NYC Bird Alliance

NYC Bird Alliance is a New York City nonprofit environmental organization focused on protecting wild birds and the habitats on which they depend. Established in 1979 and incorporated in 1980, it operates across the five boroughs through field research, conservation projects, public education, volunteer programs, and policy advocacy. The organization has nearly 10,000 members and has historically been one of the largest affiliated chapters of the National Audubon Society. The organization was originally known as New York City Audubon Society, a name connected to the legacy of ornithologist and naturalist John James Audubon. In June 2024, it adopted the name NYC Bird Alliance as part of a broader effort to use an identity centered on birds and New York City rather than honoring Audubon. The change followed public reassessment of Audubon's history, including his ownership of enslaved people and opposition to abolition. The organization’s renamed identity emphasizes its local mission and conservation work while maintaining continuity with its earlier programs. NYC Bird Alliance combines scientific monitoring with practical urban conservation. Its work addresses the particular threats faced by birds in a dense, highly illuminated city, including collisions with glass buildings, artificial light during migration, habitat loss, and disturbance of nesting and feeding sites. The organization also works to protect waterbirds and coastal habitats in the New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary, supports habitat improvements such as green roofs, and provides educational events that help residents understand urban bird life. One of its best-known initiatives is Project Safe Flight, launched in 1997 to document and reduce bird-window collisions. Volunteers monitor routes near buildings in all five boroughs, record dead and injured birds, support rehabilitation referrals, and contribute data for research and policy advocacy. The project has worked with building owners, architects, elected officials, and glass manufacturers to identify building-specific hazards and promote design and operating practices that reduce collisions. Its related Lights Out New York campaign encourages buildings to reduce or shield lighting during peak migration periods. The organization has also played a visible role in the public response to New York City's red-tailed hawk known as Pale Male. After the hawk's nest was removed from 927 Fifth Avenue in 2004, NYC Bird Alliance organized protests and helped negotiate with the building's cooperative board. It later convened outside experts to assess nest problems and supported changes to the nest structure. Pale Male eventually fledged two chicks in 2011 with a new mate. NYC Bird Alliance's conservation scope extends beyond individual birds. Since 1985, it has managed the Harbor Herons Project, which supports nesting colonies on islands in the highly developed New York/New Jersey Estuary. Through these programs, the organization presents New York City as both an urban environment and an important habitat within the Atlantic flyway. Its current role combines nonprofit membership, citizen science, public communication, habitat protection, and advocacy for bird-friendly urban policy.

NYC Bird Alliance was established in New York City in 1979 and incorporated in 1980. It developed as a local bird-conservation organization serving the city's five boroughs and became an affiliated chapter of the National Audubon Society. Its work has combined public education with scientific observation, habitat protection, and advocacy for policies that make a dense urban environment safer for birds. A major early focus was the protection of nesting and coastal habitats. Since 1985, the organization has managed the Harbor Herons Project, which supports nesting sites on small islands in the New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary. These islands form an important breeding area for herons and other waterbirds despite the surrounding region's extensive industrialization, transportation infrastructure, and urban development. The project illustrates the organization's emphasis on protecting habitat at the landscape level rather than concentrating only on individual species. In 1997, the organization launched Project Safe Flight, drawing on the approach of Toronto's Fatal Light Awareness Program. The initiative responds to the large number of birds killed or injured when they strike glass buildings, particularly during migration. Field volunteers survey designated routes, document victims, and provide information used in research and advocacy. Between the program's launch and 2013, volunteers recorded more than 6,000 dead or injured birds representing over 100 species. A later comprehensive study, begun in 2006 with academic leadership and public and private funding, examined the scale and causes of collisions in New York City. The monitoring network has involved more than 150 volunteers and buildings in all five boroughs. Project Safe Flight has also supported direct engagement with property owners and managers. Before the September 11 attacks, the organization persuaded World Trade Center management to install protective netting around lower floors of the original towers. The netting helped prevent birds from striking glass directly. More broadly, the project has worked with architects, politicians, manufacturers, and building operators to encourage safer glass treatments and operational practices. Because nighttime illumination increases collision risk for migrating birds, NYC Bird Alliance developed Lights Out New York. In 2005, the administration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsed the voluntary program, which encourages tall buildings to switch off external lighting during overnight migration periods and shield interior light. Participating buildings have included the Chrysler Building, Bank of America Tower, and New York Times Building, with participation reaching nearly 100 buildings according to the organization's historical account. The organization's public profile also increased through its involvement with Pale Male, a red-tailed hawk that nested at 927 Fifth Avenue. After the nest was removed in December 2004, NYC Bird Alliance organized protests and helped negotiate with the building's cooperative board. In 2008, it brought in experts to examine why nesting had failed and supported the removal of pigeon spikes from the nest structure. Pale Male later fledged two chicks in 2011 with a new mate. In June 2024, New York City Audubon changed its name to NYC Bird Alliance. The decision reflected a reassessment of John James Audubon's legacy, including his history as an enslaver and anti-abolitionist, and followed a wider movement among some Audubon-affiliated organizations to adopt different names. Under its current name, the organization continues its New York City-centered conservation, research, education, and advocacy work.

