 Click on the map to start the animation showing 118 bird species migrating. Map by Frank La Sorte, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
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Watch a Mesmerizing Migration Map
Watch the wonder and spectacle of bird migration captured on a single map. Using millions of bird observations from participants in eBird and the Great Backyard Bird Count, scientists at the Cornell Lab generated an animated map showing the annual journeys of 118 bird species. Watch how the routes change in spring and fall as birds ride seasonal winds to their international destinations. See the map in motion and read more.
Want to know which species is which? Check out the numbered key. |
 Join the count February 12-15. Burrowing Owls by Jim Rains, Aruba, second place winner for “Group” photo in the 2015 GBBC photo contest.
Count for the Birds as the Great Backyard Bird Count Begins!
Put your birds on the map and help create the most comprehensive snapshot ever of the world’s birds during this year’s Great Backyard Bird Count, February 12-15, 2016. Count birds for at least 15 minutes at any location, then enter your checklist at birdcount.org or use the eBird app on an iOS or Android device.
Do you love birds? Share your passion with someone new to birding. Get tips and make a “Pledge to Fledge.” |
 Click on the image to see this Adelie Penguin walk right up to you. Photo by Hugh Powell.
Witness a Penguin Revolution
The Antarctic Peninsula, home to Adelie Penguins, is the fastest-warming region on the planet. Since the 1970s, scientists have had a front-row seat watching Adelie Penguins raising their young. Now with changes in climate, Gentoo Penguins are taking center stage. Experience this penguin story through sounds, images, and video online. The article is featured in our newly redesigned magazine for members, Living Bird.
Not a member yet? To receive the beautiful Living Bird magazine in your mail box, along with complete digital access, join the Lab today. |
 Can you solve this mystery ID? Click on the photo to find the answer. Photo by JanetandPhil via Birdshare.
Which Species Is This?
Of all the world’s bird species, this one ranked #9 for most individuals reported in last year’s Great Backyard Bird Count. Participants reported 432,513 of these birds in four days during February, an impressive number given that northerners consider this species to be a harbinger of spring. They migrate in flocks with males arriving first, their bold colors catching the eye and their ebullient songs announcing their arrival, unlike their subtle mates (such as the one above) who arrive with little fanfare. Check your answer. |
 Hard work rewarded. Watch as a Great Horned Owl on egg duty receives a surprise gift from her mate.
Watch a Gift Delivery at a Great Horned Owl Nest
Tune in live to see nesting Great Horned Owls on the Cornell Lab’s live Bird Cam in partnership with Skidaway Audubon in Savannah, Georgia. Enjoy a video clip of the male owl bringing the female a gift as she incubates their first egg.
For more excitement, watch this clip of Kialoa, a one-day-old Laysan Albatross chick, being fed by dad Ikaika. |
Did your Favorite Birds Win the Vote? Thanks to everyone who voted to pick the birds for a new coloring book, “America’s Favorite Birds.” With more than 250,000 votes cast, you can now find out which birds are the winners.
Spring Field Ornithology, Northeast: Take this eight-week course online or join us in Ithaca, New York, for in-person lectures and field trips, starting March 24. Lab members receive 20% off.
Take the February eBird Challenge: Win a pair of ZEISS Conquest HD 8×42 binoculars. Submit at least 15 checklists using the eBird app in February for a chance to win. See details.
Summer on Hog Island: Register now for the Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine. Choose among sessions including “Raptor Rapture,” “Breaking Into Birding,” and “Field Ornithology.” Taught by Cornell Lab instructors Tim Gallagher, Tom Auer, and Kevin McGowan.
Bird Events, Near and Far: Looking for an opportunity to combine birds and travel? Choose your destination from our Bird Festivals webpage. |
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