The Avian
Society
Dedicated to the study, appreciation, and conservation of North America's birds and the ecosystems that sustain them.
Protecting birds and the places they need
Guided Expeditions
Join our expert ornithologists on curated field trips through North America's most vital bird habitats. From dawn chorus walks to multi-day migrations.
Conservation Research
Supporting 47 active research programs across 12 countries, protecting critical flyways and breeding grounds for threatened species.
Citizen Science
Our annual Christmas Bird Count engages 80,000+ observers. Your observations fuel the longest-running community science project on Earth.
Youth Education
Inspiring the next generation of conservationists through school programs, summer camps, and the Junior Audubon Society chapters nationwide.
Sanctuary Network
Managing 41 nature sanctuaries spanning 25,000 acres of protected habitat, open year-round for quiet observation and reflection.
Guided Expeditions
- Dawn chorus walks that begin before sunrise to catch the peak of morning song activity
- Multi-day migration tracking journeys along critical flyways in spring and fall
- Species-specific expeditions targeting rarities such as Kirtland's Warbler or Whooping Crane
- Photography-focused trips with blinds and hides set up for optimal lighting and composition
- Family-friendly half-day walks designed for budding naturalists of all ages
Conservation Research
- The Eastern Forest Songbird Initiative — monitoring reproductive success across 340 nest sites in Appalachian mature forests
- Shorebird Tracking Consortium — deploying geolocators and satellite tags on Red Knots and Semipalmated Sandpipers
- Grassland Bird Recovery Program — testing habitat restoration techniques for Bobolinks and Eastern Meadowlarks in agricultural landscapes
- Neotropical Wintering Grounds Survey — collaborating with local researchers in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to understand migratory connectivity
- Climate Impact Forecasting Lab — modeling range shifts for 150+ species under future emissions scenarios
Citizen Science
- Christmas Bird Count — 2,500+ count circles from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, producing 120+ years of continuous data
- Great Backyard Bird Count — a four-day February snapshot engaging 300,000+ participants in 100+ countries
- eBird — our partnership with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has yielded over 1 billion observations globally
- NestWatch — volunteers monitor breeding activity in backyards and parks, contributing to studies on clutch size and fledging success
- Project FeederWatch — winter-long surveys of backyard feeding stations tracking irruptions and range expansions
Youth Education
- School Programs — classroom visits, bird banding demonstrations, and field trips aligned with state science standards for grades K–12
- Summer Nature Camps — week-long immersive experiences at sanctuary sites featuring bird identification, habitat exploration, and nature journaling
- Junior Audubon Society — a nationwide network of youth chapters offering monthly outings, service projects, and mentorship from adult birders
- Young Ornithologists Scholarship — funding for high school students to attend intensive summer programs and present at regional conferences
- Family Nest Box Program — free bluebird and chickadee box kits with construction guides and monitoring protocols for backyard scientists
Scarlet Tanager
Piranga olivaceaA species in remarkable decline
The Scarlet Tanager has lost over 30% of its population since 1970. Our eastern forest habitat restoration program targets the very breeding grounds this species depends upon — from the Appalachians to the boreal forests of Canada.
Through targeted land acquisition, sustainable forestry partnerships, and community-based monitoring, we are working to ensure that future generations may still witness the flash of crimson against summer-green leaves.
Read the Full ReportLatest Dispatches
Become a guardian of North America's birds
Your membership directly funds conservation programs, research initiatives, and habitat restoration across the continent. Join 1.2 million members working to protect birds.