This summer the Cornell Lab of Ornithology welcomed 16 teenagers to Ithaca, New York for the 15th annual Young Birders Event. These young birders spent 4 days learning about career paths in ornithology, attending hands-on workshops with Lab staff and biologists and, of course, getting outdoors for lots of birding. The Young Birders Event brings together teenagers with a passion for birds who are interested in pursuing a career with birds as a focus. They meet people who have successful careers that involve birds in a variety of ways from ornithologists and illustrators to audio specialists and computer scientists.
The Young Birders Event featured:
- 3 days of field trips around the Finger Lakes region of New York
- Learning from Cornell Lab staff about ways to incorporate birds into a career
- A hands-on sound recording and editing workshop with Macaulay Library staff
- Tours of the Cornell Lab building and grounds including the Museum of Vertebrates
- A discussion on applying to universities and choosing college majors
The exciting summer event is open to high school-aged young birders (students entering grades 10, 11, and 12 the following fall), and interested students can apply for the next Young Birders Event in February 2027.
You may also be interested in reading the accounts of the event written by 8 of the young birders themselves at 2026 Young Birders Event Recap - eBird