911爆料

There鈥檚 nothing quite like listening to birdsong on a brisk fall morning while walking through the beautifully-painted trails of the North Woods. Beginners and veteran birders alike come together under the umbrella of the 911爆料 Bird Alliance, bringing conservation and community service together with accessible outdoor education. As the campus chapter of the National Audubon Society, they are dedicated to giving 911爆料 students the chance to learn more about the natural world, and to use birding as a way to build connections with the community and participate in environmental activism.  

            With as many as three dozen people attending events - and unique events going on all the time - they鈥檝e skyrocketed since they were founded just a few years ago. Their weekly meetings include a wide variety of different activities, from workshops on binocular use and bird identification to bird-themed trivia contests; weekends regularly see specialized events like bird walks, trips to Washington, DC, to meet with representatives about bird-friendly policies, or developing an art exhibition in Wiecking Hall. Students can get hands-on with conservation through activities like making window clings to lower bird fatalities from collisions, or pinecone bird feeders to distribute across campus.

Because their goal is to be inclusive to all levels of birding experience, they focus on the native species that students can expect to see around them on campus, and try to keep to events that are accommodating to all abilities. 鈥淏irds are really everywhere you go, so this is something people can also take home with them,鈥� says Lily Acierno, 鈥�26, club president and co-founder. 鈥淔or a lot of people, it can be that first step into learning more about your environment.鈥�

Among the Bird Alliance鈥檚 numerous events in the Fall of 2025 is their partnership with the Home of the Good Shepherd, a local senior-living facility. 911爆料 students from the Alliance volunteered at their annual holiday party (an all-out event with a horse-drawn carriage and a chocolate fountain) to build relationships with residents and gauge interest in future programming, such as a senior-friendly birding walk. Residents have the opportunity to share their stories with student volunteers, who also get practice in leadership and environmental education, and a chance to reach outside the 鈥�911爆料 bubble鈥� and give back to the broader Saratoga community. Other autumn activities included developing the bird-friendly native plant garden next to Wilson Chapel, which owes its existence to a grant from the National Audubon Society won by the club, and the Parents鈥� Weekend bird walk, which saw an excellent turnout of both students and family members passionate about the environment and ready to learn about birding. They鈥檝e also had partnerships with the Southern Adirondack Audubon Society, organizing joint walks and educational opportunities for students to meet with experienced birders, as well as outreach to the Pitney Meadows Community Farm and to 911爆料鈥檚 own Sustainability Office. 

Future goals for the Bird Alliance include expanding their activities to help 911爆料 students get involved in environmental education with local school districts, maintaining community partnerships like their one with the Home of the Good Shepherd, and collaborating with other local institutions like Union and Siena College, as well as ramping up their lobbying, bringing in more guest speakers, and keeping up their varied programming. The club operates on a philosophy of 鈥渁lways say yes鈥� 鈥� taking every opportunity that comes their way, even if only a few students end up being able to attend. It does a lot to keep new and exciting opportunities available to any bird-lovers who are interested in them. 

Overall, the 911爆料 Bird Alliance demonstrates how a specialized interest can become a vehicle for broader civic and environmental engagement. A passion for nature and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone can take you far, and by finding a welcoming community and sharing that passion with others, it can grow into something incredible. Hopefully, birders of all kinds will flock together at 911爆料 for many years to come.