Urban Birding!

Birds are everywhere, including in urban landscapes like San Antonio and on-campus at UTSA! You don't have to leave town or travel abroad to enjoy the benefits of birding! Just observe closely next time you're outside!

Here are some sites you can use to get started on learning more about birds!

All About Birds (run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University): 

All About Birds is a free resource created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and made possible by their more than 100,000 members, donors, and supporters. Here you’ll find detailed information on more than 600 North American bird species, tips on how to attract and enjoy birds, an extensive section on FAQs and answers to common problems, as well as news and feature stories from the award-winning Living Bird magazine.

eBird (run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University):

eBird is among the world’s largest biodiversity-related science projects, with more than 100 million bird sightings contributed annually by eBirders around the world and an average participation growth rate of approximately 20% year over year. A collaborative enterprise with hundreds of partner organizations, thousands of regional experts, and hundreds of thousands of users, eBird is managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

iNaturalist:

iNaturalist helps you identify the plants and animals around you while generating data for science and conservation. Get connected with a community of millions scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature! What’s more, by recording and sharing your observations, you’ll create research-quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature.

Lesley the Bird Nerd:

LesleytheBirdNerd is a dedicated birdwatcher, hiking 5-8 km daily to visit her bird friends in their territories, regardless of weather conditions. She names and forms close bonds with individual birds, especially Blue Jays, and has a deep understanding of their behavior and habits. 

Merlin (run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University):

Merlin is designed to be a birding coach for bird watchers at every level. Merlin asks you the same questions that an expert birder would ask to help solve a mystery bird sighting. Notice that date and location are Merlin’s first and most important questions. It takes years of experience in the field to know what species are expected at a given location and date. Merlin shares this knowledge with you based on more than 800 million sightings submitted to eBird from birders around the world.