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Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center

Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center SMBC is dedicated to understanding, conserving and championing the grand phenomenon of bird migration

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Season's Greetings & Happy Holidays from all your friends at Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center ❄️❄️❄️
12/23/2022

Season's Greetings & Happy Holidays from all your friends at Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center ❄️❄️❄️

In the Northern Hemisphere today is the , marking the shortest day and longest night of the year. While many bird specie...
12/21/2022
Barred owl

In the Northern Hemisphere today is the , marking the shortest day and longest night of the year. While many bird species wake up with the rising sun, owls are known for being nocturnal, or active at night. Get ready for the longest night of the year by learning about one of North America's most common owl species:

Barred owls are one of North America's most common and most vocal owls. These large predators are willing to eat anything they can hunt and kill. They have brownish-gray feathers and brown eyes, unlike most owls which have yellow eyes.

Overwintering in the southern and southwestern United States and Mexico, the acrobatic Ruby-crowned Kinglet can be spott...
12/16/2022

Overwintering in the southern and southwestern United States and Mexico, the acrobatic Ruby-crowned Kinglet can be spotted moving through lower and middle foliage, flicking their wings as they go. In the summer, they breed across northern North America and females may lay up to 12 eggs in a single nest!

12/13/2022

Cats are estimated to kill more than 2.4 billion birds annually in the U.S. Aside from habitat loss, this is the #1 human-caused reason for bird deaths. Save birds and keep your cat friends safe from cars, wildlife, and other potential threats by keeping them indoors or creating an outdoor “catio.” Learn how to by keeping birds and cats safe and sound indoors at nationalzoo.si.edu/livebirdfriendly

Spread the word: Show us how you by keeping your feline friends happy indoors!

Louisiana Waterthrushes feed on invertebrates found in streambeds, and are excellent indicators of the quality and healt...
12/09/2022

Louisiana Waterthrushes feed on invertebrates found in streambeds, and are excellent indicators of the quality and health of stream ecosystems. On their wintering grounds in the tropics, they are found in and around fast-flowing streams in hilly areas.

The Booted Racket-tail Hummingbird is found in mid-elevation forests across the Andean mountains, benefiting from Bird F...
12/02/2022

The Booted Racket-tail Hummingbird is found in mid-elevation forests across the Andean mountains, benefiting from Bird Friendly® farms and nearby forest reserves. Males defend their feeding territories, often chasing away other males and even large insects!

Many migratory birds depend on coffee landscapes for survival in the winter, but how do they interact with the coffee fa...
12/01/2022
Meet the Birds Supported by Bird Friendly Coffee Farms

Many migratory birds depend on coffee landscapes for survival in the winter, but how do they interact with the coffee farms they call home? Explore the behavior of 12 species that overwinter on Bird Friendly® farms, and to help protect their habitats!

Learn about the birds that call Bird Friendly farms home — and see how you can directly support the farms they inhabit.

A resident to medium-distance migrant, the Great Egret ranges widely across North, Central, and South American wetlands....
11/25/2022

A resident to medium-distance migrant, the Great Egret ranges widely across North, Central, and South American wetlands. They hunt amphibians, reptiles, birds, small mammals and invertebrates mainly by wading, but will occasionally swim to capture their prey!

Bird Friendly® producers maintain a diverse shade canopy above their coffee, allowing beans to grow in nutrient-rich soi...
11/23/2022

Bird Friendly® producers maintain a diverse shade canopy above their coffee, allowing beans to grow in nutrient-rich soil and ripen slowly, resulting in bolder, richer flavor! Celebrate & request Bird Friendly® at your favorite café: s.si.edu/request

How do scientists keep track of the birds they band? Just as each car has its own unique license plate number, each alum...
11/22/2022

How do scientists keep track of the birds they band? Just as each car has its own unique license plate number, each aluminum band is engraved with a unique set of numbers. Scientists are able to identify individual birds based on their aluminum band’s number or through a pattern combination of aluminum bands and colored bands.

