News Room
2025 News Releases
June 12, 2025Study Reveals Why Birds Sing More at Dawn in Tropical ForestsNew research published today finds that territorial behavior and diet help explain why some birds sing more often at dawn.
June 12, 2025New $1.5M Graduate Research Fellowship Honors Former Director of the Cornell Lab of OrnithologyA new $1.5 million gift from philanthropist K. Lisa Yang ’74 has established the Charles Walcott Graduate Research Fellowship in Conservation Bioacoustics to fund graduate research at the Lab of Ornithology in honor of Walcott, professor emeritus and executive director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology during 1981-95.
June 11, 2025AviList: A Unified Global Checklist of the World’s Birds is Now AvailableAviList, a unified global checklist of birds, that provides the most current and authoritative taxonomy of birds around the world was released today by experts in taxonomy, nomenclature, and bioinformatics from around the world including researchers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the American Ornithological Society, BirdLife International, the International Ornithologists’ Union, and Avibase.
May 27, 2025Study Reveals Songbirds Change Flight Patterns Over Midwest’s Vast FarmlandsBirds fly faster and are more selective about flying with favorable tailwinds when crossing the Corn Belt—a vast agricultural region where more than 76% of the original forests and grasslands have been converted primarily to cornfields since the 1850s.
May 23, 2025Cornell Research Shows Promise in Managing Surrogate Species, Providing a Conservation Umbrella for More SpeciesA new study led by Cornell Lab of Ornithology researchers at the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics shows that monitoring and managing select bird species can provide benefits for other species within specific regions.
In The News
- Happiness Doesn’t Have to Be a Heavy Lift , The New York TimesIt only takes a few minutes to boost your mood.
- How to Get Started with Merlin ID 🦅 , Mediumneed the Merlin ID app. This app is from the brains of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and it helps you identify birds. It has three main
- In Colombia, bird-watching brings tourism and a love for conservation , Mongabay.com Newscommunity as the Global Big Day, an annual event organized by Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology in the U.S., during which thousands of
- I Love Finding Birds’ Nests, but What’s in Them Troubles Me , The New York Times
- A new study knocks down a popular hypothesis about why birds sing at dawn , NPRto lessen any distortion of their vocalizations. But scientists from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation
- 5 Birdbath Mistakes You Should NEVER Make, According to Bird Nerds , AOLit, and to come back. We spoke with Holly Grant, a Project Assistant at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology about ways that backyard birders can
- The Overlooked Solution To Stop Birds From Nesting In Your Wreaths Is So Simple , House DigestWe spoke to Robyn Bailey, project leader for NestWatch , a participatory science project administered by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology,
- Crows Are Smart – Just Like Humans, They Hold Grudges and Use Tools , MSN.comThey know what kind of car you drive. Kevin McGowan is a crow expert at Cornell University's Ornithology Lab. He regularly feeds peanuts
- 6 bird bath mistakes you're probably making – and how to fix them , Country Livingthey aren’t the best type for birds ," says Holly Grant, a project assistant at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology . "They’re often too deep.
