Investing in Conservation: A Triple Win for Birds, Communities, and Natural Resources

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Protecting the lands, waters, and shorelines that birds depend on benefits far more than just our feathered friends. These investments strengthen community resilience against floods, wildfires, and other climate-driven disasters; enhance agricultural productivity by making farm and ranchland more sustainable; and boost local economies through outdoor recreation and tourism.

With the 119th Congress now fully underway, the National Audubon Society urges lawmakers to continue the longstanding bipartisan tradition of investing in conservation. These investments benefit both people and birds across the U.S. and hemisphere, and should include:

• Legislation and appropriations to protect birds and their habitats, including support for regional watershed restoration efforts in critical ecosystems such as the Colorado and Mississippi Rivers, the Everglades, and the Saline Lakes network—a fragile system stretching from California’s desert to the Great Salt Lake.
• Increased funding for national parks, wildlife refuges, and other federal public lands, where the need to maintain and restore wildlife habitat far exceeds current resources.
• Continued investment in U.S. manufacturing to drive clean energy development, positioning the U.S. as a global leader in next-generation energy systems that help reduce carbon emissions and protect birds from climate-related threats.

Our Birds Urgently Need Support

Since 1970, North America has lost three billion birds due to habitat loss and climate change, and the challenges facing birds today demand proactive, cost-effective policies to prevent further declines.

Protecting birds requires a coordinated commitment at all levels of government, as birds do not recognize state or national borders. Birds and the places they depend on require decisive action now.

Why Birds Matter

Beyond their beauty and cultural significance, birds play a crucial role in the health of our environment and economy:

• Birds Bring Communities Together – Birdwatching fosters a shared appreciation for nature and strengthens community engagement in conservation efforts. Over 90 million Americans engage in birdwatching every year—one in three of us!
• Birds Benefit Natural Ecosystems– They control insect populations, pollinate plants, and contribute to healthy forests and wetlands. They also help spread nutrients across habitats and ecosystems.
• Birds Drive Economic Activity – The outdoor recreation economy generates billions of dollars annually and supports thousands of jobs. Birdwatching alone contributes over $100 billion to our economy every year.

A Call to Action

At Audubon, we work to protect the birdsong that fills our skies, welcoming the dawn and closing out each day. Each of us has a bird story, a moment of connection with nature that reminds us of what’s at stake.

Never has it been more critical for us – all 96 million of us – to share those stories and inspire policymakers to invest in the resources that birds and people rely on – clean water, open green spaces, and the healthy coastlines where piping plovers dart from approaching waves. These small wonders are easy to overlook, but science tells us that doing so comes at their peril – and ours.

As the 119th Congress gets underway, Audubon staff representing 34 states are taking this message to over 100 Congressional offices. Join us in ensuring that today’s conservation efforts shape a more resilient tomorrow – for birds, for people, and for the places we cherish.

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