Can you guess what the benefit is of using a combination of aluminum and colored bands? Learn more about banding and see if you guessed correctly: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/what-bird-banding

The Andean Motmot can be found in the forests and foothills of Bird Friendly® coffee farms in South America. Usually spo...
11/18/2022

The Andean Motmot can be found in the forests and foothills of Bird Friendly® coffee farms in South America. Usually spotted perching quietly in the midstory of mossy subtropical forest, they are named for their double-hooting call, resembling an owl call.

11/17/2022

Happy !🌲🏔️🍃 Did you know you can contribute to science while you hike? Even in colder months, scientists need your help tracking the health of the world's bird species. Download ​​the eBird app and report what you see! Learn more: http://s.si.edu/livebirdfriendly

When we help birds thrive, we sustain the essential lands and waters needed to protect biodiversity, abundant resources,...
11/16/2022
Investing in Conservation and Quality of Life

When we help birds thrive, we sustain the essential lands and waters needed to protect biodiversity, abundant resources, and our own well-being. You can help reduce risks birds face by creating bird-friendly habitats with native plants, making your windows bird safe, and turning off non-essential lights during migration. Visit https://www.stateofthebirds.org/2022/quality-of-life/ to learn more about what you can do to help and find 7 Simple Actions to at s.si.edu/livebirdfriendly.

Protecting our natural heritage is essential for healthy communities today and for future generations. Wildlife and people alike are facing growing threats from habitat degradation, climate change, and natural disasters. By helping birds, we help ourselves. With all hands on deck—involving local

Live Bird Friendly®
11/15/2022
Live Bird Friendly®

Live Bird Friendly®

Are you ready to join the Bird Friendly movement? Find out how you can make a difference for birds.

If you live in the U.S. or Canada, some of your favorite migratory birds are likely overwintering in the coffee growing ...
11/14/2022
How The Coffee You Drink Could Help The Birds In Your Backyard

If you live in the U.S. or Canada, some of your favorite migratory birds are likely overwintering in the coffee growing landscapes of Central and South America. Learn how Bird Friendly® coffee flies above the rest to ensure vital bird habitat is protected globally.

The Bird Friendly certification has strict standards to ensure coffee is grown sustainably and protects biodiversity. Here's where to find it in Canada.

Named for their soft, drawn-out calls, the Mourning Dove ranges across North and Central America. They are commonly spot...
11/11/2022

Named for their soft, drawn-out calls, the Mourning Dove ranges across North and Central America. They are commonly spotted foraging for seeds on the ground, and can actually store them in an enlargement of their esophagus called a crop.

Nearly a quarter of seabirds found in U.S. waters are at risk of an Endangered listing, including Atlantic Puffin, Band-...
11/10/2022
Seabirds

Nearly a quarter of seabirds found in U.S. waters are at risk of an Endangered listing, including Atlantic Puffin, Band-rumped Storm-Petrel, and Black-vented Shearwater according to the 2022 Report. Threats include rising sea temperatures, marine debris, fisheries bycatch, and overfishing of prey fish. Learn more about these issues and potential solutions:

Status: Global declines are reflected in U.S. waters Seabirds are suffering cascading declines around the world; one study documented a 70% population loss for seabirds since the 1950s. Sadly those declines are also occurring in America’s ocean waters, where about a quarter of U.S. seabird specie

Our Shared Future: Life on a Sustainable Planet
11/10/2022
Our Shared Future: Life on a Sustainable Planet

Our Shared Future: Life on a Sustainable Planet

Smithsonian Undersecretary for Science and Research Ellen Stofan describes how bringing history, art, culture, and science together can help us build a more ...

Happy ! Why not top off all that foam with a touch of conservation? When you drink Bird Friendly® certified coffee, you ...
11/08/2022

Happy ! Why not top off all that foam with a touch of conservation? When you drink Bird Friendly® certified coffee, you brew a more biodiverse, sustainable world. Find a retailer that serves Smithsonian Bird Friendly® at drinkbirdfriendly.com

The smallest of North America’s orioles, the Orchard Oriole spends its short breeding season foraging and nesting before...
11/04/2022

The smallest of North America’s orioles, the Orchard Oriole spends its short breeding season foraging and nesting before migrating to Latin America as early as mid-July. Like many migratory birds, the Orchard Oriole benefits from Bird Friendly® farms, where they eat nectar and pollen from flowers and even act as pollinators for some tropical plant species!

