If you engage in even casual bird watching, you have no doubt heard of the Audubon Society. The National Audubon Society is a national network of community-based nature centers and chapters organized around the goals of sustaining important bird populations and promoting conservation programs based on sound science and education. The stated mission of the Audubon Society is:

to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.

The National Audubon Society acts as the umbrella organization of the U.S. birding community. In most respects, thanks to their prominent national and local (over 510 Local Chapters) presence and fund-raising success, they serve as the official voice of bird watchers throughout the Americas. Apart from a sense of belonging, Audubon offers members a pretty cool magazine, local newsletters, and a raft of birding activities and field trips. They maintain many Audubon Sanctuaries (over 100 covering more than 150,000 acres at last count) and engage in advocacy on the state and national level.

So, if you are an American birder, why haven’t you joined yet?