Laws - both national and local - can help or hurt birds, and your vote matters to birds. You can help birds by voting for candidates that support bird and conservation policies, as well as speaking out on issues that affect birds.

Owning a pet is a serious responsibility, and pet owners should be aware of the fatal consequences that outdoor cats and unleashed dogs have on birds.

Did you know that ordinary birders like you and me have contributed to some of the most important bird research in the past 50 years? There are many ways to contribute to bird research and studies; it’s fun and easy, and it helps birds!

Birding is fun, it’s good for you, and it’s good for birds. Learn more about the benefits of birding and how it helps more people get involved in initiatives that help birds.

Pesticides are used to kill unwanted pests - insects and rodents, mainly, and they’re used everywhere: on farms, in our homes, lawns and gardens. Tragically, pesticides don’t just stop at their intended targets - often they kill birds (and bees and butterflies and other animals), resulting in at least 67 million bird deaths every year in the U.S. There are safer alternatives.

Every year, up to a billion birds are killed by crashing into windows, greatly reducing already decreasing overall bird populations. It’s a terrible death, killing birds in their prime as they migrate to start new families in their breeding grounds. We can prevent many of these deaths by turning off lights at night during migration, and making windows less reflective.

Bird populations are dropping drastically and much of this is the result of habitat loss. Native plants are a primary source of habitat for birds; they supply food, shelter, and nesting for raising their young. Learn how you can help birds survive and thrive by planting natives in your yard, patio, or window box.

Carbon emissions and climate change are affecting birds in many negative ways, reducing food and habitat, and placing many bird species into a precarious struggle for survival. Reducing your carbon footprint is complex and sometimes difficult, but challenging yourself to make a few changes can be empowering.

Coffee, burgers, and toilet paper - they don’t seem like they have anything to do with birds, but they do: they all require land to grow, and so do birds! This month we’re going to explain how these common products are produced and how their production often hurts birds. Most importantly, we’re going to give you bird-friendly alternatives.

Bird populations are declining across North America - will you take the Challenge to Help Birds in 2023? Every month this year we will explain a specific issue that is causing Chicago-area bird populations to decline, along with simple changes or actions you can make that will improve birds’ lives.