Young Birders Event

The Young Birders Event aims to bring together teenagers with a passion for birds and interested in pursing a career in the field. You’ll meet people who have successful careers that involve birds in a variety of ways from ornithological researchers and illustrators to audio specialists and computer scientists.

Each Young Birders Event features:

• Three days of field trips around the Finger Lakes region
• Learning from Cornell Lab staff about ways to incorporate birds into a career
• A hands-on sound recording and editing workshop with Macaulay Library staff
• Tours of the Cornell Lab building and grounds including the Museum of Vertebrates

High school-aged young birders (students entering grades 9-12 in the fall, generally ages 14 – 17) from anywhere in the world are invited to apply. Slight preference will be given to students entering 12th grade and students who have previously applied. We are able to accommodate sixteen young birders each year.

Applications are open for the 2025 Young Birders Event! More information and the application is available at the link below.

2025 Young Birders Event Information and Application

Tentative future dates for the Young Birders Event are below. Mark your calendars!

2026: June 25-28

2027: June 24-27