The Great Philippine Eagle is the national bird of the Philippines, yet it’s clinging to survival with fewer than 1,000 birds remaining. Bird of Prey is the story of the men and women of the Philippine Eagle Foundation who are toiling to give this magnificent bird a future—and of an American cinematographer who’s made it his life’s work, too. We’ve just released a trailer for the film: watch it now.

March 30 application deadline set; artists notified by April 25

Applications are being accepted for the Porcupine Mountains Artist-in-Residence Program for the 2018 spring, summer and fall and 2019 winter residencies.

The Artist-in-Residence Program is open to artists and artisans whose work can be influenced by the unique northern wilderness setting of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

Located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Michigan’s largest state park encompasses 25 miles of wave-washed shores, four inland lakes, entire river systems, countless waterfalls, enchanting wooded peaks, and an escarpment, which rises slowly from the edge of Lake Superior until it plummets abruptly into the Carp River valley.

Still, the park’s most impressive feature – and the reason for its creation – is the virgin forest of eastern hemlock and northern hardwoods and the variety of flora and fauna that it supports. Because of these attributes, the park is an ideal location to inspire creativity.

The Artist-in-Residence Program offers writers, composers and all visual and performing artists an opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the park and to express it through their art form. Each year a number of artists will be selected for residencies lasting a minimum of two weeks. Read more

The Great Backyard Bird Count takes place worldwide, February 16 to 19

New York, NY, Ithaca, NY, and Port Rowan, ON—The 21st Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) will take place February 16 to 19—in backyards, parks, nature centers, on hiking trails, school grounds, balconies, and beaches. This global event provides an opportunity for bird enthusiasts to contribute important bird population data that help scientists see changes over the past 21 years. To participate, bird watchers count the birds they see for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, then enter their checklists at birdcount.org. Read more

Teachers receive a free bird feeder to support science lessons 

Ithaca, NY--Inspire students with engaging, hands-on science curriculum that meets the Next Generation Science Standards. BirdSleuth, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s K-12 education program, has updated its popular Feathered Friends curriculum with fun, new lessons that are perfect for elementary students. Thanks to the support of Pennington Wild Bird Feed, the entire curriculum is available free of charge.

“Feathered Friends is a fantastic resource for inspiring wonder, outdoor learning, and connections with families at home,” says Jerri Pisani, a teacher with Boston Public Schools. “The shared experiences lead to powerful learning!”

Feathered Friends provides year-round content to educators, which introduces children to their local environment through the pleasures of feeding and watching birds. Activities cover topics such as habitat, migration, citizen science, and bird behavior. To help bring bird feeding into the classroom, Pennington is offering a free window bird feeder to educators. Read more