This Smithsonian Institution research program was founded with Congressional support in 1991, and was incorporated in 1997 as part of the National Zoological Park.
[5] Their research group has long-term research programs dealing with migratory birds in both their breeding and non-breeding areas, with studies of how specific breeding and non-breeding populations are connected by migration.
The center sponsors advanced undergraduate and graduate students at collaborating institutions, as well as in-house post-doctoral fellowships.
Neighborhood Nestwatch[13] is the center's community-based science and educational outreach program where volunteers monitor the reproductive success and survival of birds in their communities.
The goals of the program are: Since 1993, over 17,000 students in grades third through eighth from 11 countries of the Americas have participated.