Painted Bunting. Zachary Webster/Audubon Photography Awards

2018 Is the Year of the Bird


Join the National Audubon Society, National Geographic, BirdLife International, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in a yearlong celebration of birds.

__________

Help build a better world for birds by taking a simple but meaningful action each month.
Count Me In
__________
 

We never need a reason to celebrate birds here at Audubon, 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 official Year of the Bird website, but you’ll also want to keep checking back here, at Audubon.org, to find new Year of the Bird-related stories every month. 


December's Monthly Action: Share Your Love of Birds This Holiday Season 

(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 Audubon Gift Guide and other birdy gift ideas below. And as always, be sure to visit the official Year of the Bird website to see this month's other featured posts.  

Featured Posts

Holiday Gift Guide

Perfect Gifts for the Bird and Nature Lovers in Your Life

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.
Birding

The Audubon Guide to Binoculars

When it comes to birdwatching, what you choose to look through makes all the difference.
Books

On the Hunt for Hundreds of Rare Birds Stolen From a Museum

Writer Kirk Johnson accidentally becomes part of the search for the pilfered specimens in this excerpt from the “The Feather Thief."
Books

Seven Birdy Books for Kids (and the Kid Inside of You)

Summer is prime time to share the thrills of outdoor exploration with young ones.
Books

This New Guide Finally Simplifies Gull IDs

By encouraging us to focus on the basics, veteran authors Pete Dunne and Kevin Karlson strive to make gulls less intimidating.
Books

A New Book Illustrates the Story of Birds on Every Continent

Jane Kim's mural documents the rise of Aves across the world, while staying true to the artist’s aesthetic.

November's Monthly Action:  Capture the Beauty of Birds on Camera 

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 go on assignment with National Geographic Your Shot, a community where amateur photographers can submit their photos and get expert feedback. Anyone can participate, so head on over to the official Year of the Bird 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 Audubon's handy tips and how-tos on bird photography below. 

Audubon Photography Awards

Audubon’s Guide to Ethical Bird Photography and Videography

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.
Ethics

Why Closer Is Not Always Better When Photographing Birds

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.
Tips and How-Tos

How to Choose Your Equipment

If you’re just getting into bird photography, the first challenge is finding the right gear. Here’s what you need to know.
Tips and How-Tos

How to Compose the Perfect Bird Photo

Follow these three simple tips to capture the best shot possible.
Tips and How-Tos

How to Use Lighting and Angles to Take Better Bird Photos

Great light and the right perspective can really turn your shot around.
Tips and How-Tos

How to Get the Right Exposure for Photographing Birds

Mastering basic DSLR techniques like f-stops and shutter speeds will make your images stand out.

October's Monthly Action: Participate in Cornell's Global Big Day 

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 Year of the Bird 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, visit Cornell's Big Day website. 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 Audubon 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. 

Featured Posts

Year of the Bird

Learn the Fall and Winter Colors of These Common Bird Species

After breeding season ends, some birds adopt a new, unique look. Here's how to remember them.
Birding

Fall Migration Hot Spots

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.
ID Tips

How to Recognize Six Warblers in Their Fall Feathers

Study the finer details of migrating warblers with our handy photo guide.
Year of the Bird

Three Ways You Can Help Migrating Birds This Fall

Migrants heading south face myriad man-made obstacles, but there are actions we can all take to save their lives.
Native Plants

To Help Birds This Winter, Go Easy on Fall Yard Work

A manicured lawn might look nice, but messy is better for birds and bugs.
Birding

8 Great Fall Birding Trails

Grab your favorite field guide and hit the trails to see one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth.

September's Featured Action: Help Birds Have a Safe Migration 

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 Year of the Bird 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. 

Featured Posts

Year of the Bird

Three Ways You Can Help Migrating Birds This Fall

Migrants heading south face myriad man-made obstacles, but there are actions we can all take to save their lives.
News

By Design: An Architectural Awakening Could Save Billions of Birds

As many as one billion North American birds die each year in after colliding with windows. Innovations can help them steer clear.
News

We Finally Know How Bright Lights Affect Birds Flying at Night

A new study, based at New York City's 9/11 tribute, shows that artificial lights lure birds from their migratory routes.
Birds are attracted to the light of the 9/11 tribute. This photograph appeared in the Sept-Oct 2013 Audubon Magazine issue. Kai Schreiber/Flickr Creative Commons
Birds in the News

Making the 9/11 Memorial Lights Bird-Safe

Migrating songbirds can get caught in the memorial’s beams of light. Here’s how NYC Audubon gets them out.
Bird-Friendly Communities

Lights Out for the Texas Skyscraper That Caused Hundreds of Songbird Deaths

With input from local wildlife groups and birders, the owners are shutting down the lights and turning up the dialogue around bird-friendly practices.
News

Think You Have a Bird-Friendly Backyard? Think Again.

