Webinars

Tweet Around the Bush: Plant and Bird Trivia

with Project FeederWatch

Friday, April 24 at 1:00 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT


Project FeederWatch and Garden for Birds are running a virtual trivia event on plants and birds! Come to learn and to test your knowledge on different types of bird habitats and how you can help birds thrive in your neighborhood. We hope you will join us!

Not able to make it? No worries! We will record the event to view later, so you can test your bird knowledge at a time that is more convenient for you. Please register for the event if you would like to receive the recording.

hummingbird feeding on orange and pink flower
Know what bird and flower this is? Join us for trivia and learn about plants that benefit birds in your region. Photo by John Hendrickson / Macaulay Library.

Native Plant Gardening — Big and Small Spaces and Why It Matters

with Mhairi McFarlane

Tuesday, June 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

This webinar will be recorded and emailed to all registrants.


What We’ll Discuss:

Mhairi will discuss tips for thinking about all types of habitat restoration from larger scale restoration to smaller scale gardening that benefits birds and biodiversity. We’ll connect the dots on how changes from a single pot up to 1000 acre field restoration can have an impact. Tips and tricks for succeeding at different levels of habitat changes will be shared along with Mhairi’s beautiful photography from her years of experience.

Co-sponsored with:

A project dedicated to making yards healthier and more joyful by turning lawns into life.

Pot of milkweed with happy green stalks growing upwards.
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) seedlings which have been matured in a larger pot by Mhairi McFarlane.
restored pond ecosystem
Restored wetland and meadow on conservation land in Ontario, Canada. With some thoughtful planning, you can replicate some aspects of this real-world habitat in a much smaller garden and still support wildlife. Photo by Mhairi McFarlane.
Woman in a boat on water in ice covered area.
Photo of Mhairi McFarlane.

About the Speaker:

Mhairi McFarlane, Ph.D. Ecology, University of Exeter, England

Habitat Stewardship Manager at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

I specialize in finding ways people can help birds via habitat management. I love thinking at all scales, from the tiny to the field-scale. From native plant gardening at home through to large-scale, strategic habitat restoration, our cumulative efforts are key to reconnecting steppingstones along migration routes which connect our world.

Participatory science is a key vehicle for engagement at every step.  I combine my background in both conservation planning and practical habitat restoration to support and guide people to make the world a better place for birds and people.


Past Events: 2026 Webinars

Designing Gardens for Bird w/Heather and Zoe Evans

Originally recorded on March 8, 2026.

Heather and Zoe discuss how to design a native plant yard that nurtures both people and birds. They guide you through simple sketching exercises, share design principles for creating inviting outdoor “rooms,” and show how to add paths, destinations, and woody plants for structure.

two women standing back to back
Pictured are Heather and Zoe Evans.

Past Events: 2025 Webinars

Unlawning Our Landscapes, with Benjamin Vogt

Originally recorded on April 1, 2025.

Ben explores the history of lawns and their unforeseen consequences. Learn how to convert lawn into habitat gardens. From plant selection to design, prep to management, this lecture runs the gamut on empowering people to make landscape changes.

Man standing in tall grass and flower gardens.
Benjamin Vogt, founder of Prairie Up.
Woman in a boat on water in ice covered area.
Mhairi McFarlane.

Invasive Plants and Our Gardens, with Mhairi McFarlane

Originally recorded on July 17, 2025.

What are invasive species and what have they got to do with my garden anyway? Learn about the basics of non-native and invasive plants and what problems they cause. Learn some tips and tricks for identifying non-native plants throughout the seasons. We’ll begin to learn what we can do about them in our own spaces.

Leaving Our Fall Garden Resources, with Doug Tallamy

Originally recorded on September 9, 2025.

Doug Tallamy, entomologist, ecologist, conservationist, and cofounder of Homegrown National Park, discusses how fallen leaves and garden resources provide vital habitat, food, and spring nesting materials—all benefits to birds and biodiversity. His wealth of knowledge will inspire you to look at fallen leaves with a newfound respect.

Face of a man outside in front of trees.
Doug Tallamy.

Stay Connected

By subscribing to stay connected to Garden for Birds, you agree to receive communications from the Cornell Lab. You may unsubscribe from the communications at any time.