Winter Birdwatching Helps People and Birds

Every winter, birdwatchers across North America take part in the Christmas Bird Count, a community science event that began in 1900. Today, volunteers continue to count winter birds and share their findings with the National Audubon Society. In 2019, Science reported that North America lost almost 3 billion birds since 1970. Many habitats and once-common species have also declined. Because of these losses, it’s more important than ever to connect with local birds and join community science efforts. Scientists use long-term birdwatching data to see how bird populations shift as climate and habitat conditions change.

A male northern cardinal perches on bare winter branches. Common backyard birds like cardinals are easy to spot and can be recorded for community science projects such as the Christmas Bird Count, Project FeederWatch, or eBird. Photo: Christina Brinza/Unsplash

Winter is a good time to start watching birds. You can do it from a window, a park bench, or a snowy trail. The Merlin Bird ID app makes it easy to figure out what you're looking at by using pictures, sound, or a few simple questions. For kids, families, or anyone curious, it’s an easy way to get outside and learn something new.

With fewer birds around and bare branches instead of leafy trees, it’s often easier for kids to spot what’s moving. Watching birds at a feeder on a winter's walk helps them notice patterns, track changes, and start to pay closer attention to details. For families who want to dig deeper, Cornell’s eBird Explorers program links local sightings to national bird data, turning casual observations into real science.

The advantages of winter birdwatching extend to teens as well. Being in nature can help teens lower stress, improve focus, and feel better overall. Time outdoors has been linked to better mood and attention, and it can support emotional balance. Watching birds in winter encourages teens to get outside and take breaks from screens. Apps like eBird let them record what they see and notice seasonal changes.

Adults can often fit winter birdwatching into their busy winter routines. Noticing birds during a morning commute, a lunch break, or a short walk after dinner helps build awareness of seasonal changes, such as bird migration. The BirdCast Migration Dashboard provides near-real-time updates on nocturnal bird migration, using radar data to show how many birds are flying, which way they are heading, and how high they are flying.

For older adults or anyone with limited mobility, winter birdwatching is still accessible. A feeder near a window can turn cold days into active observation opportunities. Winter birds like chickadees and finches often visit feeders. Project FeederWatch makes it easy to record and contribute bird sightings. These sightings can also spark conversation with neighbors, caregivers, or family members, especially when outdoor access is limited.

Cities can host more birds than many expect, especially during spring and fall migration when exhausted migratory birds drop into parks and tree-lined streets to rest and feed. Even small pockets of habitat matter, and street trees and a healthy canopy help create safer places for migrant birds to pause and forage. Individuals and communities can play a role in protecting and supporting these urban visitors.

To support birds through winter and every season that follows, here are five simple ways to make your yard and neighborhood safer.

Make Windows Safer

Glass can pose a serious hazard for birds, who often mistake reflections or clear surfaces for open sky. At home, make windows safer by adding exterior patterns so birds recognize glass as a barrier. Closely spaced markings, cords, screens, or film all help.  The American Bird Conservancy’s guide lists proven options, including Acopian BirdSavers and Feather Friendly.

Keep Cats Indoors

Free-roaming cats in the United States kill an estimated 1.3 to 4.0 billion birds each year, making them a leading human-related cause of bird deaths. Keeping cats indoors protects birds and helps keep them safer from cars, disease, predators, and fights.

Avoid Pesticides

Many birds, especially during nesting season, depend on insects. Yard pesticides reduce insect numbers just when adult birds need them most to feed their chicks. Limiting chemical use helps bring insects back, along with the birds that rely on them.

Plant Native Vegetation

Native plants support more native insects than ornamental plants, and those insects are vital food for backyard birds. Even a few native shrubs can provide shelter, nesting cover, and food. Audubon’s native plants tool suggests options for your ZIP code.

Lights Out

Artificial light at night can confuse migrating birds and raise their risk of collision, especially with glass and bright fixtures. Motion sensors, shielded lights, closing blinds, and turning off unnecessary lights all help. The Lights Out movement has shown that simple nighttime changes can reduce harm to migrating birds.