Tropical Audubon Society
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Established as a National Audubon Society chapter in 1947, Tropical Audubon Society (TAS) traces its roots to the 1915 Coconut Grove Audubon Society, the first in Dade County. TAS is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt conservation organization. Its historic Doc Thomas House headquarters (with adjoining Steinberg Nature Center) occupies 2.2 acres of High Pines property, primarily consisting of pine rockland and hardwood hammock habitats and is located right next to the bustling South Miami downtown area.
Mission
Tropical Audubon Society endeavors to conserve and restore natural South Florida ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats through advocacy and education for the benefit of biological diversity and humanity itself.
John James Audubon
Tropical Audubon Society is a chapter of National Audubon Society and AudubonFlorida. The storied name we share belongs to the great American ornithologist, wildlife artist and naturalist John James Audubon, who lived from 1785 until 1851. His famous forays into the wilderness produced a trove of incomparable drawings and paintings of birds and other wildlife in their preferred habitats. Indeed, 21st-century artists are still measured by the supreme artistic standards set by Audubon in the 19th century.
Tropical Audubon Society Heritage
In sifting through archived documents relating to the National Register of Historic Places application for the Doc Thomas House, it was discovered that TAS formally traces its South Florida roots to April 1915. TAS volunteer and retired educator Dan Jones has distilled the most relevant milestones into an article that documents over 100 years of Audubon presence in South Florida.
Doc Thomas and His House
The rustic and charming Doc Thomas House sits in stark contrast to the bustling downtown South Miami corridor in which it is tucked. Presiding over nearly 2.2 wooded acres along Sunset Drive, its near-native setting boasts some of the only Dade County pines remaining in the neighborhood known as High Pines. Built in 1931-32 at a cost of $4,500 and utilized today as a TAS headquarters, the house’s wide front porch, original wood sash windows, applied wood cornices and other detailed woodwork distinguish it from the otherwise largely concrete-block homes and commercial construction that surrounds it.
Steinberg Nature Center
In 2011, the TAS board voted to formally name the 2.2-acre campus the society occupies on Sunset Drive in honor of longtime environmentalist, birder and board member Alan Steinberg. Our grounds, comprised of rare Pine Rockland Hammock and Rockland Hammock, have since been known as The Steinberg Nature Center. It was so dedicated in March 2012 in acknowledgement of Steinberg’s significant contributions — both financial and pro bono — over more than 30 years of service to Tropical Audubon.
Staff
Tropical Audubon Society's dedicated Staff is a small, dynamic group of impassioned environmentalists, educators and communicators advocating relentlessly to advance the TAS Mission and build Community through Conservation. Each staff member brings unique skill sets to their respective roles, assuring "South Florida's Voice of Conservation" is broadcast to an ever-expanding, diverse audience, resulting in increased visibility for the organization and measurable environmental achievements.
Board of Directors
Tropical Audubon Society's esteemed Board of Directors donates time, resources and expertise to advance the organization's Mission. TAS bylaws permit up to 27 Elected Directors, 2 Appointed Directors and 2 Student Directors.
The BOD may also honor a member or nonmember as an Honorary Director by virtue of outstanding accomplishment in conservation, or in protection of the natural environment, or for noteworthy service to TAS. The BOD may also elect Advisory Directors — experts in their respective fields who are willing to support the Society's Mission, objectives and programs. To remain relevant and energized, the TAS BOD welcomes new directors annually whose varying backgrounds and experiences enrich the BOD and thereby enhance the TAS Mission.
Field Trip Leaders
Tropical Audubon has an amazing team of field trip leaders, ready to assist you in finding and identifying south Florida's incredible flora and fauna. Want to know more about our leaders? Want to find out about each leader's upcoming trips?