Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center

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The Smithsonian Bird Friendly team is very excited to share the activation of the Smithsonian documentary "Café y Aves" ...
01/24/2025

The Smithsonian Bird Friendly team is very excited to share the activation of the Smithsonian documentary "Café y Aves" at the Sundance Film Festival!

For several years, Nespresso has partnered with Ruth Bennett and Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. This inspiring film highlights the positive relationship between trees in agriculture and bird populations, emphasizing the vital importance of reviving biodiversity in our ecosystems.

Regenerative agriculture and agro-ecology have been at the heart of the Nespresso Sustainable Quality AAA program for over 20 years. "Café y Aves" was filmed on one of these AAA farms in Colombia, showcasing the real impact of the program at both the farm and landscape levels in coffee-growing regions.

The film will be featured at the Sundance Film Festival during Food Tank All Things Food and Environment Summit on January 25th, 2025. At The Nespresso House at Blue Sky Ski Lounge, Roshan Patel from Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute will present clips from the film and discuss the important work of the AAA farmers and where Jessica Padula will be sharing some advances Nestlé Nespresso SA has made in the regenerative agriculture space as well as the nuances and key learnings from our growing AAA sourcing program.

Let’s celebrate the intersection of coffee and conservation!



Coffee farms in Colombia exist in some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. However, agriculture is putting pressure on that biodiversity that is...

Did you know the Magnolia Warbler is one of the most common residents of Honduran coffee farms where it searches for ins...
01/24/2025

Did you know the Magnolia Warbler is one of the most common residents of Honduran coffee farms where it searches for insects among the leaves of coffee shade trees and the coffee plants themselves?

01/22/2025

In addition to producing coffee, a host of other products can be harvested from a farm such as , , and .

Income from fruits can play an important role in times of low coffee prices or periods when other income sources are scarce.

These supplemental provide food for home consumption, limit soil erosion, provide a haven for and , and improve .

01/22/2025

Songbirds may be forming social connections with other species as they migrate, possibly even exchanging information about the journey.

Why care about birds? Protecting waterways and their surrounding watersheds protects bird habitat and clean water. More ...
01/21/2025

Why care about birds? Protecting waterways and their surrounding watersheds protects bird habitat and clean water. More than 60% of drinking water comes from rivers and streams. For example, research shows that protecting forested land in upstate New York watersheds is the most cost-effective way to provide clean water in New York City.

Credits: Cornell Lab of Ornithology & Illustrations by Diane Tessaglia-Hymes

01/20/2025

Whatʼs good for the birds is... good for you.
Whatʼs good for the birds is... good for the planet.
Whatʼs good for the birds is... good for farmers.
Whatʼs good for the birds is... good for nature.

Being Bird Friendly® benefits us all. Migrate to Bird Friendly today!

Did you know the Bare-throated Bellbird gets its name from the strikingly bare patch of blue skin on its throat? This un...
01/17/2025

Did you know the Bare-throated Bellbird gets its name from the strikingly bare patch of blue skin on its throat? This unusual feature is thought to play a role in mating displays, as the male bellbird's loud, metallic "bell-like" calls reverberate through the forests of South America, catching the attention of females and rivals alike. The Bare-throated Bellbird is also the national bird of Paraguay!

01/16/2025

Hoy retomamos nuestras entregas de . Hoy les traemos el Chachafruto, un árbol propicio para enriquecer áreas de conservación de vegetación nativa que presta numerosos servicios ambientales.


Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center Cenicafé Fnc Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia Esteban Botero Maria Isabel Moreno

What do all these pictures have in common? Diverse shade canopy! Bird Friendly® coffee is 100% shade-grown. Shade-grown ...
01/16/2025

What do all these pictures have in common? Diverse shade canopy!

Bird Friendly® coffee is 100% shade-grown. Shade-grown coffee is a way of growing coffee in concert with nature. Coffee trees grow in and among the forest canopy rather than on clear-cut land in full sun.

Treat yourself to Bird Friendly coffee while treating the planet! Learn more at birdfriendly.si.edu
01/15/2025

Treat yourself to Bird Friendly coffee while treating the planet! Learn more at birdfriendly.si.edu

01/15/2025

In an extensive interview, Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III spoke on the current political climate, the process of returning human remains from the Institution’s collections, the awe-inspiring scope of Smithsonian science and much more

In 2019, a study revealed that North America had lost 3 billion birds over 50 years. Now, scientists are launching the R...
01/14/2025

In 2019, a study revealed that North America had lost 3 billion birds over 50 years. Now, scientists are launching the Road to Recovery initiative, focusing on species like the Evening Grosbeak and Lesser Yellowlegs, to reverse these declines.

After a 2019 study identified major losses to North American bird populations, scientists are working to reverse the declines through pilot projects with Evening Grosbeaks, Lesser Yellowlegs, and others.

Bird Friendly® farms aren’t just beneficial for birds–they also help support the ecosystem as a whole! Bird Friendly far...
01/14/2025

Bird Friendly® farms aren’t just beneficial for birds–they also help support the ecosystem as a whole! Bird Friendly farms are lush with vibrant flora and pollinator plants!

Instead of clearing forest, Bird Friendly® coffees grow underneath shade trees, providing habitat for the birds that mig...
01/13/2025

Instead of clearing forest, Bird Friendly® coffees grow underneath shade trees, providing habitat for the birds that migrate from your backyard all the way to Latin America. Let’s brew a more biodiverse, sustainable world together!

Drinking Bird Friendly® certified coffee directly helps our feathered friends by providing good, forest-like habitat on ...
01/12/2025

Drinking Bird Friendly® certified coffee directly helps our feathered friends by providing good, forest-like habitat on their migratory and wintering areas.

Did you know that one of the primary criteria for Bird Friendly certification is the presence of diverse, native trees o...
01/11/2025

Did you know that one of the primary criteria for Bird Friendly certification is the presence of diverse, native trees on farmland? Tree species can produce different food sources for birds and other wildlife—including insects, fruits, and nectar—as well as structural habitat for resting and nesting. More tree species means more types of birds can live on and visit the farm! The diversity of tree species can also provide additional sources of income for farmers, as they cultivate fruits, timber, or medicinal plants from the trees on their land.

Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center developed Shade Tree Catalogs for Peru and Indonesia with Conservation International and World Coffee Research as resources to help assist producers in choosing tree species that are both good for them, and good for biodiversity. Explore the catalogs here:

A resource for Indonesian coffee farmers and professionals on tree species found in and around coffee landscapes.

Usually known for their bright color, male Scarlet Tanagers actually change their plumage to yellow-green during fall an...
01/10/2025

Usually known for their bright color, male Scarlet Tanagers actually change their plumage to yellow-green during fall and winter! Many spend this non-breeding season on Bird Friendly® farms eating insects and wild fruits in the canopy above the coffee plants.

Photo courteously of Dave Liggett©

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