Audubon Naturalist Society

Last updated
Nature Forward
PredecessorAudubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States, Audubon Society of the District of Columbia
Formation1897 (1897)
Type Non-profit organization
Purpose Conservation, environmental education
Headquarters Woodend Sanctuary
Location
Region
Mid-Atlantic states
Executive Director
Lisa Alexander
Website https://natureforward.org/

Nature Forward (formerly Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States, or Audubon Naturalist Society) is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation and education. The organization holds two properties in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area as wildlife sanctuaries, one in Virginia along with its headquarters in Maryland. Until 1959, the organization was known as the Audubon Society of the District of Columbia. In October 2022. the membership voted to change the name of the organization from Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States, choosing the new name Nature Forward.

Contents

History

The first Audubon Society of the District of Columbia was organized in 1897 by Mrs. John Dewhurst Patten "for the protection and study of birds". [1] [2] It was one of many local groups organized in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as part of the Audubon movement. Its first president was George M. Sternberg; the Executive Committee of fifteen members included Florence Augusta Merriam, Leland Ossian Howard, and Theodore Sherman Palmer. [3] Robert Ridgway was named one of several honorary vice presidents, and designed a pin for the society. [4] Olive Thorne Miller wrote one of the group's earliest leaflets. [5] In the Society's first year, it printed and circulated a leaflet published by its counterpart organization in New York. [5]

Early goals of the organization were to educate children about the value of birds and to curtail the use of bird feathers in millinery. [5] Frank M. Chapman gave the inaugural lecture, "Woman as Bird Enemy", addressing the fashion for trimming hat with feathers. [6] However, most of the active members of the early Society were women. [7]

Theodore Roosevelt was an active member of the Society; during his presidency the organization occasionally met at the White House. [7]

Sternberg was succeeded as president of the organization by Judge Barnard of the Supreme Court of the District; following Barnard's death in 1923, Palmer served as president. [8]

In the years following World War II, Irston Barnes (president 1946–1962), Roger Tory Peterson, and Louis Halle rejuvenated the organization and strengthened its voice on regional conservation issues. [9] The Society was incorporated in 1947, and new by-laws replaced the Executive Committee with an annually elected Board of Directors. [2] Board members during this period included Paul Bartsch, William Vogt, and in the 1950s, Howard Zahniser. [10] Rachel Carson served on the board from 1948 to 1950, and from 1955; she chaired the publications committee and wrote book reviews and other pieces for the society's Wood Thrush (later, Atlantic Naturalist). [10] [11]

In December 1959, the organization adopted the name Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States, Inc. (ANS). [2] [12]

In 1969, the society moved to its present headquarters at Woodend Sanctuary, a bequest of Mrs. Chester Wells; the property comprises 40 acres in Chevy Chase, Maryland and a 30-room mansion. [2] In October 2022, the membership voted to change the name to Nature Forward. [13]

C&O Canal controversy

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was acquired by the federal government in 1938 as settlement of a debt. [14] Maintaining the canal was thought to be too expensive, and soon plans were in place to convert all or part of the corridor to a parkway. [15] However, in 1953, opposition to the parkway began to mount. The Society and its president Barnes joined the dissent; Barnes wrote an influential article for the Washington Post, arguing for restoring the canal and converting its towpath to a hiking trail. [16] He chaired the newly formed Potomac Valley Conservation and Recreation Council to promote conservation in the valley and oppose the road project, which was ultimately shelved. [17]

Programs

Although its original focus was birds, Nature Forward has been active in several areas of wildlife conservation, protection of habitat, and control of pollution. Past conservation activities include successful efforts to block road construction through Rock Creek and Glover-Archbold Parks. [2] The Society has also been active in preserving Dyke Marsh and working to protect golden and bald eagles. [2] In 2007, the Society opposed construction of Maryland Route 200 (often known as the Intercounty Connector), bringing an unsuccessful suit in federal court against the project. [18] [19] In 2013, the society joined opposition to development in the watershed of Ten Mile Creek. [20]

Sanctuaries

Nature Forward manages two properties as wildlife sanctuaries: the headquarters property of Woodend and the 68-acre Rust Nature Sanctuary in Leesburg, Virginia. [21] [22] In fiscal year 2013, the organization entered into a partnership with the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NOVA Parks) for the operation of Rust Sanctuary: NOVA Parks will maintain the buildings and grounds and the society will continue to offer educational programming at the site. [23] [24] In addition to trails and classrooms, the Woodend facility provides a shop offering books, sport optics, birdfeeding supplies, gifts, and items for children. [25]

Education

Nature Forward offers a range of summer camps and other activities for children and families, as well as outreach programs to local schools and training for teachers. [26] [27] [28] For adults, the organization offers classes and workshops, training in stream water quality monitoring, local field trips, nature travel to locations like Costa Rica, and a certificate program in Natural History Field Studies (formerly co-sponsored by Graduate School USA). [29] [30] [31]

Publications

The Society's current publication is Naturalist Quarterly.

