Online Bird Resources
Tools and Resources
Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds - Cornell's online bird identification tool
Wild Birds Unlimited Educational Resources - articles to help you enjoy birdfeeding and nature more
Cornell Lab of Ornithology - A nonprofit membership institution whose mission is focused on birds. Sponsored by WBU Inc. and WBU-Saratoga Springs is a member.
NestCams by Cornell Lab of Ornithology - a virtual window into the natural world. View live nest cams, explore an extensive collection of photo, video, and daily archives, and view HD footage of breeding behaviors from the Lab's Macaulay Library.
Hummingbirds.net - information on attracting, watching, feeding, and studying North American hummingbirds. Fantastic maps that track the annual northward migration of our Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. A MUST in the spring!
North American Bluebird Society - Learn about the different species of bluebirds, how to attract and care for them, download educational materials and join their conservation efforts. Sponsored by WBU Inc.
Nutty Birdwatcher - Offers information on birdwatching including spring and fall bird migration timetables and maps of the North American Flyways. Colorful galleries include paintings or pictures with species accounts.
Organization for Bat Conservation - Their mission is to preserve bats and their habitats through education, collaboration, and research. They work with local health departments and government agencies to aid in public health issues associated with bats, and have trained field biologists to research endangered bats. WBU Inc. is a "Bat Hero" sponsor.
Citizen Science
Great Backyard Bird Count - Count the birds in a four-day citizen science event each February. Sponsored by WBU Inc. WBU Saratoga Springs is a participant.
Project Feeder Watch - A winter-long citizen science project to count the birds. WBU-Saratoga Springs is a participant.
eBird - A year-long survey of North American birds. WBU-Saratoga Springs is a participant.
Nature Discovery / Kids
Pathways to Nature for Kids - Wild Birds Unlimited is dedicated to reconnecting children with the outdoors. Check out this site for fun activities and links.
National Wildlife Federation's GREEN HOUR - With Wild Birds Unlimited's sponsorship, National Wildlife's new program aims to give our children a "Green Hour" a day -- a bit of time for unstructured play and interaction with the natural world -- to help set them on the path toward physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Birdfreak Guide to Taking Kids Birding - Written by the Birdfreak Blog Team, these guides will help you get started taking the kids out to bird. One for kids age 6-12, the other for teenage kids.
BirdSleuth - School curriculum featuring a series of inquiry-based science modules for elementary and middle school students, developed at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Teachers and parents: check out this site and suggest it for your school!
Mission: Migration - Audubon New York's web-based flash game that teaches children about the difficulties birds face during migration and how they can make their backyards healthier for birds.
New York State Young Birders Club provides community, friendship, and fun for young people who have a passion for wild birds and their habitats. They maintain an online Yahoo! to share bird sightings.
Bird Conservation
State of the Birds Report (2011) - Comprehensive report on bird populations in the United States, showing that nearly a third of the nation's 800 bird species are endangered, threatened or in significant decline due to habitat loss, invasive species, and other threats.
Audubon's Common Birds in Decline - Audubon's unprecedented analysis of forty years of citizen-science bird population data reveals the alarming decline of many of our most common and beloved birds. All 20 birds on the national Common Birds in Decline list lost at least half their populations in just four decades and risk becoming uncommon unless we all take action to protect them and their habitat.
Audubon Watch List 2007 - an Audubon and America Bird Conservancy joint effort to identify America's most imperiled birds. The names of these species may be less familiar than those on Audubon's roster of Common Birds in Decline, but WatchList birds need even more urgent attention.
Birding and Conservation Organizations
Chemung Valley Audubon Society - A chapter of the National Audubon Society and is affiliated with Audubon New York
Tiadaghton Audubon Society - Founded in 1906 with 23 members, Tiadaghton Audubon Society is the oldest chapter in the state. The Tiadaghton name was selected in 1953, and in 1972 the chapter was officially chartered.
National Audubon Society - Audubon's mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity. Audubon Take Action - Birds and Wildlife Need You! Help Audubon become more successful in their conservation efforts. Sign up for AudubonAction alerts. WBU - Saratoga is an Audubon member. We also receive AudubonAction alerts and share that information on our blog.
Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center - A part of the National Zoo, the SMBC is dedicated to furthering the understanding, appreciation, and protection of migratory birds. They developed and administer the stringent Bird-Friendly® coffee certification; our Birds & Beans™ coffee is certified Bird-Friendly.
Publications
Bird Watcher’s Digest - Whether you're an avid birder or a backyard bird watcher, Bird Watcher's Digest has something for you. Each issue is like a mini-bird-watching book. BWD's convenient field-guide size makes it easy to take with you anywhere or store on a bookshelf for quick reference.
Birds and Blooms - Treat yourself to a magazine devoted to bird and flower lovers. Every issue is filled with ideas to take your outdoor experience to new heights.
Living Bird - the award-winning quarterly magazine sent to members of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The magazine includes stunning color photographs of birds, articles by top experts in birding and ornithology, reviews of the latest books, binoculars, and equipment, and advice on how to improve your birding skills.
ON Nature - Follow the "THIS ISSUE" tab to view ON Nature magazine, published quarterly by Ontario Nature, ON Nature brings readers closer to nature by exploring Ontario's natural areas and wildlife and providing insight into current environmental issues. This award-winning magazine features in-depth articles by nature specialists and stunning colour photography. Read about wilderness travel and destinations, natural history and up-to-date news on conservation battles.