We never need a reason to celebrate birds here at ±¬ÁϹ«Éç, but in 2018 we’re making an especially big deal of them. That’s because not only is it the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)—a pivotal piece of legislation that continues to save countless birds’ lives—but birds are also facing many new and serious threats, including attacks on the MBTA itself. And so it’s with great excitement that we’ve teamed up with National Geographic, BirdLife International, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to officially make 2018 the Year of the Bird.
What exactly is Year of the Bird? Good question! Throughout the year, all of us partners, along with more than 150 other participating organizations, are celebrating birds across all of our channels—magazines, television, social media, and more. To make Year of the Bird a true success, though, we need you. Each month we’re asking people to take simple actions that will help birds, so make sure you get our monthly action newsletters by clicking the "count me in" link above. You can find out more ways to #birdyourworld over at the , but you’ll also want to keep checking back here, at ±¬ÁϹ«Éç.org, to find new Year of the Bird-related stories every month.
(To see the previous month's featured Year of the Bird action and stories, scroll down.)
It might be hard to believe, but it's true: The Year of the Bird is almost over! For our last monthly action, we're asking all participants to help spread the joy of birds to others in their lives. After all, though the Year of the Bird might be ending, the work of helping birds and raising awareness about their troubles is never over. And so this holiday season, consider sharing your love of birds with someone else in your life. That could mean going for a bird walk together, posting some of your favorite photos online, or yes, even buying people in your life some bird-related gifts. For this last one, check out our 2018 ±¬ÁϹ«Éç Gift Guide and other birdy gift ideas below. And as always, be sure to visit the official to see this month's other featured posts.
Whether novice or expert, backyard birder or a globetrotting adventurer, we’ve got something for everyone on your list. Better yet: For many of these products, their purchase also benefits bird habitat.
When it comes to birdwatching, what you choose to look through makes all the difference.
Writer Kirk Johnson accidentally becomes part of the search for the pilfered specimens in this excerpt from the “The Feather Thief."
Summer is prime time to share the thrills of outdoor exploration with young ones.
By encouraging us to focus on the basics, veteran authors Pete Dunne and Kevin Karlson strive to make gulls less intimidating.
Jane Kim's mural documents the rise of Aves across the world, while staying true to the artist’s aesthetic.
Whether you own professional gear or just like snapping shots with your smartphone, photography is a great way to further your appreciation for birds and share their beauty with the rest of the world. That's why this month we are asking you to a community where amateur photographers can submit their photos and get expert feedback. Anyone can participate, so head on over to the page to find out more. While you're there, check out this month's featured posts from our partners. And before you head out in the field, make sure to peruse ±¬ÁϹ«Éç's handy tips and how-tos on bird photography below.
Showing a sincere respect for birds and the places they need to thrive must come before getting that perfect photo or footage. Here’s how to capture bird photos and videos responsibly.
The impulse to shoot your subject at close range can be powerful, but there are several reasons why that's not best for the animal—or the image.
If you’re just getting into bird photography, the first challenge is finding the right gear. Here’s what you need to know.
Follow these three simple tips to capture the best shot possible.
Great light and the right perspective can really turn your shot around.
Mastering basic DSLR techniques like f-stops and shutter speeds will make your images stand out.
Fall is officially here, and you know what that means: migration! (If you said pumpkin-spiced lattes, we'll give you a pass.) As in spring, billions of birds are currently on the move, but this time they are heading south to their wintering grounds. As with May's action, this month were asking you to put on your community-scientist hat by participating in Cornell's Global Big Day on October 6th. On this day, you can contribute to a worldwide conservation project by logging all the birds you see in a 24-hour period. For more on how to get involved, . And before you head out for your big day or to do any fall birding this month, be sure to download our new-and-improved free ±¬ÁϹ«Éç bird guide app. For more identification tips, you can also see this month's featured post below, which helps you learn the fall and winter plumage of five common birds.
After breeding season ends, some birds adopt a new, unique look. Here's how to remember them.
With autumn on the horizon, you can soon witness—up close and in person—billions of wings on the go in peak season. Here are six of my favorite lookouts.
Study the finer details of migrating warblers with our handy photo guide.
Migrants heading south face myriad man-made obstacles, but there are actions we can all take to save their lives.
A manicured lawn might look nice, but messy is better for birds and bugs.
Grab your favorite field guide and hit the trails to see one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth.
Each year, billions of birds migrate north in the spring and south in the fall. Along the way, though, they now face all sorts of man-made challenges. Whether it be from endless expanses of concrete to invisible windows and confusing artificial lights, the number of migrating birds that die every year is estimated to be as many as 1 billion. But it doesn't have to be this way. Making windows bird-safe, turning off your lights, planting native plants, encouraging bird-friendly architecture in your community—these are all ways you can help birds have a safer migration. So for September, our ask is to do everything you can to help birds have a safe migration this fall. You can read more about how to do this and how lights and windows pose dangers to migrating birds in our featured posts below.
Migrants heading south face myriad man-made obstacles, but there are actions we can all take to save their lives.
As many as one billion North American birds die each year in after colliding with windows. Innovations can help them steer clear.