In 1948, Shirley Briggs became the first editor of the society's Wood Thrush. [32] The periodical was soon renamed Atlantic Naturalist , and it appeared under that name from 1950 to 1976. [32] [2] Atlantic Naturalist published work by some of the country's leading nature writers, conservationists, and naturalists, among them Carson, Peterson, Halle, Zahniser, Stewart Udall, William O. Douglas, and Chandler Robbins. [32] It was succeeded by the Audubon Naturalist News. [2] By 2009, the News was on a quarterly publication schedule. [33] With the Spring 2011 issue (volume 37, number 2), it was renamed Naturalist Quarterly, incorporating the Society's catalog of environmental educational programs into its coverage of Nature Forward people and events and local conservation activities. [33] [34]

Awards

From time to time, the organization grants the Paul Bartsch Award for distinguished contributions to natural history. The award honors mid-Atlantic resident Bartsch, curator for the Smithsonian Institution, society board member, and frequent contributor to Atlantic Naturalist. [35] Past recipients include Carson (1963), [36] Peterson, Robbins, Briggs (1972), [32] Alexander Wetmore (1964), [2] David Brower (1967), [37] Claudia Wilds, Clarence Cottam, Donald Messersmith (2002), and Lawrence Zeleny. [38]

Disavowing Audubon name

In the 2020s reappraisal of figures involved with slavery, the organization announced in October 2021 that it would change its name to remove the reference to John James Audubon, who owned slaves, opposed the abolition of slavery, and wrote about the inferiority of Black and Indigenous people. [39] The organization sought a name "that better reflects the growing, rich diversity of the region that we serve," looking "forward toward a stronger, more inclusive future." [40] In October 2022. membership voted to change the name of the organization to Nature Forward. [13] [41]

Similar organizations

The present Audubon Society of the District of Columbia (DC Audubon), established in 1999, is a local chapter of the National Audubon Society. [42] Under the name Audubon Naturalist Society, Nature Forward was not directly affiliated with the national organization.

The National Audubon Society also maintains a public policy office in Washington, D.C., [43] as well as other local chapters around the metropolitan area.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Carson</span> American marine biologist and conservationist (1907–1964)

Rachel Louise Carson was an American marine biologist, writer, and conservationist whose sea trilogy (1941–1955) and book Silent Spring (1962) are credited with advancing marine conservation and the global environmental movement.

<i>Silent Spring</i> 1962 book by Rachel Carson on the environment

Silent Spring is an environmental science book by Rachel Carson. Published on September 27, 1962, the book documented the environmental harm caused by the indiscriminate use of DDT, a pesticide used by soldiers during WW2. Carson accused the chemical industry of spreading disinformation, and public officials of accepting the industry's marketing claims unquestioningly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patuxent River</span> River in Maryland, United States

The Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. There are three main river drainages for central Maryland: the Potomac River to the west passing through Washington, D.C., the Patapsco River to the northeast passing through Baltimore, and the Patuxent River between the two. The 908-square-mile (2,352 km2) Patuxent watershed had a rapidly growing population of 590,769 in 2000. It is the largest and longest river entirely within Maryland, and its watershed is the largest completely within the state.

