Mission
Audubon Dallas, the local chapter of the National Audubon Society, is a volunteer-based, nonprofit environmental organization. Our mission is to support and promote the conservation of birds and other wildlife, the protection of habitat and biodiversity, and the provision of education and opportunities for our entire community to observe and appreciate nature.
What We Do
Audubon Dallas is responsible for managing and maintaining the 603-acre Cedar Ridge Preserve on Mountain Creek Parkway in southwest Dallas County. This area has a remarkably diverse terrain – almost like a slice of Hill Country in the Dallas area. It hosts a wide variety of trees, plants, birds and wildlife, and represents a vital ecosystem in our area. The Preserve features nine miles of walking trails, and is open to visitors on Tuesday to Sunday, year-round. We are proud to preserve this wonderful natural habitat and provide citizens of Dallas County and surrounding areas with a place where they can connect with nature in a personal way.
Audubon Dallas also teaches about our local flora and fauna including the importance of the preservation of local ecosystems through conservation. We hope that these programs will foster discussions in the home, and make every family aware of the important role it plays in the local environmental community.
One of our primary goals is to expand our current educational programs, field trips and volunteer efforts in order to reach more children and family groups. We also publish a bi-monthly newsletter and keep records of the birds of Dallas County.
The Board of Directors of Audubon Dallas meets the second Thursday of each month to support the mission and programs of Audubon Dallas. We are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible as allowable by law.
History
The National Audubon Society is non-profit environmental organization based in the United States. Incorporated in 1905, it is one of the oldest conservation-focused organizations in the world. National Audubon now has offices in over 20 states, and over 450 local chapters.
Audubon Dallas, a local chapter of the National Audubon Society, was founded in 1973. A registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Audubon Dallas has no paid staff, and is run entirely by volunteers. Its programs are supported by donations and dues from approximately 1,500 members.
In addition to its educational programs, Audubon Dallas also manages the 600-acre Cedar Ridge Preserve, an ecologically significant land area located in Southwest Dallas County. The origin of what eventually became the Preserve dates back to 1975, when an organization known as the Greenhills Foundation acquired 26 acres of land in the area, and the Dallas Nature Center held outdoor appreciation programs there for local residents. Ten years later, Dallas County started to acquire property in the area, and eventually acquired the land owned by the Greenhills Foundation. Ultimately, adjacent areas owned by Dallas County and the City of Dallas between Mountain Creek Parkway and FM1382 were joined to create the 600-acre area now known as Cedar Ridge Preserve, and by 2003, Audubon Dallas assumed the management and education responsibilities previously carried out by the Dallas Nature Center.