- The surprisingly relatable reason why some birds get cranky , National Geographicthe speakers and sometimes even attacking them. Mike Webster, an ornithologist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology who was not involved in the
- Protecting forests helps birds and humans in many ways , Earth.comNow, a new study provides some answers. Scientists from Cornell University and the Wildlife Conservation Society ( WCS ) explored where
- Scientists issue warning after tracking rapid shift in behavior of iconic migratory species: 'I started to investigate what was going on' , Yahoo! NewsA team of researchers from Washington State University and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology studied data to track the lesser goldfinch's
- Monitoring select bird species benefits other species within same regions, study shows , MSN.comA new study led by Cornell Lab of Ornithology researchers at the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics shows that monitoring and
- 5 Surefire Ways to Attract More Cardinals to Your Bird Feeder , MSN.comwith certain foods and feeder types," says Holly Grant, Project Assistant at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's NestWatch project. "Project
- Conservation sweet spots: How protecting nature helps both birds and humans in the US , MSN.comthe journal Ecosystem Services , researchers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, and the Wildlife Conservation Society
- A traveler’s guide on how to bird-watch , Star Tribuneor identify a bird by its song. The free app Merlin Bird ID from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology does both. Also free, the Audubon Bird
- If a Bird Is Dive-Bombing You, This Is Why , Birds & Bloomsat a person is nest defense,” says Robyn Bailey, NestWatch Project Leader at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “If you approach their nest too
- Weather radar picks up over 1 million migrating birds , Yahoo! Newsat Center for Avian Population Studies at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (one of the groups that runs BirdCast ). It can “inform people what
- ‘No one wants a building that kills birds’: why cities are turning off the lights , The Guardianthe intensity of nocturnal bird migration Composite: Adriaan Dokter, BirdCast, Cornell Lab of Ornithology A sort of silent spring has
- Help! I’m Obsessed With the Robin Throuple I Discovered on Facebook. , The Ringerbeing pretty territorial,” says Robyn Bailey, the project leader of the NestWatch program at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “They generally
- 6 Bird Baths with Solar Lights, Fountains, and Floral Designs—All Under $50 , Better Homes & Gardenspowered by the sun, and according to Holly Grant , project assistant for NestWatch at Cornell Lab of Ornithology, birds “love dripping water
- Your money questions, answered; how one comedian finds humour in his dyslexia; and why birding is ‘quietly radical’ , CBC Radio One – BC Todaythe last 50 years, according to a staggering report from Cornell University. Researcher Amanda Rodewald explains what’s happening, and why
- The Wrongest Bird in Movie History , Slatethe holy grail of many birders before, but Merlin, which was developed by the renowned Cornell Lab of Ornithology, really cracked it. I’d
- National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 324 | North American Bird Declines , National Parks Travelermore about this news, we’ve invited Dr. Amanda Rodewald from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Cornell University to join us today. 0:02
- Researchers Have Mapped the Evolution of Every Known Bird Species , SciTechDailyProfessor Emily Jane McTavish and her team at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology have successfully mapped the evolutionary relationships of
- Bird Populations Are Declining Across North America , Mother Jonesscience data so far, scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology used observations from eBird , a popular application used by birdwatchers
- All birds, one tree: Complete evolutionary map reveals hidden links , Earth.comwas led by Professor Emily Jane McTavish and her team at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology . They worked to gather and organize data on 9,239
- New research reveals where North American bird populations are crashing , The Times of Indialong time that bird populations are declining," lead author Alison Johnston, an ornithologist and ecological statistician at the University
- Advanced data tools reveal sharp bird declines in North American strongholds , MSN UKthe popular birding platform eBird to provide far more granular insight. The team of researchers, led by Alison Johnston of the University
- Birds on the Brain , Scholastic MATHare,â says David Bonter, co-director of the Center for Engagement in Science and Nature at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. While birding in
- Trump Is Harming National Parks for Future Generations, Former NPS Director Warns , Inside Climate NewsUsing a machine modeling system, the researchers analyzed the online eBird database, a collection of bird sightings from scientists and
- North American birds are plummeting in areas where they’re plentiful , Mongabay.com Newsone of the birds declining in areas where they’re abundant. Image courtesy of Blair Dudeck/Macaulay Library/Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
- Birds are declining fastest where they were once common , Earth.comat the Cornell Lab of Ornithology , tracked 495 bird species between 2007 and 2021 using over 36 million observations submitted to the eBird
- Scientists Mapped the Evolution of 11,000 Bird Species to Build the Avian Tree of Life , MSN.comLuckily, scientists from the University of California Merced and Cornell Lab of Ornithology decided that challenge was one they wanted to
- North American bird populations suffering severe decline , Cornell UniversityAlison Johnston, lead author and ecological statistician who initiated this study as a research associate at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
- 75 percent of North America's bird species are in decline, study says , The Washington PostKen Rosenberg, a retired conservation scientist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology who was part of the team that designed and launched eBird
- New Research Reveals Where N. American Bird Populations Are Crashing , Barron'slong time that bird populations are declining," lead author Alison Johnston, an ornithologist and ecological statistician at the University
