7 Citizen Science Projects for Bird Lovers

Looking to go birding and help conservation? Here are our picks for some of the best bird-related citizen science projects.

Lisa Feldkamp

Shorebirds Are Still Being Hunted, Often Legally

When two satellite-tagged whimbrels that researchers named Machi and Goshen were shot, the birding world was shocked. What’s more shocking? Many shorebirds are shot each year, often legally.

Joe Smith

Can Drones Help Monitor Vultures on Mongolia’s Eastern Steppe?

Conservancy scientists are testing whether unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, are an effective tool to monitor Cinereous Vulture populations in Mongolia’s Kherlen Toono Uul Nature Reserve.

Justine E. Hausheer

The Alligator in the Basement: Breeding Bird Colonies Benefit Alligator Health in the Florida Everglades

Scientists have discovered that alligators living near nesting bird colonies in the Florida Everglades are healthier than those without access to this food resource.

Justine E. Hausheer

Ten Strange, Endearing and Alarming Animal Courtship Rituals

To celebrate humans' holiday of love and romance, our blogger asked biologists for tales of fascinating animal mating habits. Here are some of the strangest and most endearing.

Christine Peterson

A Long Journey to 5,000 Birds: 34 Years, 6 Continents, & 47 Countries

Conservancy birder Tim Boucher just saw his 5,000th life bird. But what does it take to see 5,000 of anything? And what has he learned through 34 years of birding?

Timothy Boucher

How Do Birds Stay Warm on a Cold Winter’s Night?

Winter is a tough time for birds, but a warm place to sleep can give them an edge. A scientist’s look at the cozy, and often crazy, hideouts birds choose as their winter bedrooms.

Joe Smith

Snow Birds: 10 Birds to Look for in Winter

Winter birding isn’t easy, but it is amazing. If you’re ready to brave the cold, here are 10 winter-only species to search for this month.

Justine E. Hausheer

Recovery: The Miracle on Palmyra

Palmyra Atoll has recovered from many calamities, but it couldn’t recover from rats. Can a dying ecosystem be brought back to life? Ted Williams reports.

Ted Williams

Raising Cranes: Can Grain Fields Save a Bird?

Greater sandhill cranes' numbers have plummeted since the 1990s in the Greater Yellowstone region. Can a new effort that pays farmers for unharvested grain help?

Kris Millgate

Protected Areas Are Falling Short for Migratory Birds

Compared to other species, the world’s nearly 10,000 birds receive a lot of conservation attention. But what if one of our most common conservation tools — protected areas — are failing to protect migratory spe

Justine E. Hausheer

Binge on Turkey with One of the Greatest Nature Movies, Ever

Tired of parades and football? How about enjoying a little more turkey – with a movie that shows these birds as you’ve never seen them before.

Joe Smith