News & Events
Christmas Bird Counts (CBC)
December 2025 and January 2026
Training Sessions being offered for this year's CBC
We would love to have your help this year for our Christmas Bird Counts and you can be involved as much or as little as your time allows. Some people go from 4am to 8pm at night and others keep a list at the feeder in their own back yard for 15 minutes. Any amount of time or involvement helps.
This year a training session is being offered. To sign up to receive a recording of the CBC Participant Training Webinar, which will be released December 1st (available in Spanish, English, and French), go to the website below. You will also receive information on how to join an optional follow-up live Q&A session hosted by CBC experts from Audubon and Birds Canada on December 4th from 7-8pm eastern time.
https://act.audubon.org/a/christmas-bird-count-participant-training-webinar
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Here is a list of the current counts in our area. Please contact the compiler for a given count for more information:
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Posey County, Indiana. Count date: January 3, 2026
Compiler: Jared Emmack at jemmack@dnr.in.gov or call 219-869-1492.
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Vanderburgh County, Indiana. Count date: December 20, 2025
Compliler: Jacob Scheller at jscheller@warrick.k12.in.us or call 812-306-6666.
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Warrick County, Indiana. Count date: December 21, 2025
Compliler: Jacob Scheller at jscheller@warrick.k12.in.us or call 812-306-6666.
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Oakland City, Indiana. Count date: December 22, 2025
Compliler: Heath Hamilton at heath_hamilton@fws.gov
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Western Gibson County, Indiana. Count date: December 14, 2025
Compliler: Evan Speck at especk1444@warrick.k12.gmail.com
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Pike County, Indiana. Count date: TBD
Compliler: Jeremy Ross at jeremy.ross@hotmail.com or call 812-569-4009.
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Sorgho, Kentucky. Count date: January 1, 2026
Compliler: Janet Howard at janbbq@aol.com or call 270-570-1596.
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Daviess County, Kentucky. Count date: TBD
Compliler: Steve Hahus at Hshahus@aol.com
Press Release Regarding NWR's in Alaska
October 24, 2025
Road Construction and Oil and Gas Exploration in Alaska's NWR
The National Wildlife Refuge Association is opposing the US Department of the Interior decision to approve a land exchange that would enable construction of a commercial road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and restoring oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This action will allow the entire Arctic Refuge Coastal Plain to be susceptible to oil and gas exploration and threaten this complex and important Arctic ecosystem. You can view the press release here. You are encouraged to express your opinions on this matter with your U. S. Legislators. (See our Congressional Contacts page for addresses)
2025 U.S. State of the Birds Report
2025
Report Produced by a Coalition of Science & Conservation Organizations
The 2025 State of the Birds Report was released on March 13, 2025. This report reveals a continued widespread decline in North American bird populations across many different habitats (see Figure below). This report comes on the heels of the landmark 2019 report that documented a loss of almost 3 billion birds over the last 50 years. The current report highlights bird population declines in almost every habitat and group, even waterfowl, a group that was one of the bright spots in the 2019 report. To learn more about the 2025 report, which is produced by a coalition of leading science and conservation organizations, click here. (Figure Courtesy of Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
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Educational Resource Now Available
2025
Educational Colorbooks About Birds
There are many educational online resources available for birding enthusiasts such as, Bird Sleuth K-12, Audubon Adventures, Bird Academy courses, Where The Birds Are Website, and Bird Song Hero, just to name a few. Now there is another resource available for those who would like to learn more about birds and have fun doing so. There is a set of three color books about birds that contain illustrations of birds, fun bird facts and some also include crosswords, word searches and other activities to engage students and others interested in birds. To learn more about these books and to download associated exercises you can go to www.colorbird.org.
Bird Name Changes are in the Works
2024
The American Ornithological Society is Proposing Changing Bird Names that Honor People
The American Ornithological Union (AOU) plans to change the English names of bird species named after people, as well as bird names deemed offensive or exclusionary. Some changes have already occurred, such as, McCown's longspur renamed to the Thick-billed Longspur and the Old Squaw Duck now known officially as the Long-tailed Duck. As many as 70-80 additional bird species in the United States and Canada are being considered by the AOU for formal name changes. Reasons for the changes are outlined in an NPR article and you can click here to read more. So, look forward to bird name changes to occur in the near future.
Making Your Windows Safer For Birds
2024
A Guide is Available to Reduce the Number of Bird Collisions with Windows
The Bird Window Collision Working Group--a collaboration between Acopian Center for Ornithology, Muhlenberg College, local Audubon chapters and the Audubon Pennsylvania--have produced a brochure that covers what you can do to help reduce the number of window bird collisions. It provides information on what works well and what doesn't work in reducing collisions and making your windows safer for birds. You can download the brochure here.