Birding

Discover the thrill of birding across New York State and unlock a new hobby that everyone can enjoy. New York’s wide-ranging habitats, from the Atlantic Ocean’s sandy beaches and Great Lakes shorelines to the majestic Catskill and Adirondack peaks, create a birder’s paradise that supports over 450 different bird species. Birding, also known as birdwatching, is one of the fastest-growing outdoor recreational activities. It can be enjoyed by all ages and experience levels and is a great way to get outdoors.

Because birds can be observed wherever people live, work, or recreate, birding is an accessible activity that does not require transportation or the purchase of specialized equipment. While binoculars can help, many birds can be identified without them.

In 2022, 7.4 million residents enjoyed wildlife watching close to home and 2.7 million visitors travelled to New York to experience its diverse birding opportunities. Join the fun! Get out and try birding in your backyard or nearby park today. It’s easy to get started.

Birding Resources

You don't need a lot to get started birding-just a good pair of binoculars, a desire to be outdoors, and a destination. Some people like to use a checklist of common species they might find around their home so they can keep track of what they have observed. Some birders keep a “life list”—a list of all the birds they have seen or observed over their lifetime.

Resources to Get You Started

• Merlin Bird ID - a free downloadable app created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to help identify and keep track of the birds you see or hear.
• Clements Checklist of Birds of the World - downloadable formats from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website.
• eBird - online tool by Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society to keep track of bird lists.
• New York State Ornithological Association (NYSOA) - options to order copies or download and print a PDF document.
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds Website - Check out this article "Binoculars and Beyond: Nine Tips for Beginning Bird Watchers" and "Building Skills: The 4 Keys to Bird Identification.
• I BIRD NY: How to Adjust Binoculars (PDF)
• Many public libraries offer binoculars to borrow, either alone or as part of a nature exploration backpack.

Find more information on many species commonly seen in New York State!

I BIRD NY: Beginner's Guide to Birding - download this beginner's booklet (PDF) for great information and fun activities.

I BIRD NY: Una Guía de Observación de Aves Para Principiantes - download the beginner's booklet (PDF) in Spanish

Resources for Kids and Educators

Use some of the following resources to enhance your outdoor recreation and birding adventures:

• Kids Get Outside (Kids GO!) Activities - Printable scavenger hunts, checklists, and posters developed to help kids get the most out of their outdoor exploration. Bird activities include songbird, raptor, and bald eagle info sheets, bird journal sheet, a bird adaption matching game, and a Things with Wings scavenger hunt.
• DEC Lesson Plans - Lessons grouped by grade level on a variety of environmental topics. Bird related lessons include Nesting Bird (Grade Pre K-2), Five Classes of Vertebrates (Grade 4-8), and Wildlife Conservation III (Grade 6-12).
• Conservationist for Kids is an insert into Conservationist magazine geared for elementary-aged children. The complete insert is available online as a PDF. Take a look through the index of issues to find information on all kinds of birds (in Spanish, too), including turkeys. Each PDF also includes a teacher supplement with lesson plans and additional resources.

Backyard Birding

One of the best things about birding is that you can do it anywhere! Birds can be observed in our neighborhoods, around schools, and near workplaces. There's always a chance to practice your birding skills. You can see a wider variety of birds in your backyard by creating a better bird habitat.

Backyard birding, or watching birds close to home, is the most common way people engage in birding. As a birder's skill and interest develop, there are several opportunities to contribute to scientific knowledge about birds and the natural world. Programs like eBird, New York's Breeding Bird Atlas, Cornell Lab of Ornithology's NestWatch, and the Great Backyard Bird Count rely on volunteer birders to contribute sightings to a centralized database.

Birding Organizations

• Birdability: Birdability is a nonprofit that works to make birding welcoming, safe and accessible for people with disabilities and other health concerns. See a map of accessible birding locations across the U.S. and the world. For more accessible recreation locations, check out DEC's Accessible Recreation destinations.
• #BlackBirdersWeek promotes and celebrates diversity in birding and aims to boost recognition and representation of Black people enjoying birding and the natural world. The annual event is typically held in late May/early June and includes virtual and in-person walks, discussions, and learning opportunities hosted by partners across the U.S.
• The Feminist Bird Club is dedicated to promoting inclusivity in birding by fundraising to support social justice causes and providing safe opportunities for members of the LGBTQIA+ community, BIPOC, and women to connect with the natural world.
• Young Birders Network includes extensive information for young birders around the world and is primarily geared for ages 12-18. Its aim is to provide resources for young birders to connect and learn, and to provide adult advocates for young birders the resources to encourage and support. The New York State Young Birders Club provides community, friendship, and fun for young people who have a passion for wild birds and their habitats. This club is for birders in New York State between the ages of 10 and 19, inclusive.

Bird Webcams

DEC has an active webcam featuring nesting Peregrine Falcons on the Mid-Hudson bridge, an endangered species of New York.

Visit Cornell’s FeederWatch Cam at Sapsucker Woods in Ithaca to see a variety of birds visiting bird feeders.

Conservation and Stewardship

As New York’s conservation agency, DEC is committed to protecting natural resources and promoting wildlife conservation while providing the public with opportunities to enjoy nature and the outdoors. There are things you can do—whether at home or while viewing birds and other wildlife somewhere else—to respect nature and protect habitat. Read more below and visit our Watchable Wildlife page.

Lights Out Initiative

New York State has adopted the 'Lights Out Initiative' on agency buildings to reduce dangers to migratory birds. We encourage other property owners to join the effort. Lights Out is a simple concept: commercial and residential property owners and managers reduce night time light pollution by turning off or dimming non-essential lights. This reduces the likelihood of disorientation and impact by birds. Note that exterior security lighting is more bird friendly when directed downward rather than into the sky.

Share the Shore!

Nesting birds on the beach need our help to survive. Learn how we can protect nesting shorebirds while we are out birding.

Wildlife Viewing Ethics

Visit our Watchable Wildlife page for tips on how to protect wildlife and nature while birding.

American Birding Association - Read through the American Birding Association Code of Birding Ethics before heading out in the field.

Bird Conservation Area Sites

Many of New York's best and biologically rich landscapes are in danger. These sites have been designated as Important Bird Areas. New York developed the Bird Conservation Area (BCA) Program in 1997 to enhance bird populations and their habitats on state lands and waters. The goal of the BCA Program is to integrate bird conservation interests into agency planning, management, and research projects, within the context of agency missions.

Habitat & Access Stamp Program

Donate toward improving New York's habitat and increasing access for fish and wildlife recreation by purchasing a Habitat & Access stamp. Some of the projects completed by DEC and partners include grassland habitat improvement at Upper Lisle Wildlife Management Area and several Wildlife Management Areas in Schuyler and Seneca counties.