US bird populations continue alarming decline, new report finds
The release of the 2025 U.S. State of the Birds report was announced today at the 90th annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The report, produced by a coalition of leading science and conservation organizations, reveals continued widespread declines in American bird populations across all mainland and marine habitats, with 229 species requiring urgent conservation action. The report comes five years after the landmark 2019 study that documented the loss of 3 billion birds in North America over 50 years.
Backyard poultry face HPAI risk when migrating mallards stop to rest
Knowing where, when and for how long mallard ducks – natural carriers of avian influenza – stop and rest as they migrate can help predict the probability that they will spread bird flu to backyard poultry flocks, according to a Cornell University study.
Cornell’s Transdisciplinary Project Aims to Prevent the Next Pandemic
Most pandemics in the past century were sparked by a pathogen jumping from animals to humans. This moment of zoonotic spillover is the focus of a multidisciplinary team of researchers led by Raina Plowright, the Rudolf J. and Katharine L. Steffen Professor in the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Public and Ecosystem Health.
One-stop bird flu resource center fills information gaps
News and guidance on avian influenza is scattered across government and state agency websites, and rampant misinformation is spread across the internet. In response, Cornell has launched a comprehensive resource that offers a one-stop clearinghouse for the most current and trustworthy information on bird flu.
Cell atlas reveals parallels between horse, human pregnancies
New research has resulted in the first high-resolution molecular picture of the equine endometrium – the inner lining of the uterus – before and after embryo implantation. This picture, or cell atlas, highlights key similarities in immune cells between early human and horse pregnancy, a surprise given the vastly different placentas.
The Cornell University Hospital for Animals (CUHA) has started a virtual support group for grieving pet owners.
Stephanie Coco, CUHA’s first veterinary social worker, launched the group in November. At monthly meetings, Coco and a co-facilitator lead participants as they share stories of their animals and discuss their struggles and coping strategies. The group is open to people whose animals have been recent patients at the hospital.