Information Density: Cornell Lab of Ornithology – Signal Evidence & AI Readability

[H2] Science and Innovation
The Cornell Lab is powered by science, technology, and millions of people around the globe—people like you.
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eBird Status and Trend Maps reveal how birds are faring across continental scales. Explore the map for Baltimore Oriole.
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Baltimore Oriole by Matthew Plante / Macaulay Library.
Join us and help create a future where birds, nature, and people can thrive.
[H2] People Power
We believe that people make the difference in every conservation challenge. Through participatory science projects, practical conservation actions, and broad partnerships, we offer limitless ways for you to deepen your interests and passions.
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Wood Thrush by John Petruzzi / Macaulay Library with graphic by Sarah SerrousiSeven Simple Actions to Help Birds
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Tree Swallow by Marie ReadFind and monitor nests to help track success in the family lives of birdsNestWatch
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Yellow Warbler courtesy of Bird AcademyTake an online course to transform your understanding of birdsBird Academy
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Pileated Woodpecker and Blue Jay by Bird CamsWatch wild birds from around the worldBird Cams
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Northern Cardinal by Bob Dunlap / Macaulay LibraryWhat’s that bird? Merlin Bird ID helps you find outMerlin
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Golden-fronted Woodpecker by Marcy Barbosa / BirdSpotterEnjoy birds at your feeder and share your observationsProject FeederWatch
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Photo courtesy of eBirdUse eBird to save your birding memories and contribute needed dataeBirdPhoto courtesy of CUBsConnect with birds in your community with science, art, and eventsCelebrate Urban Birds
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Calliope Hummingbird by Marya Moosman / Macaulay LibraryExplore sights and sounds of animals from around the worldMacaulay Library
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Photo by Susan SpearTeach about birds with inquiry-based activities and curriculaK–12 Education
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Cornell Botanical Gardens by Justin MuirMake your passion for birds part of your college studiesStudent Resources
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Photo courtesy of eBirdFind resources for young birdersYoung Birders Network
[H2] Science to Action
We work with communities around the globe to inspire and inform conservation. Your support helps us find solutions for a sustainable planet alive with the beauty of birds—where humans and wildlife can thrive.
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Elephant by Scott Anger/Lost Bird FilmsHow We Use Sound to Help Protect Elephants from Poaching
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Coffee beans by Gustave AxelsonHow Can a Great Cup of Coffee Support Birds, Farmers, and Local Communities?
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Philippine Eagle by Neil RettigCreating a New Chapter of Hope for One of the World’s Most Endangered Eagles
[H2] Education
We believe birds are a gateway to caring for the natural world. Help us spark curiosity and foster learning, starting with the earliest ages, through the college years, and lasting a lifetime. Our work aims to inspire and equip the next generation of science and conservation leaders.
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Golden-crowned Kinglet by Ezra J. Campanelli / Macaulay Library
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Photo by Darcy Rose.
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Barn Swallow by Ryan Sanderson / Macaulay Library
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Photo by Darcy Rose.
[H2] Visit the Lab
Experience the Visitor Center’s NEW interactive indoor exhibits, view world class art, and explore 5 miles of trails in Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary.
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Visit Us
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Virtual Experiences
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What to Do
[H2] Read Our Award-WinningMagazine
Latest stories from our quarterly member magazine, Living Bird.
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Tracking the Very Large, Very Elusive Star of Papua’s Forests: the Northern Cassowary
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A Cattle Farm in Alabama Draws Birders for a Spectacle of Kites
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Warblers in New Hampshire’s Forests Have Found an Ideal Way to Divvy Up Territories
[H2] Join Us Today
Membership fuels discoveries to make the planet a better place for birds, for all wildlife, and for people.
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[H2] Macaulay Library
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[H2] Join Our Email List
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation. Sign up for email and don’t miss a thing!
Golden-cheeked Warbler by Bryan Calk/Macaulay Library

The Cornell Lab Visitor Center and Wild Birds Unlimited store will be closed Thursday May 28 through noon on Saturday May 30 for a special event. Our trails remain open dawn to dusk.
[H2] What to Do During Your Visit
Join us to watch birds rain or shine. We offer 5 miles of trails as well as NEW interactive indoors activities.
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What to Do
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Bird Discovery Lab Eyes and Senses by Alexandra BayerWhat To Do: Indoors
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Andy Goldsworthy CairnWhat To Do: Outdoors
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Photo courtesy of the Cornell Lab.Guides and Activities for Your Visit
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Fall Trails by Tim GallagherVirtual Experiences
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Visitor Center Observatory by Alexandra BayerPrograms
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Photo by Susan SpearGroup Visits
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Cornell Lab by Diane Tessaglia-HymesVisitor Center FAQ
[H2] Upcoming Programs

4 events found.

[H3]
May 2026

Fri
29

The Visitor Center will be closed May 28 through 12:00 p.m. on May 30. Our trails remain open dawn to dusk.

Sat
30

Join us every Saturday and Sunday morning at 8:30 am at the front entrance of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We will walk the trails of Sapsucker Woods looking and listening for birds. These 90-minute walks are targeted toward beginners,…

FREE

Sat
30

The Visitor Center will be closed May 28 through 12:00 p.m. on May 30. Our trails remain open dawn to dusk.