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.

August's Featured Action: Discover Your National Parks 

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 Year of the Bird action 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 Audubon'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 official website

Featured Posts

Year of the Bird

10 National Parks That Are Surprisingly Great for Birding

You don't have to visit Yosemite to see a lot of species.
Olympic National Park. Jon Bilous/Alamy
News

The Future of Birds in Our National Parks

A new Audubon study on how climate change will affect birds in our country’s most treasured natural places.
The Birdist’s Rules of Birding

Birdist Rule #86: Take Advantage of Our Incredible National Park System

It's National Park Week, so go make use of all those excellent birding destinations. There are a lot more than you think.
News

Summer Birding in the National Parks

Celebrate 100 years with a little birding and a lot of adventure in America's most beautiful spots.
Image of marsh grasses and water on a sunny day.
News

What We Lose When We Forget the History of Our Public Lands

Public lands let us experience wildness in spaces where nature and history converge. How do we make them more inclusive to all?
Books

Why National Parks Are Actually Secret Museums

A photographer documents the hidden wildlife and historical collections at America's famous natural monuments.

July's Featured Action: Take a Child into Nature 

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 Year of the Bird website for more stories and tips from our partner organizations. 

Featured Posts

The Birdist’s Rules of Birding

Birdist Rule #7: Take a Kid Birding

Helping the next generation learn the joys of birding is important, but first you have to make it fun. Try these tips.
News

Teresa Baker, Activist and Hiker, on Why Kids Are the Future of Our Public Lands

Instagram feeds and internships are encouraging young people of color to join the environmental movement. But we can do more.
News

How to Feed Your Kid's Urge to Bird

Children are curious, imaginative, and resourceful. By nurturing those traits, you can turn them into young birders, too.
News

Six Kid-Friendly Bird Guides

A solid field guide will give them a head start on IDing common species. Here are some options to help shape their skills.
Native Plants

How One Audubon Chapter Is Partnering With Schools to Get Kids Outside

In a rural California county, an outdoor-first approach to education has students excited about the natural world.
News

Easy Ways to Get Kids Birding

Kids are natural explorers. Here are some tips and games to encourage that impulse from Audubon experts.

June's Featured Action: Cut Out the Plastics 

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 official Year of the Bird website, and you can begin reducing your own plastic footprint by following the eight easy steps we outline below in this month's featured posts. 

Featured Posts

Year of the Bird

Eight Easy Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Waste

By doing so, you'll be helping birds and other wildlife.
Science

How Much Plastic Is Marooned at Sea?

A study on ocean-bound plastic gives the first comprehensive estimate of this large-scale problem.
News

More Plastic in the World Means More Plastic in Osprey Nests

The amount of plastic trash ending up in the birds' nests appears to be increasing—with dangerous and deadly results.
Flock Together

An Annual Rescue Mission to Free Northern Gannets Tangled in Plastic Trash

Without human intervention, dozens of the magnificent seabirds would starve to death at their nesting site each year.
News

Why Do Some Seabirds Eat So Much Plastic? It Smells Like Food.

New research shows that certain seabirds associate a scent produced by common plastics with potential meals—much to their detriment.

Plastic Ingestion Killing Shearwaters

But not for the reason you might think.

May's Featured Action: Participate in Cornell's Global Big Day and Audubon's Climate Watch 

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 Year of the Bird actions are to participate in Cornell's Global Big Day and Audubon'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, visit Cornell's Big Day website. And after you're done with that, check out Audubon's Climate Watch page to learn about our newest community-science project, led by Audubon 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. 

Featured Posts

News

Audubon Spotlight: Brooke Bateman Is on Climate Watch

As a senior scientist for the National Audubon Society, Bateman's work focuses on helping birds survive climate change.
News

Audubon Volunteers Are Counting Bluebirds and Nuthatches to Better Understand Climate Change

A pilot program called Climate Watch aims to use on-the-ground observations to validate Audubon’s climate modeling, which predicts how birds’ territory ranges will shift in response to a changing climate.
News

Climate Change Could Cause Shifts in Bird Ranges That Seem Unbelievable Today

Audubon's new National Parks climate study projects some surprising range expansions, but history shows such changes are possible—and likely.
Birding By Ear

How to Start Identifying Birds by Their Songs and Calls

Part one in our new series to help you build your birding skills—and love of birds—by learning how to bird by ear.
ID Tips

How to Tell Vireos From Warblers, Flycatchers, and Kinglets

Before you start identifying vireos, you need to stop confusing them with other similar families of songbirds.
News

How Twitter Can Make You a Better Birder

Harness the power of the tweet and up your rarity-finding success.

