Bird Alliance of Oregon

Bird Alliance of Oregon is a nonprofit environmental organization headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and formerly known as the Audubon Society of Portland or Portland Audubon. Its work centers on the protection of birds and other native wildlife, conservation of habitat, environmental advocacy, wildlife rehabilitation, and connecting the public with nature. Although its institutional roots reach back to birders' organizations formed in Oregon in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the organization identifies 1902 as its founding year and was incorporated in 1909, making it one of the oldest conservation organizations in the world. The organization emerged from a merger between the John Burroughs Club in Portland and the Oregon Audubon Society formed by birders in Astoria. Early priorities included securing legal protection for native birds and advocating for wildlife refuges. In 1903, the organization supported passage of Oregon's Model Bird Law, which restricted the shooting and commercial sale of native birds. It later used letter-writing and public advocacy to influence federal conservation decisions, including a 1925 campaign directed to President Calvin Coolidge that is credited with contributing to the creation of Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge. The organization has also claimed an important role in the establishment or protection of several national wildlife refuges in Oregon, including William L. Finley, Three Arch Rocks, Klamath, Ankeny, Baskett Slough, and Malheur. The organization changed its name several times as its identity and geographic scope evolved. In 1966, Oregon Audubon Society became the Audubon Society of Portland after members agreed to affiliate with the National Audubon Society. It subsequently operated publicly as Portland Audubon. In February 2024, it adopted the name Bird Alliance of Oregon. The change removed the Audubon name because of concerns about the racist history of John James Audubon and replaced the city-specific geographic reference with Oregon to reflect statewide conservation work. The rebrand did not represent a change from conservation to a commercial business; it reaffirmed the organization's role as an independent nonprofit serving wildlife and communities across the state. A major physical base for its programs is a 172-acre woodland sanctuary adjacent to Portland's Forest Park. The property contains indigenous vegetation, wildlife habitat, portions of Balch Creek, and more than four miles of trails that connect with the wider Forest Park trail network. The sanctuary is open to the public without an admission charge. Its nature center includes classrooms, an auditorium, a retail store, wildlife taxidermy displays, and a wildlife care center. The care center treats injured and orphaned native wildlife with professional staff and a large volunteer network, receiving more than 4,000 animals in a typical year according to the organization's reference material. Educational birds that cannot be released, including a great horned owl and an American kestrel, are displayed near the care center, along with a rescued western painted turtle. Bird Alliance of Oregon combines direct services with policy and community work. Its conservation agenda includes protecting imperiled species, responding to climate change, restoring habitat, promoting responsible wildlife management, and expanding equitable access to nature. It also provides practical wildlife expertise to the public and is consulted on wildlife-management questions. More than 450 volunteers supported activities such as wildlife care, trail maintenance, visitor services, clerical work, conservation advocacy, and nature-store operations in 2023. In 2025, the organization purchased 12.5 acres in northeast Portland for a planned second wildlife hospital intended to expand capacity beyond its existing facility on Northwest Cornell Road.

The organization's roots lie in Portland and Astoria birding communities at the turn of the twentieth century. Portland birders formed the John Burroughs Club in 1898. In 1901, birders in Astoria established the Oregon Audubon Society. The Portland group joined the Astoria organization in 1902, creating the organization identified today as the predecessor of Bird Alliance of Oregon. It was incorporated in 1909. Early conservation work emphasized legal protection for birds and the creation of protected areas. The organization helped secure passage of Oregon's Model Bird Law in 1903, a measure intended to protect native birds from being shot and sold. It also developed a tradition of communicating directly with public officials and organizing letter-writing campaigns. A 1925 campaign addressed to President Calvin Coolidge is credited with helping bring about the creation of Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge. Over subsequent decades, the organization associated itself with the creation or protection of multiple Oregon national wildlife refuges. These include William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, and Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The organization's role in each refuge may have differed, but the collective record reflects a sustained focus on public conservation lands and habitat protection. In 1966, members approved a name change to Audubon Society of Portland when the organization affiliated with the National Audubon Society. The name later became widely represented publicly as Portland Audubon. For much of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, its activities combined advocacy with place-based programs in Portland, including environmental education, habitat stewardship, wildlife rehabilitation, and public nature access. The organization owns a 172-acre woodland sanctuary beside Forest Park. The sanctuary includes old-growth Douglas fir, native vegetation, Balch Creek headwaters, and more than four miles of trails connected to Forest Park. A nature center on the site provides classrooms, an auditorium, retail space, wildlife exhibits, and a wildlife care center. The care center receives thousands of injured and orphaned native animals each year and relies on professional personnel and more than one hundred volunteers. Some non-releasable educational animals remain on display. The organization's modern agenda extends beyond bird protection to imperiled species, climate change, habitat restoration, wildlife management, and equitable access to nature. In 2023, more than 450 volunteers contributed to visitor services, trail work, wildlife care, administrative tasks, conservation advocacy, and other programs. The organization is also consulted on practical wildlife questions. In February 2024, the organization became Bird Alliance of Oregon. The rebrand removed the Audubon name in response to concerns about John James Audubon's racist history and adopted a statewide name to better describe the organization's geographic scope. In 2025, it purchased 12.5 acres in northeast Portland for a planned second wildlife hospital, intended to increase rehabilitation capacity beyond the existing Northwest Cornell Road facility.