Sun
31

Join us every Saturday and Sunday morning at 8:30 am at the front entrance of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We will walk the trails of Sapsucker Woods looking and listening for birds. These 90-minute walks are targeted toward beginners,…

FREE

See Full Calendar
[H2] What’s Happening Today at the Cornell Lab
Visit the feeder garden to see birds or Watch the live feeder garden cam.
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See which birds are around. View recent eBird Sightings Report.
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[H2] Explore Our Trails
Over 5 miles of trails are open from dawn to dusk! No dogs or bicycles.
Trail Map
Photo by Darcy Rose
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[H2] Visitor Center Hours
Tuesday–Sunday: 10AM to 4PMClosed Monday
Admission: Free
Trails open dawn to dusk
Holiday hours
Thanksgiving: ClosedChristmas–New Year: Closed
[H2] How to get here
Cornell Lab of Ornithology159 Sapsucker Woods RdIthaca, NY 14850
1-800-843-BIRD (2473)1-607-254-2473Find us on a map
[H3] Public Transportation:
Bus: TCAT Route 31. TCAT Bus Schedules.
[H3] Campus shuttle:
Free shuttle for Cornell staff and students runs 4 times daily between Cornell Lab and Cornell University, Mon–Fri, during the fall and spring semesters. Campus Shuttle Bus Schedules.
[H3] Accessibility:
Accessible parking is available. Visit our Accessibility page for a full list of features.
[H2] Sign Up for eNews
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker by Sasha Cahill / Macaulay Library

[H2] Why Cornell?
As the home of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, no other institution of higher learning supports such a rich community of professional ornithologists, bird-savvy students, and recreational birders. Whether your goal is to build a great local year list, to take part in cutting-edge research, or simply to hang out with birder friends, Cornell is a fantastic place to make your ornithological passion part of your college experience
We hope that both prospective and current students—graduate and undergraduate alike—will use these pages to learn more about the rich and diverse array of bird-related courses, resources, opportunities, and community available to Cornell students. Rest assured: No matter your level or type of interest, there’s a place for you here.
UndergraduateGraduateMentors

Be part of something bigger
[H2] Participatory Science
Our participatory-science projects engage hundreds of thousands of people in recording bird observations – whether in backyards, city streets, or remote forests. Scientists analyze data submitted through our projects to understand how birds are affected by environmental changes. Whatever captures your fancy, there’s a participatory-science project that can make it more meaningful.
Explore Participatory Science
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Participatory-science volunteers learn at a Cornell Lab workshop. Photo by Marilú López Fretts.
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Barn Owl by Ian Davies/Macaulay Library.
Learn with courses and webinars
[H2] Lifelong Learning
There’s a huge world of birds, behavior, and science out there. Our Bird Academy offers courses that explain the secrets of what you’re seeing and hearing—from casual webinars, to classes in the basics, to in-depth college-level ornithology courses.
Explore Lifelong Learning
Pass the spark to the next generation
[H2] K–12 Education
We have a lively K–12 education program that creates resources for teachers, homeschoolers, and other educators. If you’ve been wanting to incorporate birds and hands-on activities in your science teaching, we have dozens of ways to help you, from simple advice, to games and activities, to full curricula.
Explore K–12 Resources
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Watch a live feed of tropical birds from our Panama Fruit Feeder cam.
Share intimate moments in the lives of birds
[H2] Bird Cams
Watch a mother hawk protect her chicks from a snowstorm. See Ospreys divide up freshly caught trout among their young. Spy on the multicolored visitors to feeders in Canada, New York, and Panama. Hold your breath as endangered petrels raise their young in an underground burrow. Each and every day, our Bird Cams offer breathtaking views of all the extraordinary moments in the lives of birds.
Watch Bird Cams
Discover a new world of birding
[H2] eBird
Create birding memories, find new places to explore, learn where birds are seen, and help scientists understand the world. eBird offers global tools for birders and critical data for science
Explore eBird
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Sightings submitted by eBirders are enabling us to understand bird populations in ways that have never been possible before.
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Photographing a Brown Booby. Photo by Michael O’Brien.
Share your images and sounds
[H2] Macaulay Library
The Macaulay Library is a multimedia scientific archive for research, education, and conservation powered by you. The archive includes more than 400,000 audio recordings of birds, insects, reptiles, fish, and mammals including audio for more than 80% of the world’s birds, and more than 10 million photographs of birds.
Share Images and Sounds
We’re just outside of Ithaca, New York
[H2] Come Visit
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, headquartered at the Imogene Powers Johnson Center for Birds and Biodiversity, is a great place to visit. Our Visitor Center is full of science displays and beautiful artwork, all nestled within a nature preserve that’s teeming with wildlife, any time of year.
Visit the Cornell Lab
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The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Visitor Center. Photo by Dimitri Ponirakis.
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Baltimore Oriole by Brian Hix via Birdshare.
Your online guide to birds and bird watching
[H2] All About Birds
Use our free Bird Guide and our Merlin Bird ID app to identify birds, learn about their life history, and play sounds and video. All About Birds provides in-depth information and ID help on more than 600 species of birds in the U.S. and Canada.
Explore Bird Guide

[H2] Join Our Email List
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation. Sign up for email and don’t miss a thing!
Golden-cheeked Warbler by Bryan Calk/Macaulay Library