The National Audubon Society is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation of birds and their habitats. Located in the United States and incorporated in 1905, Audubon is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world. There are completely independent Audubon Societies in the United States, which were founded several years earlier such as the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Indiana Audubon Society, and Connecticut Audubon Society. The societies are named for 19th century naturalist John James Audubon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ding Darling</span> American cartoonist

Jay Norwood Darling, better known as Ding Darling, was an American cartoonist who won two Pulitzer Prizes. He was an important figure in the 20th century conservation movement and founded the National Wildlife Federation. In addition, he was known to be close friends with Walt Disney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Michael Pyle</span> American lepidopterist, writer, and teacher

Robert Michael Pyle is an American lepidopterist, writer, teacher, and founder of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Much of his life story is told in the 2020 feature film The Dark Divide, where Pyle is played by David Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nature Canada</span> Conservation organization focused on Canada

Nature Canada is a member-based environmental organization headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario. Its supporters include more than 100,000 individuals and over 800 affiliated organizations, including local and provincial naturalist clubs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary</span> Wildlife sanctuary in southern Maryland, US

The Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary is located along the tidal Patuxent River in southern Maryland, United States. It was established in 1985 and is operated by the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks. It includes more than 1,700 acres (6.9 km2) of tidal freshwater wetlands, forests, meadows and fields. The wetlands, with large stands of aquatic plants including wild rice, are home to many birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. Miles of trails and boardwalks traverse a variety of habitats and provide glimpses into the rich history of the region. Notably, archaeologists have uncovered evidence of a large Native American settlement at Jug Bay which spanned 2 miles along the Patuxent, with the oldest arrowhead-like artifact dated between 8,000 to 8,900 years old.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Massachusetts Audubon Society</span> Nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of the nature of Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Audubon Society, commonly known as Mass Audubon, founded in 1896 by Harriet Hemenway and Minna B. Hall and headquartered in Lincoln, Massachusetts, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to "protecting the nature of Massachusetts". Mass Audubon is independent of the National Audubon Society (NAS), and was founded earlier than the NAS. Mass Audubon protects more than 40,000 acres of land throughout Massachusetts, saving birds and other wildlife, and making nature accessible to all with its wildlife sanctuaries and 20 nature centers.

Audubon Canyon Ranch (ACR) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit environmental conservation and education organization headquartered in Stinson Beach, Marin County, California, on the eastern shore of Bolinas Lagoon. The lands upon which ACR operates are within the ancestral territories of the Coast Miwok, Southern Pomo and Wappo peoples. ACR recognizes that Indigenous communities are very much alive today and striving to protect and maintain relationships with cultural and natural resources on ACR lands; they acknowledge that Indigenous lands are occupied by them and others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodend (Chevy Chase, Maryland)</span> Historic house in Maryland, United States

Woodend is a historic home located in the Montgomery County, Maryland, town of Chevy Chase. This Georgian Revival house was built by Chester and Marion Wells in 1927–1928, and owned by the Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States. It is a 2+1⁄2-story house with Flemish bond brick walls and brick quoins. The house was designed by John Russell Pope.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bird Alliance of Oregon</span> Environmental organization

The Bird Alliance of Oregon (formerly Portland Audubon) is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to bird and habitat protection across Oregon in the United States.

Marcia Peterson Sward was an American mathematician and nonprofit organization administrator. She had a varied career as a teacher and an administrator of mathematical organizations, culminating in the position of Executive Director of the Mathematical Association of America. After retirement she started a new career in environmental education, specializing in children's programs such as GreenKids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosalie Edge</span> American suffragist and environmentalist

Rosalie Barrow Edge was an American environmentalist and suffragist. In 1929, she established the Emergency Conservation Committee to expose the conservation establishment's ineffectiveness and advocate for species preservation. In 1934, Edge also founded the world's first preserve for birds of prey—Hawk Mountain Sanctuary near Kempton, Pennsylvania. Edge was considered the most militant conservationist of her time, and she clashed publicly for decades with leaders of the Audubon Society over approaches to wildlife preservation. An environmentalist colleague described her in 1948 as "the only honest, unselfish, indomitable hellcat in the history of conservation".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connecticut Audubon Society</span> American non-profit organization

The Connecticut Audubon Society, founded in 1898 and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to "conserving Connecticut’s environment through science-based education and advocacy focused on the state’s bird populations and habitats." Connecticut Audubon Society is independent of the National Audubon Society (NAS), just as in the neighboring state of Massachusetts, where Massachusetts Audubon Society is independent of the NAS.

The Belize Audubon Society is a conservation group in Belize, formed in 1969. Like similar societies elsewhere, it is named in honor of ornithologist and naturalist John James Audubon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandler Robbins</span> American ornithologist and author (1918–2017)

Chandler Seymour Robbins was an American ornithologist. His contributions to the field include co-authorship of an influential field guide to birds, as well as organizing the North American Breeding Bird Survey.

