Lauren Leffer is a science and environmental journalist based in Brooklyn, New York.

Articles by Lauren Leffer

News

More Than 1,000 Birds Collided With a Single Chicago Building in One Night

By Lauren Leffer
October 06, 2023 — Weather conditions, a pulse of migrating warblers, and bright lights combined to create a wave of bird death across the city Thursday morning.
Close up of a brown and white bird with a long curved yellow beak looking at the camera, held in someone's hands.
Western Water News

A Migrating Cuckoo Named Hummus Makes a Tasty Case for Land Conservation

By Lauren Leffer
August 31, 2023 — On its international journey south, one federally threatened bird has passed through at least six protected areas.
News

Apparently Magpies and Crows Are Using "Anti-Bird Spikes" to Make Their Nests

By Lauren Leffer
July 13, 2023 — Birds often incorporate human-made materials while nest building, but a new study shows European corvids are taking the idea to the extreme.
From Audubon Magazine

The Many Styles of Bird Migration Are More Varied Than You Think

By Lauren Leffer
April 13, 2022 — It's the journey, not the destination.
Climate

The Planet Is Undergoing an Ecological Transformation, Imperiling Biodiversity Everywhere

By Lauren Leffer
March 04, 2022 — In a decade, 9 percent of all species worldwide could be at risk of total extinction, according to a new UN report on climate change
Climate

Many Birds Are Shrinking and Growing Longer Wings as the World Warms. Why?

By Lauren Leffer
February 07, 2022 — A growing body of research suggests a warming world could mean smaller birds with longer wings, but nothing about the findings is settled.
News

As Threats to Chile’s Birds Grow, a New Strategy Promises Stronger Protections

By Lauren Leffer
February 04, 2022 — Advocates are optimistic that the just-launched bird conservation framework will catch on throughout Latin America.
News

10 Fun Facts about the House Finch

By Lauren Leffer
December 21, 2021 — These common and adaptable birds provide a welcome pop of color at feeders from coast to coast. But they weren’t always so ubiquitous.
News

6 Unexpected Ways Birds Are Important for the Environment (and People)

By Lauren Leffer
December 17, 2021 — Birds play countless roles in healthy ecosystems—which is why preserving bird diversity helps everyone.
From Audubon Magazine

How to Feed Birds Safely This Winter

By Lauren Leffer
December 16, 2021 — Follow these tips to ensure that you’re creating a healthy environment for wildlife visitors you attract to your yard.