{"id":37050,"date":"2024-06-24T08:24:10","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T12:24:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/?p=37050"},"modified":"2024-06-25T18:38:46","modified_gmt":"2024-06-25T22:38:46","slug":"ornithology-lab-facts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/ornithology-lab-facts\/","title":{"rendered":"Fine, Feathered, Fascinating Facts about the Lab of Ornithology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s a Big Red gem\u2014a research center, a tourist destination, and a resource for all things avian. How much do you know about it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editor’s note: Special thanks to Ruth Charles-Pedro \u201925, a student science writer at the lab, for her research assistance<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Joe Wilensky<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nestled in the beautiful 425-acre Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary a few miles from the Ithaca campus, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology<\/a> is a member-supported unit of the University whose impact stretches around the globe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It welcomes and enlightens visitors; works to protect avian habitats and the environment; and conducts research to better understand the living world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on for 21 feathery fascinating facts!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"An
A bird\u2019s-eye view. (Cornell University)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

It housed the U.S.\u2019s first grad-level program in ornithology!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The lab was founded in 1915 by Arthur \u201cDoc\u201d Allen 1907, PhD 1911, an avian naturalist and one of the country\u2019s first professors of ornithology. For its first four decades, the program resided in McGraw Hall, within the Department of Entomology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It moved to Sapsucker Woods in 1957, originally in an observatory at the pond\u2019s edge. The current building and visitor facility, the Imogene Powers Johnson Center for Birds and Biodiversity, debuted in 2003. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In June 2024, the center reopened following a nearly year-long, multimillion-dollar renovation<\/a> that added new exhibits and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

A bird gave the lab\u2019s home its name\u2014and logo!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"image
(Yasushi Nakagawa)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>
\n

Sapsucker Woods is named after a breeding pair of yellow-bellied sapsuckers (a type of woodpecker) that was discovered nesting in the area\u2014a rare sighting for the time and the first ever reported in the Cayuga Lake Basin\u2014by Allen, Louis Agassiz Fuertes 1897, and two other birders. Now common in the region, the species is depicted in the lab\u2019s logo.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The sanctuary is a mecca for nature lovers!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The facility is a draw for birders, hikers, cross-country skiers, and more. It boasts five miles of mulched paths and boardwalks around the pond and through the surrounding wetlands and forest (dogs and bicycles not allowed). Trails are open from dawn to dusk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"The
A tranquil autumn view of the pond. (Cornell University)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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It showcases the work of a legendary artist!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Louis Agassiz Fuertes was an Ithaca native\u2014the son of Estevan Fuertes, Cornell\u2019s first professor of civil engineering (and the namesake of Fuertes Observatory).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Louis went on to become one of the most well-known bird artists of the 20th century, and many of his pieces are on display at the lab today.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"naturalist
(Rare and Manuscript Collections)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

It gave birds their start as recording artists!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 1929\u2014working in Ithaca\u2019s Stewart Park with equipment provided by a movie studio\u2014lab researchers made the first-ever recordings of the North American song sparrow, rose-breasted grosbeak, and house wren. They also recorded birds in the basement of McGraw Hall with a parabolic microphone system they\u2019d designed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"some<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Some of those early recordings were later featured on American Bird Songs<\/em>, the first album of its kind. Distributed by what\u2019s now Cornell University Press, it generated royalties that supported the lab\u2019s recording projects for decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

It hosts an enormous repository of bird sounds!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Arthur
Early recording equipment in the field. (Rare and Manuscript Collections)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The lab\u2019s Macaulay Library<\/a> is the largest collection of bird media\u2014and the largest and oldest collection of wildlife sounds of all kinds\u2014in the world. Originally called the Library of Natural Sounds, it now has more than 2 million audio recordings, 61 million images, and nearly 300,000 videos in its publicly accessible archive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

It gave voice to a Harry Potter<\/em> beast!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sounds from the Macaulay Library have been featured<\/a> in numerous Hollywood films including The Incredibles<\/em>, Raiders of the Lost Ark<\/em>, and The Mosquito Coast.<\/em> In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets<\/em>, the voice of the phoenix (Fawkes) came from the screech of a speckled limpkin<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The voice of the phoenix (Fawkes) came from the lab\u2019s recorded screech of a limpkin.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The library has also provided (accurate, species-specific) sounds for the plush bird toys often sold in science centers and museum shops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

A grad student became a famed \u2018crane dancer\u2019!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

George Archibald, PhD \u201977, turned what was once a dilapidated barn at Sapsucker Woods into a facility for studying crane behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"George
(International Crane Foundation)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>
\n

Archibald went on to co-create the International Crane Foundation, dedicated to the birds\u2019 research and conservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s famous for imitating them through the use of costumes, puppets, and courtship dances to induce reproduction\u2014a captive breeding technique that has been used to reestablish threatened populations.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In 2018, the lab presented him<\/a> with its highest award and dedicated a dancing crane sculpture in his honor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Citizen scientists power its data!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each year, the lab\u2019s massive eBird global citizen science database<\/a> aggregates more than 100 million bird sightings and other info contributed by more than a million birdwatchers. The data has helped measure species health, identify population changes, and track biodiversity trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2023, the New York Times<\/em> partnered with the lab<\/a> to encourage readers to use eBird; one memorable element was the release of daily, bird-themed crossword puzzles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It published a series of adult coloring books!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the 2010s, the lab produced several volumes featuring intricate\u2014and of course, scientifically accurate\u2014line drawings that bird fans can color in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No longer in print but findable online, they include Backyard Birds and Blossoms<\/em>, America\u2019s Favorite Birds<\/em>, and Birds of Paradise<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Cover<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Its bird cams have world-wide fans!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the lab\u2019s most popular features is its bird cams project<\/a>, a global network of more than a dozen livestreamed webcams trained on nests, feeders, and habitats. It draws millions of viewers from 175 countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Rufous
Rufous motmots, as seen through a fruit feeder cam in Panama.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Some of the most popular cams are located on the Hill\u2014from the ultra-high-def FeederWatch<\/a> outside the lab\u2019s visitor center to the fan-favorite pair of red-tailed hawks<\/a> who raise chicks each year above the Big Red athletic fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlights are featured on a constantly updated YouTube playlist<\/a> and on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The lab listens to more than birds!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Researchers at the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics<\/a> are using audio to study not only birds, but also whales and elephants\u2014to learn where they go, how they live, and what dangers they face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"image
African forest elephants were tracked with acoustic sensors. (Ana Verahrami \u201917)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The center\u2019s Elephant Listening Project<\/a> began by studying infrasonic communication (below the threshold of human hearing) between forest elephants; its mission has since evolved to encompass conservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

