News & Events
Great Backyard Birdcount (GBBC) 2026
February 13-16,
2026
Join the 28th GBBC
Each February the world comes together to watch and count birds in their backyards and favorite birding hotspots. From February 13-16, 2026 you can participate in the GBBC and report your findings. Your observations help scientists better understand bird abundance and distribution throughout the world. Details on how to participate can be found here.
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Tri-State Creation Care Annual Conference
February 28, 2026
Join the Tri-State Creation Care Conference at the Evansville Islamic Center
The Tri-State Creation Care organization is a coalition of people dedicated to the promotion of Earth stewardship to ensure a sustainable planet for all. The conference this year will be held at the Islamic Center on Saturday, February 28, 2026. Speakers will include Janet McCabe, the former deputy director of the Environmental Protection Agency, and Steven Rhodes, a designer and builder of green homes. This event is free and open to the public. There will also be free snacks, several exhibitors and door prizes. For more details click here.
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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.