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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Yellow Warbler
    Pennsylvania Game Commission

    Birding and Bird Conservation

    With 436 species of wild birds, 1.5 million acres of State Game Lands, 20 State Forests, and 86 Important Bird Areas, Pennsylvania is a premier destination for birdwatching, or 'birding.'  Explore the information and links below to learn more about this popular pastime and how you can get involved with Pennsylvania Game Commission bird conservation initiatives. Good birding!

    • Did you know that Pennsylvania is the birthplace of ornithology, the scientific study of birds?
    How to Start Birding
    Pennsylvania eBird

    Get Involved

    The Pennsylvania Game Commission - your state wildlife agency – is responsible for conserving all wild birds, and their habitats, for this and future generations. Here are some ways you can get involved with us, and birding in general. The surveys and conservation opportunities below are conducted seasonally throughout the year and help support the agency's science-based management decisions for species and habitats. We welcome all bird enthusiasts to participate! 

    Bird

    3rd Pennsylvania Bird Atlas

    A Breeding Bird Atlas is an effort to understand the distribution, abundance, long-term change and seasonal patterns of birds breeding in a specific region. They often are conducted by the help of volunteers to cover a wide geographic area. Anyone can help collect data for the atlas—in fact, majority of the data collected is by volunteers!

    Learn More
    ebird

    Pennsylvania eBird

    sandhill crane

    Sandhill Crane Survey

    Marsh Bird Surveys

    Colony Nesting Waterbirds

    Barn owl

    Barn Owl Conservation Initiative

    Conservation Opportunity Area Tool

    Cedar waxwing

    Christmas Bird Count

    Great Backyard Bird Count

    Storymap

    Sounds of Spring

    An audio tour of springtime in Pennsylvania

     

    Explore Now

    Research

    Bald Eagles and Lead 

    The recovery of bald eagles has come a long way since three nests in the late 1970s. With the success of the Game Commission's recovery program, Pennsylvania now boasts more than 300 nests. As the eagle population increases, so does the chance of negative interaction between people and eagles. Lead in the environment is dangerous to bald eagles. Hunters can help prevent lead from being ingested by avian scavengers in two ways: by choosing to use non-lead ammunition and by burying carcasses and gut piles. Learn more in the resources below.

    Lesser Black-backed Gull movement map 

    The paths of nine lesser black-backed gulls that the Game Commission is studying can be seen here:

    View Lesser Black-back Gull Map

    Pennsylvania Management Plans

    Our Threatened and Endangered Species: Great Egrets

    Great Egrets is the first episode in a new series on the State of Pennsylvania’s threatened and endangered species. Great Egrets nest in only two locations in the state, so monitoring their numbers and success from year to year is important for species conservation. Join us on our journey as we survey the egret colony on Wade Island, and learn a lot about egret natural history, behavior, and also why their numbers plummeted in the early part of the 20th century. Learn what you can do to help Pennsylvania wildlife and how you can make a positive, lasting impact on the natural world around you.

    Additional Resources