It publishes field guides!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"the<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

With a wealth of info and images, the regional All About Birds<\/em><\/a> series covers the continental U.S. and bordering provinces of Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While more than 700 bird species populate the continent, the guides (from Princeton University Press) focus on the 200 most commonly found, with additional info and tips on bird watching, photography, building nest boxes, and avian-friendly gardening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"View<\/figure>
\n

Its woods are home to a notable artwork!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Environmental artist Andy Goldsworthy\u2019s installation \u201cSapsucker Cairn\u201d (made of locally quarried Llenroc stone) can be found along one of the lab\u2019s trails in Sapsucker Woods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goldsworthy, who was an A.D. White Professor-at-Large in the early 2000s, is known for making art\u2014usually ephemeral\u2014out of natural materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2008, students assisted in creating the cairn, which still stands.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

It hosts a collection of spectacular specimens!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The lab\u2019s Museum of Vertebrates<\/a> once was a three-story display of skeletons in the center of McGraw Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"detail<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Today, it\u2019s home to thousands of specimens, nests and eggs, wings, skeletons, and more\u2014including extinct species such as the ivory-billed woodpecker, Carolina parakeet, and passenger pigeon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It publishes its own magazine!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The periodical now known as the quarterly Living Bird Magazine<\/em><\/a> debuted in 1962. Known for its striking photography, it has published features on such topics as how owls catch their prey under snow cover and the science behind the iridescence of hummingbird feathers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

It created an immensely popular bird identification<\/strong> app!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"composite
The app is available for both iPhone and Android. (Luke Seitz \/ Macaulay Library)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Merlin Bird ID<\/a> uses AI to recognize 1,382 species via spectrographic images of their sounds; it can also identify birds from photos taken by the user. Its “Wizard” function can supply and ID after users answer three questions about a sighted bird (regarding size, main colors, and what it was doing).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The app has 19 million downloads worldwide and 3 million active users. In May 2024 alone, 5.4 million people tapped it to identify 215 million birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s helping protect birds from windows!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nearly a billion birds are killed by window collisions each year. The lab has been at the forefront of developing solutions<\/a>, such as treating windows with products that reduce reflections and turning off or redirecting non-essential lighting at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"methods
Vertical \u201czen curtains\u201d (like these at the lab’s pond viewing area) can reduce bird strikes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Lab researchers have also been collaborating with a campus group to retrofit windows<\/a> on the Hill and to adopt more bird-friendly construction standards and designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Its visitor center is a veritable gallery of avian art!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bird art fills the lab\u2019s walls and spaces\u2014most notably, the hundreds of species pictured in the Wall of Birds<\/a><\/em> mural and another huge mural of bird silhouettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maya Lin, who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, sculpted Sound Ring<\/a><\/em> near the lab\u2019s library. It focuses on extinct species and those likely to disappear within our lifetime\u2014unless we protect them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Jane
Artist Jane Kim paints her Wall of Birds<\/em> mural in 2015. (Diane Tessaglia-Hymes)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s sounding the alarm on massive bird losses!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The lab has led the way in studies of bird population health, especially in North America. In 2019, researchers from the lab and other institutions reported in the journal Science<\/em> that the continent had lost more than 3 billion birds<\/a>\u2014nearly a third of the population\u2014since 1970.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

And \u2026 a prof helped save the peregrine falcon!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A conservation initiative led by professor Tom Cade<\/a> in the late 1960s helped save the birds from extinction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Cornell<\/figure>
\n

Cade\u2019s research linked the pesticide DDT to the thinning of eggshells that would crack during incubation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He spearheaded the campaign to ban it (which the U.S. did in 1972) and began population recovery efforts.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Over the course of two decades, Cade and colleagues placed more than 1,600 peregrine falcons all over the eastern U.S. The birds have since been removed from the endangered species list, and their breeding population is now estimated at 340,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top: A Himalayan monal in flight\u2014one of 61 million images in the lab\u2019s database. (Photo by Chris Venetz, Ornis Birding Expeditions \/ Macaulay Library.) All images provided by the Lab of Ornithology, unless otherwise indicated.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Published June 24, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It\u2019s a Big Red gem\u2014a research center, a tourist destination, and a resource for all things avian. How much do you know about it?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":37046,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"alumni_hub_syml_posts":[4630,21074,24214],"footnotes":""},"categories":[227],"tags":[],"cornell_year_post":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-37050","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus-beyond"],"yoast_head":"\nFine, Feathered, Fascinating Facts about the Lab of Ornithology - Cornellians | Cornell University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It\u2019s a Big Red gem\u2014a research center, a tourist destination, and a resource for all things avian. 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