Great Egret. Andrew McCullough/Audubon Photography Awards
Membership Great Egret Society

Join the Great Egret Society

A circle of supporters creating a brighter future for birds.
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Protect Birds and the Places They Need

Your generosity helps preserve habitats, combat climate change, and ensure a future for the birds we love. Join today and protect birds and the places they need — with a gift of $500 or more annually.

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Society Benefits Upcoming Events Your Impact Exclusive Content Library Contact Us Join the Great Egret Society

The Great Egret Society is named for the bird whose protection inspired Audubon’s founding more than a century ago. Today, Society members carry that legacy forward as bold leaders in conservation.

“When I think of birds, advocacy for birds, and bird conservation, the only organization that ever comes to mind is Audubon.”
Richard G., Minnesota

By making an annual gift of $500 or more, you join a circle of supporters driving urgent action to safeguard habitats, confront climate change, and protect species at risk.

Since 1970, North America has lost three billion birds, and two-thirds of species now face dire risk from climate change. In this critical moment, Great Egret Society members provide the unwavering support birds need to survive and thrive.

Member Benefits

As a Great Egret Society member, you enjoy all the benefits of Audubon membership — plus exclusive perks designed to connect you more deeply with our work.

Audubon membership benefits:

  • A full year of Audubon magazine, our award-winning magazine, which helps grow your appreciation for birds and shows you how to help them thrive
  • A full color Audubon calendar featuring stunning bird photography
  • The opportunity to deepen your connection with birds and nature through over 50 Audubon centers and sanctuaries
  • Membership in your local Audubon chapter
"Thank you for creating this community of people who spread joy, peace, and love year-round."
Nancy B., Springfield, Massachusetts

Plus, additional Great Egret Society benefits:

  • Insider updates from Audubon leadership
  • Invitations to special events and programs
  • Participation in our Donor Insight Panel
  • Access to our digital library of exclusive content
  • Great Egret Society lapel pin and certificate
  • Opportunities to take direct action for birds

The best benefit of all is the knowledge that you are personally advancing our mission to protect birds and the places they need today and tomorrow.

 

How To Join

Choose the giving option that works for you:

Or, mail your check or donor advised fund gift to the address below, and in the memo field state "For the Great Egret Society" to:

National Audubon Society
ATTN: Marc Scollo
225 Varick Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10014

Thank you for helping us bring birds back.

Your Impact

Across the hemisphere, the personal generosity of Great Egret Society members is creating better todays and brighter futures for birds and the places they depend on.

This is a pivotal moment—for our planet and for Audubon—and your support and leadership are helping to shape what comes next.

With you by our side, and guided by Flight Plan, our strategic vision for the future, we are advancing science-based solutions that protect birds, support communities, and safeguard the natural world we all share.

You are part of the reason we face the future with hope — and with a plan.

Here are just a few of the powerful victories you’ve helped make possible:

  • Safeguarding Bird Habitat: Tens of thousands of acres protected across priority flyways, wetlands, and coastal regions vital to migration and nesting. In fact, we recently secured official recognition of Audubon’s work in Chile, a move that will expand critical conservation projects along the country’s 4,000-mile coastline that supports an estimated 500 bird species, including the Lesser Yellowlegs.
  • Policy and Advocacy Leadership: Our grassroots supporters regularly take action to support birds and the places they need. For example, when a proposal threatened to trade away a vital portion of Florida’s Guana River Wildlife Management Area for development, we mobilized immediately. More than 50,000 supporters spoke out to protect this irreplaceable habitat—submitting petitions, raising awareness, and standing up for birds and other wildlife. Thanks to this incredible grassroots response, 600 acres of conservation land were saved.
  • Climate Resilience in Action: Expanding native grasslands and reforesting key landscapes to help birds and communities adapt to a changing climate. Audubon recently received $2 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service to support the Bird-Friendly Maple program. Through this program, maple producers in the United States commit to sustainable forest management practices that support bird conservation.

Watch our latest impact video below to see how your generosity is helping birds thrive—now and for future generations.

Explore our latest Annual Report, where you’ll find inspiring stories, conservation highlights, and transparent reporting on the transformative work your support makes possible for the birds you love:

Discover Audubon Conservation Action Centers and Sanctuaries

A gift to the National Audubon Society supports the birds you love throughout their full life cycles, from your local Audubon center and community, to the boreal forests of Alaska and Canada, to the tropics and coasts of South America.

We invite you to connect with fellow bird and nature lovers through one of our 450+ local chapters, 50+ Audubon centers and sanctuaries. We're confident there is an experience waiting for you - whether it's spotting a new bird species, exploring migration hotspots, attending an event, or witnessing an awe-inspiring spectacle like the Sandhill Crane migration.

Visit audubon.org/local to plan your next outing in-person, or online and learn more about the places and birds you help protect. Come soar with us!

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Audubon's Legacy of Action

For more than a century, Audubon members and advocates have stood at the heart of landmark victories for birds and the environment. From the bold stand of two women in 1896 to today’s urgent climate action, this legacy of protection and progress continues—thanks to the support of people like you.

1896
Outraged over the slaughter of millions of water birds for the millinery trade, Harriet Hemenway and Minna B. Hall convince Boston society ladies to eschew hats with bird feathers. These meetings culminate in the founding of the Massachusetts Audubon Society.

1900
 Christmas Bird Count launched, the world’s longest-running wildlife census.

1918
 Migratory Bird Treaty Act passes, protecting millions of birds.

1923
Audubon establishes its first sanctuaries, pioneering land protection.

1972
Audubon helps ban DDT, saving Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons.

2000
Audubon helps secure a $7.8 billion Everglades restoration plan.

2014
Audubon’s Climate Report warns that two-thirds of North American birds are at risk.

2020
 Audubon wins a legal battle to restore Migratory Bird Treaty Act protections.

Today

Your support continues this legacy, protecting birds and the places they need. 

Join Audubon’s Action Network to learn more and receive updates on actions you can take. Your voice carries weight in conveying concerns about issues impacting birds, wildlife, and their habitats.

Ways to Deepen Your Impact

Want to do even more for birds? Consider:

Stories from Our Community

Great Egret Society members across the country find joy and community in supporting Audubon’s efforts to protect the birds they love and the places they need. Here are just a few recent experiences shared by members of the flock. 

“Audubon gives hope to the birds and bird lovers in times when habitat destruction and species extinction seem to be accelerating.”  - Kathleen H., WA

“I always recommend and encourage people to get involved with Audubon. I have always believed that birds are such a great way for people to connect with each other and give back to the natural world.” - Kelley L., SC

“Tonight, when I sit in my backyard and delight in the chickadees, towhees, sparrows, cardinals, thrashers, blue jays, titmice, nuthatches, and doves I see, I will think of you all and lift up my gratitude for your dedication to and love of our feathered friends worldwide!” - Laura W., NC

We love talking birds! Share your stories or pictures with us by emailing greategretsociety@audubon.org. We would love to hear from you.