April's Featured Action: Speak Up for Migratory Birds 

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. Speak up for birds by showing your support for a strong MBTA. To read more about the MBTA,  its history, and the dangers industrial traps pose to birds, check out this month's featured posts.  

Featured Posts

Conservation

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Explained

Don’t know what the MBTA even is? Here’s your comprehensive guide to the Act—including why it's at risk.
News

The History and Evolution of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act

The law has already saved billions of birds’ lives. Here’s how it’s accomplished so much in its 100-year history.
News

Five Deadly Industrial Traps for Birds That We Can Prevent

There are easy ways to reduce bird deaths from manmade hazards.
Audubon View

If You Care About Birds, Protect the MBTA

The landmark law that has saved billions of birds is at risk.
News

Lasers, Drones, and Air Cannons: Inside the Effort to Save Migrating Waterfowl From a Toxic Death

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.
News

How New Technology Is Making Wind Farms Safer for Birds

Raptors and wind energy have a fraught history. Could these innovations allow them to co-exist? 

March’s Featured Action: Grow Native Plants! 

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. 
 

Featured Stories

Native Plants

Grow These Native Plants So Your Backyard Birds Can Feast

Native plants beat even the best bird feeder. Here’s what to put in your garden to transform it into a year-round wonderland.
Native Plants

Why Native Plants Are Better for Birds and People

Bird-friendly landscaping provides food, saves water, and fights climate change.
Native Plants

A Guide to Luring Warblers, Tanagers, Orioles, and Grosbeaks to Your Yard

A birder's run-in with unexpected warblers taught him how migratory songbirds use native trees and plants.
Activities

Making Seed Balls to Help Birds

With this simple DIY, you can spread the power of native plants far and wide.
News

New Research Further Proves Native Plants Offer More Bugs for Birds

The study found that oaks and other native trees deliver a major chunk of the Carolina Chickadee’s insect-intensive diet.
Native Plants

Brighten Up Your Balcony or Patio with a DIY Native-Plant Garden

Even apartment dwellers can lure birds to their windows with container gardens. Here's how to get yours ready for spring migration.

 February's Featured Action: Take Part in the Great Backyard Bird Count

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 Audubon binocular guide, which covers entry-level binocs to the premium goods. Until next month, happy counting! 

Featured Stories

News

How to Take Part in the Great Backyard Bird Count

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.
News

Get to Know These 20 Common Birds

Want to put names to species you regularly see? Start here.
On the right a stack of bird guide seats on the ground, on the left a person wearing boots.
Gear Advice

What Bird Guide Is Best For You?

Whether you’re just getting started or looking for the perfect warbler app, you’ll find the right guide here.
Lesley Val Adams/Great Backyard Bird Count Participant.
News

How to Use eBird

A powerful tool for tracking sightings can change the way you bird.
Birding

The Audubon Guide to Binoculars

When it comes to birdwatching, what you choose to look through makes all the difference.
News

How Twitter Can Make You a Better Birder

Harness the power of the tweet and up your rarity-finding success.



January’s Featured Action: Join the Cause! 

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, please do! And for inspiration, among this month's featured posts you'll find an introduction to the Year of the Bird by Audubon'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 Audubon board member J. Drew Lanham. In addition, learn more about how climate change threatens birds in Audubon's Birds and Climate Change Report, read everyone from famous directors to long-time Audubon staffers on why birds matter, and finally, just enjoy some striking images of birds from our 2017 Audubon Photography Awards. 

Audubon View

Get Ready for the Year of the Bird

A broad and timely alliance between Audubon, National Geographic, BirdLife, and Cornell steps up to protect birds and the places they need. A note from David Yarnold, Audubon's president and CEO.

Featured Stories

Year of the Bird

How Birds Bind Us

In such a divisive age, those things with feathers bring people together in so many inspiring—and creative—ways.
News

The History and Evolution of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act

The law has already saved billions of birds’ lives. Here’s how it’s accomplished so much in its 100-year history.
Year of the Bird

The United State of Birding

After a racist encounter in the field, a birder reflects on the disturbing incident and the community that helped lift him back up.
Audubon Climate Initiative

Audubon's Birds and Climate Change Report

Shrinking and shifting ranges could imperil nearly half of U.S. birds within this century.
News

Why Do Birds Matter?

From authors to ornithologists, avian enthusiasts share their thoughts.
Audubon Photography Awards

The 2017 Audubon Photography Awards: Top 100

Explore the incredible pool of photographs our judges had to choose from, along with each image's backstory.