Meeting the Moment

Birds adapt. They have to. Each season brings shifting conditions—droughts, floods, wildfires, disappearing habitat. Still, they find ways to adjust. Some alter the timing of their migrations. Others look for new food sources, choose new nesting sites, or stop and rest at different locations during their journeys. Their resilience inspires mine. 

As we close out the National Audubon Society’s 120th year, I have been reflecting on what it takes to endure. It is not strength alone. It is also the ability to change—gracefully, urgently, and with purpose. This is true for birds. It is true for conservation. And it is true for organizations like ours. 

Audubon has never stood still. From our earliest campaigns to end the plume trade to our work today to safeguard habitat and address the climate crisis, we have evolved to meet the scale and complexity of the threats that birds face. This legacy of adaptation continues to guide us. 

Some of the stories in this issue show how quickly the ground beneath us can shift. Wild Turkeys, long considered a conservation success, are now declining again in several key habitats. Snow Geese, once rare, have rebounded so dramatically that their presence is reshaping ecosystems across the continent. These changes remind us that conservation is never static. What worked in the past may no longer be enough. That is why we must keep adapting and designing new strategies for success. 

This year marks a major step forward in how we meet that challenge. In Chile, the Rocuant-Andalién wetland became the first project of the Americas Flyways Initiative, a partnership among Audubon, BirdLife International, and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. Together, we are protecting a critical site for migratory birds in a way that also supports local livelihoods and climate resilience. 

This project is a clear example of how efforts to protect natural areas can also help combat climate impacts. Wetlands store carbon, buffer communities from flooding, and safeguard clean water—all while sustaining biodiversity. Audubon will bring this perspective to COP30, where global leaders will meet to advance new solutions to the climate crisis. Audubon’s role will be to highlight the essential part that birds, their habitats, and connected communities can play in shaping meaningful progress. 

As a scientist, I spent years studying how species respond to environmental pressure. As Audubon’s CEO, I see how organizations must do the same—reexamining how we work, where we work, and who we work with. Our Flight Plan helps us do that. It is a framework designed to focus our efforts, accelerate solutions, and deliver measurable impact for birds and people across the Americas. 

This is what adaptation looks like. And this is how we will “bend the bird curve”—by matching their resilience with ours. 

This piece originally ran in the Fall 2025 issue as the Audubon View. To receive our print magazine, become a member by making a donation today.