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Each year the ��������Ƶ provides two types of grants to ��������Ƶ chapters projects that contribute to Flight Plan, ��������Ƶ’s 2023-2028 strategic plan. Flight Plan’s Community Building milestone aims to drive widespread public action by expanding the constituency of people who care about and take action for birds. Supporting ��������Ƶ chapters—both community and campus chapters—is an important way to meet this goal. By supporting their efforts, we are impacting more communities and building the next conservation leaders.

Successful grantees of the late 2024 cycle proposed projects that showed clear pathways to success in advancing one or more of ��������Ƶ’s Flight Plan milestones and centered an inclusive and community-oriented approach to conservation. ��������Ƶ prioritized projects that included a diverse cohort of community partners and authentic partner engagement, advocacy, and a clear plan on how to build coalitions and increase engagement with each chapter’s local community members.

This cycle, ��������Ƶ provided $428,800 in ��������Ƶ in Action funding to 45 different campus and community chapter projects. Of that sum, $124,750 were awarded to 14 campus chapters, and $304,050 were awarded to 31 community chapters. Projects from 21 states and two territories were represented among the award recipients. The awarded projects are summarized below.

��������Ƶ in Action Grant Projects

Tucson Bird Alliance—Tucson, Arizona

In efforts to welcome a more diverse range of people into the practice of birding, Tucson Bird Alliance will provide certifications in field leadership to eight youth from historically marginalized communities to become birding trip leaders and pay them for their time. At the start of this program, youth will join birding trips led by birding trip leaders from different organizations, including those from Feminist Bird Club and Tucson Bird Alliance, to experience different styles of leadership. After receiving additional training, youth will lead walks for each other and independently within their own community. At the end of the program, they will lead a trip for the general public in Madera Canyon. Through this program, they hope to share the joy and health benefits of birding with historically marginalized communities, elevate youth as leaders within their communities, and diversify the current cohort of birders in Tucson.

Golden Gate Bird Alliance—Berkeley California

Golden Gate Bird Alliance's Birding for Everyone Fellowship is now accepting applications for its third year. Each year, 10 fellows are selected to receive free classes, mentorship, and community building get-togethers for one year. The mission of the Birding for Everyone Fellowship is to develop and empower the next generation of Black, Indigenous, and people of color conservation leaders. They strive to develop and elevate conservation leaders of color to better serve their communities and their collective birding community. The Birding For Everyone Fellowship eliminates both the financial and social barriers to participation in their adult education offerings, including the Master Birder Program, which they run in collaboration with the California Academy of Sciences. Over the course of their one-year fellowship the cohort becomes a community within their larger community, supporting each other as they grow into bird and nature leaders.

San Diego Bird Alliance—San Diego, California

Sharing Our Shores (SOS): Mission Bay is a multi-tiered program that accomplishes roughly five acres of habitat restoration while teaching 3rd —4th grade students about local migratory and coastal birds in the native habitat of Mission Bay in San Diego. Through in-class lessons, restoration events in coastal habitats, and creation of conservation-themed signs that are hung around the bay and seen by millions of annual visitors to the bay, students will learn about and take action to improve nesting habitat for the endangered California Least Tern and Light-footed Ridgway's Rail, and will explore the history and ongoing connection of the Kumeyaay Indian Nation to Mission Bay’s flora and fauna. The chapter’s goals are to inspire approximately 250 students to join in their ongoing conservation and advocacy work in Mission Bay and to reconnect Indigenous voices to this coastal space.

Morro Coast ��������Ƶ Society—Morro Bay, California

Thanks in part to the funding provided by ��������Ƶ in Action, the chapter launched an innovative new outdoor STEM education program called FEATHER (Fostering Environmental Awareness Through High School Education and Research). FEATHER engages high school students in underserved communities in community science and environmental research, empowering them to participate in local, regional, and global conservation initiatives. The program combines hands-on research with leading higher education institutions and a college-readiness curriculum, fostering relationships with nature and the outdoors while preparing students for impactful futures after high school. In addition to academic preparation, FEATHER integrates conservation work with local collaborators, where students gain practical, hands-on experience in environmental stewardship. By examining land relationships through multiple lenses—scientific, cultural, and practical—students develop a comprehensive understanding of environmental issues and the skills they need to navigate their educational and career pathways as environmentally well-informed citizens.

Palos Verdes/South Bay ��������Ƶ Society—Palos Verdes, California

California’s coastal sage scrub is one of the nation’s most biodiverse, but also most endangered, habitats. Up to 90 percent of this critical habitat has been lost to development. Consequently, it is a priority geography for ��������Ƶ. This project will engage high school students to work in coastal sage scrub habitat to increase the quantity and quality for special status species. These species include the California Gnatcatcher, Palos Verdes blue butterfly, and El Segundo blue butterfly. ��������Ƶ in Action funding will allow them to continue their Youth Environmental Stewards (YES) program. Through this program, students will have the opportunity to see birds in coastal sage scrub habitat, the chapter will teach them the importance of habitat connectivity for maintaining healthy populations and amplify their pride for having restored critical habitat. Through the applied learning of planting native species, identifying resident birds, and observing natural interactions within the coastal sage scrub community, they hope to instill a lifelong interest in conservation for their YES program participants.

Plumas ��������Ƶ Society—Quincy, California

Plumas ��������Ƶ Society (PAS)’s Aechmophorus Grebe Monitoring & Advocacy project addresses the conservation concern of Western Grebes, an ��������Ƶ priority species, as well as Clark's Grebes, and their habitat at Lake Almanor, Antelope Lake, and Lake Davis. Lake Almanor supports the second-largest colony of breeding Aechmophorus grebes in California, making it a critical breeding area for these declining species. Although smaller in size, Antelope Lake and Lake Davis are also critical breeding grounds for Western and Clark’s grebes. Between 2010 and 2019, PAS monitored grebes at Lake Almanor, Antelope Lake, Lake Davis, and Eagle Lake during a project that was funded by ��������Ƶ. This work has continued through 2024 and has allowed PAS to maintain one of the most consistent data sets representing the population dynamics of the two species in their region.

