John Caldwell|Former Audubon group changes name to ‘Bird Alliance of Oregon’

2025-05-07 16:25:52source:GravityX Exchangecategory:My

PORTLAND,John Caldwell Ore. (AP) — Portland Audubon has changed its name to the “Bird Alliance of Oregon,” in the latest example of a local chapter to do so because of John James Audubon’s views on slavery and his desecration of Native American graves.

The organization shared its decision Tuesday after soliciting community feedback in the past year on a new name, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.

“Our adoption of a new name is one of many steps in our years-long equity journey to create a more welcoming place,” said Stuart Wells, executive director of the Bird Alliance of Oregon.

The National Audubon Society, the nonprofit dedicated to protecting birds and their habitats, took its original name from Audubon, an American artist, adventurer and naturalist best known for his stunning watercolors of American birds.

READ MORE Witness testifies accused killer pressured him to destroy evidence in Jennifer Dulos murder caseTeachers’ union-backed group suing to stop tax money for A’s stadium plan in Las VegasA bill that would allow armed teachers in Nebraska schools prompts emotional testimony

But Audubon was also a slaveholder who opposed abolition and desecrated the graves of Native Americans, a legacy which still causes harm today, Wells said.

Other local chapters, including those in Seattle, Chicago and Detroit have also changed their names, citing the same reasons.

The National Audubon Society, however, has decided to retain the Audubon name and instead spend $25 million on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

The American Ornithological Society said in November that birds in North America will no longer be named after people because some bird names have associations with the past that continue to be exclusionary and harmful.

The organization said this year it would start renaming approximately 80 bird species found in the U.S. and Canada.

More:My

Recommend

These Australian twins have gone viral after speaking in synch

Do you recall the prime early days of YouTube? When a video making the rounds was so strange, remark

Ariana Madix Reveals the Real Reason She and Ex Tom Sandoval Haven't Sold Their House

Tom Sandoval is PUMP-ing the brakes on the sale of his and Ariana Madix's L.A. home.Nine months afte

First tomato ever grown in space, lost 8 months ago, found by NASA astronauts

It has been one of the universe's greatest mysteries — the disappearance of the first tomato grown i