Conservation Science

Mass Audubon protects wildlife habitat in Massachusetts by managing more than 33,000 acres of ecologically significant land across the state. On Mass Audubon sanctuaries, our scientists, naturalists, and sanctuary directors help protect 175 of Massachusetts's 430 endangered or threatened species and 20 of the approximately 30 regional and globally significant communities as designated by the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.

From its inception Mass Audubon has insisted that its positions on conservation issues have a sound scientific foundation obtained by seeking the advice and counsel of noted authorities. Some fifty years after its founding, Mass Audubon added scientists to its staff in an effort to assure that its position on increasingly complex issues were accurate and reflected current scientific opinion. Dr. William H. Drury was the first head of the scientific staff at Mass Audubon and played a significant role in the formation of Mass Audubon's initial science department.

Mass Audubon scientists over the years have made substantive contributions to conserving biological diversity of the Commonwealth and the northeast. Our scientists provided some of the first evidence confirming the role of DDT in reducing bird fecundity, played a lead role in demonstrating the significance of remaining old-growth forests and establishing a controlled burn program in the Commonwealth, and were instrumental in evaluating the decline of grassland birds, resulting in major shifts in how Massachusetts manages early successional habitats. Most recently Mass Audubon scientists conducted original research on distribution, abundance, and behavior of waterbirds in Nantucket Sound. Results of this work have played a substantive role in the environmental risk assessment for a proposed wind farm in the Sound. Mass Audubon scientists also have played an important role in developing policies for managing the water resources and coastal habitat of the Commonwealth, and for invasive species control. In 2001, Mass Audubon created the Conservation Science and Ecological Management Division to enhance scientific support for the organization's mission of protecting the nature of Massachusetts.

Currently, Mass Audubon scientists conduct research and monitoring projects on the restoration and management of salt marshes, grassland bird habitat, and coastal heath land communities, on controlling non-native invasive species, and on coastal water birds. Mass Audubon scientists currently are conducting an extensive ecological inventory and monitoring program of several key taxa, or species groups, on our sanctuaries.

The goals of Mass Audubon's Division of Conservation Science and Ecological Management are:

• To provide accurate and up-to-date scientific guidance Mass Audubon's land protection, advocacy, and educational programs
• To conduct issue-focused research on the conservation of natural communities in Massachusetts
• To monitor the ecological health of the state by tracking the loss of Massachusetts wildlife species and populations and determining the causes of these losses and ways to reduce them
• To develop and promote sound ecological management on Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries as well as on public and private conservation lands
• To work with other conservationists to develop a comprehensive, long-range approach to preserving biological diversity in Massachusetts and New England

Mass Audubon collaborates with other organizations, agencies, and individuals on conservation projects that have statewide or regional environmental impact. Mass Audubon's Conservation Science Division also houses the Ecological Extension Service, a fee-for-service consulting group that assists landowners, municipalities, and agencies in doing ecological inventories and developing ecological management plans.