Channel Island Birders at California State University—Channel Islands—Camarillo, California

The Channel Island Birders at California State University—Channel Islands have a therapy garden dedicated to the students on campus. This ��������Ƶ on Campus chapter has prioritized enhancing the space for endemic birds by providing bird housing, as well as adding a greenhouse, and improving their existing tool shed. Another project that the Channel Island Birders have underway is creating software to support student research projects to collect data on bird strikes. In alignment with our Community Building milestone, the Channel Island Birders will visit Rio Real Elementary School, a Title 1 school, where they intend to deliver a presentation focused on seasonal bird facts, concluding a with dialogue encouraging environmental stewardship. To reinforce key concepts, they’ll facilitate a structured, competitive quiz that allows participants to demonstrate their knowledge while earning prizes. Additionally, they seek to obtain funding to support art-based projects designed to enhance environmental learning experiences for school-aged children.

5C Birding Club at Claremont Colleges (Claremont McKenna College, Har Mudd College, Pitzer College, Pomona College, and Scripps College)—California

The ��������Ƶ in Action Grant will help the 5C Birding Club at Claremont Colleges be more accessible to new birders, promote activism on campus, and enable students to participate in conservation research. First, to allow new birders to join their club and participate for free, they will get a set of binoculars that can be checked out by club members and a scope and camera that they will bring on their club bird walks. Next, they will work towards reducing window collisions on campus by purchasing window decorations to break up the reflection on the windows of buildings that they have identified as the most problematic. Lastly, they will create permanent bird banding studies at the Bernard Field Station, one of the few remaining pristine coastal sage scrub habitats. Funds will also be used to provide work-study opportunities to students, so that all students can participate in conservation research.

Conservation Club at Grossmont College—El Cajon, California

This project will create a public nature trail on the Grossmont College campus. The Conservation Club will design and install interpretive signage on all five of Grossmont College’s native plant gardens that represent different habitats and their uses in the most biodiverse county in the nation. A Kumeyaay Tribal representative will provide information on the names, usages, and history of the native plants. The signs will have scannable QR codes that will directly link to a website providing a nature walk map, all plant names (common name, Latin binomial, and Kumeyaay name) associated with a picture, and additional history/information. The Grossmont College Nature Trail will provide underrepresented students and the local community with an outdoor interactive classroom to engage with nature while learning about the local impacts of climate change, preserving native habitats and species, and expanding knowledge about Kumeyaay uses and names.

Bird Alliance at City College, San Diego City College—San Diego, California

Bird Alliance at City College is doing more education and work on climate change. They want to work with community partners to do projects in educating the public on the importance of wetlands to the birds as climate change buffer habitat. Next is for Plants for Birds projects in the community. They want to work with other community organizations to create and fund native plant gardens for birds. Third, they will hold city-wide training in advocacy, inviting the students from all the campus chapters. They will invite staff from San Diego Bird Alliance to train students in advocating for birds with local leadership and creating PROs that support birds and native habitat. They will produce a PRO in each of the communities of their campus chapters that match and bring people together as a larger county to protect birds. Finally, they sent students to the ��������Ƶ Leadership Conference in Montréal.

DC Bird Alliance —Washington, DC

DC Bird Alliance will organize BIRDS CONNECT DC: A Wildlife Photography Conference for Youth, where eight young artists, one from each ward of Washington, DC, will be mentored by two of the chapter’s professional wildlife photographers. This free, multi-day conference will consist of four half-day sessions of classroom instruction with the equipment, guest speakers highlighting educational and career paths in the natural and environmental sciences, and field trips to photograph wildlife. DC Bird Alliance is proud to have already secured two art exhibits and installations for their Alpha Class to celebrate their art. The chapter believes this invitation to explore nature through art encourages the next generation of conservationists to approach nature with the creativity that solutions to species and habitat preservation require. This project’s impact will continue building bird-friendly communities in all eight wards of DC and motivate young people to become leaders in the conservation efforts of their communities.

Tropical ��������Ƶ Society—Miami, Florida

Tropical ��������Ƶ Society’s award-winning Tropical ��������Ƶ Ambassador Program has trained hundreds of environmental advocates, empowered voices, educated about South Florida ecosystems, and informed climate action steps. While this program succeeds in building partnerships and engaging cross-generational advocates of ages 18+, there was a glaring gap: young advocates. Thanks to support from the ��������Ƶ in Action Grant, in Summer 2024, they bridged this gap by launching their first High School Ambassador Program: Bending the Curve. The program provides expert panelist Q&A sessions, hands-on immersive learning, community service hours, and advocacy tools. The chapter’s goal is to empower a caring, diverse, and effective South Florida community to advocate for the region’s natural ecosystems and engage in climate action by realizing the power of their voices.

West Volusia ��������Ƶ Society—DeLand, Florida

Stetson University’s Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center, home to the Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience, is a two-story facility featuring expansive views through reflective glass windows. Unfortunately, reported bird strikes have been increasing, and there is a need for dot-grid patterned window film to prevent strikes by increasing visibility for birds. With its established environmental leadership in the community, the Aquatic Center is an ideal public demonstration site. West Volusia ��������Ƶ Society’s proposal builds on robust partnerships and engages local stakeholders, including the Spring Hill Resilience Team—a group of 30 residents within an impacted community, dedicated to improving its resilience—as well as Stetson’s ��������Ƶ on Campus chapter. Through window film installation, participatory workshops, educational signage, citizen science mapping, a project video, and a library of model ordinances, West Volusia ��������Ƶ Society aims to unite diverse audiences around urban conservation, climate action, policy advancement, and community building efforts that benefit both birds and people.

