
From reducing stress levels to improving your focus, houseplants have many benefits. But did you know that some species of air-filtering plants can even prevent you from getting liver damage, kidney disease, and cancer?
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are used to make most home products—furniture, paint, carpets, and even the construction materials used to make the home itself. Over time, VOCs like formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia, and toluene are off-gassed into the air and can cause serious health issues.
Typical electrostatic air filters can't remove VOCs, but luckily, there's an aesthetically pleasing, natural, NASA-proven way to return your air to a better state: stocking your home with air-purifying plants. Read on to learn more about the 20 best air-purifying plants you can put in your home, as well as care instructions for each species according to the experts at the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
1. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
Cellar Door Plants
Best For Air Purification
We're going with NASA on this one. According to the air-purifying plants study, the peace lily is unmatched in its ability to filter a range of chemicals from your air. Pair that with its low maintenance and unique look, and there's no doubt it tops our list of best air-filtering plants.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: Medium light to bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Keep soil moist
Temperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidity
Need to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested
2. Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Cellar Door Plants
Best For Frequent Travelers
Ask any botanist which household plant requires the least maintenance, and the snake plant will surely be mentioned. This trendy plant makes for an excellent gift for avid travelers who are away from their homes for weeks at a time, or anyone else interested in low-maintenance, air-purifying plants.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: Low light to bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Soil's surface should dry before re-watering, but soil can also become moderately dry before re-watering
Temperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Low, 25% to 49% humidity
Need to Know: Mildly toxic to humans and pets if ingested
3. Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Best For Quick Growth
Devil's ivy, money plant, hunter's robe—the golden pothos plant goes by many aliases. But no matter what you call it, there's no denying this species' ability to purify carbon monoxide, benzene, and formaldehyde from your air. It's also one of the quickest-growing (and easiest to maintain) houseplants, so it's great for beginner home gardeners.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: Low light to bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Soil's surface should dry before re-watering
Temperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidity
Need to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested
4. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea erumpens)
Best Floor Plant
No relation to actual bamboo, this palm makes an excellent floor piece in any home. The eye-catching fronds create an interesting and natural centerpiece, all while silently filtering the benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde from your air.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: Low light to medium light
Water: Soil's surface should dry before re-watering
Temperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidity
Need to Know: Nontoxic
5. Scarlet Star Bromeliad (Guzmania lingulata)
Best For Your Bathroom
In a recent study, chemists at the State University of New York Oswego found bromeliads, like the Scarlet Star, to remove 80% of VOCs from the air in only 12 hours. These flowering plants love humid environments, so consider placing them in the bathroom where they can soak up the steam from your showers.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: Bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Soil's surface should dry before re-watering
Temperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: High, 50% or higher humidity
Need to Know: Nontoxic
6. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Cellar Door Plantss
Best Trailing Plant
The leaves of English Ivy come in many different styles, but all are mesmerizing when trailing down bookcases or out of hanging planters. Pot your ivy in soil or water and give it nutrients, and it becomes a low-maintenance, air-filtering piece of natural art.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: Medium light to bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Soil's surface should dry before re-watering
Temperature: Cool to average, 50 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidity
Need to Know: Mildly toxic to humans and pets if ingested
7. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Cellar Door Plants
Best Hanging Plant
The spider plant has become one of the most popular houseplants of modern times, and for good reason. In addition to being nontoxic, low-maintenance, and easy on the eyes, it works well as a carbon monoxide and VOC eliminator.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: Medium light to bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Keep soil moist
Temperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidity
Need to Know: Nontoxic
8. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
Best For Home Propagating
While the Boston Fern will do just fine in average humidity, a savvy plant owner will consider moving it into the bathroom with the Scarlet Star for some serious growth. When it outgrows its current pot, you can easily separate the roots into two separate plants. Keep this propagation cycle going to turn your home into a mini Jurassic world.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: Medium light to bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Soil's surface should dry before re-watering
Temperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Average to high, 25% to 50% or higher humidity
Need to Know: Nontoxic
9. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis)
Best Dual-Purpose Plant
Aloe vera plants are not only useful after you forget to re-apply your reef-safe sunscreen. They're also great to keep in your home for their air-filtering properties. Make sure they get plenty of sun (or install indoor grow lights if natural light isn't an option), and they'll earn their keep by removing formaldehyde from your air.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: At least 4 hours of direct sunlight per day
Water: Soil can become moderately dry before re-watering
Temperature: Warm, 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Low, 5% to 24% humidity
Need to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested
10. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)
Best For Child-Free, Pet-Free Homes
