The naturalist organization known as NYC Audubon has changed its name to NYC Bird Alliance in an effort to distance itself from ecologist and artist John James Audubon’s pro-slavery beliefs.
The name shift, which was formalized by a June 5 membership vote, follows similar moves by Audubon Society sections in Chicago, Seattle, Portland, Oregon and other places.
” Labels may be symbolic, but characters issue”, said Jessica Wilson, NYC Bird Alliance’s executive chairman. ” They matter to people, to individuals, to people, and to the larger conservation area. We have a lot of cooperation with our partners in the five boroughs, and we want this title change to reflect how much we value and work together to save exotic animals.
Despite the fact that Audubon was a prisoner owner and an opposition of reformers, the previously named NYC Bird Alliance, which was founded in 1979, calls itself an independent book affiliated with the National Audubon Society.
Audubon, who lived from 1785 to 1851, is known for capturing birds and illustrating them for his expert work” The Animals of America”.
Audubon owned enslaved people for a number of years but sold them in 1830 when he moved to England, where he was overseeing the production of” The Animals of America”, according to Gregory Nobles, the author of” John James Audubon: The Nature of the American Woodsman”.
Audubon wrote to his wife in 1834, claiming that the state had “acted absurdly and very precipitously” when Britain emancipated enslaved people in most of its provinces.
The leaders of the NYC Bird Alliance say they hope that the removal of the Audubon brand will gain more support for their goal of protecting endangered and threatened animal species.
” For the sake of the Piping Plover, Philadelphia Vireo, Golden- winged Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Bobolink, Saltmarsh Sparrow, Fish Crow, and many other types, we need enable”, NYC Birding Alliance says on its blog’s “FAQS About Audubon Name” website. ” We don’t allow our title to be a challenge to our protection, campaigning, and engagement work”.
