Update: On February 1, 2024, our membership voted to approve amending our new name to Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance. Read more about this process at swibirds.org/new-name.
You may be aware that another group has claimed that a perceived similarity between our name and theirs could cause confusion in the birding community. Our name, and the process to develop it, was intended to be inclusive and welcoming—we completed recommended due diligence, which included consulting with legal counsel to ensure that our new name was unique, appropriate, and usable, resulting in a successful legal name change in the state of Wisconsin.
Although the Board is confident in the rigor and integrity of the name selection process we underwent, this is a problem we did not foresee or intend to create, and it is one we do not wish to perpetuate. To ensure that our focus remains on our mission-related work to protect birds, the Board voted in mid-December to amend our name by selecting a new geographic descriptor.
We are proud to be a part of the growing number of chapters joining the Bird Alliance, and will keep that part of our name. Together, with Bird Alliance chapters in Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, and beyond, this network’s conservation efforts will ensure that more people, today and in the future, can experience the joy of birds.
Over the past few weeks, we have been actively working to reach an amicable resolution and move towards a revised name—taking steps to ensure that we can complete this update as thoughtfully and efficiently as possible. We reconvened our Name Selection Committee in December to discuss alternative geographic descriptors that apply to the region that makes up our chapter’s service area. In the coming weeks, our board will bring the amended name to our members for a vote of approval.
Until our new name is approved by our members, we must continue using our legal name, Badgerland Bird Alliance, but we will shorten it in public-facing pages to BBA (formerly Madison Audubon). Thank you for your support and understanding. We look forward to continuing to do incredible work for birds under our updated name soon!
Wishing you and yours a very birdy new year,
The BBA Board of Directors
