How did you fall in love with birds?
Learn about ornithologists and other staff at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. See short videos of people who chose careers that focus on birds and nature talking about how they first got hooked! Great for educators. In our first video, meet Ernesto Ruelas-Inzunza, an ornithologist who counts raptors (Raptor Population Index Manager). Ernesto got started in Mexico when he was 13, without field guides or binoculars.  He shows examples of the sketches he makes in his field notes to help him remember the birds he sees.  Watch in English or Spanish. Stay tuned for lots more videos coming this month.

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Artist Search!
We are looking for exciting out-of-the-box ideas to be considered for our "Wild Idea" competition in both adult and youth categories. Download PDF Announcement. Great Prizes!
We are seeking ideas that reconnect urban residents with nature and raise awareness of urban birds and greening through the arts. Ideas might include activities, music, dance, installations, masks, garden art, exhibits, messages, etc. These "Wild Ideas" should be something that can be part of a Celebrate Urban Birds event; something that will help attract and engage the public to "Celebrate Urban Birds".  We'll share ideas with organizations planning their "Celebrate Urban Birds" events and post them on the Celebrate Urban Birds web site. 
Please help us spread the word by posting or forwarding the PDF announcement to people you know who are good at coming up with "Wild Ideas".

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Free Workshop at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Spring Celebrate Urban Birds Workshop at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, March 14th. Download PDF Announcement.
Some need-based travel scholarships will be available.

• Meet staff from the Lab of Ornithology
• Explore resources at the Lab
• Learn how to conduct bird observations useful to scientists
• Learn tips on leading groups in citizen science activities and holding Celebrations
• Learn about the 16 target species of urban birds (view skins, learn interesting facts, explore sounds)
• Learn how to integrate the arts into your Celebrate Urban Birds event
• Learn about gardening and the arts -- activities for groups
• Learn about gardening for the birds in containers
• Learn about how to promote your Celebrate Urban Birds event of any size

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Mini-Grants Available!
Celebrate Urban Birds invites organizations and educators to apply for mini-grants to hold Celebrate Urban Bird events across the US. Download PDF announcement and application.
To qualify for a mini-grant applicants must:

*Hold a Celebrate Urban Birds Event in 2008

-introduce the public/students to birds (especially the sixteen focus species)

-collect Celebrate Urban Birds data/inspire others to collect data

-distribute Celebrate Urban Birds kits to participants/students

 -integrate the arts

 -get people outside

*Submit the attached request for funding application by February 29th, 2008
*Stay in contact with the Lab of Ornithology
*Agree to submit a post-event report indicating (# or participants, success of event,  photos, information about activities/resources presented) within one month of your event
*Agree to have photos, videos, summary of events, and participant comments posted on the Celebrate Urban Birds web site to inspire others

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YouTube Urban Birds Videos/Photos Needed
We love to hear about your bird sightings, stories, and experiences. In February we're going to announce our first ever YouTube Ugly Places for Birds competition: What's the ugliest, most unusual, bizarre, and surprising place you've seen birds? We'll be giving away great prizes and sharing the best videos and photos on our website. We are already using your videos and photos (check out the Questions about Birds section of the web site) and we'd like to use many more. We hope the videos/photos will capture a sense of fun and show how easy it is to watch birds. Nothing fancy is needed. A simple video/photo of a couple of frisky House Sparrows works great. Youth are also encouraged to send us their submissions. Send a link to your video or to your favorite YouTube video to urbanbirds@cornell.edu.

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New Improved Data Form
Check out the new, easier, and much improved Celebrate Urban Birds data form. We'll have new, easier online data entry and exciting new data viewing capabilities soon as well. Thanks for all your feedback in improving this form.

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Gardening for the Birds and the Arts
We are creating a poster that highlights plants that are great for birds, grow easily in containers in cities, and are easy to obtain anywhere. This exciting poster will feature art activities that you can do with plants/habitat/birds. If you have ideas you'd like to see included, let us know as soon as possible by emailing urbanbirds@cornell.edu.  It is practical and beautiful. Expect the new addition to the Celebrate Urban Birds Kit in early April!

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Celebrate Urban Birds Kits Featuring Organization Logos are a big Success!
Local and regional organizations are excited about placing their logos on the Celebrate Urban Birds kits they distribute. It's easy to do. Simply order 100 or more kits and send us a .eps, .ai  or high resolution jpg of your organization's logo.  For a small fee we'll prominently feature your organization's logo on each kit. Learn more! Of course you can always order any amount of kits to distribute at your event for free (without your logo).

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Celebrating Youth
We've created a new section of the web site to highlight enthusiastic youth participants: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/urbanbirds/celebration/Spotlight/youth-participants/youth-participants . Do you know any young people that you'd like to see featured? We're especially interested in kids that have found ways of connecting with nature through the arts or are active in conservation efforts by collecting data, putting up stickers to prevent window collisions, teaching others about birds, and more.

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Anyone can sign up to receive updates by registering for Celebrate Urban Birds! or by sending us an email at urbanbirds@cornell.edu.