Salish Sea State of the Birds Report

Audubon’s Coastal Program in Washington integrates science, policy, and community engagement to deliver measurable coastal conservation outcomes and bend the bird curve, halting and ultimately reversing bird declines across the Pacific Flyway, a critical migratory pathway for many of our birds.  

By combining the hemispheric vision of Audubon’s Flight Plan and close collaboration with tribes, agencies, researchers, and local organizations across the region, the Coastal Program advances conservation solutions that address the most urgent threats to marine and coastal ecosystems. Leveraging both local partnerships and Audubon’s hemispheric reach, we link regional priorities to flyway-scale action, ensuring that efforts here strengthen the resilience of birds, people, and habitats along the Pacific coast.  

To guide this work, Audubon Washington is developing the Salish Sea State of the Birds report, the first regional assessment of its kind. Informed by extensive consultations with conservation professionals representing state and federal agencies, tribes, research institutions, and conservation groups across the region, the report will provide a shared foundation for understanding the health of our coastal bird populations, pinpointing urgent conservation priorities, identifying data gaps, and shaping coordinated policy and management actions.  

By connecting local science to the broader Pacific Flyway context, the report will help align conservation efforts across jurisdictions and communities. It will also serve as a public-facing tool to inform restoration, raise awareness, foster stewardship, and inspire action for the birds and habitats of the Salish Sea.  

Inspire Action Through Outreach and Storytelling 

The Salish Sea State of the Birds will be more than a scientific assessment; it will be a spark for public engagement. We will frame coastal conservation as essential to healthy communities and a resilient future, highlighting how birds are powerful ambassadors for shared regional values such as clean water, thriving salmon runs, cultural heritage, and outdoor recreation. By centering conservation in these values, we can reach new audiences and build lasting public support.  

This project will highlight focal species and habitats, celebrate community science and conservation successes, and offer clear actions that people, communities, and decision-makers can take to support birds. Beyond its initial publication, the Salish Sea State of the Birds is designed to be a lasting resource, keeping the best available science on coastal birds accessible and actionable for partners, communities, and decision-makers for years to come. Together with partners and communities across the region, we can foster a shared sense of responsibility for the future of the Salish Sea and its birds. 

Advance Audubon Washington’s Policy Agenda 

By integrating science into policy and planning, we can build more resilient coastal systems for both wildlife and people. Recent legislative wins have strengthened land-use planning and adaptation for sea-level rise and have promoted a more ecologically sound approach to shoreline management and permitting across the state.  

With the Salish Sea State of the Birds report in hand, we can build on our legislative track record to deliver strategic policy and funding support that aligns with Audubon’s Healthy Birds and Healthy Planet policy agenda. Our work in Washington state will continue to be rooted in science and shaped by the insights of communities and conservation partners across the region.