Two plovers sit in the sand on a beach next to washed up seaweed.

Coasts and Oceans

Latest news about Audubon's work on coasts and oceans.
Snowy Plovers. Photo: Katherine Pirozzi/Audubon Photography Awards

Coastal birds are in crisis.

Threatened by climate change, development, overfishing, and pollution, seabird populations around the world have decreased by 70 percent since 1950. In North America alone, shorebird populations have decreased by 70 percent since 1973. Through our Coasts strategy, Audubon is working to reverse this crisis in multiple ways.

Areas of Focus

Coastal Resilience Coastal Stewardship Gulf Restoration Marine Conservation Seabird Institute
Crucial Coastal Bill Gains Momentum in Congress
May 11, 2022 — The SHORRE Act will make coastal communities and birds more resilient to climate change.
Several large American White Pelicans take flight on an island, while a large group of other waterbirds congregate on the beach in the background.
A Plan to Keep Texas's Rookeries Rooted in Place
March 16, 2022 — Without action, a century of bird conservation could wash away with these small islands on the Texas coast.
pipes lay across a partially constructed island of light-colored sand. the island is near shore, but surrounded by water.
One Good Turn Deserves Another
January 03, 2022 — A dredging operation provides material to restore Crab Bank, an important seabird sanctuary in Charleston Harbor.
An Atlantic Puffin stands on a granite rock, its black-and-white feathers drenched from the ocean, clutching fish of several different sizes in its bright orange bill.
Long-Awaited Fisheries Bills Advance as Rough Year for Seabirds Comes to a Close
November 18, 2021 — Seabirds need better fisheries policies to raise their chicks in the face of climate change.
Audubon California's Sarah Rose Joins State and Environmental Leaders to Call for End to Offshore Oil Drilling
October 12, 2021 — Briefing organized by Asm. Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Huntington Beach)
Black Skimmers Successfully Nest on Louisiana Mainland for First Time in a Decade
September 30, 2021 — These seabirds capitalized on a restored beach in southwest Louisiana this year after several hurricanes.
New Funding to Help Gulf Coast Beachgoers Share the Shore with Birds
September 17, 2021 — Audubon leads a new collaborative effort to design more effective coastal stewardship and management plans for the Gulf of Mexico.
A Decisive Victory for the Most Important Coastal Law You’ve Never Heard of
August 06, 2021 — Audubon won a lawsuit to prevent sand mining on protected beaches and plans to expand this powerful policy.
Getting the Low-Down on Advocacy from Sally Puent
July 28, 2021 — It’s all about practice, and knowing what your goals are.
Eelgrass is the Climate-fighting Hero the Ocean Needs
June 08, 2021 — This seagrass provides carbon storage, feeding grounds for birds, and a refuge for sea life from more acidic waters.