Get Involved

Every person who cares about birds can make a meaningful difference. Whether you contribute through citizen science, habitat stewardship, advocacy, or simply making your backyard more bird-friendly, your actions add up. Here's how to get started.

In Your Backyard

• Plant native species — Native plants support native insects, which are the primary food source for most breeding birds
• Provide water — A simple birdbath with clean water attracts birds year-round
• Keep cats indoors — Outdoor cats kill approximately 2.4 billion birds annually in the US
• Reduce window collisions — Apply window decals or screens to prevent bird strikes
• Avoid pesticides — Organic yard care supports the insect food chain that birds depend on
• Install nest boxes — Cavity-nesting species like bluebirds, swallows, and wrens benefit from properly designed nest boxes

In Your Community

• Join your local Audubon chapter — Attend bird walks, volunteer for habitat projects, and connect with experienced birders
• Participate in citizen science — Submit eBird checklists, join the Christmas Bird Count, and monitor local breeding populations
• Advocate for habitat protection — Support local land trusts, attend planning meetings that affect green spaces, and speak up for bird-friendly development policies
• Mentor new birders — Share your knowledge with beginners; the birding community grows one person at a time

Beyond Your Community

• Support conservation organizations — BirdLife International, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, American Bird Conservancy, and National Audubon Society all rely on individual support
• Travel responsibly — Choose ecotourism operators that contribute to local conservation and employ local guides
• Reduce your carbon footprint — Climate change is a global threat to birds; every reduction in emissions helps
• Spread the word — Share what you know about birds and conservation with friends, family, and colleagues

The Power of Many

Individual actions are important. Collective action is transformative. The global birding community — tens of millions of people who look at the sky and care about what they see — has the power to drive policy changes, protect critical habitats, and reverse population declines. The question isn't whether birders can make a difference. It's whether enough of us will.

Start today. The birds are counting on us.