Birds Georgia—Atlanta, Georgia

The Birds Georgia "Birds For All" (BFA) program provides inclusive birding programs to individuals, prioritizing regions that are low-income, predominantly Black or people of color, and have low engagement in avian community science. By offering tailored programs for historically underrepresented communities, they aim to ensure birding is a space where everyone can belong. BFA focuses on three key groups: those with accessibility needs, youth and young adult age groups, and historically underserved communities. Each participating partner must address one (or more) of these areas to participate in a BFA program. Birds Georgia’s outreach is intentional, creating mindful birding experiences that resonate deeply within these communities. With a commitment to fostering a diverse and welcoming birding community, their goal is to break down barriers and engage new audiences in Georgia.

Marianas ��������Ƶ Society—Tamunung, Guam

Islan Dåno’ (Cocos Island) is one of Guam’s biodiversity hotspots and acts as the last local refuge for endemic species such as the Guam Rail and the Mariana Skink. Until recently, Islan Dåno’ was believed to be free of invasive brown tree snakes, which devastated much of Guam’s native wildlife. In 2020, however, snakes were found on Islan Dåno’, putting its unique species at risk. Since 2021, Marianas ��������Ƶ Society has been supporting community-led snake removal from Islan Dåno’. The chapter aims to continue that work and strive for the eventual eradication of brown tree snakes from the island.

Upper Iowa ��������Ƶ Society—Fayette, Iowa

In collaboration with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Upper Iowa ��������Ƶ Society, and the ��������Ƶ on Campus chapter at Upper Iowa University seek to establish a Motus wildlife tracking tower at the Volga River State Recreation Area in northeast Iowa. This will help researchers from across the Americas track the passage of birds as they migrate through the region along the Mississippi Flyway. It will also help communicate how important the habitat this public area provides to not only migratory birds but also the breeding forest birds, grassland, and wetland birds of northeast Iowa that nest in the 6,000-acre property. Finally, the purchase of Motus tags and a handheld receiver will connect students and community members with the research process, involving them in bird banding and Motus tagging.

Chicago Bird Alliance—Chicago, Illinois

Chicago Bird Alliance, along with key partners, will train new field trip leaders who represent the diverse backgrounds of Chicago and support those new leaders in engaging traditionally underserved communities in birding activities at lakefront parks. This project will train 30 new field trip leaders, including at least 25 Black and brown leaders, thereby increasing the diversity of field trip leaders in Chicago. It will prepare them to educate communities about the birds and habitats that share the space. The training will also incorporate the environmental history of Chicago and its waterways, and the conservation issues that birds face when migrating. The lakefront, rivers, and banks in Chicago provide the region’s richest resource for the migratory birds that pass through by the millions each spring and fall. Chicago Bird Alliance would like to make this resource more available to all of the area’s residents.

Sinnissippi ��������Ƶ—Rockford, Illinois

Sinnissippi ��������Ƶ, the City of Rockford, and the Rockford Area Arts Council (RAAC) will partner together to focus on birds, climate change, and building community. Each summer, RAAC offers opportunities in the arts for youth in the Rockford region. The SPARK! Build: Mosaic provides an intensive, hands-on, skill-building apprenticeship program to youths who demonstrate an interest in the arts. Youth will work closely with nationally recognized mosaic artist, Susan Burton, in the planning, construction, and installation of a public sculpture. The student’s mosaic work will be recognized publicly by Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara. Additionally, there will be permanent signage installed with a SPARK! Mosaic tribute. The summer 2025 program will focus on bird mosaics that will be installed throughout the community, including Rockford City Hall. This project will spark interest in birds in their community. Signage will provide education about the project, birds, and the threats of climate change.

Student Sustainability Council at Indiana University Kokomo—Kokomo, Indiana

The ongoing Green Horizons Initiative at Indiana University Kokomo focuses on bird conservation and habitat restoration through practical, community-driven efforts. This project aims to enhance bird monitoring capabilities by acquiring essential banding equipment, bird food, and feeder attachments, allowing students to track avian populations and their habitats more effectively. In tandem, they will restore critical bird-friendly environments on campus by removing invasive species and planting native trees and plants, creating sustainable refuges for local bird species. Engaging students, staff, and community members in hands-on conservation projects will not only improve biodiversity but also foster environmental stewardship. By combining education, habitat restoration, and monitoring, the Student Sustainability Council aims to bolster bird populations, increase awareness of conservation efforts, and create lasting ecological benefits that align with ��������Ƶ’s Flight Plan and conservation goals.

XULA Geaux Green at Xavier University of Louisiana- New Orleans, Louisiana

XULA Geaux Green’s (XGG) plan for 2024-2026 is to build a conservation community through Birding Nature Hikes. These hikes provide new Xavier students with an introduction to birding and enrich the experience for more seasoned birdwatchers, all while cultivating a growing community of bird and nature enthusiasts on campus. The Swamp Tours and nature conservation tours offer powerful educational experiences, enabling XGG to highlight the ecological importance of wetlands, prairies, and forests for bird populations while also demonstrating innovative habitat management practices. Recycling and upcycling initiatives will help bring together diverse partners, from students to local businesses, creating a coalition working towards conservation goals. XGG will institute clothing drives to recycle, thrift days to reuse, and host workshops to teach upcycling.

Mississippi Headwaters ��������Ƶ Society —Bemidji, Minnesota

"BIRDS FOR VETERANS—BLENDING NATURE AND HONOR" is an initiative to build bridges and strengthen community partnerships through birds. Mississippi Headwaters ��������Ƶ Society and American Legion Post #14 are collaborating to engage and excite residents, visitors, and staff about birds at the new Bemidji Veterans Home. This collaboration intends to install bird feeders, provide binoculars, bird guides, and birding apps, as well as lead accessible bird and nature programs, and share Indigenous knowledge and stories about birds from local Ojibwe people. Native plantings will be added around the bird feeding stations. This will complement a significant amount of native landscaping already done around the new facility. Window treatments to reduce bird strikes will also be installed.

