ALBANY, NY - Governor Andrew Cuomo has proclaimed 2018 the Year of the Bird in New York State. The announcement celebrates native and migratory birds making their way through New York, as well as the state’s vibrant landscapes and critical water resources that support them. The proclamation notes that “New York State is home to North America’s largest migrations, hosting many species of warblers, as well as at-risk species.”

“New York State has declared 2018 the ‘Year of the Bird’, and recognized the importance of birds and the places we share,” said Ana Paula Tavares, Executive Director of Audubon New York. “The forests, waterways, and coasts of New York are critical habitat for a variety of threatened and endangered bird species. We’re proud to partner with our state’s leaders and community members to keep New York at the forefront of environmental conservation.”

New York is home to 136 Important Bird Areas, more than 650 observed species, including the Peregrine Falcon, the Piping Plover, Roseate and Black Terns, the Saltmarsh Sparrow, the Wood Thrush, and the Black Skimmer. The Governor’s declaration recognizes that New York’s natural resources provide important habitat for birds.

“Year of the Bird is an easy way people can take small everyday actions to help birds along their journeys,” said David Yarnold, president and CEO of the National Audubon Society. “New York State is home to more than 130 Important Bird Areas that provide critical habitat for birds like the Golden-winged Warbler which nests in young forests of the St. Lawrence Valley each year before journeying to its winter home in Central America.”

In addition to the proclamation in New York, people around the world are celebrating 2018 as Year of the Bird to mark the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), one of the oldest wildlife protection laws in the United States. In honor of this milestone, National Geographic, Audubon, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, BirdLife International, and dozens of other partners around the world joined forces to celebrate 2018 as the Year of the Bird.

New York was among seven other state’s whose attorney general joined Audubon in the fight to defend the MBTA by filing litigation challenging the Trump Administration’s move to eliminate longstanding protections the vital law provides for waterfowl, raptors, and songbirds. This recent case will be considered alongside National Audubon Society v. Department of the Interior, which was filed in May 2018.

To learn more about Year of the Bird, visit: https://www.audubon.org/yearofthebird.

As a leading state program of the National Audubon Society, Audubon New York leads a network of 50,000 members, 27 local Audubon Chapters, seven sanctuaries and nature centers and our thousands of annual visitors, volunteers, and partners throughout the state. Audubon achieves its mission to protect birds and their habitats by connecting our vast and powerful network along the migratory flyways of the Americas through science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation programs. Learn more at ny.audubon.org and @audubonny

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Contact: Erin McGrath, Policy Manager, Audubon New York, emcgrath@audubon.org, 518.869-9731