Advocacy

Birds Georgia is the leading voice for the birds across the state of Georgia. Birds Georgia watches vigilantly for harmful activities that could affect birds or undermine the integrity of bird habitat. Many birds found in Georgia are migratory and stop in Georgia only briefly before continuing their journey to other areas of the country and continents. Therefore, our work to inform decision makers about legislation and policies that benefit or threaten birds and their habitat involves local, state, national, and, occasionally, international concerns.

From clean air and water to support for the nation’s iconic national parks and national wildlife refuges to extreme weather and pesticide use, many of the same issues that touch people also touch birds. In addition, protections for birds conferred by such milestone legislation as the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act and the Endangered Species Act have long-term implications for people along with more immediate impact on birds.

Our Values

​The following are a list of values for which Birds Georgia advocates.  These values guide us in our programmatic work:

  • We believe that where birds thrive, people thrive.
  • We believe everyone in Georgia should have access to bird-friendly habitats, as the benefits of healthy bird populations and high bird diversity are exceptional, irreplaceable, and invaluable to all members of the community.
  • We believe in maximizing the number of native plants in any outdoor space.
  • We believe that maximizing structural diversity of a small habitat is the best strategy for encouraging use by a variety of Georgia's bird species.
  • We believe in maximizing the urban/suburban tree canopy.
  • We believe in minimizing sterile, monoculture outdoor spaces, including large swaths of turf grass, for the benefit of birds, insects, and other wildlife.
  • We believe in minimizing the number of exotic plants in any outdoor space.
  • We believe in managing invasive plant species to allow for a higher diversity of native plants.
  • We believe in eliminating the widespread use of chemical pesticides, herbicides, and rodenticides in the environment. We understand and support the limited, responsible use of targeted herbicides for habitat restoration and management in controlling exotic and invasive species.
  • Domestic and feral cats are not a part of the natural ecosystem. We believe that domestic cats should be kept indoors and that outdoor feral cat colonies should not be supported in any way.
  • We believe in taking action to reduce bird-building collisions and other hazards to birds in the built environment.
  • We believe that new development can be bird-safe and encourage the use of techniques that reduce loss of natural habitat and use of materials and design that minimizes bird collisions.
  • We believe in reducing the effects of climate change in order to reduce the negative shifts and potential collapse of local bird populations.
Past and Ongoing Conservation Issues
PictureRed Knot by Dan Vickers
Birds Georgia has spoken out on the following conservation issues:​
  • Okefenokee Swamp Mining Proposal
  • Oil and Gas Drilling Exploration off Georgia
  • Parks as Habitat | Atlanta Greenspace Council
  • Horseshoe Crab Recovery Coalition
  • Camden County Spaceport
  • Wetlands and Clean Water
  • Neotropical Migratory Birds Conservation Act
  • Endangered Species Act
  • Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels
  • Transmission Lines/Wind Power
  • Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
  • Neonicotinoids in plants that affect birds and other pollinators
  • Marsh Development Setback rules on Georgia coast



Support on Local Issues

While there are many worthy causes that warrant attention, due to limited resources Birds Georgia has a decision-making rubric we employ to determine conservation issues on which we will speak out. Generally, we will only offer support on issues that will have broad impacts on Georgia birds and their habitats. We do not get involved with local property issues. If you have an issue that you would like to bring to our attention, please email Brooke Michael.
 
If you’re looking for additional support, here are some resources that might be helpful: