About Us

Mission

Mt. Diablo Bird Alliance (formerly Mt. Diablo Audubon Society) is committed to the sustainable balance of our community’s people, birds, other wildlife, and habitat through conservation, education, and advocacy.

We:

• Ensure a high degree of habitat diversity and preservation through an active role in local environmental activities and issues.
• Observe, collect, and report information concerning the status of birds, other wildlife, and habitat.
• Support community organizations with similar goals.
• Sponsor educational activities to promote environmental knowledge with a special focus on youth.
• Enhance public appreciation of the natural world with an emphasis on birds.
• Remain a chapter of the National Audubon Society in celebrating and protecting of birds.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Mt. Diablo Bird Alliance’s Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging:

Mt. Diablo Bird Alliance is committed to the diversity of our community and the natural world. To this end, we cultivate and promote an environment that is inclusive, supportive and welcoming to all. We recognize that it is only through this commitment can we work to fulfill our mission of protecting birds and preserving their habitat while connecting people of all ages and backgrounds to them.

We intentionally choose to integrate Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging as a core value, priority, and guiding principle. Our aims are to create a welcoming, safe, and accessible birding and learning environment specifically for people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, Native peoples, and those who are underserved.

We believe birding is for everyone. Below are programs and resources that foster EDIB and are supported by MDBA. To get involved, please contact or join the MDBA EDIB Committee (see below).

MDBA EDIB Programs

EDIB Committee
The Mt. Diablo Bird Alliance’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee was formed in 2022 after members of the MDBA board (Vice President and Program Chair Ariana Rickard, Conservation Chair Juan Pablo Galvan, and  (Ex) Education Chair Krista Vossekuil) participated in training offered by the National Audubon Society from June 2021 to January 2022. The Committee now includes five additional MDBA members. If you are interested in learning more or joining, or if you have ideas or stories please contact us. We would love to hear from you. The Committee is currently defining direction and goals.

Diablo Young Naturalists
The purpose of the Mt. Diablo Bird Alliance Diablo Young Naturalists is to give young people about 9-17 years old who like birds and the outdoors a chance to meet others their age with similar interests, while getting outside and, of course, seeing birds! We want participants to learn about birds and their habitats, come away with an appreciation of nature, develop birding skills, and most importantly, have fun! By doing that, we can get young birders thinking about how birding can contribute to science, protect birds and their habitats, and even be the start of a future career! Visit the Diablo Young Naturalists page for more information.

EDIB Resources

Through education, outreach and advocacy, Birdability works to ensure the birding community and the outdoors are welcoming, inclusive, safe and accessible for everybody. We focus on people with mobility challenges, blindness or low vision, chronic illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental illness, and those who are neurodivergent, deaf or hard of hearing or who have other health concerns. In addition to current birders, we strive to introduce birding to people with disabilities and other health concerns who are not yet birders so they too can experience the joys of birding.

Chapter EDI How-To Guide — Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
A guide from the National Audubon Society for incorporating equity, diversity, and inclusion into chapter partnerships, programs, and culture. This How-To Guide was developed with chapters, for chapters in partnership with Deeohn Ferris, Devon Trotter, and an outside consultant — Jumana Vasi.

The Feminist Bird Club was founded by Molly Adams in 2016 as a way to leverage both their passion for birds and their passion for social justice into a cohesive whole. Since then, the Feminist Bird Club has expanded to chapters across North America and in the Netherlands.

The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon will bring new creativity, effectiveness and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Board Meetings

MDBA Board Meetings are held the 2nd Thursday of every month, at 6:45 PM via web-meeting. Members are welcome to sit in. Please contact a Board member to obtain meeting credentials.

Leadership

Board of Directors

Click on names below to email.

Advisory Positions

Volunteer Openings

MDBA has the following positions available for anyone with an interest in supporting our mission of Connecting People with Birds.

President

• Shall preside at all meetings of MDBA, appoint chairs of all Board and Advisory committees, subject to approval by a majority vote of the Board, and be an ex officio member of all Board committees except for the nominating committee.
• Shall direct and administer the affairs of MDBA and shall supervise all phases of its work.
• The President may designate any officer or Board member to preside in conducting meetings of MDBA in the event the President is unable to do so.
• Prepare board meeting agenda and facilitate.
• Write Monthly President’s letter.

Education Chair shall organize educational activities, such as birding classes and outreach to schools and the community, to promote birds, ecology and conservation.

Outreach Coordinator is responsible for coordinating volunteers to staff MDBA booths and tables, etc at local festivals and other public events at which MDBA has a presence. This can be an Advisory or a Board position.

East Bay Birding Email Group Chairperson shall administer the East Bay Birding Email Group.

If you or someone you know is interested in any of these positions, please send an email to  .

Other Officer Responsibilities

Vice President shall assist the President in the performance of duties, and may be assigned special projects by
the Board of Directors or the President.

Secretary shall keep a record of all Board meetings of MDBA, and perform such other duties as the Board
of Directors may require.

Treasurer shall have custody of the funds of MDBA and shall deposit all such funds as may be designated by the Board of Directors, shall receive all membership dues, and shall disburse the funds of MDBA as directed by the Board of Directors and shall render to MDBA an annual report within 90 days of the close of the fiscal year, and give an accounting of funds and transactions at Board meetings and whenever the Board of Directors may require it.

Conservation Chairperson shall be in charge of all conservation matters pertaining to the goals of MDBA, including legislative action activities.

Education Chairperson shall organize educational activities, such as birding classes and outreach to schools and the community, to promote birds, ecology and conservation.

Field Trips Chairperson shall develop a schedule of field trips and designate the leaders for the field trips; ensure that field trips are announced to membership via the Quail and other media; recruit, encourage, train and assist field trip leaders as needed; report on these outings by forwarding trip reports to the Quail and MDBA social media.

Membership Chairperson shall welcome new members and guests; maintain and update the membership database; notify existing members of expiring memberships (email and postcards); update and create membership marketing materials.

Programs Chairperson shall arrange programs and birding information consistent with the aims and purposes of MDBA.

Publicity and Social Media Chairperson shall supply the print news media and social media platforms with information concerning the activities of MDBA.

Quail Editor shall be responsible for the publication of the chapter newsletter (the Quail).

Sales Manager shall handle sales and inventory of publications and merchandise, conduct raffles and silent auctions at membership meetings, maintain financial records of sales and transfer all receipts to the Treasurer.

Young Birders Club Chairperson shall mentor young birders through field trips and meetings.

Christmas Bird Count Chairperson shall coordinate the annual Christmas Bird Count.

Community Science Chairperson shall promote projects in which volunteers monitor birds and gather data.

Hospitality Chairperson shall be in charge of refreshments served at general and special meetings.

Legislative Action Chairperson shall work with the Conservation Chairperson to promote activities concerning legislation involving birds and conservation.

Outreach Coordinator shall publicize chapter activities and recruit volunteers for these activities.

Web Editor shall coordinate the maintenance of the MDBA website, and shall assist with the annual photo contest.

An Honorary Advisor position may also be created as appropriate.