Dr. Tom Bancroft, Chief Scientist

Dr. Tom Bancroft was named Chief Scientist at the National Audubon Society in 2007, providing bold leadership to Audubon’s outstanding science programs, including Citizen Science initiatives such as the Christmas Bird Count and Great Backyard Bird Count, as well as the organization’s State of the Birds analyses and reports, and the Important Bird Areas Program.

“Audubon has a long history of using scientific information to influence policy and management of habitats important to birds and people,” said Dr. Bancroft, who testified before Congress July 10, 2008, on the decline of bird populations around the globe.

“Audubon has documented a truly alarming trend. More than 100 of America’s most common birds have declined significantly over the past 40 years. Last year, we issued a State of the Birds report that focused on the 20 common bird species that have lost more than 50% of their population in the last 40 years. Almost half of the common species for which population trends are known are in decline. This result is surprising. We know that there are rare and endangered species, but most of us think of the common birds we see so often in our backyards and local parks as invulnerable. We now know that is not the case.”

Bancroft outlined causes for these declines, including global warming, urban sprawl, intensification of agriculture, loss of wetlands and water resources, plus invasive species. "Congress can help to reverse these declines through sound environmental policy actions,” he emphasized, suggesting several constructive solutions, including a “new direction for the national wildlife refuge system.”

“The Refuge System is in need of a reinvigorated scientific effort and completion of a basic inventory of refuge resources, a new direction regarding strategic growth and protection of the ecosystems of the United States, and a new plan and resources to deal with the fundamental threat of climate change. We encourage the Subcommittee to continue its oversight of the National Wildlife Refuge System to ensure that this critical tool for conservation is used to its fullest extent to address the alarming decline of bird populations.”

Find out what you can do to help these birds here.

Based in Audubon’s Washington, D.C. office, Dr. Bancroft has authored more than 40 publications, and served as an advisor on the inaugural 2002 book The State of the Nation's Ecosystems, a landmark initiative of the Heinz Center which is updated annually.

A nationally recognized ecologist, Bancroft was Vice President for Ecology and Economic Research at the Wilderness Society, where he worked to protect and restore ecosystems. Among his responsibilities were management of National Forests and Bureau of Land Management ecosystems, protection of critical habitats, and restoration of degraded lands in diverse geographical regions, including northern and Appalachian forests, the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Plateau, Sierra Nevada, and Alaska.

Dr. Bancroft earned a B.S. in Biology from the University of Arizona (1973), an M.A. in Zoology (1978) and a Ph.D. in Biology (1983) from the University of South Florida.

To request an interview or photo, contact
                                            
DELTA WILLIS
Senior Communications Manager
National Audubon Society  
Tel 212-979-3197  
dwillis@audubon.org