Bird conservation organizations across Pennsylvania met to discuss strategies for increasing member engagement in advocacy efforts, sharing various initiatives including social media campaigns, email alerts, and local events aimed at raising awareness about environmental threats. The group explored ways to coordinate advocacy activities across chapters, including sharing successful initiatives, organizing broader meetings, and leveraging legislative connections, while discussing budget allocations and the importance of maintaining IRS compliance for lobbying activities. The conversation ended with plans to schedule a follow-up gathering in early August to address federal legislation and state budget developments, with participants agreeing to reach out to additional partners and promote the event through their state newsletter.

Next steps

• All participants to send their conservation/advocacy materials and initiatives to Leigh and each other.

• Leigh to draft an article for the Drummer newsletter summarizing the meeting discussion and upcoming plans.

• Leigh to circulate potential dates in early August for a broader Zoom meeting with more organizations.

• Leigh to explore creating a dedicated conservation-focused Facebook page or website.

• All participants to help form the agenda for the upcoming August meeting.

• Perri to send information about the Dvoc “Write for the Birds” event to Leigh by early next week for inclusion in the Drummer.

• Shirley to share her half-page conservation sheet template with the group via Leigh.

• Leigh to reach out to additional bird-focused organizations like Ted Lancaster Bird Club and PSO about participating in the August meeting.

Summary

Bird Conservation Advocacy Coordination Meeting

The meeting introduced participants from various bird conservation organizations across Pennsylvania, including Audubon chapters and the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology. Leigh, the meeting facilitator, explained the purpose of the gathering, which stemmed from a previous discussion between herself, Liz, and Barbara about increasing member engagement in bird conservation advocacy, particularly in light of environmental issues being overshadowed by other concerns. Liz shared her efforts, including social media alerts and email campaigns, to mobilize members for advocacy, while expressing concerns about the environment’s low priority among voters. The group discussed the need for coordinated efforts across chapters to amplify their advocacy impact, with a focus on raising awareness about environmental threats, including those in the Budget Reconciliation Bill.

Bird Advocacy Initiatives Discussion

The group discussed various advocacy initiatives, including Bucks County’s “5 actions in 5 minutes” weekly email blast and DVOC’s upcoming “Ripe for the Birds” event at the Discovery Center. Perry described plans for the DVOC event, which will focus on letter-writing and connecting birdwatchers with advocacy opportunities, while Shirley shared that Valley Forge has signed onto 5-6 advocacy letters this year through various organizationsincluding the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. The discussion concluded with Leigh suggesting that these local efforts could be expanded to other chapters and organizations statewide.

Bird Conservation Advocacy Initiatives

Shirley described her initiative to distribute a half-page sheet of bird-friendly recommendations during bird walks, which includes actions like keeping cats indoors and native plant planting, along with legislative updates and contact information for senators and representatives. Mike shared that Juniata Valley Audubon Society and PSO have joined the Endangered Species Coalition and American Bird Conservancy to receive alerts and information on bird-related legislation, and he highlighted an ongoing concern about the proposed budget bill’s impact on USGS ecosystems. Both Shirley and Mike emphasized the importance of engaging the public and advocating for bird conservation through these initiatives.

Bird Advocacy and Email Alerts

Mike discussed using Constant Contact to send action alerts to over 300 people, though it’s difficult to track how many members actually take action. Leigh shared that Liberty Bird Alliance, formerly Wincote Audubon Society, rebuilds its advocacy work by sending out occasional email alerts to about 300 members, despite having over 2,000 members in total. Leigh also mentioned their involvement with renewable energy working groups, including a bill for the Pennsylvania Bird Safe Building Act that didn’t progress, and their collaboration with We Conserve PA for quarterly conservation updates.

Legislative Advocacy Capacity Challenges

The group discussed their legislative advocacy strategy, noting that while they have the ability to influence legislation through personal connections with congressional representatives, they lack the capacity to fully utilize this opportunity due to insufficient staffing. Leigh explained that all but one of their 20 chapters participated in identifying conservation priorities during the last legislative session, and they have educational resources available on their website about various issues. The discussion revealed that while they are a 501(c)(3) organization, they have IRS approval to engage in lobbying activities, though they need to be careful about how they identify specific legislation to avoid crossing legal boundaries.

Advocacy Budget and Strategy Discussion

The group discussed advocacy budget guidelines, with Leigh and Liz noting conflicting information between 1-2% and 20% of budget allocations, though Leigh planned to follow up with Andy for clarification. Jim shared that advocacy efforts are more effective when coordinated with multiple chapters, as it strengthens their position with state representatives. Liz mentioned learning about Missouri’s Riverbed Observatory’s successful approach to bird conservation advocacy, which could serve as a model for their own efforts.

Federal Environmental Chapter Coordination

The group discussed coordinating efforts across different chapters to address federal environmental concerns, with Liz emphasizing the urgency of federal action due to rapid changes. The group agreed to explore sharing successful initiatives among chapters to avoid duplicate efforts and inspire new actions.

Environmental Advocacy Strategy Discussion

The group discussed strategies for contacting state Appropriations committee members, with Mike noting that phone calls and letters are more effective than emails due to district restrictions. Leigh shared her concerns about the federal level and suggested exploring a dedicated Facebook page for conservation efforts, potentially using a domain name like “bird advocate.” The group also discussed the current political climate and the need for continued environmental advocacy, with Liz highlighting 78 anti-environment provisions in the House budget bill.

August Meeting Planning Discussion

The group discussed organizing a broader meeting in early August following Andy Loza’s quarterly update on July 24th. Leigh agreed to circulate potential dates in early August and promote them in the July drummer newsletter. They decided to reach out to various partners including Ted Lancaster Bird Club, PSO, and DVOC. Leigh mentioned he would write an article for the drummer and work with others to form an agenda for the August meeting, which would likely include updates on federal legislation and state budget developments.