1. 2024Name changed to NYC Bird Alliance

   New York City Audubon adopted its current name, emphasizing its local bird-conservation mission.

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2. 2011Pale Male fledges two chicks

   Pale Male and a new mate successfully fledged two chicks after earlier nesting failures.

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3. 2006Comprehensive collision study begins

   Project Safe Flight began a comprehensive study of the scale and causes of bird-building collisions in New York City.

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4. 2005Lights Out New York receives city endorsement

   The administration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsed the voluntary campaign encouraging buildings to reduce nighttime lighting during migration.

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5. 2004Pale Male nest controversy

   After the removal of Pale Male's nest at 927 Fifth Avenue, the organization organized protests and participated in negotiations over a solution.

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6. 1997Project Safe Flight launches

   A citywide program was launched to document and reduce bird collisions with buildings.

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7. 1985Harbor Herons Project begins

   The organization began managing nesting sites for herons and other waterbirds in the New York/New Jersey Estuary.

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8. 1980Incorporation

   The organization was incorporated as a New York nonprofit.

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9. 1979Organization founded

   The organization that became NYC Bird Alliance was founded in New York City to advance bird and habitat conservation.

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A science-led urban bird-conservation nonprofit focused on practical protection of birds, migration routes, nesting sites, and habitats in New York City.

• Project Safe FlightConservation research and citizen science1997

  A monitoring and advocacy program addressing bird collisions with glass buildings. Volunteers survey routes across all five boroughs, document injured and deceased birds, contribute observations to research databases, and help identify dangerous buildings and migration-period conditions. The initiative also engages building owners, architects, officials, and manufacturers on longer-term design and operational solutions.

• Lights Out New YorkUrban wildlife campaign2005

  A voluntary campaign encouraging high-rise buildings to switch off exterior lights during overnight migration periods and reduce visible interior lighting. The program addresses the relationship between light pollution, disorientation, and collisions among migrating birds.

• Harbor Herons ProjectHabitat and nesting-site conservation1985

  A long-running project managing and protecting nesting sites on islands in the New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary. The project supports one of the Atlantic Coast's significant urban-associated heron colonies and focuses on waterbirds and their breeding habitat.

• Bird education programsEnvironmental education

  Public education events and learning activities that teach New Yorkers about birds, migration, habitat, and the ecological challenges created by the urban environment.

• 2005Lights Out New York

  New York City

  The campaign asks buildings to reduce external and interior lighting during overnight migration periods to lower disorientation and collision risks.

  Outcome. Nearly 100 buildings have participated according to the organization's historical account, including several prominent Manhattan towers.

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• 2004Pale Male nest protection

  New York City

  Following the removal of Pale Male's nest at 927 Fifth Avenue, the organization mobilized public support, negotiated with the cooperative board, and later sought expert advice on nest failures.

  Outcome. The nest structure was modified after expert review, and Pale Male subsequently fledged two chicks in 2011 with a new mate.

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• 1997Project Safe Flight

  New York City

  The organization began a long-term program to measure bird-building collisions and develop practical solutions involving volunteers, researchers, property managers, architects, and policymakers.

  Outcome. The program generated extensive collision records, supported scientific study, and advanced advocacy for bird-friendly buildings and glass.

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• 2024Adoption of the NYC Bird Alliance nameStrategy

  The former New York City Audubon name honored John James Audubon, whose history as an enslaver and anti-abolitionist prompted reassessment by some Audubon-affiliated organizations.

  What changed. The organization changed its name to NYC Bird Alliance in June 2024.

  Aftermath. The new identity foregrounds New York City and bird conservation while the organization continues its existing science, advocacy, habitat, and education work.

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• 2024New York City Audubon adopts the name NYC Bird Alliance

  The organization changed its name from New York City Audubon to NYC Bird Alliance, placing greater emphasis on its local bird-conservation mission and distancing its public identity from John James Audubon's legacy.

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• 2024Project Safe Flight records more than 1,000 collision data points in fall monitoring

  During the fall 2024 monitoring season, Project Safe Flight volunteers recorded 1,012 migratory bird-window collision data points across New York City.

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• NYC Bird Alliance continues advocacy on urban bird collisions and light pollution

  The organization continues to use field monitoring, building partnerships, and policy advocacy to address the effects of glass and artificial light on migratory birds.

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1. NYC Bird Alliance
2. NYC Bird Alliance official website