At our annual member meeting on September 12, Board President dawn villaescusa revealed Seven Capes Bird Alliance as the new name of the former Audubon Society of Lincoln City.
SCBA board members with our new logo! Left to right: Dennis White, dawn villaescusa, Steve Griffiths, Jim Welch, Joseph Youren, and Nora Sherwood. Not present: Evan Hayduk and Jim Carlson
“Our chapter began considering a new name two years ago,” dawn explained, “because Lincoln City didn’t reflect our service area of Lincoln and Tillamook Counties. Shortly thereafter, other Audubon chapters began to drop Audubon from their name, because John James Audubon held white supremacist views and desecrated Native graves. We agreed that Audubon in our name did not align with our chapter’s values and could be a barrier to participation in our activities.”
Our organization was founded in 2005 and remains a chapter of the National Audubon Society and a collaborative partner of the other eleven Audubon chapters throughout Oregon. “Bird Alliance” has been adopted by Portland’s chapter—now Bird Alliance of Oregon—along with many other chapters throughout the nation.
The new name defines our service area as the Oregon coast from Cape Perpetua in the south to Arch Cape in the north, with five capes (Foulweather, Kiwanda, Lookout, Meares, and Falcon) in between. These capes are beautiful and distinctive, provide essential habitat for birds and other wildlife, and remain a focus for the chapter’s conservation initiatives.
Before the Board voted on its new name, we surveyed our members and conservation partners multiple times and consulted the other Oregon chapters. Seven Capes Bird Alliance’s new logo, designed by Drift Awake Studios in Gearhart, Oregon, features a stylized view of sunset on the Oregon coast with capes receding in the distance and seven birds flying overhead.
Frequently asked questions about the name change can be found here. “While our name has changed, our mission remains the same,” dawn confirmed, “to encourage residents and visitors to protect and enjoy the native birds, other wildlife, and habitats on the Oregon coast through education, conservation, and community science. We’re still working together for birds and nature, but now with a new name that is more welcoming and inclusive.”
SCBA President dawn villaescusa announcing our new name
SCBA President dawn villaescusa and field trip leader, Mark Elliott, celebrating Mark’s Lifetime Service Award. Mark was presented with the award during the annual meeting in recognition of 15 years of leading our field trips!
SCBA members enjoying a potluck before the name announcement
Photos by Ruth Shelly