Science & Conservation >

Audubon Maryland-DC is working in a variety of ways to protect birds and their habitats in the region. The focus of Audubon’s conservation work is the Important Bird Areas Program. This science-based initiative provides a valuable tool for conservation planning across Maryland and DC and relies on data from a number of other Audubon science programs operating at the national level. These include the Audubon WatchList, a scientific assessment of birds’ conservation needs highlighting species of greatest concern, and the 100-year old Christmas Bird Count, America’s oldest citizen science program.

We actively manage more than 2,500 acres for birds and other wildlife at two Centers on the Eastern Shore. At Pickering Creek Audubon Center and the Jean Ellen DuPont Shehan Audubon Sanctuary the creation of freshwater wetland habitats and the adoption of low-impact farming techniques attract an impressive array of native waterbirds, grassland birds and forest dwelling species, while demonstrating bird-friendly land stewardship to local landowners.