Updated June 10, 2026
There are a number of issues that require support at this time. We encourage you to please contact your representatives and to share these alerts with others.
In early June, NYC Bird Alliance (formerly NYC Audubon) published a peer-reviewed paper documenting a 55% decline in Black-crowned Night Heron populations in New York Harbor since 2000. This research shows that without conservation action, the once-common Black-crowned Night Heron could disappear from New York Harbor as soon as 2037, which would have devastating effects, likely wiping out the Northeast population of these birds. You can read more in the attached one-sheeter HERE, as well as this article from Audubon Magazine.
We’re asking your help us sound the alarm about this finding! You can help by signing this petition, and sharing it with your friends.
“NYC Bird Alliance calls on city and state agencies to list the Black-crowned Night Heron as Threatened or Endangered and dedicate resources and funding to investigate the primary causes of Black-crowned Night Heron decline in New York-New Jersey Harbor, including predation pressure on nesting islands, human disturbance at active colony sites, loss of foraging and roosting habitat, and the presence of environmental contaminants in harbor waters.”
Photo: Black-crowned Night Heron, Venice Audubon Rookery Park, Venice, Florida
Rosemary Gillan/Audubon Photography Awards
PAST ITEMS
Protect Horseshoe Crabs
The governor signed this. Yay!
Horseshoe crabs have existed for 350 million years, but their populations in NYS are struggling to survive. Overharvesting, habitat loss, and warming waters threaten their survival. It’s time to act.
Click Here to Easily Contact Your State Representatives
VOTE NO on the SPEED Act (HR 4776)
While the SPEED Act did pass the House at the end of last week, we were successful in making sure New York Democrats overwhelmingly voted ‘NO” – Only one of our targeted Congressmembers (Congressman Mannion) voted yes.
Please call your Congressmember and urge them to VOTE NO on the SPEED Act (HR 4776)!
Next week Congress is going to vote on a bill that would gut our nation’s bedrock environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). These laws have protected New Yorkers for 50 years, but they are now under attack via a bill called the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act (H.R. 4776).
Full Details on this message can be found HERE.
Protect the CLCPA in NY
Urge New York State legislators to defend the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) during budget negotiations and continue advancing strong climate action to protect birds, habitats, and communities.
Click Here to Contact Your Federal Representatives
Save Irreplaceable Bird Science Programs
The Bird Banding Lab and Breeding Bird Survey are two essential science programs run by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) that help us understand birds. Urge Congress to keep these programs fully funded and invest in the science that protects birds and people.
Click Here to Contact Your Federal Representatives
Dark Skies Protection Act
Twice each year, billions of birds migrate across North America — and 80% travel at night. Artificial light can disorient them, leading to collisions that kill up to 1 billion birds annually in the U.S. NYS can help by passing the #DarkSkies Protection Act. #LightsOutForBirds
Click Here for Phone call and Email Script
Take Action to Protect Habitat for Birds and People
Many birds depend on urban areas for nesting, migration, and wintering habitat. At a time when habitat loss threatens the health of bird populations and our communities, conserving and improving urban habitats is essential to a healthy future for birds and people. Act now and urge your U.S. Representative to support the Local Communities and Bird Habitat Stewardship Act.
Click Here to Easily Contact Your U.S. Representatives
Urge Congress to Protect the Arctic
America’s Arctic contains the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Western Arctic, also known as the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska. The Arctic Refuge is the largest national wildlife refuge in the United States, and the habitats of the Western Arctic support Important Bird Areas of global importance. These pristine public lands represent some of the most critical bird habitats on the planet.
But now, Congress is considering a resolution that would remove conservation protections in the Western Arctic and open these areas and the Arctic Refuge to oil drilling.
Click Here to Easily Contact Your U.S. Representatives
