National Audubon Society

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Restoration of biodiversity in our region

I recently finished North Woods, a beautifully-written and mesmerizing novel by Daniel Mason. The book chronicles a home built in the woods of northwestern Massachusetts (and its various occupants—including animals) from its beginnings in the 1600s to present day. It is also a story of how the surrounding forest changed over time as people cultivated the land and as disease and insects felled elms, ashes, beech and chestnuts. In turn, many of the birds and animals that depended upon those woods for their own survival disappeared.

By present day, this forest, which once teemed with life, could only be encountered through virtual reality:

“When she first placed the glasses on her head, she found herself within a world she’d known only in data tables....The headsets were so loud that she had to turn the volume down. But this is what it would have sounded like, the wall text told her. Between 1970 and 2019 alone, nearly a third of all birds had disappeared from North America. Once, the forest would have been deafening. In the recording they had layered the songs of hundreds of birds, not only those she knew, but others now displaced to distant forests—blackpoll warblers, Bicknell’s thrushes—or lost forever like the passenger pigeons...She felt as if she had fallen in love with someone only to learn that they were dying.”

Audubon’s forest work seeks to return biodiversity to our region’s woods. We train foresters on how to create and maintain healthy forests that will better support birds that were once common in Pennsylvania and Maryland. And we have now created a forester endorsement program that will allow landowners to easily identify and hire an Audubon-trained forester. Below you’ll read about one of our first endorsed foresters in the commonwealth.

We want our forests to resound with bird songs and for that volume to increase.

Thank you for your support of our work.

--Suzanne

Cerulean warbler. Photo: Ben Cvengros

Marshes for Tomorrow

Marshes for Tomorrow is an effort to develop and implement a landscape-scale restoration plan for Maryland’s saltmarshes. The work is spearheaded by Audubon Mid-Atlantic and executed through the Delmarva Restoration and Conservation Network (DRCN). Ultimately, marsh restoration at this scale has the power to save an entire ecosystem—as well as the imperiled Saltmarsh Sparrow— and bring economic benefits to fisheries, tourism, and local communities.

Currently, Audubon conservation staff is working with DRCN partners to develop various methods for restoring marsh landscape and identifying 25,000 acres of priority tidal marsh to be restored and maintained long term. The coalition is also hosting community meetings to bring local landowners into the planning work. The plan is set to be finished this coming winter.

Audubon will also work with DRCN and other stakeholders to identify and secure the investment needed to implement the restoration plan.

There will be another series of community meetings in late summer of 2024. For dates and locations, as well as other updates, go to the Marshes for Tomorrow project page and follow Audubon Mid-Atlantic on social media.

Saltmarsh sparrow. Photo: Nadia Haq

Conversation with Audubon Mid-Atlantic Endorsed Forester: Calvin Norman, NexGen Forestry, LLC

Audubon Mid-Atlantic spoke recently with Calvin Norman, who has completed the Audubon Forester Training and Endorsement Program. Calvin works with NexGen Forestry, LLC, and covers forested area in central Pennsylvania. His work encompasses 33 counties within the state, although he travels occasionally to other regions of Pennsylvania.

What led you to become interested in forestry?

My interest in the field started in college, where I dual-majored in forestry. I’ve always loved working with trees, and many of our terrestrial animals rely on forested space.

Where did your interest in bird-friendly forestry come from, and why is it important?

Birds are charismatic, which often results in people developing close associations with birds and bird watching. Many forest-dwelling birds require dense and brushy habitat, and that this habitat can be created and maintained by foresters. This gives us an achievable goal from a forestry perspective – this work feels and looks good, and encourages people to get out into nature.

How did you benefit from the endorsement process? Any key takeaways about wildlife management?

The forester endorsement training helped me to meet people’s objectives with healthy forestry, and helped me to determine what will “click” for private landowners.

How did the training influence your work?

My work requires data to be collected on forest-dwelling birds, and the training process was straightforward and aligned with that work. I recommend the program for potentially interested foresters - the included webinars are very informative, and the process and knowledge gained during the training is very rewarding!

Thinking about becoming involved with the Audubon Forester Training and Endorsement Program? Read more about the program on our website and contact our Forest Program Associate, Joshua Rittenhouse (joshua.rittenhouse@audubon.org), to get started today!

Calvin in a forest project site.

MD Air National Guard Drops Flight Proposal

In September of 2021, Audubon Mid-Atlantic and the Lycoming Audubon Society sent a letter in opposition to a proposed plan by the Maryland Air National Guard to use the 13 county Pennsylvania Wilds area as a low-fly training area. The PA Wilds contains the greatest concentration of public lands in Pennsylvania and this proposal would have allowed pilots to fly as low as 100 feet off the ground, causing great harm to birds, other animals and people fishing, hunting, hiking and boating. Last week, U.S. Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman announced that the Air Force and National Guard Bureau has rescinded their proposal. Audubon applauds this decision and we thank Senators Casey and Fetterman for their tireless advocacy. For more information, please read the recent statement here.

Downy woodpeckers on branch. Photo: Deborah Bifulco

Thank you to our volunteers who participated during Earth Month plantings!

Over the past few weeks, Audubon Mid-Atlantic has hosted several planting events. At our native plant installation along the banks of the Perkiomen creek, near the John James Audubon Center, 12 people worked to plant 45 large native trees and over 200 saplings along the shoreline to aid in stabilization. Volunteers also tended to and serviced deer fencing, which required upkeep after storm events. A portion of the plants for this event were donated by Pinelands Nursery.

