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Audubon Members Advocate for Birds in Raleigh
Members met with more than 40 lawmakers to talk about the most important tools for protecting our state’s natural and cultural heritage.
By Brittany Salmons
Senior Communications Associate
Published June 08, 2026
This article is from Audubon North Carolina
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For ten years, Audubon members have flocked to the North Carolina Legislature to meet with lawmakers and advocate for bird-friendly policies. From passing a sweeping bipartisan climate reduction bill to building momentum for native plants, our advocates have made significant progress for birds and people across the state.
This year was no different, with 50 members traveling from the mountains to the coast and everywhere in between to meet with their elected officials on our priority issues for the short session: increasing recurring funding for the conservation trust funds and ensuring the conservation tax credit continues past its current 2026 sunset.
Executive Director Curtis Smalling knows how important it is to keep showing up every year.
“Advocacy Day is the one day a year that we have the opportunity to remind lawmakers in-person about the importance of protecting habitat for birds and people,” said Smalling. “We’re grateful to everyone who spoke with their lawmaker, joined meetings with other constituents, met with legislative assistants, and dropped off handouts.”
Mobilizing our members for this important day wouldn’t be possible without the work of our chapter advocacy leaders who scheduled meetings and supported their delegations every step of the way. Thank you to Joe Amodeo, Pam Wilson, Anne Wilkinson, Blaise Strenn, Patrick DePinto, Wendy Hawkins, and Heather Brannan!
A highlight from the day included students from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill joining Cape Fear Audubon for a meeting with Senator Michael Lee. They talked about their spark bird moments and work with Painted Buntings in Wilmington.
Wake Audubon member Nicole Laurito met with Senator Benton Sawrey and connected over their favorite downtown Clayton businesses, parks, and trails. “These conversations help us get to know our elected officials in a really meaningful way and build support for birds in key districts,” said policy director Zach Wallace.
Audubon’s 2026 Policy Priorities
This session, we are advocating for increases in recurring funding to all three conservation trust funds:
- NC Land and Water Fund
- NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund
- NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund
This year specifically, we’re building support for the Farmland Preservation Fund. This is because North Carolina is projected to lose about 1.2 million acres of farmland by 2040, ranking second in the United States for projected farmland loss, which has big implications for birds and rural communities.
We’re also asking lawmakers to retain the Conservation Tax Credit. In 2024, lawmakers reinstated the Conservation Tax Credit, which provides incentives for private land conservation that protect forests, farms, fish and wildlife habitat, and buffers around military installations. We want to ensure this important conservation incentive continues past its current 2026 sunset.
As the short session continues, we’ll keep you updated on our priority issues and ways you can take action. Until then, thank you for all you do!