is now Three Rivers Birding

Jayhawk Audubon Society is now Lawrence Bird Alliance

Audubon Naturalist Society is now Nature Forward (not affiliated with National Audubon)

Biterroot Audubon Society is now Bitterroot Bird Alliance

Detroit Audubon Society is now Detroit Bird Alliance

Grosse Pointe Audubon Society (not affiliated with National Audubon)

Laughing Whitefish Audubon is now Laughing Whitefish Bird Alliance
Oakland Audubon Society is now Oakland Bird Alliance

Washtenaw Audubon Society is now Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance 

Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis is now Land of Lakes Bird Alliance
Duluth Audubon Society is now Northeastern Minnesota Bird Alliance
Saint Paul Audubon Society is now Saint Paul Bird Alliance

Lahontan Audubon Society will change its name

Central New Mexico Audubon Society is now Bird Alliance of Central New Mexico
Southwestern New Mexico Audubon Society is now Bird Alliance of Southwestern New Mexico

Buffalo Audubon Society will change its name

NYC Audubon Society is now NYC Bird Alliance

New Hope Audubon Society is now New Hope Bird Alliance

Audubon Miami Valley will change its name

Audubon Society of Lincoln City is now Seven Capes Bird Alliance

Portland Audubon Society is now Bird Alliance of Oregon
Lane County Audubon Society is now Coast to Cascades Bird Alliance
Central Oregon Audubon Society merged with East Cascades Bird Conservancy, and then became East Cascades Bird Alliance in 2010

Wyncote Audubon Society is now Liberty Bird Alliance

Charleston Audubon and Natural History Society is now Charleston Natural History Society
Columbia Audubon Society is now Midlands Nature and Bird Alliance

Audubon Society of Northern Virginia is now Northern Virginia Bird Alliance

Admiralty Audubon Society is now Rainshadow Bird Alliance
Dungeness River Audubon Center is now Dungeness River Nature Center
Seattle Audubon Society is now Birds Connect Seattle

Tahoma Audubon is now Tahoma Bird Alliance
Vashon-Maury Island Audubon Society is now Vashon Bird Alliance
Black Hills Audubon Society is now South Sound Bird Alliance

Fond du Lac County Audubon Society is now Fond du Lac Area Bird & Nature Alliance
Gaylord Nelson Audubon Society is now Gaylord Nelson Bird Club

Madison Audubon is now Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance

Northeastern Wisconsin Audubon is now Northeastern Wisconsin Bird Alliance