The Year of the Bird

Have you seen the January 2018 issue of National Geographic or the Winter 2018 issue of Cornell's Living Bird? If you have, you know that National Geographic, National Audubon Society, Cornell Ornithology Lab, Birdlife International, and 100 other partners are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 by designating this the "Year of the Bird."  The goal is to "engage and inspire people around the world to commit to protecting birds today and for the next 100 years." The 1918 act had a profound influence on prohibiting the pursuit, hunting, capturing, killing, and selling of most species of North American native birds. But there is still so much to be done, and the above mentioned journals have fascinating articles that will help you understand the importance of birds to our ecology and the many challenges they face.

Over the coming months you will find more here about the "Year of the Bird." You can also check out the website BirdYourWorld.org to learn more. Consider participating in Project FeederWatch/Bird Spotter and the Great Backyard Bird Count (Feb. 16-19, birdcount.org). Help you birds survive the challenges of winter by providing clean, nutritious food and water sources, and spread the word about why our birds are so important.