Baltimore Oriole
Latin: Icterus galbula
Protecting the birds and places they need in Maryland and the District of Columbia
Photo: luckybon
We have lost three billion birds across the Americas since the 1970s. We must therefore redouble our efforts to address two of the most significant threats to birds—habitat biodiversity loss and climate change. In the Mid-Atlantic, Audubon’s new strategic Flight Plan touches down in our work to create healthy and resilient ecosystems where birds thrive and all people have access to nature and a voice in environmental stewardship.
We use conservation and policy strategies to advance our goals for the Mid-Atlantic’s forests, saltwater marshes, and the Delaware River watershed. We work in Baltimore and Philadelphia to create biodiverse public green spaces that increase each city’s climate resiliency. We act to increase the adaptation of renewable energy throughout the region. We host programs that welcome people into the wondrous world of birds through free bird tours, community science projects, and other educational offerings that builds a community of bird lovers who take actions great and small to help them thrive.
In March, the National Audubon Society brought staff members representing 32 states to the Capital Fly-In event in Washington, D.C. Audubon Mid-Atlantic and federal policy staff met with our congressional representatives to speak about ongoing and future environmental commitments to the region.
During the two days on Capitol Hill, Audubon Mid-Atlantic's Executive Director Suzanne Biemiller, Policy Director Jim Brown, and Delaware River Policy Fellow Agung Putra met with members and staff of the region’s congressional delegation, including Representatives Fitzpatrick, Dean, Boyle, Thompson, Reschenthaler, Bresnahan, and Senator Fetterman of Pennsylvania, as well as Representatives McLean-Daly, Harris, Ivey, Olszewski, and Senator Van Hollen of Maryland. In these meetings, staff discussed Audubon’s federal legislative priorities, emphasizing the importance of continued investments in conservation and habitat restoration. The Audubon team also described Mid-Atlantic programs to create healthier forests and watersheds and restore coastal marshes in Maryland. Additionally, they highlighted the need for more renewable energy projects to meet growing electricity demands in the region.
Each legislative office was eager to learn about Audubon’s regional work. These meetings also highlighted the importance of maintaining regular communication with our federal delegation in Washington, D.C.
Also in March, Agung Putra attended the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed’s (CDRW) annual Hill Day. During this event, Audubon and partners met with congressional offices to advocate for funding priorities in the Delaware River Watershed. This included asking for support for the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program Reauthorization Act, as well as continued federal appropriations for the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Audubon Mid-Atlantic and partners will continue to engage with federal legislators, including Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), who co-chairs the Delaware Watershed caucus, to increase support for the protection and restoration of the Delaware River Basin.
To learn more about our state legislative priorities in 2025, please visit this page for Maryland legislation, and this page for Pennsylvania legislation.
Every year during the spring and fall months, tens of millions of birds pass through cities such as Philadelphia. While lights can throw birds off their migration paths, bird fatalities are more directly caused by the amount of energy the birds waste flying around and calling out in confusion. The exhaustion can then leave them vulnerable to other urban threats.
Simply turning your lights off from midnight until 6am during the spring migration from April 1 through May 31, and during the fall migration from August 15 through November 15 can potentially reduce bird collision death by up to 80%. For more information about Lights Out in the Philadelphia area, check out this fact sheet from Bird Safe Philly. You can also visit this page on Audubon’s website to learn more about nationwide Lights Out efforts.
The Bird Migration Explorer is a tool developed by the National Audubon Society, which tracks the heroic annual journeys made by over 450 bird species nationwide. Click below to learn more about our local migratory species, along with their locations and the conservation challenges they face.
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