Conservation works when we give birds and nature a chance. According to the 2022  Report, long-term declines of some eas...
11/03/2022
Eastern Forest Birds

Conservation works when we give birds and nature a chance. According to the 2022 Report, long-term declines of some eastern forest birds appear to be leveling off, thanks to collaborative restoration efforts between 50+ federal, state, and nonprofit organizations working to restore hardwood forests and boost populations of Cerulean Warblers and Wood Thrushes.

Learn more about these efforts and how they are also benefiting other songbirds, wildlife species, and overall forest health.

Status: Long-term decline has leveled off Since 1970 the overall population for eastern forest birds shows almost a 30% loss, but that loss curve has straightened out since 2009. Today some species previously in steep decline—such as Red-cockaded Woodpecker—are showing modest population gains

Happy Halloween! With thick, strong beaks well adapted for tearing, and long claws for holding carrion, it's no wonder v...
10/31/2022

Happy Halloween! With thick, strong beaks well adapted for tearing, and long claws for holding carrion, it's no wonder vultures have a spooky reputation. But don't be fooled by their appearance–these misunderstood birds play a vital role in ecosystems throughout the world!

Thanks to their keen eyesight and good sense of smell, these birds are able to locate dead animal carcasses and quickly remove pathogens and toxins in the environment, mitigating the spread of disease that could potentially impact both ecosystem and human health.

The  Report finds continued losses of migratory birds, such as the stunning Golden-winged Warbler which is poised to los...
10/28/2022

The Report finds continued losses of migratory birds, such as the stunning Golden-winged Warbler which is poised to lose another 50% of its population in the next 50 years if nothing is done. Solutions such as planting native plants and drinking Bird Friendly® coffee can benefit birds & people. Learn more and explore additional community-based conservation actions at StateoftheBirds.org/2022/quality-of-life/

The eight California Channel Islands are home to native populations of several bird species, including the endemic islan...
10/25/2022

The eight California Channel Islands are home to native populations of several bird species, including the endemic island scrub-jay which exists exclusively on Santa Cruz Island. Bird species and populations on islands are often at risk, and island-specific species are up to 40 times more likely to go extinct than their mainland counterparts.

Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center scientists study the island scrub-jay to learn more about island adaptations and develop conservation strategies for these unique ecosystems. Learn more about this research at https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/channel-islands-living-laboratory

The glittering Emerald-bellied Puffleg can be spotted in forests along the east slope of the Andes. Thanks to the vital ...
10/21/2022

The glittering Emerald-bellied Puffleg can be spotted in forests along the east slope of the Andes. Thanks to the vital habitat this Bird Friendly® coffee farm in Peru conserves, this particular hummingbird has access to abundant resources, like nectar and shelter, both in and around the farm.

The dapper Bobolink fills our grasslands with bubbly song. But it's at a tipping point —poised to lose 50% of its popula...
10/20/2022

The dapper Bobolink fills our grasslands with bubbly song. But it's at a tipping point —poised to lose 50% of its population in the next 50 years if nothing is done, according to the 2022 report. This rapid disappearance is telling us that our grasslands are in trouble. In fact, Grassland birds have suffered the biggest bird declines of any terrestrial biome since 1970. Birds aren’t the only ones that need grasslands to survive—we do too! Grasslands sustain rural economies and livelihoods in America’s Heartland.

"Improved cattle ranching practices are absolutely essential to arresting the declines of grassland birds. Unfortunately, that won’t be enough," says Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center Conservation Ecologist Dr. Andy Boyce. "Continued progress towards restoring keystone species like bison and prairie-dogs on public and private lands, as well as ensuring producers are incentivized to keep native grasslands right-side-up are also essential to keeping our grassland bird communities healthy.”

With uptake of these combined approaches we can improve grassland health, while providing jobs, food, and habitat for wildlife. Working together we can . Learn more about the diverse conservation community responding to this emergency at StateoftheBirds.org/2022/grassland-birds

Land-use changes, including deforestation, driven by humans are a major contributor to biodiversity loss according to a ...
10/18/2022
Animal populations shrank an average of 69% over the last half-century, a report says

Land-use changes, including deforestation, driven by humans are a major contributor to biodiversity loss according to a new report. Thankfully, humans can make changes, even with something as simple as their daily coffee routine, to better benefit biodiversity.