- Scientists issue urgent warning after alarming collapse of bird populations across the US: 'We have a full-on emergency' , MSN.comA report from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology shows that bird populations across every U.S. habitat are plummeting, with 229 species in
- ‘Chipmunks were obsessed with my mics’: the man who recorded a tree for a year , The Guardianintimidating editing task with the help of Holger Klinck, an expert in conservation bioacoustics at Cornell University, who showed him how
- The 4 Best Bird Baths Our Editors Love , Better Homes & Gardensbesides just looks. We spoke with Holly Grant , project assistant for NestWatch at Cornell Lab of Ornithology, to get more insight into why
- Spring bird migration in the Great Lakes , GreatLakesNowFeatured guests included: Alli Smith, project coordinator with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology ‘s Merlin Bird ID app Robyn Bailey, project
- The birds and the bees: Including bird data improves estimates of wild bee species , MSN.comCornell Lab of Ornithology. To fill in the data gaps of bee populations, the team turned to bird data from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's
- Lesser Goldfinches Are Advancing Northwards in the US , Technology Networksrapidly colonize new environments,” said Jordan Boersma, co-author and research associate at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “It’s not just
- Goldfinches are moving to new homes in unusual places , Earth.comrapidly colonize new environments ,” said Jordan Boersma, co-author and research associate at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “It’s not
- Climate change is making the Lesser Goldfinch move from the US Southwest to the Pacific Northwest: Study , Down To Earthrapidly colonize new environments,” said Jordan Boersma, co-author and research associate at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “It’s not just
- How to Choose the Best Birdhouse to Attract Nesting Birds , MSN.com“It’s the ultimate standard of success,” says Robyn Bailey, project leader of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch program. “And it
- Hummingbirds are back in NY: See the interactive tracking map , MSN.combreed between April and October, said Andrew Farnsworth, a visiting scientist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and migration ecologist, in
- What the ‘trash heap’ penguins of Argentina are teaching us about survival , National Geographicfurther and further south,” says Gemma Clucas, a researcher with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The handful of Magellanic penguins that
- Why do birds sing so loudly in the morning in spring? It’s the ‘dawn chorus’ , National Geographicearly morning is still “an open question,” says Mike Webster, an ornithologist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology . “There's a lot of debate,
- Baby birds back on beaches: What to do if you see a shorebird raising its young , USA Todaytime, according to Andrew Farnsworth, a migration ecologist at Cornell University. Cornell University's Bird lab hosts a BirdCast Migration
- Eclipse echoes: Study reveals surprising avian vocal patterns during solar eclipse , MSN.comHaikubox; and Stefan Kahl and Holger Klinck of the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The
- Community Scientists and AI Team Up To Observe Bird Behavior During Total Solar Eclipse , Associated PressHaikubox; and Stefan Kahl and Holger Klinck of the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
- Birds Are Migrating! Here's How to Track Them in Real Time , MSN.comfact, that anyone with access to the internet can head to Cornell Lab of Ornithology's BirdCast and see a wide array of migration forecast
- State of the Birds report indicates about one-third of U.S. bird species at increased risk , Milwaukee Journal Sentinelsaid the report’s science committee chair Amanda Rodewald, faculty director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Center for Avian Population
- Midwest light pollution kills migrating birds, but scientists know how you can help , Nebraska Public Mediabirds see windows as solid surfaces. Andrew Farnsworth, a visiting scientist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, said the efficacy of these
- Spring bird migration is underway. Here's when and what you can expect to see in RI , MSN.comIsland. "The movements are massive," said Andrew Farnsworth, a migration ecologist at Cornell University who works with the university's
- Is springtime early or late in your area? Maps track flowers and birds. , MSN.com” said Andrew Farnsworth, a migration ecologist at Cornell University’s Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The university hosts the BirdCast
- Several Duck Species Included in ‘Tipping Point List’ as New Report Sounds Alarm Over U.S. Bird Declines , Outdoor Lifeand extreme weather events,” said Amanda Rodewald , faculty director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Center for Avian Population
- Counting whales by eavesdropping on their chatter, with help from machine learning , Mongabay.com Newsarea,” Marissa Garcia, lead author of the study and researcher at the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics at the Cornell Lab
- UPDATE | 2025 State Of The Birds Report Documents Continued Declines In Species , National Parks Travelerhave been lost." At the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Center for Avian Population Studies, Dr. Amanda Rodewald, the faculty director, said
- Alarming Report Finds US Bird Populations Are Still Crashing , ForbesNigel Voaden, Cornell Lab of Ornithology / Macaulay Library) Nigel Voaden, Cornell Lab of Ornithology / Macaulay Library According to the
- State of America’s birds: Population declines continue , Cornell UniversityNABCI), with contributions from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Marc Devokaitis is an associate editor for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
- Grim New Bird Report Shows U.S. Duck Population Dwindling , Time MagazineThe latest report is a collaboration between several groups including Cornell University, Ducks Unlimited, American Bird Conservancy,
- Many US Bird Species Seen as Reaching Population 'Tipping Point' , U.S. News & World ReportThe report looked at 718 species using population data such as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's eBird Status and Trends project, the U.S.
