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
Cleared for Landing
A bald eagle slows to land in a nearly leafless tree near Maryland’s Conowingo Dam. Photographed by Jim McCollum of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Read more
Bird of the Week: Wild Turkey
Like many of us this holiday, the Pilgrims of Plymouth, Massachusetts, probably feasted on turkey that legendary first Thanksgiving. In 1621, the big, handsome birds were plentiful throughout northeastern forests. … Read more
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
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
Spooky Animals: Photo Gallery
Edgar Allen Poe’s “grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore” is actually one of the smartest birds around, using tools to collect hard-to-reach food and, in lab experiments, appearing to use logic to solve complex problems. 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
Bird of the Week: Barn Owl
Silent, stealthy hunters that are active at night, owls in general have been associated with magic, evil and death for thousands of years. The Aztecs portrayed their god of death … Read more
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