Birds of a Feather, Rust College—Holly Springs, Mississippi

Birds of a Feather, Rust College’s ��������Ƶ on Campus Chapter, is expanding its yearly Foxfire camping trip by inviting students from other HBCUs to engage in immersive, hands-on experiences in nature. This trip will feature expert-led birdwatching, nature hikes, and conservation talks, offering a unique opportunity to explore biodiversity and connect with the natural world. In addition, the chapter will host a plant sale, birdhouse painting workshop, and a nature-themed movie night to raise environmental awareness within their community. By fostering cross-campus collaboration and expanding participation, they aim to inspire a new generation of conservation leaders, deepen environmental education, and strengthen ties between HBCUs and the ��������Ƶ mission.

��������Ƶ Society of Omaha—Omaha, Nebraska

The ��������Ƶ Society of Omaha (ASO) plans to support ��������Ƶ’s Flight Plan through community building and bringing bird lovers together to advance their shared vision. The ASO Student Art Show is an annual event that draws together hundreds of K-12 students from across the Omaha metro area. Students submit artwork in consideration for prizes. Judges choose winners for 60 percent or more of the entries, and everyone leaves with some form of recognition to encourage participation and enjoyment in the event. It is both the largest and most diverse event undertaken by ASO. The Art Show and Awards Ceremony engage hundreds of new potential birders and conservationists—both students and their families—in depicting and sharing the beauty of birds. The Student Art Show will reach a broad audience, and will specifically target Boys Town, a local educational organization for underserved youth.

Bedford ��������Ƶ Society—Katonah, New York

Bedford ��������Ƶ (BAS) has begun a multi-faceted program strategy to engage new diverse communities in their chapter’s territory, including Latino communities, with the objective of reaching 20,000 people over the next 12 months, more than 75 percent of them for the first time. Meanwhile, their international birding travel opportunities will target countries and in-country partners that are part of the NAS Migratory Bird Initiative and Flyway Plans, going to at least two countries in the first 12 months. This will create the awareness and long-term financial support for the plan across their membership, providing a model other chapters can adopt. They will share it through chapter meetings, regional conferences, and the NAS leadership conference in Montréal.

Buffalo ��������Ƶ Society—North Java, New York

Buffalo ��������Ƶ Society will partner with four local organizations to reduce bird strikes across western New York through education and advocacy. New volunteers will be recruited from four organizations to retrofit their nature center windows with effective bird collision reduction solutions to educate the public on collision prevalence and prevention. Each of the center's three floors will be modified with a different prevention option—film, paracord, and tape— and signage will be displayed to inform visitors how to replicate these solutions at home and in the workplace. Three annual bird strike programs will be offered to increase awareness, view displays, and offer hands-on demonstrations. Bird collision information will be integrated into all on-site education programs, and all participants will be directed to FLACO Act and Dark Skies Protection Act advocacy alerts.

Genesee Valley ��������Ƶ Society—Rochester, New York

Abatement of targeted vegetation (weeds/trees) on a barrier island located at the entrance to Braddock Bay. The island and Braddock Bay are located on the Atlantic Migratory Flyway. This will return the island to a beach that migratory shore birds use to rest and feed. This island and the Braddock Bay area are part of the NYSDEC Braddock Bay Wildlife Management area, and, as such, special permits and processes need to be followed to abate the targeted vegetation. This project aligns itself with the NYSDEC management of this area.

NYC Bird Alliance—New York City, New York

NYC Bird Alliance will continue to build its New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) in Nature program, significantly advancing its goals for equity, diversity, and inclusion. Begun in 2023, the program is a collaboration with public housing tenant leaders and residents to offer free nature and conservation activities based on their community's interests. The NYC Housing Authority provides affordable housing to more than 500,000 people, predominantly Black and Latinx. Many NYCHA Houses have green spaces that invite nature observation, habitat enhancement, and bird-friendly upgrades. Through this program, NYC Bird Alliance is building its capacity to engage all of New York City's communities in birds and conservation and to incorporate a wide range of perspectives in their work to protect the City's bird and natural environment, for the benefit of birds and people.

Delaware-Otsego ��������Ƶ Society—Oneonta, New York

The NY/CT Window Collision Prevention/Lights Out Project brings together up to 30 ��������Ƶ Chapters to engage communities to reduce bird deaths by preventing bird-window collisions and implementing Lights Out initiatives. Chapters implement their own programming plans. Support materials and resources are provided for chapter use, based on local needs. Materials provided to local chapters will include a 150-page resource manual (one for every chapter in NY & CT); a 45-minute PowerPoint presentation and speakers notes; detailed information about window collision prevention products (where to purchase, how to properly use/install), and reference materials; detailed information about lights out initiatives; Copies of the existing 4-fold ��������Ƶ brochure about window collisions; a 12x18” yard sign with a “Bird-Friendly Home” message for local chapters to provide to homes that are implementing window collision prevention and lights out initiatives; and stickers & table banners for tabling and larger projects.

Bird Alliance of Oregon—Portland, Oregon

Bird Alliance of Oregon will collaborate with at least three different affinity-based organizations to create a series of free BIPOC-only birding outings. Through these outings, they will bring together 100+ new and emerging birders of color to learn and grow in community. Together they will deepen awareness of birds and their connection to the natural world and strengthen community among people of color who have been historically marginalized in the outdoors. In addition, they will use these education programs as springboards to engage BIPOC birders in conservation leadership and action through three channels. First, they will share information at all walks about upcoming Bird Alliance of Oregon conservation advocacy campaigns, including wetlands and forest protections across the state. Second, they will invite participants to attend BIPOC-only Bird Alliance of Oregon activist trainings. Third, they will collaborate with local non-profit People of Color Outdoors to facilitate a BIPOC Birders Leadership cohort, focused on building an upswell of new leaders in their field.