Shirley Ann Briggs was an American artist, photographer, writer, editor, and naturalist. She spent a large portion of her career participating in efforts to inform the public about the environment in regards to synthetic chemicals such as pesticides. A talented artist and writer, Briggs would often use the combination of her understanding environmental hazards with her artistic skills to achieve her goals in regard to environmental education. After graduate school she moved to Baltimore to work for Glenn L. Martin Company as a mechanical arts illustrator and would later move on to work for the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. She also worked as chief of the Bureau of Reclamation's graphics sections and drew diagrams for the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. After Rachel Carson's passing in 1964 Briggs became the executive director of the Rachel Carson Council between the years of 1970 and 1992. She served as an essential editor and illustrator of a number of Rachel Carson's works.

Roland Charles Clement was an American environmentalist who worked for two decades at the National Audubon Society where he served many roles including staff biologist, staff ecologist, and Vice President. He was also a key figure in helping to ban DDT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Lear</span> American historian of science and biographer

Linda Jane Lear is an American historian of science and biographer.

References

  1. ↑ Maynard (1935), p. 98.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Smithsonian Institution Archives (2011).
  3. ↑ Maynard (1935), p. 100.
  4. ↑ Maynard (1935), pp. 99–100.
  5. 1 2 3 Maynard (1935), p. 99.
  6. ↑ Minichiello & White (1997), p. 178.
  7. 1 2 Minichiello & White (1997), p. 26.
  8. ↑ Maynard (1935), p. 107.
  9. ↑ Lear (1997), p. 181.
  10. 1 2 Lear (1997), pp. 181–182.
  11. ↑ Minichiello & White (1997), p. 37.
  12. ↑ Audubon Naturalist Society (2013).
  13. 1 2 Baker, Damare (21 October 2022). "Exclusive: Audubon Naturalist Society Drops Controversial "Audubon" From Its Name". Washingtonian. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  14. ↑ Mackintosh (1995), p. 144.
  15. ↑ Mackintosh (1995), pp. 146–150.
  16. ↑ Mackintosh (1995), pp. 153–154.
  17. ↑ Mackintosh (1995), p. 154.
  18. ↑ Blocker, Alexander (23 November 2011). "Maryland residents resist highway construction (Intercounty Connector/MD 200), 1980-2011". Global Nonviolent Action Database. Swarthmore College. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  19. ↑ Helderman, Rosalind S. (8 September 2007). "Many Pr. George's Democrats Back Road Foes". Washington Post. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  20. ↑ Peck (2013).
  21. ↑ Audubon Naturalist Society. "Mission". Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  22. ↑ Nature Forward. "Visit" . Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  23. ↑ Audubon Naturalist Society (2013), p. 1.
  24. ↑ Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (2 October 2018). "Rust Sanctuary" . Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  25. ↑ Nature Forward. "Woodend Nature Shop" . Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  26. ↑ Nature Forward. "Children & Families" . Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  27. ↑ Nature Forward. "Schools" . Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  28. ↑ McEwan (2014).
  29. ↑ Nature Forward. "Adult Programs" . Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  30. ↑ Nature Forward. "Natural History Field Studies" . Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  31. ↑ Audubon Naturalist Society. "Continuing Education". Archived from the original on 20 March 2020.
  32. 1 2 3 4 Mason (2014).
  33. 1 2 Audubon Naturalist Society (2014).
  34. ↑ Fitzpatrick (2011).
  35. ↑ Minichiello & White (1997), pp. 24, 207.
  36. ↑ Lear (1997), p. 471.
  37. ↑ Online Archive of California. "Finding Aid to the David Ross Brower Papers" . Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  38. ↑ Farner, David (1 October 2002). "Don Messersmith". MDOsprey. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  39. ↑ Milman, Oliver (25 October 2021). "US conservation group to drop Audubon name over 'pain' caused by slaveholder". The Guardian.
  40. ↑ "The Future of ANS: Nature Needs All of Us". Audubon Naturalist Society. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021. Retaining the name Audubon without regard to the pain that John James Audubon inflicted on Black people and other people of color is a disservice to our community
  41. ↑ Fenston, Jacob (26 October 2022). "Local Audubon Group Picks New Name, Seeking Distance From Racist Namesake". DCist. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  42. ↑ Audubon Society of the District of Columbia. "Audubon Society of the District of Columbia" . Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  43. ↑ National Audubon Society. "Washington, DC Office: National Audubon Society Policy Issues & Action". Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 12 August 2014.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.