History

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 633-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 633-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.

In 2025, Audubon Dallas purchased a 60-acre tract of land just west of Cedar Ridge Preserve where native scrub provides nesting for the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler and several other songbird species. The Audubon Dallas Songbird Sanctuary will be operational sometime in 2026.