August 2026

ADDRESSING THE THREATS TO THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

A High Priority for the Pennsylvania Audubon Council

Protecting and strengthening the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 has remained a high priority for the Pennsylvania Audubon Council. The ESA is landmark legislation that has resulted in incredible success for the recovery of endangered species for many species of birds and other wildlife. The remarkable recovery of the Bald Eagle is often cited as one of the stellar examples of the importance of this law.

There have been numerous attempts to weaken the ESA over the last two years, and our Council and Chapter leaders have responded.

• We worked with the Defenders of Wildlife to address early threats within the Department of Defense (DOD) budget. These threats would have allowed the DOD to set aside ESA protections on the millions of acres of property that are on our military bases. Our chapters were represented in outreach to Congressmen Brian Fitzpatrick, Mackenzie, and Bresnahan. Visits to their District Offices and other outreach from our chapter advocates were successful. All three of these representatives cast votes to defeat amendments in the DOD budget and sustain the ESA requirements for our military bases.

• We worked with the Endangered Species Coalition to address the proposed legislation of Congressman Westerman (Arkansas, R-4) that would have resulted in the evisceration of the ESA. Phone calls, visits to the district offices and participation in a "fly-in" to meet our legislators in Washington D.C. served to stave off this proposed legislation. The leadership of Lehigh Valley Audubon Society were prominently represented in this effort.

• Council leadership immediately reacted to the most recent threat from the Trump Administration, which has announced new guidelines that seriously degrade the importance of the protection of habitat in the protection of endangered species. These threats resulted in lawsuits filed by the environmental community to challenge these new rules. Our Council leadership urged the National Audubon Society to lend its support to these legal challenges. Our Council was not alone as the lead article in the National Audubon Society’s July 31 Chapter Leader Update reflects. In short, Audubon has not planned to add its name with any of the coalitions that have filed suits.

With the goal to keep our chapters informed, we provide links to the Council’s efforts to encourage Audubon to join the legal response. Below are key items of correspondence:



• July 22, 2026, PAAC letter to Marshall Johnson and Elizabeth Gray – signed by Liz Brensinger, Lehigh Valley Audubon Society and Sue Murawski, Presque Isle Audubon Society
• July 23, 2026, Audubon Response to the Council from Marshall Johnson
• July 31, 2026, National Audubon Chapter Leader Update from Jessica Hoey
• August 5, 2026, PAAC Response Letter to Marshall Johnson and Elizabeth Gray – signed by Liz Brensinger, Lehigh Valley Audubon Society and Sue Murawski, Presque Isle Audubon Society

The Pennsylvania Audubon Council will continue to act on these continuing threats to the Endangered Species Act. Our Council’s Conservation and Advocacy Committee and our Board of Directors will assess options to build on what we have invested over the last two years and fight the good fight to protect birds and wildlife and the habitats on which they depend. In the meantime, follow communications through the Pennsylvania Audubon Council Advocacy and Communication "Google Group" and postings on the Council Facebook page.

Pennsylvania Audubon Council Advocacy and Conservation "Google Group"

The Pennsylvania Audubon Council Advocacy and Conservation Network "Google Group" was officially launched earlier this year! It is intended to serve as an important communication tool to reach key leaders and conservation or advocacy chairs to provide alerts on conservation issues and action. It is intended as an efficient way to send out information especially when the lead time for action is very short. We welcome each chapter and conservation partner to designate one or two individuals to participate in the Conservation Google Group as a representative. It is a key source of information and direction concerning our Conservation issues of Highest Priority. There has been recent activity related to the issue of "AI" Data Centers and the ongoing threats to birds, wildlife and habitat at the federal level. If you have not yet participated, you can request to be added through the link below.

Tired of Pigeon Shoots in Pennsylvania?

For decades, Pennsylvania has remained one of the last states in the country where live pigeon shoots continue to operate. At these events, live pigeons are released from traps and shot for entertainment and competition. Many birds are not killed instantly, instead suffering devastating injuries before dying or being killed later.

Despite years of legislative efforts to prohibit this outdated practice, meaningful action has repeatedly stalled in Harrisburg. Rather than waiting indefinitely for the General Assembly to act, Humane Action PA is pursuing another avenue. They are formally filing a rulemaking petition with the PA Game Commission, requesting that it exercise its authority to prohibit the use of live pigeons in organized shooting contests. The petition will demonstrate that pigeon shoots:

• serve no legitimate wildlife management or conservation purpose.
• create unnecessary animal suffering.
• contribute to environmental contamination through lead shot.
• undermine Pennsylvania's commitment to responsible wildlife stewardship.