1. 2025Land acquired for second wildlife hospital

   The organization purchased 12.5 acres in northeast Portland for a planned larger wildlife hospital.

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2. 2024Rebranded as Bird Alliance of Oregon

   The organization removed the Audubon name and adopted a statewide identity in February 2024.

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3. 1966Name changed to Audubon Society of Portland

   Members adopted the Audubon Society of Portland name after agreeing to affiliate with the National Audubon Society.

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4. 1925Hart Mountain advocacy campaign

   A letter-writing campaign directed to President Calvin Coolidge was credited with contributing to the creation of Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge.

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5. 1909Incorporation

   The organization was incorporated as a nonprofit conservation body.

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6. 1903Model Bird Law supported

   The organization helped support legislation protecting native birds from being shot and sold.

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7. 1902Portland and Astoria groups merge

   The Portland birders' organization merged with the Astoria-based Oregon Audubon Society, establishing the organization's stated founding date.

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8. 1901Oregon Audubon Society formed in Astoria

   Birders in Astoria established the Oregon Audubon Society.

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9. 1898John Burroughs Club formed in Portland

   Portland birders organized the John Burroughs Club, one of the local predecessors of the later conservation organization.

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An Oregon-focused nonprofit conservation organization combining wildlife rehabilitation, bird and habitat protection, environmental advocacy, education, and public access to nature.

• Wildlife Care CenterWildlife rehabilitation

  A professional and volunteer-supported rehabilitation facility for injured and orphaned native wildlife. The center receives more than 4,000 animals in a typical year and also supports public education through displays of animals that cannot be returned to the wild.

• Forest Park Nature SanctuaryConservation property and public access

  A 172-acre woodland property adjoining Forest Park in Portland. It protects habitat around Balch Creek, includes native vegetation and old-growth Douglas fir, and provides more than four miles of publicly accessible trails connected to the wider Forest Park trail system.

• Nature CenterEnvironmental education

  A public-facing facility with classrooms, an auditorium, wildlife exhibits, a retail store, and educational programming associated with the sanctuary and wildlife-care operations.

• Bird and Habitat ConservationConservation advocacy

  Programs addressing imperiled species, habitat protection and restoration, climate change, wildlife management, and improved access to nature. The organization combines public education and policy advocacy with stewardship of its own conservation property.

• 1925Hart Mountain refuge letter-writing campaign

  United States

  Members wrote to President Calvin Coolidge to advocate for federal protection of wildlife habitat in the Hart Mountain area.

  Outcome. The campaign is credited with helping lead to creation of Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge.

  Source
• 1903Model Bird Law advocacy

  Oregon

  The organization supported passage of a state bird-protection measure intended to prevent native birds from being shot and sold.

  Outcome. The Model Bird Law was passed.

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• National wildlife refuge advocacy

  Oregon

  Across its history, the organization advocated for protected wildlife habitat and has claimed a role in establishing or protecting several Oregon national wildlife refuges.

  Outcome. Refuges associated with the organization's conservation record include William L. Finley, Three Arch Rocks, Klamath, Ankeny, Baskett Slough, and Malheur.

  Source

• 2025Expansion of wildlife-rehabilitation capacityStrategy

  The existing wildlife care center receives thousands of animals annually, creating a need for additional capacity.

  What changed. The organization purchased 12.5 acres in northeast Portland for a planned second wildlife hospital.

  Aftermath. The planned facility is intended to be larger than the current care center on Northwest Cornell Road; its completion date and final cost are not specified.

  Source
• 2024Rebrand to Bird Alliance of OregonStrategy

  The organization sought to remove the Audubon name because of John James Audubon's racist history and to communicate that its work extends across Oregon rather than only Portland.

  What changed. In February 2024, it adopted the Bird Alliance of Oregon name.

  Aftermath. The organization continued its conservation, rehabilitation, education, and advocacy activities under a statewide identity.

  Source
• 1966Affiliation and adoption of the Audubon Society of Portland nameStrategy

  Members agreed to affiliate with the National Audubon Society and adopted a name linking the organization to Portland and the Audubon movement.

  What changed. The organization changed its name to Audubon Society of Portland.

  Aftermath. The name remained the organization's principal identity until later use of Portland Audubon and the 2024 statewide rebrand.

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• 2025Bird Alliance of Oregon purchases land for a second wildlife hospital

  The organization purchased 12.5 acres in northeast Portland for a planned wildlife hospital that will be larger than its existing care center on Northwest Cornell Road.

  Other
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• 2024Portland Audubon adopts the name Bird Alliance of Oregon

  The organization changed its name from Portland Audubon to Bird Alliance of Oregon, removing the Audubon reference because of concerns about John James Audubon's racist history and using Oregon to reflect statewide activity.

  Other
  Source

1. Bird Alliance of Oregon