Allen's Hummingbird
Credit: USFWS
Allens's Hummingbird

The NWRS Birding Team has identified dozens of ways refuges can work with birders to enhance their visit, contribute to citizen science projects, and promote bird conservation. They have distilled the list and identified 20 priority items — those components that make a refuge “Birder Friendly” and in turn make birders “Refuge Friendly.” The entire list can be viewed here:

Refuges around the country have been implementing different components in recent months. Below are some examples of products and publications they have developed.
Do you have an example of a birder-friendly refuge component you would like to share? Please send it to Maggie_o'connell@fws.gov.

Several refuges and Friends groups have great examples of birding information on their Web sites:

http://www.fws.gov/stillwater/wildobs.html
http://www.fws.gov/wheeler/observation/observation.htm
http://www.fws.gov/quivira/Current%20Birds.htm
http://www.fws.gov/lostwood/lnwr.htm
http://www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/images/maps/ORCoast_wildlifeviewing.pdf
http://www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/images/maps/ORCoast_wildlifeviewing.pdf
http://www.friendsofbombayhook.org/birding.html

Helpful Web Links:

Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology – education, research and conservation programs
Bird IQ – information and educational materials from NFWF and Conoco Phillips
The Bird Education Network – bringing together educators to develop a national strategy for bird education
Teach Visitors How to Use Binoculars