A new study, based at New York City's 9/11 tribute, shows that artificial lights lure birds from their migratory routes.
Migrating songbirds can get caught in the memorial’s beams of light. Here’s how NYC ±¬ÁϹ«Éç gets them out.
With input from local wildlife groups and birders, the owners are shutting down the lights and turning up the dialogue around bird-friendly practices.
Birdfeeders and trees help birds, but they also increase the likelihood of deadly window impacts. Here’s how to make your yard truly bird friendly.
417! That's how many sites across the U.S. the National Park Service manages. Collectively called our national park system, these protected places range from important historical and cultural sites to some of the country's most stunning and important habitat. And yet, many people have only visited a handful of these parks, and oftentimes they are the most famous ones: Acadia, Yellowstone, Zion, to name a few. That's why this month our is to get out there and discover your national parks—go explore new ones, or just revisit some of your favorites. Whatever you do, make this month about appreciating the incredible treasure that is our national park system. For inspiration on where to hit first, check out this month's featured post highlighting 10 surprisingly birdy parks, as well our other related stories. And be sure to give yourself plenty of time to comb through ±¬ÁϹ«Éç's recent and sprawling climate report on the future of birds in our national parks. For more stories or to just join the Year of the Bird, visit the .
You don't have to visit Yosemite to see a lot of species.
A new ±¬ÁϹ«Éç study on how climate change will affect birds in our country’s most treasured natural places.
It's National Park Week, so go make use of all those excellent birding destinations. There are a lot more than you think.
Celebrate 100 years with a little birding and a lot of adventure in America's most beautiful spots.
Public lands let us experience wildness in spaces where nature and history converge. How do we make them more inclusive to all?
A photographer documents the hidden wildlife and historical collections at America's famous natural monuments.
We're smack in the middle of summer, and for many children across the country, that means one thing: no school! Unfortunately, that does not necessarily mean they will spend their free time outside, playing in sprinklers, exploring their local woods and streams, and just generally getting good and dirty. Kids are going outside less and less, and so for this month, our Year of the Bird action is to take a child into nature. Whether it's your own kid or somone else's (please ask permission first), devote some time this month to helping at least one child discover and enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature. Below you can find our featured posts for ways to get kids into birding, but also be sure to check out the official website for more stories and tips from our partner organizations.
Helping the next generation learn the joys of birding is important, but first you have to make it fun. Try these tips.
Instagram feeds and internships are encouraging young people of color to join the environmental movement. But we can do more.
Children are curious, imaginative, and resourceful. By nurturing those traits, you can turn them into young birders, too.
A solid field guide will give them a head start on IDing common species. Here are some options to help shape their skills.
In a rural California county, an outdoor-first approach to education has students excited about the natural world.
Kids are natural explorers. Here are some tips and games to encourage that impulse from ±¬ÁϹ«Éç experts.
You probably know this by now, but it bears repeating: Plastic is absolutely terrible for the environment. It takes forever to degrade, spreads easily, and ends up harming wildlife across the globe. Unfortunately, our use of the stuff isn't going to stop—plastic is just too convenient. But there is plenty you can do on an individual level to reduce your own plastic waste. That's why this month we're asking you to show your support for the Year of the Bird by committing to cutting plastic from as much of your life as possible. You can read more about why plastic is so bad at the , and you can begin reducing your own plastic footprint by following the eight easy steps we outline below in this month's featured posts.
By doing so, you'll be helping birds and other wildlife.
A study on ocean-bound plastic gives the first comprehensive estimate of this large-scale problem.
The amount of plastic trash ending up in the birds' nests appears to be increasing—with dangerous and deadly results.
Without human intervention, dozens of the magnificent seabirds would starve to death at their nesting site each year.
New research shows that certain seabirds associate a scent produced by common plastics with potential meals—much to their detriment.
But not for the reason you might think.
Spring is upon us! Migration is in full swing and birds are returning to their summer breeding grounds. Each year, tracking when certain birds show up where helps to create conservation strategies to protect them well into the future. Because of that, this month's actions are to participate in Cornell's Global Big Day and ±¬ÁϹ«Éç's new Climate Watch program. For the Global Big Day, which is on May 5, you can contribute to a worldwide community-science project by logging all the birds you see in a 24-hour period. For more on how to get involved, . And after you're done with that, check out ±¬ÁϹ«Éç's Climate Watch page to learn about our newest community-science project, led by ±¬ÁϹ«Éç senior scientist Brooke Bateman. You can read more about Climate Watch and Brooke in the profile of her below. Also featured this month are some birding and ID stories that should give you an edge this spring, whether you're participating in the Global Big Day, helping out with Climate Watch, or just out to enjoy all of those colorful visitors migrating through.
As a senior scientist for the ±¬ÁϹ«Éç, Bateman's work focuses on helping birds survive climate change.
A pilot program called Climate Watch aims to use on-the-ground observations to validate ±¬ÁϹ«Éç’s climate modeling, which predicts how birds’ territory ranges will shift in response to a changing climate.
±¬ÁϹ«Éç's new National Parks climate study projects some surprising range expansions, but history shows such changes are possible—and likely.
