Go Out and Play!
Learn about a national movement that is drawing attention to the growing disconnect between children and nature. Children?s lives are out of balance, with little free time. They are spending most of their time in structured indoor activities and less and less time simply playing outdoors. People protect what they value, and they value what they know and appreciate. If children don't cherish the natural environment, there is a good chance that they won't grow up to be good stewards of the earth that sustains us.

Celebrate Urban Birds is a great excuse to get kids outdoors! It gives parents and educators beautiful tools to teach children about their neighborhood birds for FREE and it only takes 10 minutes.

To see the featured article visit the website at: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/urbanbirds/celebration/temporary/go-outside-and-play/

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Improve your Bird ID Skills!
Want to learn more about bird identification and improve your skills?
Try the Lab's All About Birds ID game: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/birding123/identify/allaboutbirds_quiz

And then go outside and Celebrate Urban Birds for 10 minutes! Watch an area about the size of a half a basketball court and tell us if you see the 16 focal species. If you're not sure about identifying any of these species (perhaps you don't know the female, for example), just check the "unsure" column on the data form. Don't forget to send us your observations or enter them online.

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First Analysis of Data is Underway
Researchers have begun to look at YOUR observations. In addition, soon you'll be able to see observations from paper data forms integrated into the Celebrate Urban Birds map: http://watch.birds.cornell.edu/cub/thanks10.jsp.
It's not too late to send in observations. Every little bit counts!

Please help us spread the word. We need more of your observations.
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Your LOGO takes FLIGHT!
Would you like to order 100 to 5,000 kits prominently featuring your organization?s logo? Learn more!
Your company?s support of science and conservation, and its commitment to reaching diverse audiences will be prominently displayed on the kits you distribute.

Questions? Email us at urbanbirds@cornell.edu or call (607) 254-2455.

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Zero Means a Lot!
To highlight how important it is for participants to submit observations even when NO BIRDS are seen, we've created wonderful, colorful stickers. See them on our website. It is essential that participants let us know where the birds are seen as well as where they are NOT seen. You can wear these beautiful stickers or share them with others. Each sticker is unique.
Stickers are now included in the Celebrate Urban Birds kits. If you'd like to have one or a sheet to distribute, simply let us know by emailing urbanbirds@cornell.edu.

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Help Birds
Did you know that up to 100 million birds are killed each year by collisions with windows?
You can reduce bird deaths by moving your feeders CLOSER to your windows! When feeders are placed within three feet of a window (or more than 30 feet away) the number of window strike deaths is much lower. When feeders are close to a window, a bird leaving the feeder isn't going fast enough to do harm if it hits the window. For other ideas on preventing window strikes visit the Celebrate Urban Birds website.

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Tell a Friend!
What can you do to help researchers learn more about how birds survive in cities? Give five friends the Celebrate Urban Birds link and ask them to spend 10 minutes outside watching birds for a good cause. When they're done, compare notes on the map: http://watch.birds.cornell.edu/cub/thanks10.jsp. Zoom in to an area and click on the icon. Read the comments that other participants (or your friends) have left. These comments are informative and fun and a safe place to share interesting observations with the whole world.
 
Thank you. Keep it coming!


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Celebrate Urban Birds! Regional Representatives
We've begun compiling a list of individuals and organizations willing to help us locally by:
        
        - sending  out a few press releases to local newspapers, radios, listservs, and other media
        - helping spread the word about Celebrate Urban Birds and other Urban Bird Studies projects in local neighborhoods
        - hanging posters and flyers in neighborhoods
        - talking to local reporters if called (optional)
 
If you are interested in joining the team, please let us know.  In October we will send  all the needed materials (flyers, posters, press releases, etc.) and you'll also receive a small gift of appreciation. Email urbanbirds@cornell.edu to let us know if you can help!
 
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Share Your Celebrate Urban Birds! Stories

Have you gone out to watch birds in your neighborhood? We'd like to share your stories and photos with others on our web site and in Lab publications. Haven't gone out to Celebrate Urban Birds yet? There's still lots of time. Leave your computer, turn off your TV, and go outside to watch birds.

Celebrating Youth
Do you know any enthusiastic youth participants? We want to highlight young people who are excited about birds and nature, and who are open to the wonder and fun of the outside world. Send us a  paragraph and photo (if possible) of an outstanding young scientist/naturalist (no age limit) and we will select a few to highlight as peer role models.
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Help us Improve
Please take a few minutes to answer our online evaluation survey. Because Celebrate Urban Birds is entirely grant-supported it is helpful for us to know who is using and benefiting from the program and how we can improve.

Organizations and group leaders please click here.
Individuals please click here.



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