Birding News and Features

Bird new sites and help advance migratory bird conservation this spring!

We are seeking experienced volunteer birders who would be available to monitor specific sites this spring, going out at least 3 times over the course of the 5-6 week migration. We will work with your schedule to find sites and sampling periods that work for you. It doesn't matter if you have never participated in a citizen science effort before - training will be provided. Some money is available to cover volunteer travel expenses associated with this study.

NYSOA Launches Searchable Ornithological Data Base

In January the New York State Ornithological Association (NYSOA) announced a terrific new resource for ornithologists, students, and birders. The Kingbird, NYSOA’s quarterly ornithological journal, has been in print since 1950. Now anyone can go online and search a database of 57 years of The Kingbird free of charge. Being able to find specific information quickly with a computer will save researchers the countless hours of work that were previously necessary when sifting through hundreds of paper issues of The Kingbird.

This unique research and educational resource, which can be found at www.nybirds.org/KBsearch.htm, clearly demonstrates NYSOA’s commitment to its mission to “further the study of bird life and to disseminate knowledge thereof.”

eBird & Birds of North America Online

In appreciation for all those who have participated in the eBird effort for the past year, we are pleased to offer special full subscriptions to the acclaimed bird life history resource: Birds of North America Online. This comprehensive resource includes information on distribution, breeding, migration, habitats, and behavior for over 700 different species of birds that breed in Canada and the United States. The accounts include photos and audio selections for all species covered.

New iPhone App harnesses the power of eBird--Check out BirdsEye!

“BirdsEye is the best invention for birding since binoculars,” says Kenn Kaufman, renowned birder, author of the Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America and team member of a partnership that has created BirdsEye, a new birding app for the iPhone® and iPod touch®. “It’s like having thousands of local birding experts in your pocket,” Kaufman says. The application was developed by Birds in the Hand, LLC, of Virginia, and brings together content from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Academy of Natural Sciences, and Kaufman. BirdsEye is now available on the App Store℠.

Two new ways to make your birding count!

From its inception, the grand hypothesis of eBird has been that the observations of birders can make a valuable contribution to understanding broad-scale patterns of bird distribution and abundance. With its vast geographic scope and dedicated contributors, eBird has a growing capacity to help answer questions about birds at scales never before imaginable. As the eBird dataset continues to mature, scientists are just beginning to explore and tap its potential. Early results are promising, and thanks to our close working relationship with talented computer scientists and biologists, we’ve identified two ways that you can help greatly improve the utility of the eBird dataset. Read more by clicking the image at right.