An environmental politician, a small nonprofit, and a network of guardians in Chiapas are helping Mexico’s last Scarlet Macaws survive the twin threats of deforestation and poaching. To spread the inspiring news, we produced an award-winning film (in Spanish with English subtitles). Read the gripping story in full, as featured in the Winter 2025 issue of Living Bird magazine.
Mystery bird by Becky Matsubara / Macaulay Library.
What Bird Is This?
If you are in western North America, you might immediately recognize this common backyard bird, while those back east or further north might scratch their heads (sort of like this bird scratches at the ground for food). Found in fields, forests, and at feeders, this species is nearly ubiquitous in winter, but can look very different from place to place. Do you know the identity of this polychromatic sparrow?
WATCH: A Treetop Perch, the Serenity of Pond Life
We dug into our archives to find this vintage highlight reel from one of our most beloved Bird Cams: the Great Blue Heron nest that streamed live from a treetop in the pond adjacent to our headquarters. From that vantage point, the cam caught dramatic moments featuring herons, geese, coyotes, deer, and more. Watch this compilation and relive the simple joys of a woodland pond and its inhabitants.
Western Meadowlark by
Sam Zhang / Macaulay Library.
LISTEN:Top Tracks of 2024, Bird Sound Edition
Great sound recordings can transport you to a distant place or crystallize the beauty of a familiar bird's song. We combed our Macaulay Library archive to uncover 14 favorite tracks from around the world—with play-along spectrograms to help you "see" the finest vocal details. We think you'll love listening.
Ross's Gulls by Dubi Shapiro / Macaulay Library.
Why Don't Birds Get Cold Feet?
BBBRRRRRRR!!!! How do ducks, gulls, and other birds avoid frostbite, despite all the time they spend out on the ice? Turns out they have a number of tricks up their sleeves (or more accurately, inside their legs). Learn the cool secrets of ice-cold birds.
Bird News and Resources
Last Call for Your Best Bird Photos: Submissions for the Wild Birds Unlimited BirdSpotter Photo Contest are due by February 3rd. Learn More and Enter Your Photo.
Free Webinars: Get Ready for the GBBC! Prepare for the Great Backyard Bird Count with one of these engaging sessions with birding experts.
-Thursday, February 6, 2025, 7:00 PM ET (4 PM PT) Register.
-Wednesday, February 12, 2025 3:00 PM ET (12 PM PT) Register.
Peruvian Amazon Minigrants for Educators: K-12 teachers can receive a $2,000 minigrant to participate in a conservation research initiative in the Peruvian Amazon. Apply by March 1.
Now Accepting Proposals for Land Trust Initiative Small Grants: U.S.-based organizations may apply for $10,000 and $25,000 grants; proposals are due March 1.
Attend a Bird Festival: Festivals are a great way to enjoy birds and meet like-minded people. See our bird festival directory.
Join Our Flock, or Spread Joy to a Loved One: By becoming a Cornell Lab member, you'll support our conservation work, free resources like Merlin and eBird, and you'll receive our award-winning quarterly magazine, Living Bird. Join today or give a gift membership.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a membership institution dedicated to interpreting and conserving the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds.
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