You can do more than just observe bird migration season; resources are available to help with conservation efforts

Blue-winged Teal (Photo by Sharif Uddin, Macaulay Library via CornellLab)

As bird migration season takes flight, there are many resources for helping and enjoying birds during this magnificent phenomenon.

CornellLab offers recorded educational webinars and an interactive game with their Merlin Bird ID Trivia: Fall Migration Edition. "Can the app outperform an experienced birder and you, our audience?. . . .Our panelists share their advice on how to identify tricky birds based on calls and appearance—plus provide insights into birding during the migration season."

The American Bird Conservancy website has a plethora of information, tips and delightful photos of our feathered friends, many of whom are struggling to survive. "The great streams of migratory birds that once filled North America's skies are dwindling as habitat loss, climate change, and other threats take their toll. The declines cast doubt on the continued survival of these birds and the greatest wildlife phenomenon in the Western Hemisphere," according to the website.

To help birds year-round, these resources provide information about planning bird conservation efforts:

Cornell Lab of Ornithology: This institution, part of Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has all kinds of bird-related resources.
National Audubon Society: A premier national nonprofit for conservation and policy and just birding. It has a network of local and regional affiliates.

Peregrine Falcon
(Photo by Marky Mutchler)

The Great Backyard Bird Count: Join the world in connecting to birds – Feb. 16–19, 2024.
Christmas Bird Count: A long-standing tradition in many places that can give a sense of population trends. Organized by National Audubon. To find local/regional birding and conservation groups: start here. (Note: The listing for some states is incomplete.)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: The federal agency most active in bird conservation. Find a refuge near you and talk to the staff. You can also reach out to managers of your state, local and private wildlife refuges.
National Wildlife Health Center: This unit of the U.S. Geological Survey is an authoritative source on bird disease.
North American Bird Conservation Initiative: The consortium of researchers, government agencies and conservation groups that produced the 2022 report mentioned above.
Ducks Unlimited: Yes, its members do hunt ducks, but the group works very hard for conservation. Check with your local chapter and talk to them about migratory birds.
State conservation agencies: The terminology varies, but a good directory can be found here.
People who maintain local backyard bird feeders: One way to find them is to go to a hardware store where feeders and seeds are sold.