Long Island Sound

More than 10 percent of Americans live within 50 miles of Long Island Sound. Audubon is leading an ambitious effort to restore the Sound’s health in a way that supports populations of priority waterbirds and shorebirds while balancing the needs of nature and people. Our national policy team joined forces with Audubon Connecticut and Audubon New York to rally federal, state, and local lawmakers and other stakeholders to endorse Sound Vision, a two-year action plan to protect and restore the Sound. The plan, developed by the Long Island Sound Citizens Advisory Committee, combines restoration projects with unified legislative efforts. Science plays a key role in Audubon’s efforts in the Sound, exemplified by Audubon Connecticut’s work to assess breeding success and identify optimal nesting locations that will ultimately benefit American Oystercatchers, Piping Plovers, Saltmarsh Sparrows, Roseate Terns, and other priority bird species.

Theory of Victory: Audubon will marshal its network to restore Long Island Sound as a healthy, functioning estuary that supports priority waterbirds and shorebirds in balance with human use and recreation. This includes a network of permanently protected and properly managed coastal and upland habitats that ensure adequate areas for breeding, migrating, and wintering birds, and also strong fisheries to provide food for birds.