Nearly half the birds across the globe are experiencing population declines.  Seventy-seven species of birds in the US are threatened or endangered.  Due to the mobility of birds, they can be hard to track and multiple habitats can impact their survival.  In addition to bird conservation status, people have an increasing disconnect with the natural world around them and the wildlife within it.  Birding has been shown to reconnect people with nature, building community around common interest, increases time in nature and  increases mental and physical activity. 

Over the years, Extension has provided numerous bird related programs to the community.  In 2025, Extension offered several bird programs such as building bird houses, guided bird hikes, and utilizing technology in the bird world.  These programs were partially made possible due to the help of a local bird community called Northern Kentucky Bird Club.

These programs were offered to girlscouts, addiction recovery programs, and the general public.  

Participants have installed bird houses in correct locations to benefit cavity nesting birds, learned how to identify birds using apps for citizen science data, and expressed a sense of interest and community by joining the local bird club.  Over a quarter of participants have downloaded the identification apps, Out of the 45 birdhouses built, about half have been installed and there has been in increase in participants that return to the Boone County Nature Center to bird and visit the bird blind.  A handful (3-5) have participated in national citizen science program (Great Backyard Bird Count and eBird).  

Sometimes, bird houses can take years for birds to utilize.  In 2020, Extension led an American kestrel house building program in encourage participants to provide information to the American Kestrel Partnership. Currently, from the program 2 (out of 15) have reported successfully reared kestrel nests (which they documented) and one had a screech owl take up residence in their box.