We love them. Now protect them and their habitats.
Photo: Lindsay Addison
"Why do birds matter?” is one of those questions like “What is love?” or “Why are we here?” or even “Is there a God?” Unanswerable, I think, by logic. One could cite facts like, birds eat lots of harmful insects, charm us at our feeders, or challenge us to learn their field marks, molts, and names both common and scientific. But perhaps the answer lies deeper. Since the beginning birds have lifted our eyes to the skies. They’ve shown us we’re not gravity’s slave, that flight is possible and limitless. It can hover and soar, dive and display, and take us from one end of the planet to the other in a single, impossible burst of energy and purpose. Inspiration is the gift birds have given us from the start. But now they give us a question as well. Like the canary in the mine, they hold the planet up to us like a mirror and ask: “Can you not see that if we pass away, soon you will as well?” That’s a good question, and since birds pose it, they matter a lot.
—Wes Craven, Hollywood director
From "I found an injured bird" to "A bird keeps attacking my window! What do I do?" we answer your most common questions here.
Bird feeding can benefit birds and also provides great bird watching from your own backyard. Get easy tips to feed the birds.
Not sure which birds to look for, or where to go? We've got all the information you need right here.
Birding can be simple, too, and you don't need to know how to identify a single species to help your kids get started.
A priority species is one that is particularly threatened in terms of the species' long-term survival.
The birds you love are counting on you to raise your voice and recruit friends! Commit to a weekly action this year and make sure our birds stay resilient in 2018.
Learn about 13 climate-threatened species in North Carolina, and see how we are working to help them survive and thrive.
American Oystercatchers are the most recognizable of all North Carolina shorebirds. They can be found along the North Carolina coast year-round, nesting on sandy beaches and islands.
The global population of Black Skimmers has been reduced to 165,000, and they have been classified as a Species of Special Concern in NC, due to loss of breeding habitat.
With reforestation of abandoned farmland and further development of the region, the Bobolink population has seen a dramatic decline.
The Brown-headed Nuthatch is fondly known to Audubon North Carolina (ANC) as our quintessential southern bird.
In North Carolina, Brown Pelicans are found in coastal marine and estuarine waters. .
Cerulean Warbler is one of the species of highest conservation concern and is been considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act.
The small, agile, fast-flying Chimney Swift is readily identified by its characteristic "flying cigar" profile.
The rapid decline of the Golden-winged Warbler since the 1980s cannot be explained solely by habitat loss, and that mystery has attracted many scientists to study this beautiful warbler.
The first to arrive and last to leave, the Green-winged Teal spends a very short period wintering in southern states including North Carolina, so spotting one may require some planning.
Colloquially known as the “little striker” for its headlong dives in pursuit of fish, the Least Tern is, as its name suggests, North America’s smallest tern.
Piping Plovers are federally threatened and endangered shorebirds, which inhabit wide, open beaches, shorelines and dry lakebeds in North America.
Saltmarsh Sparrows are tiny, social birds weighing less than 1 ounce. It can be difficult to spot this bird as they spend most of their time on the ground within the tall grasses of a salt marsh where they make a home.
The Tundra Swan is known for its exquisite features and courting rituals, which have made it revered throughout history.
White Ibis may be seen foraging on lawns or neighborhood ponds, especially in August after nesting season concludes, but marshes, swamps and other wetlands are their native habitat.
As its population has declined nearly 40 percent, the Wood Thrush has been designated a priority for conservation within our global and state IBAs.
Help secure the future for birds at risk from climate change, habitat loss and other threats. Your support will power our science, education, advocacy and on-the-ground conservation efforts.
Keep up-to-date on all that happens with Audubon North Carolina's research, events and volunteer opportunities.