Baby great horned owls in the nest
The Countdown’s on for the Birdathon

It’s almost here! The New York State 24-hour Audubon Birdathon begins Thursday, May, 20th. That’s the day to get out and about, enjoy the lovely spring weather, and count as many different bird species as you can to support the environmental organization’s conservation work—from cities to suburbs and from Long Island Sound to the Great Lakes.

If you would like to help create healthy coasts, wetlands, and woodlands for our feathered friends, you can find out how to participate at Audubon New York. Just grab your binoculars and keep your eyes peeled. Here are 12 award-winning photos of fascinating bird behaviors for inspiration. You just never know what you’ll see out there.

Happy counting! Bird, bird—bird, bird, bird…