Houston Audubon changes name to Birds Houston
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Houston Audubon has renamed itself Birds Houston, shedding its racist namesake while making the organization's mission clearer.
Why it matters: The rebrand drops a name the organization has carried for more than half a century, after years of discussion sparked by revelations that John James Audubon was a slaveholder.
- The new name is also meant to appeal to people who may not already associate "Audubon" with birds and conservation.
Catch up quick: Audubon's legacy came under renewed scrutiny several years ago over his ties to slavery and his use of uncredited labor and knowledge from Black and Indigenous people to collect specimens and create his famous naturalist works.
- The National Audubon Society publicly grappled with its namesake's history but ultimately decided to keep its name in 2023.
- Since then, at least 15 local chapters have changed their names.
Zoom in: Birds Houston initially planned to wait and see what the national organization did before deciding whether to change its name, Zineera Seth Chong, communications and marketing director, tells Axios.
- After National Audubon kept its name, the local board revisited whether the Audubon name still served its mission of "connecting people with birds and inspiring them to become champions for conservation," CEO Jed Aplaca said in a statement.
- While "Audubon" is synonymous with birds for many birders, "a lot of people don't know what or who Audubon is," Seth Chong tells Axios.
Founded in 1969, the organization manages 18 sanctuaries across the Houston area and Upper Texas Coast.
- The group plans to continue protecting habitat and educating Houstonians about birds while using its new identity to reach more people.
What's next: As part of that effort, the group will host its annual Houston Bird Week Sept. 19-26, with over 50 events including guided bird walks, beach cleanups, birding classes and a closing party at Camden Park.