In light of recent allegations of criminal and abusive behavior experienced by women birders in other parts of the country, NYC Audubon stands committed to continuing our work to expand accessible and inclusive birding, and to share the magic of birds and nature as widely as possible. Everyone—particularly women, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and members of all marginalized communities—has the right to be free from harassment, intimidation, abuse, or assault while birding or engaging in any outdoor activities.

Whether you are a lifelong birder, an occasional birdwatcher, or have just discovered birds, you will probably agree: birds are wondrous, mysterious creatures. A love of birds opens up a world that connects us to nature and to one another (if you choose; you can bird solo or in a group, another plus!). To help you get the most out of your birding experiences, whether you’re a new or longtime birder, we’ve shared some tips in our helpful Birding 101 guide: the basics you need to bird in the field and a rundown of the best times to bird in New York City.

The 121st Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC), a single-day bird census held at thousands of locations across the Western Hemisphere, looked quite different in 2020. To keep everyone safe, National Audubon supported compilers who chose to cancel their counts due to the coronavirus pandemic and provided guidance to those who decided to proceed. In lieu of hosting our large CBC events, our 2020 count involved a smaller number of seasoned volunteers who collected data while wearing masks and remaining socially distanced. 

NYC Audubon prides itself on connecting people to nature and conservation through engaging programming that brings together individuals united by a passion for wildlife and the outdoors. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we are approaching our mission to connect and unite with one another through an adjusted lens. We are following state and federal government guidance, are in touch with city agencies, and continue to monitor the situation closely. Please continue to check our website, sign up for eNews, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for new programming and updates.

To wrap up our 40th anniversary year, we have reinvigorated our logo and style to better reflect all the habitat we protect and create in New York City. Executed by the talented team at reitdesign, our refreshed logo offers a view into a greener New York City, highlighting the City’s grassy and forested areas and incredible shorefront—with our mascot, the American Kestrel, soaring above. We hope our new look encourages New Yorkers across the five boroughs to join us in exploring and conserving these precious and critical habitats.