One of the most popular indoor plants in the world, the Chinese Evergreen thrives in low-medium light, making it ideal for brightening up darker corners of your home. For centuries, this plant has been bred throughout Asia as a "lucky plant," and in NASA's clean air study, scientists proved its ability to bring the fortune of good health.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: Low light to medium light
Water: Soil's surface should dry before re-watering
Temperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidity
Need to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested
11. Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans)
Best For Serial Plant-Killers
Corn plants' thick canes make them visually appealing, but they're also one of the most effective air-purifying plants, removing VOCs like formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and carbon dioxide. Plus, their care is near foolproof, so they're a great choice for those of us who don't exactly have a green thumb.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: Medium light to bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Soil's surface should dry before re-watering
Temperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidity
Need to Know: Toxic to pets if ingested
12. Janet Craig (Dracaena deremensis)
Cellar Door Plants
Best For Large Spaces
Improving your air quality is near effortless with the Janet Craig plant. This large, easy-to-grow floor plant can survive in anything from low light to bright, indirect light and doesn't need much water. It fills a room beautifully, purifying the air at the same time.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: Low light to bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Soil's surface should dry before re-watering
Temperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidity
Need to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested
13. Broadleaf Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa)
Best For Filtering Cleaning Fumes
Haven't yet swapped harsh household disinfectants for eco-friendly cleaning products? The ornate broadleaf lady palm can help remove toxic ammonia that may be trapped in the air in your home or apartment.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: Medium light to bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Soil's surface should dry before re-watering
Temperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidity
Need to Know: Nontoxic
14. Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)
Cellar Door Plants
Best Indoor Tree
Weeping figs, also called ficus trees, are easy to care for and have superior formaldehyde-filtering abilities. However, if you have a sensitive immune system, this may not be the plant for you—weeping figs are one of the most common sources of household allergens, behind dust and pet dander.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: Bright, indirect sunlight to direct sunlight
Water: Soil's surface should dry before re-watering
Temperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidity
Need to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested
15. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
Best For Tall Growth
If you're looking for an air-purifying plant that grows tall quickly, consider a rubber plant. When given the proper care, this species—which was named for its latex-loaded sap—can grow up to two feet per growing season, topping out at about 10 feet tall.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: Medium light to direct sunlight
Water: Soil's surface should dry before re-watering
Temperature: Average to warm, 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidity
Need to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested
16. Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)
Cellar Door Plants
Best For Pet Owners
Areca palms not only filter indoor toxins from the air, but they also act as a natural humidifier, adding moisture to the air around them. If you have playful pets, they may be attracted to the palm's dangling fronds, but rest assured they're nontoxic and won't harm your animals if bitten or swatted at.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: Medium light to bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Keep soil moist
Temperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidity
Need to Know: Nontoxic
17. Flamingo Lily (Anthurium scherzerianum)
Best Color
A pop of bright color can liven up any room, and in that regard, the flamingo lily has you covered. This plant promotes wellness by removing formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and ammonium while adding a vibrant touch to your house or apartment.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: Medium light to bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Keep soil moist
Temperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Average to high, 25% to 50% or higher humidity
Need to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested or touched
18. Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)
Best Air-Purifying Flower
Prefer the look of blooming flowers to leafy green plants? Chrysanthemums are an excellent pick. Simply pot these flowers, set them on a sunny windowsill, and enjoy a home with fewer traces of formaldehyde, benzene, and ammonia.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: At least 4 hours of direct sunlight per day
Water: Keep soil moist
Temperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidity
Need to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested
19. Warneckii (Dracaena deremensis)
Most Versatile
The Warneckii is yet another species in the Dracaena genus that performed well in NASA's clean air study. The best part about this plant? You can pot a small clipping or larger stalks to fill any space in your home or apartment—no matter how big or small.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: Low light to bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Soil's surface should dry before re-watering
Temperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidity
Need to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested
20. Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)
Trendiest
It's safe to say dragon trees are having a moment. These trendy air-purifying plants have become a popular fixture of modern decor, but their benefits go far beyond aesthetics—they also filter trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon dioxide from the air around you.
How To Keep It Alive
Light: Low light to bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Soil's surface should dry before re-watering
Temperature: Average, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Humidity: Average, 25% to 49% humidity
Need to Know: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested
Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Melissa Smith is an avid writer, scuba diver, backpacker, and all-around outdoor enthusiast. She graduated from the University of Florida with degrees in journalism and sustainable studies. Before joining EcoWatch, Melissa worked as the managing editor of Scuba Diving magazine and the communications manager of The Ocean Agency, a non-profit that's featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary Chasing Coral.
