11 Sep A New Chapter: Avian Behavior Conservancy Takes Flight
In 2013, we started Avian Behavior International as a mission-driven LLC. Our goal was simple: foster inspiration and connection between humans and birds for a better future for all. Over the years, our birds have flown thousands of demonstrations, raised awareness on five continents, and helped raise critical funds for conservation efforts from South Africa to Chile, Costa Rica to our own backyard in San Diego County.
Now, the world is asking more of us. And we are ready.
After twelve months of hard work behind the scenes, we are thrilled to share that Avian Behavior International has become Avian Behavior Conservancy — a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding our impact in ways we never could before.
Why This Change? Because the Birds – and the Planet – Need More From Us
We survived the pandemic, but like many of you, we emerged with a drive for deeper purpose. Our work has always been about building bridges between people and birds, but as a nonprofit, we can still continue our classes and program, but expand our reach and do even more:
- Bring free conservation education to schools and low income communities without access.
- Offer grants and fellowships for students and professionals to learn alongside our team and take their education to other disciplines and organizations.
- Conduct and support field research that strengthens reintroductions, reduces human–wildlife conflict, and builds conservation outcomes worldwide — from American kestrels to Southern ground hornbills.
- Enhance programs for underrepresented birds critical to ecosystems, including scavengers like vultures and condors.
Why Now? Because We’re Ready—But We Can’t Do It Alone
We’ve laid the foundation. Our birds are ready, and our community is ready. We have been forging partnerships with other nonprofits to bring the delight of bird programs to low income seniors to combat loneliness and inspire birding and the use of greens-aces. We have been setting the stage for unique programs with our incredibly dynamic avian team and skilled staff that are designed to highlight adaptations that often overlooked and ignored. And we have started a grassroots, citizen science based monitoring program for the American kestrel that is ready to truly take off with the support of other biologists.
To officially transition into nonprofit operations, we need to raise $35,000. Those funds will go toward:
- A mobile education van, updated materials, and an engaging new website to reach more communities ($24,000).
- Support for the American kestrel monitoring project, including GPS tags and data plan, lodging, and transport for biologists ($4,500–$8,000).
- Legal support and nonprofit infrastructure ($3,500).
- Programs highlighting the heavy lifters in the ecosystem that are on the decline, including vultures, condors, golden eagles, and the lead-free conservation movements that impact them ($1,500).
This Is Where You Come In
We are poised and ready for lift-off. With your support, these programs will hit the ground running.
You know us by our core values: excellence in bird-first care and training, accountability, and transparency. By expanding our vision, we are stepping into the space left by shrinking government funding and stretched-thin local budgets.
This is the time where every dollar counts. Birds tie the whole planet together — and that is how we see our work. We aren’t going to let them down.
This is your chance to become part of something bigger. Not just someone who watched the transformation happen, but someone who made it possible.
Join us. Make your tax deductible donation to Avian Behavior Conservancy today.