who we are

The Southeast Volusia Audubon Society (SEVAS) was started in 1973 as the New Smyrna Beach Audubon Society by a group of neighbors who were interested in protecting the local birds and wildlife in the area of the Smyrna Dunes Park. The nesting shorebirds were of particular interest. We are now one of three Florida Audubon chapters in Volusia County, each with its own identity and focus.

Our mission, protecting birds and their habitats through conservation education, advocacy and action reflects our commitment to diversity in all things. 

 SEVAS has identified these areas of focus that support that mission:

  • Plants for Birds P4B: Through the creation of demonstration gardens in the community we have planted native plants and trees that provide bird friendly habitats and can be "duplicated" in back yards throughout our neighborhoods. Loss of habitat and green space is one of the main reasons that we are losing our bird population at an alarming rate. Our P4B program is addressing that issue locally.

  • Purple Martin habitat: In partnership with the MDC, we installed a Purple Martin housing complex with 12 gourds to house Purple Martins. Our hope is that we can establish a colony beachside in New Smyrna and use the colony to both delight and educate our neighbors about Purple Martins, who depend on humans for their "housing needs".

Our vision at SEVAS is to be an environmental leader in our community as we cultivate diversity of birds and other wildlife and impact the policies regarding their habitats through our advocacy, education, conservation and inclusive community involvement.

Interested in learning something new? Education is such an important part of who we are. We accomplish this in a variety of ways.

  • Come to our Speaker Series!  Meetings are held monthly (November through April) with a variety of guest speakers who broaden our knowledge about a variety of environmental issues.

  • Join us on a field trip! We sponsor excellent field trips that take advantage of some of the best bird and wildlife viewing in the state, from beaches to wetlands. Outings are led by members who know the area, the best places to find birds, and are open to all levels of birding abilities. Beginners are encouraged.

  • Participate in our Birds & Brew events! These afternoon walks combine a guided birding outing and a local social.

  • Get involved in our Community Science activities such as The Christmas Bird Count and the Great Backyard Bird Count. Both annual events are sponsored by National Audubon and include people from all over the world.

If caring for our planet, meeting great people and having fun while making a difference is of interest to you, please become part of our SEVAS family.

To learn more, join us on Meetup, Instagram, and Facebook (links below).