Coast to Cascades Bird Alliance—Eugene, Oregon

The new Oregon Bird Friendly Community Certification program recognizes the important role that local communities play as they protect and restore habitat, work to reduce threats to birds, and provide opportunities for stewardship, education, and nature-focused engagement of community members. The program connects ��������Ƶ chapters across Oregon, allowing them to share resources and expertise. Certification requires communities to meet meaningful criteria, form coalitions among local organizations, engage municipal governments, and involve community members. Designation will promote a sense of community pride and partnerships that allow diverse groups to work together toward common goals. Their new program has been invited to join the Bird City Network. They have designed their program to be both a fun and substantial strategy to engage communities in avian conservation and to build long-term relationships that maintain commitment over time. They now seek to create workshops and support services to assist communities in becoming bird-friendly.

Lycoming ��������Ƶ—Williamsport, Pennsylvania

The Lycoming ��������Ƶ Society, located in north central Pennsylvania, will collaborate with the South Side Recreational Authority (SSRA), a municipal authority representing South Williamsport and DuBoistown Borough, and Armstrong Township, in ongoing efforts to fully restore approximately 220 acres of wetland, grassland, and meadow habitat. This natural area, named for Robert Porter Allen, a pioneering ornithologist and the ��������Ƶ’s first Director of Research, provides critical habitat for several of the Flight Plan’s High Priority species, including Virginia Rails, American Kestrels, Grasshopper Sparrows, and Northern Harriers. With the support of an ��������Ƶ in Action Grant, Lycoming ��������Ƶ and the SSRA will establish a diverse coalition to support long-term maintenance of ecological integrity, develop an invasive species management plan, and take a community-centered approach to plan implementation. The outcome will directly improve approximately 120 acres of habitat, contributing directly to National ��������Ƶ’s Flight Plan Habitat and Community Building Milestones.

��������Ƶ Society of Western Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

��������Ƶ Society of Western Pennsylvania will improve accessibility to environmental education, grow the conservation movement, and expand the ��������Ƶ network through the development and delivery of programs and materials in Spanish for the growing Latino community in the greater Pittsburgh area. ��������Ƶ Society of Western Pennsylvania proposes to develop four sets of curricula and complementary education toolkits, deliver 10 programs (eight for K-5 students and two for families), translate eight key resources to Spanish, and plant one bird-friendly native garden at Francis McClure Elementary for those in SOY (Supporting Our Youth) McKeesport programming. This work will build on a recent, successful partnership with the Latino Community Center’s SOY (Supporting Our Youth) Pittsburgh program, which focuses on addressing the academic needs of the Latino community. This project will create an opportunity to offer equitable and inclusive experiences for the approximately 29,000 Spanish speakers present in the ��������Ƶ Society of Western Pennsylvania service area.

Chattanooga ��������Ƶ Society—Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga ��������Ƶ Society is revitalizing Maclellan Island, an 18-acre island in the middle of the urban center of Chattanooga. As part of the organization’s land management plan, the chapter plans to plant seven acres of native plants on Maclellan Island. The plants will act as a food source and habitat for migratory birds in a densely populated urban area where they are scarce. Chattanooga ��������Ƶ Society intends to partner with local native plant nonprofits and local government agencies to bring awareness to the importance of native plants as a food source for migrating birds. The plants will replace invasive species currently being mitigated and will temper erosion. The visibility of Maclellan Island is a key feature of this project, as Chattanooga ��������Ƶ Society continues to promote engagement in bird watching. With this project, Chattanooga ��������Ƶ Society will strengthen its connections with partners such as the City of Chattanooga, while also creating opportunities for new partnerships.

Healing Wings ��������Ƶ at University of Texas, Medical Branch—Galveston, Texas

Healing Wings is a campus chapter of the National ��������Ƶ at University of Texas, Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. Being a health professions school, their studies focus on healing patients and helping them to thrive. Their project aims to give people experiences to see for themselves the therapeutic effect nature has on the soul and to help them understand the need to protect their natural resources. Their project involves creating 10 "birding backpacks" that will be available for checkout at a local library. Each backpack will contain binoculars, a field guide, and laminated sheets with QR codes linking to birding maps, ID guides, and conservation resources. Their birding backpack community 'kickoff' event will introduce the backpacks to the public. When paired with their planned lineup of guided birding field trips and guest lecturers, these backpacks will introduce a new demographic of future birders to the importance of protecting and advocating for their natural resources.

Swan Society at Vermont Law and Graduate School—South Royalton, Vermont

Swan Society proposes a five-part project, involving birding excursions, educational events, planting native vegetation, building birdhouses, and lobbying Vermont’s General Assembly. Swan Society will engage students, staff, and faculty at Vermont Law and Graduate School; members of the South Royalton community and White River watershed; and other partners, collaborators, and allies. Swan Society’s project proposes to fund its fledgling venture as the nation’s first law school ��������Ƶ on Campus chapter. Each part of Swan Society’s project engages individuals in habitat conservation, climate action, the advancement of policy, and community building. Birding excursions, educational events, planting native vegetation, building birdhouses, and lobbying coalesce people in purpose and action. Each of this project’s parts corroborates the other, and all help to encourage appreciation for avifauna and the habitats upon which avifauna depend—Swan Society’s purpose.

