While many conservation organizations are directly involved in advocacy, land acquisition, or legal action, the Lab's approach to conservation is through scientific research and outreach that guides conservation planning and environmental policy. We call this scientific advocacy.

The Lab of Ornithology's Conservation Science Program works closely with its Citizen Science and Bird Population Studies programs to conduct and interpret research projects and to provide scientific leadership to ongoing conservation initiatives.

Other Lab programs also do work that is vital to conservation of birds and other biodiversity. Read our special Autumn 2003 issue of Birdscope to find out more.

Finally, Lab Scientist participate actively in partnerships for bird conservation in New York, throughout the United States, and internationally.

Conservation Science:

Providing vital information to people involved with conservation management of wild birds and their habitats.

Birds in Forested Landscapes
On-going citizen-science project linking volunteer birders and professional biologists in a study of the habitat requirements of North American forest birds. View BFL's Tanager Management Guidelines.

Golden-winged Warbler Atlas Project
Ongoing citizen-science project to determine the population status and habitat and area requirements of Golden-winged Warblers and Blue-winged Warblers (and their hybrids). Engages volunteer birders and professional biologists in surveying and conducting point counts at breeding sites (May-July).

Cerulean Warbler Atlas Project
This citizen science project employed enthusiastic birders and biologists to survey Cerulean Warbler breeding sites from 1997 to 2000. Results from CEWAP are being used to produce management guidelines for Cerulean Warblers. Download the final report, "An Atlas of Cerulean Warbler Populations."

The Birdhouse Network's Most Wanted
Low numbers of nesting attempts by some species of cavity-nesting birds incites a conservation agenda for this citizen-science project.

Conservation Articles in Birdscope
Go here for a list of articles in BirdScope relating CLO activities to bird conservation efforts.

Conservation-related programs at the Lab of Ornithology

eBird
Report any bird you see, anywhere, any time through the eBird website. Your observations become part of a database used by scientists and conservation biologists to monitor the distribution and abundance of all bird species in the United States and Canada.

Evolutionary Biology Program
Using genetic analysis to inform conservation decisions about Florida Scrub-Jays, todies, Blue-winged and Golden-winged warblers, and Vitelline Warblers

Bird Communication Research (Bioacoustics Research Program)
Nocturnal flight calls, acoustic monitoring of threatened and endangered species, communication networks among wild birds, and the search for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker

Macaulay Library
Library of conservation tools, including CDs for conservation monitoring, video productions, and multi-media resources for educators and conservationists.

From Citizen Science to Conservation Action
Putting volunteer-based research to work for bird populations

BirdSource
Birding with a purpose!

Lab Conservation Work Crosses the Border
Leading Mexican ornithologist heads Lab's Neotropical Bird Conservation Program.

Celebrate Urban Birds!
Join thousands of others across the continent to help scientists understand how birds use green spaces. This project takes only 10 minutes. All the materials needed to participate are free.

Partnerships for Conservation

Partners in Flight
The Lab of Ornthology participates actively in this consortium of government agencies, conservation organizations, industry, academia, and citizens, all working together to conserve birds and their habitats.

North American Bird Conservation Initiative
Lab scientists participate in this effort to coordinate bird conservation activities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Audubon New York
Conservation Science staff, housed at the Lab of Ornithology, administer programs focused on Important Bird Areas, forest stewardship, and grassland birds in New York.

Audubon's Seabird Restoration Program
Find out about Project Puffin and other seabird restoration projects around the world.

Strategies for Bird Conservation
Proceedings of the 1995 Partners in Flight (PIF) International Workshop at Cape May, New Jersey, "Partners in Flight Conservation Plan: Building Consensus for Action."