Join the National Audubon Society, National Geographic, BirdLife International, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in a yearlong celebration of birds.

In 2018, we mark the centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the most powerful and important bird-protection law ever passed. In honor of this milestone, nature lovers around the world are joining forces to celebrate 2018 as the “Year of the Bird.”  The Year of the Bird will celebrate the wonder of our feathered friends and provide an opportunity for people everywhere to recommit themselves to protecting birds today and for the next hundred years. Through 12 months of storytelling, science, and conservation, Year of the Bird will examine how our changing environment is driving dramatic losses among bird species around the globe and highlight what we can do help reverse this negative trend.

To kick-start the effort, National Geographic, the National Audubon Society, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Bird Life International are combining their resources to create a Year of the Bird website, birdyourworld.org.  Each month there will be a call to action—a simple but meaningful way individuals can help birds. Our hope is that by harnessing the collective passion and expertise of bird lovers around the world, we can champion causes for birds and help motivated people to work towards proven solutions.

CALL TO ACTION

January

Take the Pledge. Sign
the pledge on the Year of
the Bird website to receive
monthly calls to action. Share
your participation on social
media using #BirdYourWorld
to inspire others to join in.

April

Bird-Friendly and Planet-
Friendly. Simple changes
around your house or yard can
be better for birds—and for
our climate. Mow less, avoid
pesticides, think organic, and
save water.

Speak up for birds - Migratory
Bird Treaty Act.

February

The Great Backyard Bird Count.
Count the birds you see
during February 16-19 and report
the tally to help scientists track the
health of bird populations. Hang
a bird feeder to draw them your
way. You can also visit our page here.

May

Participate in Global Big
Day on May 5. Look for
birds and record your sightings
at eBird.org in this exciting
24-hour quest to collectively
record as many bird species as
possible across the world. Let’s
break a record!

March

Native Plants. Landscaped
with native species, your
yard, garden, patio, or balcony
becomes a vital recharging
station for birds passing
through and a sanctuary
for nesting birds.

June

Skip the Plastic. Say no
to plastic bags, straws, and
water bottles, and commit
to recycling your household
plastics.

July

Take a Child to Nature.
Introduce a child to nature
and build their love for wild
animals and landscapes. A
single encounter with a bird
can spark a lifelong passion.

August

Discover Your Parks. Find
a local place to observe birds by
exploring recreational trails, city
parks, state parks, national parks,
wildlife refuges, and forests,
seashores and other sanctuaries.
Help protect these havens for both
people and birds.

September

Help Birds on Their
Journey. Window collisions
are a major cause of bird
deaths. Turn off lights at
night and make your windows
bird-friendly.