7 Simple Actions That Actually Help Birds

Faced with the loss of billions of birds, it's easy to feel helpless. But researchers have identified concrete, everyday actions that genuinely help — and if enough people do them, the collective impact is enormous. Here are seven.

1. Keep cats indoors

Free-roaming cats are among the largest human-caused sources of bird mortality. Keeping cats indoors (or in a 'catio' or on a leash) protects birds and keeps cats healthier and safer too.

2. Make windows safer

Apply closely spaced dot patterns, film, or external screens to windows to prevent the hundreds of millions of fatal collisions each year. Mark the glass on the outside, spaced about every two inches.

3. Plant native and skip pesticides

Native plants support the insects birds need, especially for feeding their young. Avoiding pesticides preserves that food and protects birds from poisoning. A native, pesticide-free yard is a bird sanctuary.

4–7. The rest of the list

• Drink bird-friendly (shade-grown) coffee to protect tropical forest habitat where many migrants winter.
• Avoid single-use plastics, which pollute the oceans and habitats birds depend on.
• Reduce nighttime light during migration ('Lights Out') to prevent disorientation.
• Watch birds and share your data through eBird or apps like Birder AI, fueling the science that guides conservation.

Small actions, big totals

None of these requires money or expertise — just intention. The power is in the numbers: when millions of households keep cats in, mark their windows, and plant native, the cumulative effect rivals large conservation programs.

Start with one

Don't try to do all seven at once. Pick one this week, make it a habit, then add another. Track the birds in your own yard with Birder AI as you go — watching your list grow is a motivating reminder that your actions matter.