Jess Leber is deputy editor for Audubon magazine. Prior to Audubon, she was a staff editor and reporter at a variety of publications, including Fast Company, MIT Technology Review, ClimateWire, and Oceans Deeply. 

Articles by Jessica Leber

Culture

Margaret Atwood Talks Bird Lore To Celebrate the ‘Bedside Book of Birds’

By Jessica Leber
March 29, 2021 — The reissue of this love letter to birds, by the noted author's late partner Graeme Gibson, delves into the varied intersections between human and avian lives.
Ethics

Here's How to Spot a Faked Wildlife Photo—and When to Be Skeptical

By Jessica Leber
March 22, 2021 — The phony-image debunker behind a popular Twitter account shares tips for telling when the perfect shot is too good to be true.
From Audubon Magazine

Birding and Conservation Groups Are Beginning to Grapple With Racist Histories

By Jessica Leber
September 30, 2020 — But it's not enough to look only at the past, say experts—organizations must examine how these legacies influence their fields today.
News

The McCown's Longspur Is No More, but the Debate Over Bird Names Continues

By Jessica Leber
September 03, 2020 — In response to growing calls, the American Ornithological Society recently renamed the bird the Thick-billed Longspur. That's not enough for critics.
Books

The Woman Behind ‘Birds of America’

By Jessica Leber
March 24, 2020 — An upcoming book gives voice to Lucy Bakewell Audubon, whose invisible labor fueled her husband John James Audubon's famous works.
News

The Wild Blue Turkey That Blew My Mind

By Jessica Leber
November 26, 2019 — Appreciating the avian diversity that’s there to astound us—if only we look.
News

Margaret Atwood Insists Birds Matter to Everyone—Whether They Realize It or Not

By Jessica Leber
November 25, 2019 — Birds inspire the acclaimed writer, poet, and conservation advocate—as seen in five avian-themed poems she shares with Audubon readers.
News

A Simple Technology Could Help Stop Birds From Colliding With Power Lines

By Jessica Leber
July 19, 2019 — It’s not rocket science, but it does build on the avian ability to see UV lights—with strong results.
Conservation

The ‘Godfather of Biodiversity’ on Why Two Degrees of Warming Must Be Avoided

By Jessica Leber
May 08, 2019 — Renowned biologist Thomas Lovejoy talks climate change and explains why restoring ecosystems plays a crucial part in curbing rising temperatures.
News

Watch How Hummingbird Hackers Keep Up With Their Quick, Tiny Subjects

By Jessica Leber
March 22, 2019 — More scientists are embracing inventive ways to decode the biology and behavior of a unique bird family.