In diversity is strength. Photo: Red Knots, Ruddy Turnstones and other shorebirds in flight by ABC President Mike Parr

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) not only celebrates the diversity of birds, but also the diversity of all who celebrate and conserve birds. We unequivocally condemn racism in all its forms.

We are committed to doing our utmost to support social justice and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) within our organization and across the bird conservation community. We acknowledge that we must do our part to remove barriers that stand in the way of the bird community becoming a safe and welcoming place for all.

With this in mind, ABC has announced the new staff position of Chief Diversity Officer, which we hope to hire in fall 2020. We are also close to finalizing our plan, “Inclusive Conservation: American Bird Conservancy and Promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice.” Started in 2019, this plan will define clear and measurable actions that we will take, including expanded outreach to diverse communities to provide opportunities for engagement in birds and bird conservation. We will also take steps to promote a more inclusive conservation community overall. We look forward to reporting on our progress.

In the meantime, as a smaller but more immediate step, ABC is signing on to the movement Bird Names For Birds, recognizing that the English common names for many bird species in the Americas were established to honor individuals whose beliefs are not shared by ABC and others in the bird community. We therefore are asking the American Ornithological Society's North American Classification and Nomenclature Committee to review these names and designate more appropriate alternatives.

With these steps, and more to follow, we are committing to help create a more just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive bird community, country, and world for all.

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Media Contact: Jordan Rutter, Director of Public Relations, 202-888-7472 | jerutter@abcbirds.org | @JERutter
Program Contact: Mike Parr, President, 202-888-7486 | mparr@abcbirds.org | @michaeljparr

American Bird Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. With an emphasis on achieving results and working in partnership, we take on the greatest problems facing birds today, innovating and building on rapid advancements in science to halt extinctions, protect habitats, eliminate threats, and build capacity for bird conservation. Find us on abcbirds.org, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@ABCbirds).