The New York City Audubon has announced a new name over allegations that the classic moniker was "racist."
The organization is now called the “NYC Bird Alliance” after a vote by its members.
"After a multi-year process, the organization changed its name from NYC Audubon to NYC Bird Alliance on June 5, 2024," the organization's website states. "Based on input from more than 1,000 people, this name emerged as the right choice for our organization from among 250 names suggested by our members and stakeholders."
In an explanation as to why they dropped "Audubon," the organization wrote, "While we value John James Audubon’s contributions to art and ornithology, and the foundation he laid for an appreciation of nature and a conservation ethos in this country, we recognize that his views and actions towards people of color and Indigenous people were harmful and offensive—and that the harm continues today, presenting a barrier to people who might otherwise become involved in or support our work. We acknowledge that the use of 'Audubon' in our name affects our ability to retain and attract staff, board members, supporters, volunteers, and organization members."
John James Audubon was a famed artist and naturalist who painted American bird species and compiled them into a book called The Birds of America. The book and his paintings helped to popularize the hobby of bird watching in the country.
During America's race riots in 2020, people began to take issue with the glorification of Audubon, who was born in 1785, because he owned slaves.
The National Audubon Society was also pressured to change its name, but it announced last year that it would not be doing so.
“This is an important time for birds and our shared planet, and this decision positions the organization to focus our equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging efforts and our conservation work where it is most urgently needed,” Susan Bell, the chairwoman of the National Audubon Society’s board of directors, said in a statement in 2023.
“The name has come to represent so much more than the work of one person, but a broader love of birds and nature, and a non-partisan approach to conservation,” Bell continued.