- US bird populations continue alarming decline, new report finds , MSN.comextreme weather events," said Dr. Amanda Rodewald, faculty director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Center for Avian Population Studies.
- Ducks were once a conservation bright spot. Now they're declining in the US, new report shows , MSN.comfound. The latest report is a collaboration between several groups including Cornell University, Ducks Unlimited, American Bird Conservancy,
- Birds Are in Trouble across the U.S. But It’s Not Too Late to Protect Them , Scientific Americanurgent conservation attention,” says report co-author Amanda Rodewald, an ecologist at Cornell University. This is bad news for humans, too
Experts at the Cornell Lab
To request an interview or find additional experts, contact Kathi Borgmann, 607-254-2137, birdnews@cornell.edu.
Robyn BaileyProject LeaderNesting Biology • Nest and Egg Identification • Nest Boxes • Participatory Science
Jessie BarryProgram Manager
David BonterCo-Director, Center for Engagement in Science and NatureCitizen Science • Avian Ecology • Foraging Ecology
Kathi BorgmannCommunications ManagerScience Communication • Bird Identification • Breeding Biology • Avian Conservation • Bird Song • Wildlife Restoration Ecology
Charles EldermireProject Leader
Andrew FarnsworthVisiting ScientistBird Migration • Aeroecology • Bioacoustics • Radar Ornithology • Climate Change
John FitzpatrickDirector EmeritusAdministrative Oversight • Fundraising • Board Relations • Conservation Science • External Communication
Wesley HochachkaSenior Research AssociatePopulation Ecology • Citizen Science • Ecological Informatics • Disease Ecology
Marshall J. IliffProject LeadereBird • Status and Trends • Migration • Species Distribution • Taxonomy
Holger KlinckJohn W. Fitzpatrick Director, K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics
Irby LovetteDirector, Fuller Evolutionary Biology Program and Director, Center for Biodiversity Studies and Higher Education
Kevin J. McGowanSenior Course Developer and InstructorCrows • Behavioral Ecology • Ornithological Trivia • Bird Identification • Translating Science to General Audiences
Tina PhillipsAssistant Director, Engagement in Science and NatureCitizen Science • Evaluation • Learning • Social Science
Aaron RicePrincipal EcologistBioacoustics • Conservation Biology • Fish Biology • Marine Ecology • Animal Behavior
Amanda RodewaldGarvin Professor and Senior Director, Center for Avian Population Studies
Viviana Ruiz GutierrezAssistant Director, Center for Avian Population Studies • Program Leader, Conservation ScienceApplied Population Ecology • Conservation Science • Quantitative Ecology • Tropical Ecology and Conservation
Edwin ScholesProject LeaderBirds-of-Paradise • Audiovisual Media • New Guinea Ornithology • Evolutionary Biology
Mya ThompsonCo-Director, Engagement in Science and NatureOnline Learning • Instructional Design • Media Production • Environmental Education • Animal Communication • Science Communication
Mike WebsterDirector, Macaulay LibraryAnimal Behavior • Animal Communication • Evolution • Bird Song • Breeding Biology