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In celebration of Earth Day, a star-studded cast is giving fans a rare glimpse into the secret lives of some of the planet's most majestic animals: whales. In "Secrets of the Whales," a four-part documentary series by renowned National Geographic Photographer and Explorer Brian Skerry and Executive Producer James Cameron, viewers plunge deep into the lives and worlds of five different whale species.
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b102b19b2719f50272ab718c44703dd0"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xOySOlB78dM?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
Herring are a primary food source for Norway's orcas. Luis Lamar / National Geographic for Disney+
Belugas are extremely social creatures with a varied vocal range. Peter Kragh / National Geographic for Disney+
A Southern Right whales is pictured in the accompanying book, "Secrets of the Whales." Brian Skerry / National Geographic
The coronavirus has isolated many of us in our homes this year. We've been forced to slow down a little, maybe looking out our windows, becoming more in tune with the rhythms of our yards. Perhaps we've begun to notice more, like the birds hopping around in the bushes out back, wondering (maybe for the first time) what they are.
A Coeligena helianthea hummingbird is photographed during a birdwatching trail at the Monserrate hill in Bogota on November 11, 2020. Colombia is the country with the largest bird diversity in the world, home to about 1,934 different bird species, a fifth of the total known. JUAN BARRETO / AFP / Getty Images
1. Choosing the Right Binoculars
<p>Binoculars are a relatively indispensable tool for most birders – but, for those just starting out, it might not yet be worth the several-hundred-dollar investment. If you aren't able to scour the attics of friends or borrow a pair from a fellow bird watcher, some local birding and naturalist groups have <a href="https://vashonaudubon.org/all-about-vashon-birds/binoculars-check-out/" target="_blank">binocular loaning programs</a> for members, allowing you to plan ahead for a day (or week) of birding.</p><p>When you're ready to take the plunge, choosing a pair or binoculars should take some careful deliberation based on your needs and preferences; some <a href="https://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/explore/optics/top-10-tips-buying-binoculars-bird-watching.php" target="_blank">major considerations</a> might include size, ease of use, <a href="https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/binoculars.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">magnification</a>, and price. While professional binoculars can easily run north of $1,000, there are plenty of perfectly suitable entry-level binoculars under $200. You might not get the perfect precision and clarity of more elite models, but a less expensive pair will allow you to strengthen your birding skills while deciding if you're interested in investing in a premium pair.</p><p>For a budget-friendly option, check out resale options on eBay, Facebook marketplace, or neighborhood yard sales: you might find a nicer pair whose retail price isn't within your budget.</p>2. Know What Birds Are in Your Area
<p>When I began to pay more attention to the birds just outside my apartment building, I started to learn what species have always been around me: European starlings, house sparrows, blue jays, black capped chickadees, and the occasional red-bellied woodpecker. They had always been there, but I hadn't ever taken the time to identify them. Once you learn to <a href="https://www.audubon.org/news/get-know-these-20-common-birds_" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">recognize common birds</a> in your area, you'll be able to identify the typical species right outside your window and in your community. Of course, permanent residential birds in your neighborhood will <a href="https://nestwatch.org/learn/focal-species/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">vary by region</a>, as will those migrating through it.</p>3. Get Out and Explore
<p>Venturing elsewhere might allow you to spot some different species beyond those frequenting your backyard. Anywhere with water or greenery offers a place for birding; as an urbanite myself, I've found that even small- and mid-sized parks in New York City allow me to find more elusive birds (although Central Park takes the crown for an afternoon of urban birding).</p><p>If you are able to travel a bit further from home, <a href="https://www.fws.gov/refuges/" target="_blank">national wildlife refuges</a> and <a href="https://www.americasstateparks.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state/national parks</a> are excellent places to explore bird habitats and perhaps log some less-common sightings. The American Birding Association also lists <a href="https://www.aba.org/aba-area-birding-trails/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">birding trails by state</a>, and Audubon and BirdLife International identify <a href="https://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Important Bird Areas (IBAs)</a> across the country – important bird habitats and iconic places that activists are fighting to protect – where birders can spot birds of significance.</p>4. Finding a Bird: Stop, Look, Listen, Repeat
