A central Illinois chapter of the Audubon Society is distancing itself from the identify of a founding father of the nationwide hen watching motion. The John Wesley Powell Chapter of the National Audubon Society has modified its identify to the Grand Prairie Bird Alliance.
It’s considered one of many chapters across the nation to maneuver away from the identify of a founder due to his complicated history. John James Audubon was a wildlife artist who impressed folks to like birds. He additionally killed birds so he might paint them. He purchased and bought slaves. He expressed racist views. He was accused of plagiarism.
The Alliance stated the identify Grand Prairie matches what the organization is attempting to do.
“The goal of the bird alliance is to promote a love of nature through an appreciation for birds. We wanted a name that reflected the natural area that birds need here in central Illinois,” said Bill Davison, a member of the steering committee of the chapter board. “That’s the Grand Prairie, which historically was a vast stretch of grasslands and marshes throughout a large swath of the Midwest.”
The board researched developments throughout the nation and located almost all Audubon or Bird Alliance chapters use a geographic identify somewhat than a human identify.
“Of all the potential geographic names that would be appropriate, Grand Prairie is the most beautiful and aspirational,” stated Davison.
The Alliance stated hen watching is likely one of the fastest-growing hobbies within the nation and is likely one of the greatest methods for folks to fall in love with nature.
“We want to capitalize on this momentum and reach more people with our mission,” he said. “Unfortunately, the history of bird watching in America and the legacy of John James Audubon have not generated a welcoming environment for many people. We believe that the new name will be much more inclusive and will more clearly tell people what we do — we are allies for the birds!”
The chapter stated even the once-famous identify of Audubon, based mostly on his landmark Illustrated work “Birds of America,” could not resonate in U.S. common tradition.
Bill Davison
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Grand Prairie Bird Alliance
“Many people I meet have no idea what the name Audubon means. In fact, most of the time they think I’m talking about the highway in Germany … the autobahn,” stated Davison.
Some chapters have determined to maintain the Audubon identify and the National Audubon Society final 12 months declined to desert the legacy, although it promised to do extra on fairness, inclusion, and variety. The Grand Prairie Bird Alliance stated it’s going to stay a chapter of the nationwide society. The Alliance steering committee stated it expects some chapter members to be sad with the change.
“We trust our members to remain steadfast in their support of this chapter and what we can accomplish together. The disappointment some may feel in laying down ‘JWP Audubon’ is real; we expect some members will need time to process that. While giving those members space to adapt, we will confidently move ahead using the enthusiasm and support of not just this board, but the many members eager to see this change,” the committee stated in communications to its members.
The change additionally abandons the John Wesley Powell identify. Powell was an explorer who mapped and photographed the Grand Canyon throughout a three-month expedition in 1869. He additionally was a geology professor at Bloomington’s Illinois Wesleyan University. The Powell identify was related to the group for a number of a long time. Before that it was the Cardinal Bird Club. The Alliance stated it selected to look to the longer term as an alternative of to a legacy, and reintroduce itself to central Illinois.
“We, Grand Prairie Bird Alliance: love birds, and we believe everyone is a bird watcher; love the land and seek to both restore and conserve natural habitat for people and wildlife; are curious and willing to share our love of learning with a diverse alliance; and enthusiastically encourage everyone to join us in supporting birds!” wrote the board.
The group conducts hen walks and seasonal hen counts, restores pure areas on public lands, has a wide range of different education schemes, builds hen homes, and plans a hen sanctuary subsequent to the Constitution Trail.
“Birds bring people of diverse backgrounds together to focus on things we have in common. The world needs that right now,” stated the chapter.
