Congratulations to our 2012 Minigrant winners!

Minigrant Applicant Resources for Events

Celebrate Urban Birds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology invites organizations and educators to apply for mini-grants to help fund neighborhood events in communities everywhere! We will begin accepting applications for 2013 Minigrants in October 2012.

 All applicants (even if they do not win funds to carry out their events) will receive free materials and training.

Celebrate Urban Birds is a free year-round project that collects information from everyday people about 16 species of birds that may be found in urban areas.

Winning applicants will:

•  Hold a Celebrate Urban Birds event in 2012
• • introduce the public/youth to birds
  • do the 10-minute Celebrate Urban Bird observation with the people in your group, at your event, and report back to us at the Lab of Ornithology, either by paper forms or on-line.
    
  • distribute Celebrate Urban Birds kits (with posters, seeds for planting, and more)
  • integrate the arts
  • integrate gardening/habitat creation
  • get people outside
• Reach new audiences.
• Be required to participate in a videoconference or phone call to understand requirements, payment schedule, and documentation of the Celebrate Urban Birds minigrant 2012 award.
• Submit a short final report and share pictures for which you have photo releases

Mini-grants average $100 - $500

Organizations working with underserved communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

No experience with birding needed.

What is a Celebrate Urban Birds event?   These are neighborhood events featuring activities involving birds, community service, art, greening, and science.  Celebrate Urban Birds mini-grants could be used to support a bird-activity day at a local museum, afterschool, library, or community center, or fund art and gardening activities at your club, business, school, senior center, or neighborhood. We want to see what new ideas inspire you! 

What does "collect Celebrate Urban Birds data" mean? Participants spend 10 minutes watching birds in their neighborhood and report their observations online at www.CelebrateUrbanBirds.org. This information helps scientists better understand how birds survive in cities and make use of greens spaces, including parks and gardens.

 Why hold a Celebrate Urban Birds event? Connecting the arts, music, dance, and gardening with birds and science leads people into deeper observation of nature, helps them enjoy the magic inherent in birds, and

reduces stress. Connecting with nature in YOUR city is good for birds AND good for your neighborhood!