When you certified coffee, you help support farmers committed to protecting biodiversity and fighting climate change by conserving critical habitat for birds and other wildlife. Learn more at s.si.edu/birdfriendly

A new report from the World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological Society of London analyzed years of data on wildlife populations across the world and found a downward trend in the Earth's biodiversity.

Can you spot the Blue-necked Tanager perched on this epiphyte? Bird Friendly® coffee farms maintain epiphytes (a plant t...
10/14/2022

Can you spot the Blue-necked Tanager perched on this epiphyte? Bird Friendly® coffee farms maintain epiphytes (a plant that grows on another plant) and vines to conserve biodiversity and protect important resources for birds and other wildlife.

The 2022  report identifies 70 Tipping Point species—birds that have lost more than half their populations in the past 5...
10/12/2022
More Than Half of U.S. Bird Populations Are Shrinking

The 2022 report identifies 70 Tipping Point species—birds that have lost more than half their populations in the past 50 years, and are on track to lose another half in the next 50 if nothing changes. Prairie Warblers, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Bobolinks are just a few Tipping Point examples.

A key theme of the report is that bringing birds back will also benefit communities, climate, & quality of life. Learn more and hear from Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center scientists on what this tells us about conservation efforts:

An alarming report indicates that dozens of species are likely to become federally endangered without preventive action

10/12/2022

🦆 🐦 A newly released State of the Birds report for the United States reveals a tale of two trends, one hopeful, one dire. Long-term trends of waterfowl show strong increases where investments in wetland conservation have improved conditions for birds and people. But data show birds in the United States are declining overall in every other habitat—forests, grasslands, deserts, and oceans. ✏️ LEARN MORE: https://s.si.edu/3rNjF9F. . .
Published by 33 leading science and conservation organizations and agencies, including the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, the 2022 U.S. State of the Birds report is the first look at the nation’s birds since a landmark 2019 study showed the loss of 3 billion birds in the United States and Canada in 50 years.

When we take care of birds and their habitats, we take care of the interconnected systems that we all depend upon for su...
10/08/2022

When we take care of birds and their habitats, we take care of the interconnected systems that we all depend upon for survival. Celebrate and explore 7 simple actions you can take to create a more biodiverse, sustainable future. s.si.edu/livebirdfriendly

Instead of clearing forest, Bird Friendly® coffees grow underneath shade trees, providing habitat for the birds that mig...
10/08/2022

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. Celebrate and brew a more biodiverse, sustainable world at drinkbirdfriendly.com

10/07/2022
for

Tomorrow is ! Light pollution is a significant threat to migratory birds, causing disorientation when they fly at night, which can lead to collisions with buildings, interference with their internal clocks, or interference with their ability to undertake long-distance migrations.

to support birds like the Black-throated Blue Warbler during their fall migration! To prevent collisions during the day, use external insect screens. At night, turn off lights or close the blinds.

The presence of trees in Bird Friendly® coffee farms help fight climate change by:1. keeping carbon out of the atmospher...
10/06/2022

The presence of trees in Bird Friendly® coffee farms help fight climate change by:
1. keeping carbon out of the atmosphere
2. acting as a buffer to temperature increases
3. protecting water supplies in quantity and quality
4. preventing landslides caused by hurricane increases

Celebrate this Saturday and help support coffee farms that conserve habitat for birds, and create a more sustainable world by choosing to at drinkbirdfriendly.com

Founded in 1991, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center’s mission is to understand, conserve, and champion the grand phenomen...
10/05/2022
Help Migratory Birds

Founded in 1991, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center’s mission is to understand, conserve, and champion the grand phenomenon of bird migration.

Join SMBC in celebrating this Saturday by learning how you can help migratory birds as they travel through your region! Explore how to create a bird friendly home, participate in bird counts, make your own hummingbird nectar, and more:

Get involved, and help make the world a better place for migratory birds.

SMBC’s Bridging the Americas/Unidos por las Aves is a cross-cultural environmental education program that partners class...
10/04/2022

SMBC’s Bridging the Americas/Unidos por las Aves is a cross-cultural environmental education program that partners classes in grades 2 through 4 in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. with classes in Latin America.

