Conservation & Eco-tourism

Conservation

We can make great strides to strengthen bird conservation when people take small but powerful actions to live out their bird conservation values. Here are ten ways you can help birds and do your part to shape the future for birds. Try something new, tell a friend, and let us know how it's going by tagging us on social media!

Protect Birds from Glass Collisions

Collisions with glass is a major human threat to birds, killing up to 1 billion birds annually in the U.S. alone. Because birds see differently than we do, glass poses a serious risk, especially when vegetation or other habitat is reflected in windows.

From tape to screens and films, there are many effective, easy-to-install and inexpensive home solutions to help birds by protecting them from window collisions. Please visit and share: www.birdsmartglass.org.

Say "No" to Pesticides

You can live a bird-friendly life by avoiding use of toxic pesticides. Neonicotinoids are currently the most widely used type of insecticide, and can be found in common products like insect sprays and seed treatments. One seed coated with this pesticide is enough to kill a songbird, and even less can harm a bird's reproduction. ABC has fought to block or restrict these dangerous chemicals in homes and gardens, and in agricultural settings by insisting that regulatory decisions be grounded in science.

Learn more about how to help birds like the Bobolink (shown here) by keeping these products out of your home and garden.

Donate to ABC

For nearly 25 years, ABC has been dedicated to conserving birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. We do this by safeguarding the rarest species, protecting habitats, eliminating threats, and building capacity for bird conservation. With your help, we can continue to achieve conservation results for native birds across the Western Hemisphere.

Go the extra mile for birds by making a tax-deductible donation today.

Be a Responsible Cat Owner

Keeping cats indoors, or safely contained outdoors, results in a safer and healthier environment for cats, birds, and people. If you are a cat owner, pledge to keep your pet responsibly contained.

Simple solutions like outdoor enclosures, harnesses, strollers, and backpacks will keep your cat happy and entertained while reducing bird mortality.

Take Action for Birds

ABC's Conservation Advocacy program tackles the toughest threats facing birds and defends critical laws and programs, including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Endangered Species Act. We can't do this without a strong grassroots voice from the bird conservation community.

Take action by asking your elected officials to support bird conservation efforts. Every voice counts!

Create Native Bird Habitat

Habitat loss is one of the most widespread threats to birds, affecting both rare and common species. ABC helps restore habitat by working with landowners to institute best management practices, emphasizing full life-cycle conservation efforts for migratory birds.

You can help birds by creating valuable bird- and pollinator-friendly habitat in your yard by landscaping with native plants.

Reduce, Re-use, Recycle

Integrating these simple tenants of sustainability into your daily life is critical to protect seabirds and other marine life from marine trash. ‪‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬Of course, it benefits people as well!

Waved Albatross and other seabirds mistake plastics and other trash for food and pass it along to their young, often with tragic results. Help seabirds by reducing waste and recycling.

Buy Bird-Friendly Coffee

Supporting sustainable agriculture like shade-grown coffee helps preserve critical wintering ground habitat for migratory birds, including Wood Thrush and Golden-winged Warbler. ABC's Migratory Birds program works in partnership to encourage sustainable practices among coffee producers, promoting healthy bird habitat. Do your part today by purchasing bird-friendly coffee.

Look for the Bird-Friendly Coffee logo from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and explore options here. 

Support Ecotourism

ABC's International program works in partnership to conserve habitat for some of the Western Hemisphere's most endangered bird species. Plan your trip today to one of ABC's partner reserves in Latin America and the Caribbean to see both wintering migrants and endemic species, while supporting bird conservation in the process. Many of these reserves are critical to avoiding extinction of rare species, like the Araripe Manakin (shown).

Stay Informed

Join ABC's online community to keep up-to-date on bird conservation issues. Sign up for ABC's eNewsletter list to receive our monthly eNews, Bird of the Week, and other updates.

We pledge to not share your email address with others, and you can opt-out of future communications at any time.

Ecotourism

Do you love birds, but don't have the time to take care of them? Take a birding trip! See wild birds, make amazing memories for the same amount of money and without the lifelong commitment. 

Depending on where you go, you can promote conservation efforts. Instead of locals making money on bird poaching, you can encourage them to guide tours with your patronage.

Audubon Int'l Birding Tours
Go birding with Audubon-trained guides to conserve important bird habitat and support local communities.