Birding Resources

Resources

Organizations

 

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National Audubon Society http://www.audubon.org/
Audubon protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.
Bird Migration Explorer https://explorer.audubon.org
The Bird Migration Explorer is your guide to the heroic annual journeys made by over 450 bird species, and the challenges they face along the way.
Audubon Texas http://tx.audubon.org/
Protecting birds in the Lone Star State.
Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center https://dogwood.audubon.org
A bird sanctuary in Southwest Dallas, and home of the Golden-cheeked Warblers. Free admission, hiking trails, indoor bird watching area, programs, classes. Check website for open hours and upcoming events. Listen to the Days at Dogwood Podcast for an informal chat about birds and other nature based topics.
Trinity River Audubon Center https://trinityriver.audubon.org
Located within the Great Trinity Forest in South Dallas. Free entry, hiking and boardwalk trails, nature based programs and classes. Check website for open hours and upcoming events.
Texas Ornithological Society https://www.texasbirds.org

TOS is a nonprofit organization founded in 1953 with the sole purpose of promoting the enjoyment, understanding, and conservation of Texas’ bird population through birding events, education, and habitat restoration.

Whether you are new to birding or a seasoned veteran, TOS invites you to join us to develop your skills, learn more about these amazing creatures, and help protect them for future generations. Membership includes free access to several birding hotspot preserves along the Texas coast.

Birds of North Central Texas https://www.nctexasbirds.com
This site is intended to act as a clearinghouse for bird sightings with associated photo images, area review species, and checklist information for North-Central Texas birds.
American Birding Association aba.org
The ABA provides leadership to birders by increasing their knowledge, skills, and enjoyment of birding. We are the only organization in North America that specifically caters to recreational birders.
Mindful Birding Network www.themindfulbirdingnetwork.com
An action-oriented group of like-minded people who meet several times a year to share ideas, collaborate and inspire each other in our work incorporating the practice of Mindful Birding into our professional or personal endeavors.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
(Ithaca, NY)
https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home
Our mission is to interpret and conserve the Earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds and nature. The Lab offers several birding resources available to all:
eBird https://ebird.org/home
FREE citizen science portal for logging bird sightings and keeping your personal life list. Set up an account and start documenting birds for citizen science today!
Birds of the World https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/home
$50/year add on to eBird for in depth information, good for someone who wants more information on individual species.
BirdCast https://birdcast.info

FREE migration forecast based weather surveillance radar and other resources to predict the number of birds in the air in migration season.

Bird Academy https://academy.allaboutbirds.org
Online non-credit birding courses for a fee to complete on your own schedule.
Project FeederWatch https://feederwatch.org
Turn your love of feeding birds into scientific discoveries.

 

Field Guides

The Sibley Guide to Birds, Second Edition,
by David Sibley
https://www.sibleyguides.com
Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America,
by Kenn Kaufman
http://www.kaufmanfieldguides.com/about-kaufman-field-guides.html
Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds,
by Nathan Pieplow
https://earbirding.com/blog/book
The Crossley ID Guide: Eastern Birds,
by David Crossley
Field Guide to the BIRDS of North America, National Geographic, 7th edition
Recommended Bookstore: Buteo Books https://www.buteobooks.com
An independent family-owned bookstore carrying one of the largest selections of birding books in the world.
Apps

eBird Mobile
Citizen science portal for logging bird sightings and keeping track of your life list from your phone. Not useful for making identifications, you have to know what you are looking at to log birds. FREE.
Merlin by Cornell Lab
Used mainly for sound ID, remarkably accurate but be careful with this. Also useful for narrowing down “most likely” bird in an area in a certain season or date. Also has ID features including “Photo ID” to make identifications. FREE.
Audubon
More than 800 birds in your pocket. FREE.
Sibley Birds
Allows you to compare similar species for side-by-side comparison, with lots of illustrations and information to help with identification. $19.99 for a digital download.
iBird Pro
(for iPhones)
Good for new birders to narrow down ID by location, family and some features. Also includes photos and lots of helpful information, including fun facts about birds. $9.99 for an annual subscription.
Podcasts

Days at Dogwood
This podcast will take you into Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center’s 200-acre wildlife preserve in the heart of the DFW Metroplex. Take a quick weekly break with us and get outside with the fresh air, the trees and of course, the birds.
American Birding Podcast
Nate Swick hosts staff and friends of the American Birding Association to talk about birds, birding, travel and conservation in North America and beyond, and a few bad jokes in between.
Mindful Birding Podcast
Holly Merker, author of Ornitherapy and Holly Thomas, cultivating the health benefits and joy of mindful birding.
Life List
Delve into all things birding and birding culture with prominent birders George Armistead, Alvaro Jaramillo and Mollee Brown. Birdy and proudly nerdy.
The Science of Birds
A lighthearted exploration of bird biology, hosted by Ivan Phillipsen, a passionate naturalist with a PhD in Zoology.
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