Massachusetts Audubon Society

Massachusetts Audubon Society. Founded in 1896 by Harriet Hemenway and Minna B. Hall in opposition to the plume trade, it is the largest nature conservation organization in New England. Headquartered at the Drumlin Farm sanctuary in Lincoln, Massachusetts, the society manages a network of wildlife sanctuaries and engages in scientific research, environmental education, and policy advocacy across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

History

The organization was formed in direct response to the devastating millinery trade that threatened birds like egrets and herons with extinction for their feathers. Inspired by the earlier work of the Massachusetts Audubon Society and leveraging social connections in Boston, Hemenway and Hall organized influential women to boycott feathered hats. This early activism led to the passage of the Weeks-McLean Act in 1913 and later influenced the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. The society's first sanctuary was acquired in 1916 with the gift of the Moose Hill property in Sharon, Massachusetts. Throughout the 20th century, it expanded its land holdings significantly, notably establishing the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary on Cape Cod in 1958.

Mission and conservation work

The core mission is to protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and wildlife. This is advanced through a science-based approach to land protection and habitat management. Key initiatives include the Climate Change Resilience program, which involves monitoring salt marsh migration and promoting carbon sequestration. The society's Massachusetts Important Bird Areas program identifies and works to conserve critical habitats for species like the Saltmarsh sparrow and Piping plover. It also runs active species restoration projects, such as those for the New England cottontail and the American burying beetle.

Sanctuaries and properties

The society manages over 38,000 acres across more than 120 wildlife sanctuaries, from the Berkshires to Cape Cod and the Islands. Notable properties include the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield, its largest sanctuary, and the Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick. Coastal sites like the Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport are vital for bird migration study, while inland sites like Wachusett Meadow in Princeton protect significant upland habitats. Many sanctuaries, such as Birdcraft Museum and Sanctuary in Fairfield, hold historic designations.

Education and advocacy

Educational programming reaches over 225,000 children and adults annually through camps, school programs, and public workshops at centers like the Boston Nature Center in Mattapan. The society is a leading voice in state environmental policy, advocating for legislation on issues like the Global Warming Solutions Act and the protection of the Endangered Species Act. It publishes the influential journal Sanctuary and mobilizes its large membership base to engage with agencies such as the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

Organization and funding

Governed by a Board of directors and led by President David O'Neill, the society operates with a staff of over 350 and relies on the support of more than 160,000 members and donors. Funding is derived from membership dues, philanthropic gifts, grants from entities like the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and revenue from its sanctuaries and retail shops. The organization holds a permanent conservation restriction on its portfolio of lands, ensuring their protection in perpetuity. It frequently partners with other conservation groups, including The Trustees of Reservations, The Nature Conservancy, and various local land trusts.

Category:Conservation organizations based in Massachusetts Category:Audubon Society Category:Organizations established in 1896 Category:Environmental organizations based in the United States