In Philadelphia’s Whitby Meadow restoration area, Audubon Mid-Atlantic welcomed 24 people, who helped plant over 100 native trees and shrubs. The plants were installed on both the Philadelphia and Delaware County sides of Cobbs Creek, and the event was supported by the Heinz Cooperative Agreement, as well as the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the Trees for Watersheds grant. Volunteers included Cobbs Creek Rail Ambassadors, the Philadelphia Mycology Club, and the John Heinz Wildlife Refuge Mobilize Green Youth Conservation crew.

In Baltimore, Audubon hosted a community planting day on April 27th. Approximately 40 Broadway East neighbors were joined by staff from Audubon, ReBUILD Metro, EnviroCollab, and CityScape Engineering for a day of native plantings, food, music and more! More than 500 native plants were installed in a space of 2,000 square feet, which included trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses.

Thank you to all of our partners and dedicated volunteers!

Volunteer during Earth Month planting.

Earth Day at the John James Audubon Center!

Just under 500 people attended the Earth Day celebrations and native plant sale at the John James Audubon Center in southeastern Pennsylvania! During the event, volunteers were stationed at plant sale areas, sharing knowledge on native plants and their site-specific requirements. A table with information about the ongoing native habitat restoration work was on display, as well as a magnetic board that helped visitors identify areas in their own properties and communities that can be made more bird friendly.

Attendees enjoyed the game area and display focused on rain gardens, which shows how much moisture plants can tolerate. Audubon also provided information on our work on riparian buffers and water management. Many children enjoyed the “DIY Rain Gauge” station, which included exciting interactive projects for the whole family. Attendees received rain gauges for their homes, as well as raffle prizes, containers full of native plants, and bird friendly baskets.

Thank you to all the attendees who made this Earth Day celebration an event to remember! If you’re interested in attending a future event at the John James Audubon Center, check out our upcoming events here.

Attendees at Earth Day interactive event,

John James Audubon Center admission is 50% off through June 2024!

Spring into Nature and Art! We're thrilled to announce a blooming good deal this spring at the John James Audubon Center. For a limited time, enjoy 50% off all museum admissions. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a longtime friend, there's never been a better time to explore our exhibitions and Fledgling Field nature play area.

Dates: April 1, 2024 – June 30, 2024

Hours: 10 am to 4 pm, Wednesday through Sunday

Bring a friend, bring your family, or just bring yourself—there's plenty to see and do! Don't miss out on this special opportunity to experience the wonders of art and nature at half the price.

See you soon at the John James Audubon Center where art and nature bloom!

Children at educational program at the John James Audubon Center

Audubon Remembers Dave Pardoe

Audubon Mid-Atlantic is saddened to report that Dave Pardoe, a long-time Audubon Maryland-DC board member, supporter, and founder of the Patterson Park Audubon Center, has passed away. Dave's support of Audubon and birds in Maryland led to the establishment of the Important Bird Area (IBA) program in the state, and he worked with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to form the IBA Technical Committee. He championed the IBA program for many years by hosting Birdathons and rallying support from others for this conservation program. In addition, Dave served as the chair of the Audubon Maryland-DC board for many years and was also the president of the Audubon Society of Central Maryland. We will be forever grateful to Dave for his unwavering devotion to Maryland’s birds.

Osprey. Photo: Barbara Blaisdell

Birding Under the Influence

Join Audubon Mid-Atlantic on Wednesday, May 8th from 6:00pm until 8:30pm for a riveting evening with author Dorian Anderson who will speak about his yearlong, cross country bike adventure. His journey, which he chronicled in the book Birding Under the Influence was a two-wheeled eco-friendly twist on a “Big Year” project, which is when a birdwatcher tries to observe as many species as possible during a calendar year. Anderson will speak about the genesis of his bike-birding project, provide a thrilling recount of his travels, highlight the birds he saw, and reveal how his adventure changed his life. A free copy of Dorian’s book will be distributed to the first 30 registrants at the May 8th event! Other copies will be available for purchase at a discounted price. Read more and register here.

Birding Under the Influence cover. Photo: Santa Clara Valley Audubon

Other Upcoming Events in the Mid-Atlantic

Foods of the Flyway

Join Audubon on Saturday, May 11^th from 5:30pm until 8:00pm to sample iconic foods of the Atlantic Flyway as you enjoy a presentation on Audubon’s work with foresters to promote healthy forest ecosystems and create high-quality habitat for birds. Tickets include dinner and a movie, popcorn, one free beer or wine, and unlimited nonalcoholic beverages. For more information and registration, please visit our website.

Habitat On-line Webinars Continue in May

Join us for Audubon’s popular Habitat Gardening webinars which explore why and how to cultivate your outdoor spaces for birds and butterflies. Audubon experts will share practical tips and scientific support for gardening with native plants and transforming your home, school, work, or community space into a bird and butterfly paradise! Following the Intro webinar, we invite you to join us for our Advanced webinar where we dive into bird-friendly garden design and maintenance. The webinar will be recorded and registrants will receive a link to the recording after the event.

Visit our Centers, explore our trails, and join us for some winter birding and other exciting activities happening across the Mid-Atlantic region!

•Pennsylvania Events, including the John James Audubon Center and The Discovery Center
•Maryland Events

CONNECT WITH US

Audubon Mid-Atlantic
3401 Reservoir Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19121
(610) 990-3431 | audubon.org

© 2025 National Audubon Society, Inc.

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