State of the Birds | The Nature Conservancy's Migratory Birds Program

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Explore our bird habitat map and learn about some of the rare and threatened species that live in each location.

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State of the Birds Report

Birds are a priceless part of our heritage. They are beautiful, they are economically important -- and birds reflect the health of our environment.

Birds are indicators of the integrity of the environments that provide us with clean air and water, fertile soils and abundant wildlife. In the past 40 years, major public, private and government initiatives have made strides for conservation.

Has it been enough?

Nearly half the world’s 10,000 bird species depend on the forests, wetlands and grasslands of the Americas — from Canada to Argentina. But habitat loss is threatening their ability to survive.

In wetland areas, bird populations have bounced back as the result of strategic land management and conservation work, including bird conservation work that Conservancy supporters have made possible. However, other habitats are experiencing rapid declines in bird numbers, which indicate potential declines the health of their corresponding ecosystem.

To read more about these changing bird populations, read the State of the Birds report. This easy-to-read and informative report gives us a solid, understandable view of some of the U.S.’s most rare and beautiful birds.

Birders in the United States enjoy a unique array of habitats with a wide variety of rare and exciting birds. Take a moment to explore each of these stunning landscapes and the birds that call them home.

Get Involved with Birds

Whether you’re a casual birdwatcher or a seasoned professional, you are invited to view and share your favorite birding experiences with us.

For birders:

View our breakthrough State of the Birds report on the declining populations of birds in the United States.
Read about some of the essential bird conservation work made possible by Conservancy supporters like you.
Explore our interactive map of critical bird habitats in the United States and the rare birds we are trying to protect.
Scroll through our Bird Index of facts to test your knowledge of bird populations.
View our top birding hot spots map and submit your own favorite places to birdwatch.
Read bird profiles of eight threatened North American birds and view illustrations by famous birder, author and artist David Allen Sibley, author of the best-selling Sibley Guide to Birds.

For the casual birdwatcher:

View our owls of Harry Potter feature and find your favorite characters from Hogwarts!
View beautiful images of our favorite birds, or submit your own favorite bird photos on our Flickr photo community.
Send e-cards of beautiful bird photos taken by e-members to your friends and family!
Download bird wallpaper for your desktop or get a new screensaver with gorgeous bird images.
Scroll through our bird facts to test your knowledge of bird populations.

The Nature Conservancy is a non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowable by law.

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