<p>The National Audubon Society recommends the "<a href="https://www.audubon.org/news/how-find-bird" target="_blank">stop, look, listen, repeat</a>" mantra when seeking and identifying birds.</p><p>First and foremost, spotting birds requires attention. Stopping – getting out of the car, pausing on the sidewalk, trail, or in the backyard to look up – is the most important step.</p><p>When looking for birds, try to avoid gazing wildly around; rather, scan your surroundings, focusing on any odd shapes or shadows, trying to think about where a bird might perch (power lines, fence posts, branches), or keep an eye on the sky for flying eagles and hawks. In open areas like fields and beaches, you might have a more panoramic view, and can take in different sections of the landscape at a time. Look around with the naked eye before reaching for the binoculars to hone in.</p><p>While it can be hard to sift through the noise, listening for birds is perhaps an even more important element of bird watching than looking. Once you spend more time in the field, you'll be able to parse apart the racket and identify specific species, especially aided by Audubon's Bird Guide app or by learning from their <a href="https://www.audubon.org/section/birding-ear" target="_blank">Birding by Ear series</a>.</p><p>Repeat this pattern as you continue on your way, stopping to look and listen for birds as you go, rather than waiting for them to come to you. </p>5. Identification
<p>When you head out for a day of bird watching – especially when you're hoping to spot some new species – you'll want to be armed with the tools to identify what you see. <a href="https://www.audubon.org/news/how-identify-birds" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Major considerations when identifying birds</a> are their group (such as owls, hawks, or sparrow-like birds), size and shape, behavior, voice, field marks, season, and habitat.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.sibleyguides.com/about/the-sibley-guide-to-birds/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sibley Guide to Birds</a> and the <a href="https://www.hmhbooks.com/shop/books/peterson-field-guide-to-birds-of-north-america-second-edition/9781328771445" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Peterson Field Guide</a> are widely considered the best books for identifying birds in North America, although many <a href="https://www.audubon.org/news/what-bird-guide-best-you" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">specialized guides</a> focus on specific species or regions as well.</p><p>Plenty of <a href="https://blog.nature.org/science/2013/05/27/boucher-bird-blog-apps-smart-birder/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">bird identification apps</a> have popped up in recent years – including National Geographic Birds, Sibley eGuide to Birds, iNaturalist, Merlin Bird ID, and Birdsnap – which are basically a <a href="https://www.audubon.org/news/the-best-birding-apps-and-field-guides" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">field guide in your pocket</a>. I'm partial to the Audubon Bird Guide, which allows users to filter by common identifiers, including a bird's habitat, color, activity, tail shape, and general type, adding them all to a personal map to view your sightings.</p>6. Recording Your Sightings
<p><span>As you deepen your commitment to birding, you might join the community of birders that track and quantify their sightings, building their </span><a href="https://www.thespruce.com/what-birds-count-on-a-life-list-386704#:~:text=A%20life%20list%20is%20a,which%20birds%20you%20have%20seen." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">life list</a><span>.</span></p><p>While a standard notebook noting the date, species name, habitat, vocalizations, or any other data you wish to include will suffice, some birders opt for a more <a href="https://www.riteintherain.com/no-195-birders-journal" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">structured birder's journal</a> with pre-determined fields to record your encounters, take notes, draw sketches, etc.</p><p>Many birders also choose to record their sightings online and in shared databases (which include many of the field guide apps), often pinpointing them on a map for others to view. Launched by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Audubon, <a href="https://ebird.org/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">eBird is one of the largest databases and citizen science projects around birding</a>, where hundreds of thousands of birders enter their sightings, and users can explore birds in regions and hotspots around the world. Users can also record their sightings on the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ebird/id988799279" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">eBird app</a>.</p>7. Attracting Birds to Your Own Yard
<p>Feeding birds is a common phenomenon: more than 40% of Americans maintain a birdfeeder to attract birds and watch them feast.</p><p>Not all birdfeed is created equal, however. Many commercial varieties are mostly made with "fillers" (oats, red millet, etc.) that birds will largely leave untouched. After researching what birds to expect in your area – and which ones you want to attract – you can create your own birdfeed with <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/types-of-bird-seed-a-quick-guide/?pid=1142" target="_blank">seeds that will appeal to them</a>.</p><p>Beyond filling a birdfeeder, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/eco-friendly-lawn-2651194858.html" target="_self">transforming your yard into an eco-friendly oasis</a> is by far the best way to attract birds. Choosing to forgo mowing your lawn, planting native flowers and grasses, and ditching the pesticides will bring back the bugs that birds feed on, and provide a safe haven in which birds can happily live and eat.</p><p>While it's widely considered acceptable – and even beneficial – to feed birds with appropriate seeds, communal birdfeeders often <a href="https://www.audubon.org/news/to-feed-or-not-feed" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">foster unlikely interactions between different species</a>, who can then transmit harmful diseases and parasites to one another. Maintaining several bird feeders with different types of seeds might keep different species from coming into contact, and feeders can be <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/how-to-clean-your-bird-feeder/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">cleaned to prevent the spread of infection</a>.</p>8. Inclusivity and Anti-Racism in the Birding Community
