migratory birds

Rufous Hummingbird by David M. Schindler

Bird of the Week: Rufous Hummingbird

  About a week before Thanksgiving, fellow science writer Rick Borchelt spotted a “way out of season and way out of range” rufous hummingbird feasting at his backyard sugar-water feeder … Read more

Bird of the Week: Dickcissel

Stroll across a Midwestern prairie anytime between late spring and early fall, and you’ll rarely be out of ear shot of the dickcissel’s distinctive trill: see-see, dick-dick, ciss-ciss-ciss. Stocky, streaked, … Read more

White-throated sparrow by Pamla Wells

Bird of the Week: White-Throated Sparrow

Iconic winter birds for backyard wildlife enthusiasts across much of the United States, white-throated sparrows already are bringing smiles to our faces as they return from northern breeding grounds and … Read more

Migratory waterfowl in Louisiana

Update: Migratory Birds in the Gulf of Mexico

Just over six months into the worst oil disaster in U.S. history, federal officials finally have some good news for those of us concerned about birds in the Gulf of … Read more

Birds Die Slow Death in Tar Sands Sludge

Yesterday, reports surfaced that birds landed in the toxic sludge-filled lakes that surround the tar sands mines in northern Alberta. Over 120 birds had to be euthanized because they were … Read more

Brown Pelican by Shelley Ellis

Six Months into Gulf Disaster: How Are Birds Doing?

Six months after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, scientists are cautiously optimistic about the state of the Gulf of Mexico’s birdlife—at least in the short-term. Audubon Survey Results In … Read more

NWF Scientist Returns to the Gulf

Dr. Doug Inkley, the National Wildlife Federation’s senior scientist, has returned to the Gulf Coast. It’s his third trip since the BP oil disaster began more than three months ago. … Read more

National Wildlife Week: Tuesday Tweets (not that kind)

Tuesday Tweets, the second post in our National Wildlife Week series, hopes that after you retweet this blog post you’ll shut it down and take your lunch break outside. But first, check out these birds that make ridiculously long migrations annually. Read more

Arctic Geese Now Skipping Migration

A new study by the U.S. Geological Survey has found that 30% of Pacific Brant are now wintering over in Alaska. Julia Whitty at Mother Jones reports: Usually Brant stream … Read more

Migration Begins!

August is waning and school is about to start.  Even though it’s technically still summer for another whole month, fall migration is already beginning for some species. The change of … Read more