History, Natural History & the Arts
Scientists estimate that between 10,000 and 11,000 known species of birds exist world wide, and participants in the 2026 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) saw 8,257 of them.
That’s according to the final results of the count, a four-day community science project in ornithology conducted annually in mid-February and supported by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. [Read more…] about Great Backyard Bird Count 2026 Results
The 29th annual Great Backyard Bird Count is set for February 13 through 16, 2026. Bird and nature lovers everywhere unite in the effort to tally as many of the world’s bird species as possible over four days.
Combined with other bird counts, GBBC results help create a clearer picture of how birds are faring — whether individual species are declining, increasing, or holding steady in the face of habitat loss, climate change, and other threats. [Read more…] about Great Backyard Bird Count Set for February 13-16, 2026
If you see a bald eagle soaring above Lake George, it is safe to assume that it is descended from one of the scores released in New York State in the 1970s and 80s.
There was nothing inevitable about the return of the bald eagle to the Adirondacks. [Read more…] about Return of the Bald Eagle: A Conservation Success Story
A study published last week in Science reveals that North American bird populations are declining most severely in areas where they should be thriving. Researchers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology analyzed 36 million bird observations shared by birdwatchers to the Cornell Lab’s eBird program alongside multiple environmental variables derived from high-resolution satellite imagery for 495 bird species across North America from 2007 to 2021.
The team set out to develop reliable information about where birds are increasing or decreasing across North America, but the patterns they uncovered were startling. [Read more…] about Study Shows How Millions of Bird Sightings Unlock Precision Conservation
As millions of people tackle their home projects this spring, a timely new campaign offers effective, budget-friendly ways to prevent one of America’s most widespread yet least-known household hazards: bird deaths from window collisions.
More than 1 billion birds die annually from striking glass in the United States alone, making it the third-largest human-caused threat to bird populations — and most of these deaths happen at ordinary homes, not skyscrapers. [Read more…] about DIY Improvements Will Help Save Birds This Spring
The shift begins around the time we turn the clocks ahead, a gradual transition from winter’s steady chorus of chickadees, squawking jays, and crows cawing over the compost pile to – well, more. On an afternoon walk along back roads, I’ll hear an avian uprising and look up to find a large flock of red-winged blackbirds gathered in the still-bare branches overhead. [Read more…] about Learning the Language of Birding
Spring bird migration has begun. Under cover of darkness, 2.5 to 3.5 billion birds will fly northward to their breeding grounds in the United States and Canada. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, now is one of the most important times of year to keep birds safe by reducing non-essential lighting at night and treating window glass so birds can see it and avoid deadly collisions. [Read more…] about Save Spring Migrating Birds: Cut Light Pollution & Treat Glass
Did spring arrive early this year? Some people think so. Apparently, some birds do, too. The NestWatch project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology documents when and where birds are nesting. The evidence from recent years shows that birds are nesting weeks earlier than they used to and this spring may be no exception. [Read more…] about Help NestWatch Track Climate Change’s Impact on Birds
Underwater acoustic recorders have been deployed below the surface of the Hudson River to detect the sounds of fish as they go about their lives. Because many fish make sounds when they hunt, defend their habitats, migrate, and spawn, ecological acoustics can be used to learn about the geographic locations and activities of certain animals. [Read more…] about Soundscapes of the Hudson River Estuary
Now is the time to apply for an annual grant from the Cornell Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative. The Request for Proposals opened at the beginning of January and land trusts are invited to apply for funds to support projects that improve private and protected lands and help build partnerships for birds and conservation. [Read more…] about Cornell Land Trust Bird Conservation Grants Now Available
The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a fun event for bird watchers of all ages and abilities, from beginners to experts. The annual GBBC will be held Friday, February 16, through Monday, February 19, 2024. Participants are needed. [Read more…] about The Annual Great Backyard Bird Count
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Macaulay Library archive has amassed 2 million recordings of sounds from the natural world. The library will host a celebration of this landmark with a presentation on Tuesday, January 16, from 8 until 9 pm EST. [Read more…] about The Wonder of Bird Sounds: A Free Webinar
The Cornell Ornithology Lab’s eBird Status and Trends features colorful maps for 2,000+ bird species, plus a new tool that lets you see custom stats for any region. [Read more…] about Where Are the Birds? Exploring eBird Status and Trends
Many songbirds are nesting earlier in spring because of warmer temperatures brought about by climate change. But the shift brings another danger that is especially deadly for nestlings: greater exposure to temperature variability in the form of cold snaps and heat waves. [Read more…] about Study: Temperature Changes Reduce Bird Nesting Success
The prime directive for Project FeederWatch has been and continues to be gathering data about how bird populations and distributions are changing across the United States and Canada — vital information for conservation. For the 37th season of this project, participants can enter some brand-new kinds of data — and finally get a chance to tell tales about squirrels, deer, raccoons, bears, or other mammals they see at their count sites in winter — in addition to the birds. [Read more…] about Birders, Join the 37th Season of Project FeederWatch
There are 234 species of owls all over the world. From tropical forests to deserts, even in the frigid Arctic, owls rule the night with specialized adaptations that make them keen hunters.
Their sight, hearing, and even the way they fly are specially tuned for their nocturnal lifestyle. Large, broad wings let them stay aloft at a slower, and therefore quieter, pace. Specialized feathers take soundproofing a step further. Comb like serrations on the leading edge of wing feathers and fringes on trailing edges reduce air turbulence and the noise they make as they fly. [Read more…] about The World of Owls
Artificial light at night has a profound effect land-based life – from birds to fireflies to humans. But a new study suggests we need to widen our view to include light pollution‘s effect on coastal marine ecosystems, impacting everything from whales to fish, coral to plankton.
This new synthesis of marine light pollution science is published in the journal Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. [Read more…] about Study: Light Pollution Threatens Coastal Marine Systems
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is going virtual for its Bird Migration Celebration, hosting a series of free webinars during the week of September 13-19, to mark the incredible southward journey of billions of birds. [Read more…] about Free Webinars Celebrate Fall Bird Migration
City life favors species that are adaptable and not too fussy about what they eat, among other characteristics. A worldwide consortium of scientists calls the resulting collection of traits an “Urban Trait Syndrome.” Their study includes data from 379 cities on 6 continents, with the largest data set coming from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird program. The work is published in Nature Communications. [Read more…] about City-Dwelling Wildlife Demonstrate Urban Trait Syndrome
What’s good for the Black-backed Woodpecker is good for restoration of burned California forests. The birds’ unique relationship with fire underpins the latest research into improved post-fire management. A study published in Ecological Applications describes a new tool that factors how fires burn into forest management decisions and turns science into action for wildlife conservation. [Read more…] about Woodpecker Guides Post-Fire Forest Management
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