The Essentials

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has co-produced My Bird World, a collection of four interactive bird games for the Apple iPad that teach children about 24 species of North American birds. It’s available on iTunes for $4.99.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s competitive birding team is on a quest to break a national record while raising $250,000 for bird conservation. Team Sapsucker will attempt to top the U.S. record for the most bird species identified in 24 hours, which stands at 261. For every species they find, they’re asking supporters to pledge [...]

The North American population of the rusty blackbird has plunged an estimated 85 to 99 percent over the past 40 years. To help pinpoint where the remaining birds can be found, volunteers are needed for the third annual Rusty Blackbird Blitz through Feb. 13. This is when rusty blackbirds become easier to find, and the [...]