Humane Action PA is asking organizations across Pennsylvania and beyond to join them by signing onto the petition in support of their effort. Presque Isle Audubon signed their petition, and we hope other organizations will join us.

Your organization's support will help demonstrate to the Game Commission that there is broad and growing backing for ending this cruel and unnecessary practice through administrative action. Whether your organization works in animal protection, conservation, environmental health, public safety, veterinary medicine, or another related field, your voice can make a meaningful difference.

If you are the leader of an organization, you can read the petition and sign on here.

BIRD HABITAT RECOGNITION PROGRAM

An Open Forum for Bird Town and Chapter Leaders is Scheduled!

7:00 PM on Tuesday, September 15, 2026

The Pennsylvania Audubon Council Bird Habitat Recognition Program was officially launched on Labor Day 2025. There are now over five hundred properties that have been recognized through the program across the Commonwealth since the launch – and a few properties in other states like New Jersey! Our Bird Town and Chapter Leaders are behind this successful launch. There have been a wide variety of approaches to promote the enrollment of property owners in the program. There have also been different approaches by chapters to coordinate and manage the program in their respective chapter territories.

We have scheduled a special "First BHR Anniversary Webinar" for 7:00 PM on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. We will highlight examples of events that have been employed by chapters and Bird Towns that have resulted in their successes with the program. This will be an open forum for sharing what has worked as we look ahead to continue the growth of the program. We welcome representatives from our chapters and Bird Towns to register for this program.

Council News and Updates

ADDRESSING ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGES FOR CHAPTERS:

Sharing Our Collective Chapter Experiences Around Common Challenges

There has been interest expressed for hosting opportunities for our chapters to engage in conversations centered on organizational issues that present challenges for many of our chapters. Topics that have been informally discussed include recruitment of board members, legal requirements associated with not-for-profit organizations, insurance coverage, chapter membership, chapter territory, and more. The Council has proposed that we work with the chapters to prioritize those issues with the broadest expressions of interest or concern and schedule a series of regular forums that focus on each organizational challenge. We have launched a survey to solicit topics for our chapters to respond to topics that have been suggested thus far and suggest areas of concern that have not been listed. We invite any chapter Board member or leader to access the survey and take a few minutes to let us know which topics matter most to you and your chapter.

Job Opening with Audubon Mid-Atlantic

PA Advocacy and Community Focus

Audubon is hiring an Engagement Manager for its Mid-Atlantic region (AMA). The position is responsible for regional efforts to engage and activate Audubon chapters and supporters while expanding the sphere of influence of the Audubon network within the region, which comprises Pennsylvania, Maryland and the District of Columbia. 

The Engagement Manager will work closely with regional and national staff to ensure a strong chapter network in the region, communicate with supporters across the region, engage members in Audubon’s advocacy initiatives, and support community-based initiatives that advance bird conservation. 

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN HARRISBURG?

Conservation Updates with Andy Loza!

7:00 PM on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Our next Conservation Update with Andy Loza, Executive Director of WeConservePA, is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, 2026. Andy anticipates limited action in the General Assembly as legislators are expected to spend as little time in Harrisburg as possible to deal only with the highest priorities. Neither chamber is scheduled to be back in Harrisburg before September 28. We can expect to get a report on our priorities in the budget and an update on the status of some key items of environmental legislation that had been passed in the House and are awaiting action in the Senate. We are entering the final leg of the current legislative session, and we will look at what actions might be contemplated as the end of 2026 draws near.

WHO’S WHO IN YOUR CHAPTER?

Keep Us Apprised of Your Leadership Changes!

Special thanks to those of you who have sent us the names and contact information of new board and/or committee members for additions to our DRUMMER mailing list. Some of our chapters operate on a fiscal year and conduct elections in May and June. Others operate on a calendar year and conduct elections in December or January. Please provide the names and email contacts for changes or updates of your officers and board members so that they can be added to the mailing list for the DRUMMER.

Send leadership updates to paauduboncouncil@gmail.com.

PENNSYLVANIA AUDUBON COUNCIL FACEBOOK PAGE!

Share Your Chapter’s Highlights

The Pennsylvania Audubon Council has a Facebook Page that is available for the public to view. Permission to post to the Council Facebook is restricted but we provide access to individuals from chapters to share chapter Facebook posts with the Council. We look to share their Facebook posts about upcoming chapter programs and events. We encourage posts that document chapter activities like field trips, community outreach, educational programs, and similar items. Chapter newsletter editors, webmasters, social media captains, officers, or others may request permission to post through our Facebook. Please take the time to request access! We want our Facebook to demonstrate the vibrancy and breadth of the work our chapters are doing!

Send Facebook access requests to paauduboncouncil@gmail.com.