Rene Ebersole

Contributing Editor, Audubon Magazine

Rene Ebersole is a contributing editor for Audubon and an adjunct faculty member at the NYU journalism school. Her wildlife trade investigations and reporting have been featured in National GeographicThe Nation, and more.

Articles by Rene Ebersole

Illustration of a prairie chicken walking on a farm with cows, a tractor, and an oil well in the background.

How to Fortify the Endangered Species Act for the Next 50 Years

November 17, 2023 — In the years ahead, flora, fauna, and the ecosystems they depend on will face many hazards, both old and new. These actions could strengthen the act’s ability to meet evolving challenges.

A Force of Conservation, the Endangered Species Act Faces a Fraught Future

November 17, 2023 — Fifty years after its passage, the powerful policy has proven effective at preventing wildlife from going extinct. Only with innovation and advocacy can it continue to do so for decades to come.
An Atlantic Puffin stands on a rock with its wings outstretched, puffing out its chest and holding two fish in its large orange beak. Next to it is a worn looking painted wooden decoy puffin affixed to the rock.

50 Years of Project Puffin: An Oral History of an Incredibly Audacious Idea

June 29, 2023 — In 1973 a young biologist hatched a plan to bring a charismatic seabird back to Maine. It was the start of a five-decade scientific adventure that would ultimately revolutionize seabird restoration.

This Brutal Pesticide Creates a ‘Circle of Death.' So Why Is It Making a Comeback?

March 24, 2020 — Carbofuran, a century-old chemical, is increasingly being weaponized against birds and other wildlife, decimating entire food webs.

Reimagining 200 of Audubon’s Birds

October 10, 2019 — Artist Jenny Kendler creates a birds’ eye view of climate change. In her artwork, it’s us they’re watching.

Funds From the Deepwater Horizon Settlement Are Flowing Into the Gulf States

March 22, 2019 — A new Audubon report pinpoints 30 projects that, if financed, would be a boon for birds and people alike.

How Ecotourists Can Avoid Getting Greenwashed

September 28, 2018 — These resources and tips help ensure that eco-minded travelers' dollars make a difference for wildlife and local people.

Meet the Undercover Crime Unit Battling Miami's Black Market of Birds

September 21, 2018 — Multimillion-dollar sales of songbirds heap pressure on species already in decline. We go inside the covert investigation to capture traffickers.

Bird vs. Building: Portraits of Flight Gone Wrong

August 31, 2015 — Minneapolis artist Miranda Brandon gives victims of bird strikes new life.

Too Close for Comfort

April 26, 2015 — In the desire to get the perfect shot, some photographers push the limits, jeopardizing the wildlife they adore. Can’t we all just get along?