The National Audubon Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of birds and their habitats. The organization was founded in 1905 and has since grown to become one of the largest and most influential conservation organizations in the United States. Audubon operates a network of nature centers and sanctuaries across the country, and works to protect and restore critical bird habitats through advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation efforts. The organization is named after John James Audubon, a 19th-century naturalist and artist who is best known for his illustrations of North American birds.