Golden-wing Society

August 2025

Dear Melissa,

Fall migration is here—which means the BirdCast Migration Dashboard is now live for the season! As a member, your support makes tools like this possible, allowing you to track nightly bird movements, see forecasts in real time, and explore which species might be flying over your area.

Together, we’re connecting people to the wonder of migration and fueling research that protects birds across the hemisphere. As the night skies start to fill with migrating birds, we hope this member eBulletin helps you get into the spirit. Enjoy!

A Note From John Fitzpatrick: Birds, Islands & Discovery

WhiteTerns by Tony Palliser/ Macaulay Library.

“Hello fellow Golden-wing friends and supporters of the Cornell Lab. I’m truly excited about the upcoming October 18 - 25 cruise with a few of you to the Seychelles and islands of eastern Africa aboard the superb new ship Diana. Besides some outer islands of the archipelago, we’ll visit the famous islands of Aldabra, Zanzibar, and Pemba. I am delighted to say that a few high-quality berths remain available on this cruise, so please consider this an invitation to adjust your fall plans and sign up to join us on this unforgettable exploration of the islands, their phenomenal bird life, their pristine snorkeling, and their rich culture. I hope to see a number of you aboard the Diana!”  

–John W. Fitzpatrick, Emeritus Director

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Celebrate Migration with the Cornell Lab

Experience a day filled with discovery, learning, and fun at our annual Migration Celebration, taking place Saturday, September 13, from 10AM–3PM. Join us at the Cornell Lab Visitor Center for a day of free walks, workshops, presentations, live birds of prey, and interactive exhibits. Whether you're a seasoned birder or just curious about the natural world, there’s something there for everyone! Learn more about our 2025 Migration Celebration.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker by Chris Wood / Macaulay Library.

Join the New Season of Project FeederWatch

The Project FeederWatch season is almost here! FeederWatch is an easy way to track the birds around your home, all while contributing to science. No bird feeder necessary! Start today and use code LABMEMBER at checkout to participate at the member-exclusive $15 rate.

House Finch by Suzanne Labbé / Macaulay Library.

This Migration Season, Learn and Save with 30% Off at Bird Academy

To mark the fall migration season, we're offering all Lab members 30% off any Bird Academy course now through October 1, 2025. Just use code MigrationMem3025 at checkout. Whether you're curious about owls, want to sharpen your sparrow ID skills, or explore the art of bird photography, there’s a course waiting for you right here—dive in and enjoy learning at your own pace with these expert-led, online courses.

Discount does not include BirdWise subscriptions, gift cards, or continuing education units.

Fox Sparrow and White-throated Sparrow by Sam Zhang / Macaulay Library.

Get a Glimpse Into the Morning Routine of an Albatross

Interested in taking a morning walk with a baby albatross? Join the Northern Royal Albatross cam’s chick in this serene highlight as she takes a trip around her nesting area. Watch her conduct a bit of landscaping before stretching her wings out wide and returning to her resting spot on the headland. Watch the cam live here to follow along in real time!

Northern Royal Albatross chick stretches its wings.

eBird Helps the Birds and the Bees

eBird sightings do more than track birds—they’re helping conserve wild bees, too. A new Cornell Lab study shows that combining eBird data with land cover info provides more accurate predictions of numbers of wild bee species across the U.S. than using land data alone. This insight can guide conservation for native bees, which are vital to ecosystems and agriculture but in decline. It’s also a powerful example of how your membership support drives real-world impact!

Orchard Oriole by Linda Peterson / Macaulay Library.

I hope you take pride in knowing your membership support allows the Cornell Lab to continue growing its research, innovation, and outreach efforts. From everyone here at the Lab, thank you for helping turn science into action to make the Earth a better place for humans, birds, and all wildlife.

With gratitude,

Chelsea Jamieson

Golden-wing Society Program Assistant

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

P.S. Don't forget—when it’s time to renew your membership, you can easily renew online by going to birds.cornell.edu/GWS. We are grateful for your support as a member of the Lab. Thank you!