The Ornithological Council wrote to the new Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, congratulating her on her confirmation. In that letter, the OC also highlighted some priorities for the new administration, such as rescinding the previous administration’s dangerous reinterpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and reviewing the grounding of the department’s fleet of unmanned arial vehicles, or drones.

Haaland was a freshman Representative during the 116th Congress, representing New Mexico, and served on the Committee on Natural Resources. She is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna and is the first Native American Secretary of the Interior – and the first Native American cabinet member.