BIRDING

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is hosting two waterbird viewing events in southern Utah this month. The Delta Snow Goose Festival (Feb. 20-21) features free viewing at Gunnison Bend Reservoir where up to 20,000 snow geese gather, while a Jackson Flat Reservoir event (Feb. 21) showcases various duck species and other waterbirds with DWR biologists available to assist.

The DNR's third annual Camp Warbler runs June 1-3 at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center near Roscommon. This all-inclusive event features guided birding activities, presentations, lodging, meals, and transportation from Detroit, including visits to Shiawassee Wildlife Refuge and a Kirtland's warbler breeding site.

Nine compilers reported results from Oklahoma's 126th Audubon Christmas Bird Count across 24 designated count circles, with 200 birders documenting 200,379 individual birds. The Tulsa Count Circle reported the highest bird count at 54,919 individuals, while the Oklahoma City Count Circle recorded the richest species diversity with 118 species, including notable sightings at Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge and other locations.

Niobrara State Park offers viewing blinds to observe sharp-tailed grouse mating displays from March 1 to May 1, with peak activity between March 7 and April 20. Reserve the trailer blind accommodating up to 12 guests or pop-up blinds by calling 402-857-3373. Use promo code "SHARPTAIL26" for discounted lodging at NebraskaStateParks.ReserveAmerica.com.

Ever heard of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count? It’s a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors and observe wildlife during winter! Anyone can participate, and several events will kick off later this week across Montana.

People enjoying the outdoors are encouraged to follow simple best practices as a strain of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, H5N1, circulates among birds in Nebraska. Nebraska Game and Parks recently confirmed H5N1 in several migrating birds and is asking for the public’s help reporting sick, dead or abnormally behaving birds.

If you’re an avid wildlife watcher but prefer a perch from the warmth and comfort of indoors, give Project FeederWatch a try. With Michigan temps predicted to stay fairly frigid, it may be the coziest way to connect with nature – and collect helpful birding data.

Whether you’ve just started bird-watching or you are an advanced “birder,” consider heading outdoors over the next few weeks to help gather important data about birds during the 126th annual nationwide Audubon Christmas Bird Count.

Winter bird feeding is a great way to observe and learn about our year-round bird residents such as black capped chickadees, nuthatches and blue jays. This winter is also predicted to be a great year for seeing birds that visit Vermont in the winter, including evening and pine grosbeaks, and red polls.

Each year, sportsmen, bird watchers, and other wildlife enthusiasts can join the Wildlife Department in documenting federally endangered whooping cranes as they migrate through Oklahoma. It is important for sandhill crane hunters to be aware that whooping cranes could migrate through Oklahoma and be roosting or loafing in hunting areas.

Sandhill cranes by the thousands are once again returning to their wintering grounds at the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area in southeastern Arizona. The best time to view the cranes is 30 minutes before and after sunrise, just before they leave to feed for the morning.

This National STEM Day, November 8, FeatherSnap is inspiring families, educators, and nature enthusiasts to connect science and the outdoors in a whole new way. The award-winning smart bird feeder brand, STEM.org Authenticated™, is transforming birdwatching into an engaging, tech-driven learning experience that blends curiosity, nature, and innovation.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has released an updated version of its Avian Mortality Reporting App, making it easier than ever for the public to help monitor the health of Florida’s wild bird populations.

The MK Nature Center will host its 19th annual bird seed sale Dec. 5-6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at 600 S. Walnut St., Boise next to Idaho Fish and Game Headquarters. Come and stock up on food for your favorite backyard birds.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is hosting two viewing events in November to educate those just getting into bird-watching and to also provide opportunities to see birds during the fall migration. These viewing events will also help individuals who are attempting to complete the beginner slam included in the recently launched Utah Birding Slam.

Indiana Audubon will host the return of its northern saw-whet owl banding demonstrations at the Indiana Dunes this fall, continuing a tradition that blends science and public education in one of the Midwest’s key owl migration hotspots.

Indiana Audubon has completed installation of a new Motus Wildlife Tracking System tower at Fort Harrison State Park, expanding Indiana's growing network of towers that help track the incredible journeys of migratory birds and other wildlife.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) is hosting its 22nd annual High Country Hummingbird Festival on Saturday, July 26, at the Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area near Springerville/Eagar.

Indiana Audubon's 8th Annual Hummingbird Migration Celebration returns Saturday, Aug. 9, to Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary in Connersville. The daylong event marks the start of Ruby-throated Hummingbird migration in Indiana and features live banding demonstrations, bird encounters, family-friendly nature activities and more.

Ohio can celebrate a milestone this Independence Day with 964 confirmed active bald eagle nests, according to the Ohio DNR’s Division of Wildlife. More than 1,800 reports from citizen scientists statewide helped complete the 2025 bald eagle nest census. Division of Wildlife staff followed up on these reports and confirmed nest locations in 87 of Ohio’s 88 counties.