<p>Like all outdoor activities and areas of scientific study, birding communities are subject to racist and discriminatory ideologies. Black birders have long experienced discrimination and underrepresentation in outdoor spaces. The work of organizations like the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/birdersfund/" target="_blank">Black & Latinx Birders Fund</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/birdability/" target="_blank">Birdability</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/feministbirdclub/" target="_blank">Feminist Bird Club</a> highlight the contributions and importance of birders of color, birders with disabilities, and women and LGBTQ+ birders to the birding community, as do activists and naturalists like <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hood__naturalist/" target="_blank">Corina Newsome</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tykeejames/" target="_blank">Tykee James</a>. The work of <a href="https://www.audubon.org/news/its-bird-new-comic-written-central-park-birder-christian-cooper" target="_blank">Christian Cooper</a>, <a href="https://camilledungy.com/publications/" target="_blank">Camille Dungy</a> (read her poem <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/58363/frequently-asked-questions-10" target="_blank">Frequently Asked Questions: 10</a>), and <a href="https://orionmagazine.org/article/9-rules-for-the-black-birdwatcher/" target="_blank">J. Drew Lanham</a> – including his essay "<a href="https://lithub.com/birding-while-black/" target="_blank">Birding While Black</a>" – are a great place to start.</p><p>Getting involved in birding means educating ourselves on these issues and taking meaningful action; the work of <a href="https://www.audubon.org/news/its-bird-new-comic-written-central-park-birder-christian-cooper" target="_blank">Christian Cooper</a> and <a href="https://orionmagazine.org/article/9-rules-for-the-black-birdwatcher/" target="_blank">J. Drew Lanham</a> – including his essay "<a href="https://lithub.com/birding-while-black/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Birding While Black</a>" – are a great place to start. Just as birders are activists for protecting habitats and natural areas, we must also be active and aware of inclusivity in these spaces.</p>9. Get Involved
<p>To learn from and enjoy the company of other birders, check out local birding groups in your area to join. Many Audubon chapters host trips, meetings, and bird walks for members. The American Birding Association even maintains a <a href="https://www.aba.org/festivals-events/" target="_blank">directory of birding festivals</a> across the country.</p><p>Volunteering for birds is also a great way to meet other birders and take action for birds in your community; local organizations might have opportunities for assisting with habitat restoration or helping at birding centers.</p><p>Like all wildlife, climate change and habitat destruction threaten the livelihood of birds, eliminating their breeding grounds and food sources. A <a href="https://www.audubon.org/climate/survivalbydegrees" target="_blank">2019 report released by the National Audubon Society</a> found that two-thirds of North American birds may face extinction if global temperatures rise 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100. Staying informed about and taking action for legislation designed to protect birds and our climate – such as the recent <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/5552/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Migratory Bird Protection Act</a> – is important for ensuring a livable future for wildlife and humans alike.</p><p><em>Linnea graduated from Skidmore College in 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in English and Environmental Studies, and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. Most recently, Linnea worked at Hunger Free America, and has interned with WHYY in Philadelphia, Saratoga Living Magazine, and the Sierra Club in Washington, DC. </em><em>Linnea enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors, reading, practicing her German, and volunteering on farms and gardens and for environmental justice efforts in her community. Along with journalism, she is also an essayist and writer of creative nonfiction.</em></p>- Study: Birds Are Linked to Happiness Levels - EcoWatch ›
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2020 was the largest wildfire season in California's modern history, according to state agency Cal Fire. And, as the climate crisis continues to increase fire risk, there are concerns that 2021 could be just as devastating.
- How Goats Are Preventing Wildfires in California - EcoWatch ›
- Sonoma County Wildfire Spreads 7,000 Acres in Less Than Five ... ›
- Prison Inmates Fighting California's Deadly Fires - EcoWatch ›
More than 1,600 gallons of oil have spilled in the Inglewood Oil Field — the largest urban oil field in the country, where more than a million people live within five miles of its boundaries, the Sierra Club wrote in a statement on Wednesday.
- Kinder Morgan Pipeline Spills up to 42,000 Gallons of Gasoline Into ... ›
- Chevron Refinery Dumps Oil Into San Francisco Bay - EcoWatch ›