Spokane ��������Ƶ Society—Spokane, Washington

The Little Spokane River watershed is a rich and biologically diverse area that has been degraded over the last century due to agriculture, logging, grazing, and development. More than 180 bird species have been documented in the watershed since the late 1990s. To improve habitat and water quality of this deteriorated area, this project seeks to restore the area to return it to a healthy ecosystem that will support a diversity of birds and more robust populations of them. With the help of students and volunteers, Spokane ��������Ƶ Society will plant native trees, shrubs, and perennial plants to increase usable habitat for birds, insects, and other wildlife. The chapter will install enhancements such as nest boxes to provide additional nesting habitat for cavity nesters. The project will engage community members by providing both classroom learning about the importance of birds in the environment and hands-on experience creating habitat for them.

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance—Madison, Wisconsin

Bird-window collisions kill billions of birds each year in the United States. This is a huge problem that goes relatively unnoticed and unaddressed by the public. With support from ��������Ƶ in Action, Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance will expand ongoing outreach efforts to homeowners, community members, and elected officials to raise awareness of the problem and teach them about how they can help solve it. The chapter will take multiple outreach approaches, including public presentations, train-the-trainer workshops, resource kits for implementing window collision monitoring programs, video and article production, and exploration of ways to fund window treatment retrofits. Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance will build on years of successful local outreach to broaden the audience to a regional level, creating networks of community organizers who are informed and equipped to protect birds in their communities.

Chequamegon ��������Ƶ Society—Washburn, Wisconsin

Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge (WCNWR) has partnered with the City of Ashland, Wisconsin, and the St. Croix Management District to convert and restore 10 acres of mowed city property and invasive species-dominated land. Native prairie seeds, provided, in part, by the St. Croix Management District, will be used to promote a healthier and more diverse habitat. The project will focus on two locations: 5 acres within WCNWR and 5 acres in the City of Ashland. The primary objective is to enhance the habitat quality for migratory birds, as Ashland and the Chequamegon Bay serve as an important migratory corridor for many North American bird species. By reintroducing native plant species, this restoration effort will support safe passage for migratory birds and act as a gateway opportunity for first-time birdwatchers in the community.

Potomac Valley ��������Ƶ Society—Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Engaging the Community in Conservation and Action: Using exhibits and a new volunteer program, this project aims to bring new audience members into Potomac Valley ��������Ƶ Society’s nature center to engage them in conversation about land preservation, rare species, energy conservation, green infrastructure, and individual actions visitors can take. The new exhibits will be a catalyst for conversations. They will highlight the special features of the protected property and the energy-efficient nature center where the exhibits are displayed. The exhibits will provide information and captivating images that will enable docents to clearly and consistently communicate the features of the protected marsh and the energy-efficient building, while including ways to encourage and inspire action in their personal lives.

WEZAAM at Midwestern University, Glendale Campus—Glendale, Arizona

Habitat creation, education, and community engagement in Glendale, AZ, to benefit resident and migratory birds. WEZAAM’s multifaceted FORBIRDS program aims to inspire a community to be advocates and stewards of the birds that share their yards. To this end, the activities designed for ages 12 and up will teach about birds, discuss the threats birds are facing, and, importantly, equip participants with tangible solutions and embolden them to become citizen scientists for birds. They will create more bird habitat by expanding their existing Sonoran Desert and offer participants native desert plants for their yards. This community program will specifically benefit Lucy’s Warbler by constructing nest boxes and monitoring their use. A community exhibition will discuss bird window collisions, showcase products available to mitigate this threat, and provide samples for participants to install at their homes. Together they can make Glendale a safer segment on the flight path.

Bruin Birding Club at University of California, Los Angeles—Los Angeles, California

The goal of Bruin Birding Club at University of California, Los Angeles is to provide bird programming to a diverse audience of students, staff, faculty, and community members regardless of background and experience level. In Summer 2023 the Bruin Birding Club ran its first-ever bird-themed LGBTQ+ Pride Festival, which successfully attracted hundreds of individuals to campus to celebrate birds and diversity in birding. In 2025, the Bruin Birding Club plans to bring back this event, with a number of repeated and new offerings to meet the ��������Ƶ in Action grant goals. These activities will include 1) guided bird walks with emphasis on diversity, conservation, and the history of University of California, Los Angeles’ LGBTQ+ movement, 2) a panel discussion with queer leaders and researchers in ornithology, climate change, gender studies, and accessible birding, and 3) various social events for project participants and bird-themed programming from local non-profit organizations and rehabilitation facilities.

Spoonbill Society: Birding Club at Florida State University—Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University’s campus chapter will fund window treatments and develop educational materials on effective mitigation strategies surrounding fatal bird-window strikes, both on its campus and within the larger Tallahassee community. After a year's worth of data collection on bird-window fatalities on campus, these funds will support implementation of proper window treatments on their most lethal building, promotion for effective solutions, and an “Lights Out” initiative, and an on-campus exhibit set up biannually during migration depicting the problem windows pose for bird populations and ways to help. Educational materials and outreach will be spread across the three biggest college campuses in Tallahassee (Florida State University, Tallahassee State College, and Florida A&M University) to further increase awareness of this issue. This project will serve to protect birds and empower the local community and college students to take steps towards avian conservation on their campuses and beyond.

��������Ƶ Society UW, Madison at University of Wisconsin-Madison—Madison, Wisconsin

The Microbial Sciences Bird-Friendly Windows is a university- and chapter-partnered project to retrofit windows with bird-safe glass at the University of Wisconsin—Madison Microbial Sciences building. This project aims to reduce the mortality rates and threat of bird collisions with building glass by installing bird-friendly glass in the monitored university building with the greatest number of bird collisions on the University of Wisconsin—Madison campus. In partnerships with the University of Wisconsin—Madison Office of Sustainability Green Fund, Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, and the Bird Collision Corps program, this project aims to educate students and community members on the importance of retrofitting bird-building collision sites for bird safety. Community engagement with species conservation action is critical to advance the interests of healthy bird populations, campus members, and environmental well-being.

