National Bird Day: A New Year’s Flight Path for Birds and People

Today is National Bird Day, which is coinciding with the close of the annual Christmas Bird Count. It’s a moment to celebrate the beauty of birds that grace our skies and landscapes, and to spotlight what’s needed to halt the decades-long decline in their populations, as documented by scientists.

The day also reminds us why birds matter. Protecting them helps safeguard the natural and sustainable systems we all depend on – clean water, healthy forests, productive farmland, and resilient coastlines – as well as the billion-dollar birdwatching industry that supports local economies across the hemisphere.

Birds inspire joy and wonder, and their cultural and ecological significance can open doors for dialogue, collaboration and innovation. National Bird Day arriving at the start of a new year feels especially fitting, a time for reflection and resolve.  As we reflect on progress made in 2025 and look ahead to 2026, Audubon is grounded in hope. As Lauren Jackson writes, “While optimism is the belief that the future will be better, hope is the belief that we have the power to make it so.”

A Flight Path of Conservation Progress

Birds don’t recognize political borders. They migrate along rivers, forests, deserts, and coastlines that span states, nations, and entire hemispheres. Their survival depends on a connected network of healthy habitats, a stable climate, and safe places to rest and feed along the way.

Conservation works much the same way. Progress happens when strong science, sound policy, and community-led action align across local, state, federal, and international levels. In 2025, a year marked by political transition and shifting environmental policy, we saw meaningful conservation gains across that network. And in 2026, there is an opportunity to build on that momentum.

Here are four key “stopovers” along that flight path.

Stopover 1: Protecting Habitats and Communities

In 2025, important steps were taken to protect ecosystems whose benefits extend far beyond any single place. The designation of Chuckwalla National Monument safeguarded sacred lands and vast desert habitat critical for birds stressed by rising temperatures. Efforts to sell off public lands were halted, ensuring millions of acres remain available for wildlife, recreation, and traditional uses.

At the state level, community-driven efforts protected coastal habitat in Florida, while bipartisan leadership in Minnesota secured funding for wetlands, marsh bird surveys, and habitat restoration.

Internationally, new protected areas advanced in Canada through partnerships with Indigenous nations. Recognition of Audubon’s work by the Chilean government is also opening doors to new funding and greater flexibility to conserve migratory bird habitats across the southern tip of the western hemisphere.

Looking ahead to 2026:
Passing the Local Communities and Bird Habitat Stewardship Act, which is already introduced in the House, will help scale locally led conservation projects nationwide, supporting communities that are ready to protect the places birds need.

Stopover 2: Strengthening Working Lands

Working lands play a critical role in bird conservation. In 2025, Congress increased funding for programs that support sustainable agricultural practices, helping farmers and ranchers improve soil health, protect water quality, and maintain habitat for grassland birds.

Looking ahead to 2026:
Reauthorizing the Farm Bill is the year’s biggest opportunity to secure long-term investments that keep farms and forests productive while expanding habitat for birds. This includes scaling North Dakota’s Conservation Forage Program to provide landowners opportunities to convert marginal cropland to productive pasture, which will simultaneously improve soil health and water quality.

Stopover 3: Keeping Rivers, Wetlands, and Estuaries Thriving

Healthy water systems are essential for birds and people alike. In 2025, the Everglades secured $425 million in federal funding, along with a commitment to complete a key reservoir by 2029, restoring water flow across south Florida.

In the Ohio River Basin, bipartisan lawmakers introduced new legislation to support habitat restoration, farm conservation, invasive species control, and pollution prevention.

Looking ahead to 2026:
Congress can build on this progress by passing the Water Resources Development Act, advancing river and wetland restoration projects nationwide. Necessary updates to the Colorado River Basin water plans also offer a rare opportunity for long-term collaboration in a region facing historic drought. Renewed attention to watershed-based programs, from the Great Lakes and the Delaware and Ohio river basins to the Upper Mississippi, can strengthen the ecological corridors birds depend on.

Stopover 4: Investing in the Future Birds Need

2025 also saw progress through strategic investment and leadership. Congress approved new revenue-sharing provisions tied to renewable energy development, supporting states and localities where this development is underway. Federal initiatives to strengthen forest resilience moved forward, reducing wildfire risk and supporting healthy ecosystems.

At the state level, New York’s Horseshoe Crab Protection Act offered renewed hope for Red Knots and other migratory birds. Globally, growing recognition of nature’s role in climate resilience helped unlock billions of dollars to protect tropical and subtropical forests.

Looking ahead to 2026:
Stable funding for bird monitoring programs like the Bird Banding Lab and Breeding Bird Survey is essential. Increased investment in WaterSMART can help communities adapt to drought. And as countries update climate commitments, stronger targets will be critical to protecting habitats worldwide.

The Journey Continues

From deserts and wetlands to coastlines and forests, 2025 showed that conservation progress is strongest when communities, scientists, policymakers, and Tribal and Indigenous leaders work together.

As we move into 2026, sustained leadership and public engagement will be essential. The power of birds lies not only in their beauty, but in their ability to inspire connection, shared purpose, and hope. In this new year, that hope moves us to action, reminding us we have the power to shape a future where birds, people, and nature can all flourish.