Part one in our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.
Before you start identifying vireos, you need to stop confusing them with other similar families of songbirds.
Harness the power of the tweet and up your rarity-finding success.
One-hundred years ago, our country's most important bird-protection law was signed. Since then, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act has saved countless birds' lives from human threats. Back then, hunters and poachers were the biggest concerns. Now, industrial hazards such as oil pits and power lines endanger birds daily. Thanks to the MBTA, industries must work to prevent bird deaths caused by their activities and equipment. Despite all of the MBTA's success, though, the Trump Administration and some in Congress are trying to weaken the law by giving a free pass to industries. From nefarious language in bills to a damaging new interpretation of the Act, the MBTA is under attack. So, as migrants return to your yard this spring, don't just help them with bird seed and water. To read more about the MBTA, its history, and the dangers industrial traps pose to birds, check out this month's featured posts.
Don’t know what the MBTA even is? Here’s your comprehensive guide to the Act—including why it's at risk.
The law has already saved billions of birds’ lives. Here’s how it’s accomplished so much in its 100-year history.
There are easy ways to reduce bird deaths from manmade hazards.
The landmark law that has saved billions of birds is at risk.
Last year thousands of geese died after being poisoned by the waters of Montana's Berkeley Pit. To prevent future such disasters at the former copper mine, a variety of new tools and warning systems are being tested.
Raptors and wind energy have a fraught history. Could these innovations allow them to co-exist? 
Good news: Spring is almost here! Not only does that mean migrants will be arriving soon, but that means it's also time to get gardening. So for this month's Year of the Bird action, we're asking everyone to help birds by giving them the best backyard (or stoop, or balcony, or wherever) with native plants. How do you know if a plant is native? That’s what our handy native plants database is for. Just plug in your zip code and you’ll find native plants for your area—and the birds that love them. To learn more about how native plants—and you—can help birds, you can watch the video below and explore this month’s featured posts. And if you haven't joined the Year of the Bird yet, just hit "count me in" above.
Native plants beat even the best bird feeder. Here’s what to put in your garden to transform it into a year-round wonderland.
Bird-friendly landscaping provides food, saves water, and fights climate change.
A birder's run-in with unexpected warblers taught him how migratory songbirds use native trees and plants.
With this simple DIY, you can spread the power of native plants far and wide.
The study found that oaks and other native trees deliver a major chunk of the Carolina Chickadee’s insect-intensive diet.
Even apartment dwellers can lure birds to their windows with container gardens. Here's how to get yours ready for spring migration.
For birders around the world, February means one thing: the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). Now in its 21st year, the GBBC (February 16-19) is a fun, easy activity that can take as little as 15 minutes and contributes to a global body of research. This month we’re asking everyone participating in the Year of the Bird to help science and birds by taking part in the GBBC. You can learn more about the GBBC and what you'll need to do in the first featured story below. Then, get prepped by reviewing our list of 15 common birds and finding the best bird guide for you. Also worth checking out are our guides to using eBird and Twitter, both of which are extremely handy tools for birders. And finally, in case you need a new pair of binoculars, take a spin through our ±¬ÁϹ«Éç binocular guide, which covers entry-level binocs to the premium goods. Until next month, happy counting!
It’s free, it’s fun, and it helps scientific research. Here's how to participate in this annual February tradition that spans the globe.
Want to put names to species you regularly see? Start with this beginner's guide.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking for the perfect warbler app, you’ll find the right guide here.
A powerful tool for tracking sightings can change the way you bird.
When it comes to birdwatching, what you choose to look through makes all the difference.
Harness the power of the tweet and up your rarity-finding success.
To kick off the Year of the Bird, we’re asking people to recommit themselves to helping birds and to protecting the places they need. So if you haven't signed up already, And for inspiration, among this month's featured posts you'll find an introduction to the Year of the Bird by ±¬ÁϹ«Éç's President and CEO, David Yarnold; a piece on how birds bring people together; a history of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and its important role in conservation; and an essay on how the birding community can lift each other up, by ±¬ÁϹ«Éç board member J. Drew Lanham. In addition, learn more about how climate change threatens birds in ±¬ÁϹ«Éç's Birds and Climate Change Report, read everyone from famous directors to long-time ±¬ÁϹ«Éç staffers on why birds matter, and finally, just enjoy some striking images of birds from our 2017 ±¬ÁϹ«Éç Photography Awards.
A broad and timely alliance between ±¬ÁϹ«Éç, National Geographic, BirdLife, and Cornell steps up to protect birds and the places they need. A note from David Yarnold, ±¬ÁϹ«Éç's president and CEO.
In such a divisive age, those things with feathers bring people together in so many inspiring—and creative—ways.
The law has already saved billions of birds’ lives. Here’s how it’s accomplished so much in its 100-year history.
After a racist encounter in the field, a birder reflects on the disturbing incident and the community that helped lift him back up.
Shrinking and shifting ranges could imperil nearly half of U.S. birds within this century.
From authors to ornithologists, avian enthusiasts share their thoughts.
Explore the incredible pool of photographs our judges had to choose from, along with each image's backstory.
Let us send you the latest in bird and conservation news.