Collaborative Grant Projects

Quinnipiac Valley ��������Ƶ Society in Wallingford, Connecticut, Menunkatuck ��������Ƶ Society in Guilford, Connecticut, Bedford ��������Ƶ Society in Katoah, New York, Rockland ��������Ƶ Society in New City, New York, and Delaware-Otsego ��������Ƶ Society in Oneonta, New York, are working together as part of a broader Connecticut—New York ��������Ƶ collaboration supported by an ��������Ƶ in Action grant application. The project will pair public presentations, youth-led installations, and Lights Out Connecticut outreach to educate communities and encourage widespread adoption of bird-safe practices. Similarly, Onondaga ��������Ƶ Society in Syracuse, New York, is poised to lead a regional Lights Out program in cCentral New York, raising public awareness, creating partnerships, promoting bird-friendly policies, and providing resources and outreach to reduce light pollution during peak migration periods.

Tropical ��������Ƶ Society is restoring its historic South Miami, Florida, headquarters property—a rare remnant of imperiled pine rockland habitat—through monthly volunteer workdays that remove invasives, plant natives, and spread pine needle straw mulch. The project not only preserves almost two percent of Miami-Dade’s remaining pine rocklands, but also serves as an educational resource through tours, field trips, and community programs that engage both adults and children in conservation.

Southeast Volusia ��������Ƶ Society in New Symrna Beach, Florida, will partner with Smyrna Dunes Park to provide signage and host educational tabling events that raise awareness of protecting fragile dunes and shorebird nesting sites. By engaging park visitors with information, activities, and volunteer opportunities, Southeast Volusia ��������Ƶ Society aims to build community, increase conservation awareness, and grow chapter membership.

Eagle ��������Ƶ Society in Sun City Center, Florida, will restore two ponds in the Kings Point community by removing invasives and planting thousands of Florida-friendly native plants to improve water quality, provide wildlife habitat, and protect waterways that flow into Tampa Bay. The project, part of a larger pond restoration effort, will include contractor and volunteer planting, ongoing maintenance, and community education through articles, seminars, and outreach to promote healthy pond practices.

Duval ��������Ƶ Society, through its Lights Out Northeast Florida partnership, monitors bird collisions in downtown Jacksonville, advocates for bird-friendly practices, and partners with the Museum of Science and History to install Feather Friendly markers and educational signage to reduce strikes. With support from Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens and broad community engagement, the project will create a highly visible demonstration site that protects birds, educates thousands of visitors, and inspires citywide bird-friendly action.

Orange ��������Ƶ Society in Maitland, Florida, will advance community building efforts by engaging diverse audiences in bird surveys and after-school birding clubs, supporting hands-on learning through suitable binoculars for children.

West Volusia ��������Ƶ Society in DeLand, Florida, supports Stetson University’s ��������Ƶ on Campus chapter and its partnership with the Gillespie Museum, which hosts birding programs and provides habitats that connect students and the public with nature. To expand access, the chapter seeks a classroom set of 20 binoculars to remove barriers for new birders, enrich educational programming, and build community engagement around birds.

Manatee County ��������Ƶ Society in Bradenton, Florida, plans to enhance the Felts ��������Ƶ Preserve with two new shaded structures, including a chickee hut with picnic tables, to improve visitor experience and comfort. These additions will support growing educational programs for scouts, schools, libraries, nonprofits, and the community, fostering greater engagement in conservation and habitat restoration.

Coastal Georgia ��������Ƶ seeks to build a Chimney Swift tower at the historic Ashantilly Center in Darien, Georgia, to provide critical roosting habitat for these declining aerial insectivores while also offering natural pest control. The project will include educational signage, monitoring, and three public events to engage thousands of annual visitors in learning about and supporting Chimney Swifts.

Amos Butler ��������Ƶ Society in Indianapolis, Indiana, aims to restore the Skating Pond’s wetland habitat by removing invasive water lilies and shrubs, reintroducing native plants, and improving water levels. This project will enhance biodiversity, provide critical nesting and stopover habitat for wetland birds, and improve access and enjoyment for visitors.

Evansville ��������Ƶ Society is participating in a hemispheric Motus tagging project to track the migration, longevity, and population trends of the declining Wood Thrush, nearly four percent of which nest in Indiana. By tagging up to 600 birds across breeding states and six Latin American countries, the project will generate critical data to guide habitat management and conservation along migratory pathways.

Louisville ��������Ƶ Society in Kentucky is launching a Lights Out program to reduce commercial and residential lighting during spring and fall migration, helping protect migratory birds. The project will include free yard sign distribution, community outreach, and youth engagement through educational programs and outdoor activities.

Baton Rouge ��������Ƶ Society in Louisiana plans to install a bird-collision prevention art and education display at the main library, a known collision hotspot, to reduce bird deaths and raise public awareness. The project will also engage the community through events, outreach, and permanent educational materials, while advocating for broader adoption of collision-prevention measures across Baton Rouge.

Central Minnesota ��������Ƶ Society in Cold Spring, Minnesota, plans to create a new website to provide real-time updates, broaden outreach beyond Facebook, and make resources more accessible to youth, teachers, and the wider community. The site will feature events, projects, educational materials, and chapter information, helping attract new members, increase engagement, and foster collaboration.

Lahontan ��������Ƶ Society in Reno, Nevada will participate in Northern Nevada Pride with a booth and parade presence to engage the LGBTQIA+ community, supported by its new Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging committee. The project aims to increase visibility, foster inclusivity, and grow LGBTQIA+ membership and leadership through outreach, sign-ups, social media engagement, and educational activities.

In Paramus, New Jersey, Bergen County ��������Ƶ Society’s festival will highlight the Bald Eagle’s recovery from near extinction and the ongoing efforts needed to protect it. The event will also feature the local Indigenous partners, connecting conservation with culture to engage the community with nature.