Paired classes learn and exchange information about the migratory birds that winter in Latin America and return to the U.S. and Canada each spring to breed.

Since 1993, close to 45,000 students from classrooms in the U.S., Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela have participated! Hear from Bridging the Americas participants in SELVA Investigación para la Conservación en el Neotrópico’s Aves, Café y la Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta documentary at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKgwN5CkgvU&ab_channel=SELVAvideos and learn more about this continent-spanning program at s.si.edu/bridgingtheamericas

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10/03/2022

Photos from Smithsonian Institution Archives's post

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Hear from Avian Conservation Ecologist and Bird Friendly collaborator Dr. Ana González-Prieto on her research in shade-grown coffee plantations, how coffee and birds are related, and why international collaboration is vital for bird conservation.

Listen to the first episode of this 2-episode series from Birds Canada's The Warblers Podcast here:
Did you know the Magnolia Warbler is one of the most common residents of Honduran coffee farms? This small, beautiful warbler spends its winters searching for insects among the leaves of coffee shade trees and the coffee plants themselves.

Learn more about common migratory bird species that depend on coffee growing landscapes for survival. https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/meet-birds-supported-bird-friendly-coffee-farms
What's better than the perfect cup of coffee? The perfect cup that also helps support wildlife! Help us brew a more sustainable future and at s.si.edu/BuyBF
The Northern Great Plains is one of the last places where extensive prairie remains, making it crucial for grassland bird conservation. Find out how SMBC researchers are working to protect bird populations by monitoring the nest success of prairie songbirds.
Over 42 species of North American migratory birds overwinter in coffee plantations in the tropics, including orioles, warblers and thrushes. While you await their return in the spring, to help support the coffee farmers conserving their habitat. Find out where you can buy Bird Friendly coffee at https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/where-buy-bird-friendly-coffee
In these excerpts from his field journal, SMBC Intern Haley Haradon transports you to Michigan’s young jack pine forests as he searches for Kirtland’s warbler nests. Read on to find out what it’s like to monitor one of North America’s rarest songbirds. https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/news/day-life-conservation-biologist-search-rare-songbirds-nest
From sea to sky, research at SMBC and the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute shows how seemingly different animals–sessile coral and soaring seabirds–are interconnected through the ocean. Explore how this research, from tracking the full migration of seabirds to creating frozen biorepositories of coral, can help inform conservation and protect species and habitats from the impacts of climate change.
Scientists at Smithsonian joined COP26 for the Our Shared Future: Life on a Sustainable Planet talk to discuss advancing climate science. Hear from SMBC Research Ecologist Dr. Ruth Bennett on the benefits of agroforestry as a climate solution.
With the use of high tech tracking tags, SMBC researchers & collaborators are gaining insight into the movements of long-billed curlews as they migrate thousands of miles from their nesting grounds in Montana to overwinter in the coastal lagoons and high deserts of the U.S./Mexico border.

Find out how this modern technology is unraveling the mysteries of curlew migration and conservation by helping scientists better understand their needs and the challenges they face throughout every stage of their lifecycle.
Do you take cream or sugar in your coffee? What about conservation? When you you help conserve critical habitat for birds and wildlife, fight climate change, protect biodiversity, and support farmers committed to preserving habitat by farming sustainably!

and find your perfect roast today at drinkbirdfriendly.com
Federación Comercializidora de Café Especial de Guatemala (FECCEG) is dedicated to organic specialty coffee production, supporting smallholder producers and their quality of life, and the health of the environment and their communities.

“The Bird Friendly certification raises awareness for the protection of wildlife and improves marketing opportunities,” says FECCEG Manager Juan Francisco. “It makes me feel happy to give protection to birds.”

Learn more about their Bird Friendly farm at https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/certified-coffee-farms/federacion-comercializidora-de-cafe-especial-de-guatemala
Are you doing some fall gardening this weekend? Consider adding native plants to your yard, planters, and other outdoor spaces to provide shelter and food sources for birds and other wildlife! Find out which plants are best for your area and learn more about creating a bird friendly home and yard at https://nationalzoo.si.edu/migratory-birds/live-bird-friendly
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