John R. Platt covers wildlife and endangered species for Scientific American, TakePart, Vice, and other publications. He lives in Portland, Oregon, which of course means he has backyard chickens.

Articles by John R. Platt

News

The Saga of 16-11, a Star-Crossed Whooping Crane Now in Mating Rehab

By John R. Platt
November 10, 2016 — This fall, an endangered Whooping Crane that produced a hybrid chick with a Sandhill Crane had to be removed from the wild. This is his story.
News

The Hawaiian Crow Is Ready to Make Its Big Comeback

By John R. Platt
October 05, 2016 — Extinct in its natural habitat since 2002, the tool-using Hawaiian Crow will return to the wild this November with lots of support.
News

In Argentina, New Nesting Research Shows How Loggers Could Save Countless Birds

By John R. Platt
September 06, 2016 — Old woodpecker holes typically serve as homes for multiple other species, but for Argentina’s cavity dwellers, it’s a little more complicated.
News

Human Noise Robs Owls of Their Ability to Hunt

By John R. Platt
June 06, 2016 — Sounds from natural-gas extraction sites can reduce birds’ ability to find and capture prey.
News

The Bison Joins the Bald Eagle as a Fellow Symbol of America

By John R. Platt
May 10, 2016 — The eagle stays put as our national animal, but now we have a national mammal as well.
Culture

Endangered Hawaiian Bird Immortalized In Space

By John R. Platt
April 20, 2016 — Thanks to a science teacher in India, an asteroid has been named after the critically endangered Akikiki.
News

Scientists Solve A Shag-adelic Bird Mystery

By John R. Platt
March 25, 2016 — New Zealanders now get two endangered shags for the price of one.
Birds in the News

How Flashing Lights on Cell Towers Can Save Birds’ Lives

By John R. Platt
February 18, 2016 — As many as 7 million birds in the U.S. die every year when they strike communication towers, but not for much longer.