The South Shore ��������Ƶ Society in Freeport, New York, aims to expand and diversify native plantings in the Tackapausha and Hempstead Plains gardens to provide critical bird and pollinator habitat while engaging the community in habitat conservation. Through planting, interpretive signage with QR codes, public tours, talks, volunteer gardening groups, and outreach via newsletters and social media, the project promotes education, advocacy, and chapter membership growth.

Over the past three years in Greenport, New York, North Fork ��������Ƶ Society volunteers have cleared invasive plants from Inlet Pond County Park, allowing native species to regenerate, and now aim to accelerate this by planting five nursery-grown white oaks at a key trail intersection. These white oak trees are a keystone species that will support diverse wildlife, especially insects critical for feeding baby birds, and will be accompanied by a sign recognizing volunteers and thanking ��������Ƶ for their contribution.

Hudson River ��������Ƶ Society in Yonkers, New York, has transformed its garden with wood chip paths, new accessible gates, and carefully selected native plantings to control erosion and support wildlife. Regular maintenance will keep the garden in optimal condition, while ongoing improvements continue to enhance accessibility, habitat quality, and long-term sustainability.

Since its founding in June 2024, Friends of Grand Lake ��������Ƶ Society in Grove, Oklahoma, has engaged diverse and marginalized communities through in-person outreach, birding walks, trainings, and partnerships, quickly building a chapter with a board membership reflecting the community it serves. Looking ahead, the chapter plans to expand its Young Birders programs, school outreach, increase its presence at community events, and enhance its website to improve volunteer coordination and grow membership.

Seven Capes Bird Alliance in Lincoln City, Oregon, seeks to make its website accessible in both English and Spanish to better serve the local Spanish-speaking community, which requires upgrading the website server to incorporate the new translation integration. To manage this complex upgrade given limited staff capacity, the chapter plans to hire an experienced consultant, enabling automatic website translation and reinforcing their commitment to inclusivity alongside translated print materials.

Lehigh Valley ��������Ƶ Society will purchase eight sets of birding gear, supplementing library collections in Bethlehem and Easton, Pennsylvania, with two sets for each main library and two for each branch. This project provides residents—especially those in branch library communities who have limited access to outdoor recreation—the opportunity to experience birding for free.

Greater Wyoming Valley ��������Ƶ Society aims to raise awareness about declining native pollinators in urban areas by providing educational programming and encouraging residents to plant native species, using a downtown Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, community garden as a demonstration site. The chapter will supply native perennial plants, soil amendments, and educational materials, and host a Native Pollinator Day to engage the public, promote pollinator-friendly gardening, and amplify the message through local media and city outreach.

Cape Henry ��������Ƶ Society aims to significantly reduce bird strikes in downtown Norfolk, Virginia, during migration caused by bright lights and glass structures, having already recorded more than 200 mostly warblers. Success in this effort could serve as a model for Virginia Beach to expand to Newport News and Hampton and eventually support regional and statewide bird safety legislation.

Spokane ��������Ƶ Society in Spokane, Washington, aims to counter declining American Kestrel populations by constructing, placing, and monitoring wooden nest boxes to provide additional nesting habitat. Working with volunteers, landowners, and the public, the chapter tracks box usage, fledgling success, and volunteer participation, with plans to expand the program significantly over the next five years.

Blue Mountain ��������Ƶ Society in Walla Walla, Washington, aims to build a more diverse birding community by engaging youth and Spanish-speaking residents through quarterly introductory field trips, bilingual outreach, and accessible resources like binocular loans and Spanish-language guides. The chapter plans to increase membership by 10 percent over the next year, with half of new members from underrepresented groups, and hopes to engage at least 15 individuals or families per field trip.

Olympic Peninsula ��������Ƶ Society in Sequim, Washington, aims to reduce bird injuries and deaths at Peninsula College by installing DIY Acopian BirdSavers on campus windows while planning for future Feather Friendly dot markers. The chapter will engage students and staff through education, hands-on building, and monitoring, with a goal of reducing window collisions by 50 percent.

Silver State Wings and George Whittell Environmental Grant Awards

In addition to the ��������Ƶ in Action and Collaborative grants, this cycle we were also able to offer the George Whittell Nevada Environmental Grant Award and the Silver State Wings grants to our chapters in Nevada. Red Rock ��������Ƶ Society was the recipient of $14,000 for their “Campus to Conservation” project. Another $14,000 was split between Lahontan ��������Ƶ Society, Red Rock ��������Ƶ Society and the ��������Ƶ on Campus chapter at University of Nevada Las Vegas. Together, these grants provided $28,000 to support chapters in this state, through funds generously provided by George Whittell and Doug and Nancy Chang, respectively.

Red Rock ��������Ƶ Society—Las Vegas, Nevada

Red Rock ��������Ƶ Society’s youth education programs will provide students with their own set of Volume 1 & 2 Sibley’s Birds of Southern Nevada. Having used these guides during their field trip, the students become connected to a few species they see that day in the field with what is shown in the guide. Red Rock ��������Ƶ will provide the opportunity for the students to take the guides home, share with their families, and connect with other local species identified in the guides with what they may see in their neighborhood and parks.

Lahontan ��������Ƶ Society—Reno, Nevada

The Perils of Plastics—An educational tabling event showing the dangerous effects of man-made plastic products can have on birds. The display includes at least 3 taxidermy mounts of birds that have died due to their encounters with plastic, plus “healthy” mounts of the same species. Attendees will have the opportunity to sign a letter/postcard to be given to Nevada’s Congressional Representatives to encourage the passage of The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2023 (S.3127/H.R.6053). Letters/postcards will also be provided for members of the Nevada State Legislature to encourage statewide legislation. The mounts, information, and advocacy campaign will be on display at a minimum of three tabling events. These events will build community by attracting new ��������Ƶ members as bird lovers work together to inform the public of this issue and to encourage a change to public policy through communication with government representatives.