Maddie Burakoff

Associate Editor, Audubon magazine

Articles by Maddie Burakoff

Two people canoe on a pristine lake, lush forest extending into the distance.
The Fight Over Toxic Mining Returns to Minnesota’s Boundary Waters
September 23, 2026 — Now that Congress has rolled back protections from mining in its watershed, the beloved haven for paddlers and wildlife is once again at risk.
Conservation News
Aerial of Lake Powell at its lowest level since 1964.
As Water-Sharing Negotiations Heat Up, Wildlife Habitats Along the Shrinking Colorado River Are at Risk
June 25, 2026 — Extremely low snowpack has raised the stakes for Western states debating how to cut back water use. A new agreement could offer a lifeline to ecosystems or leave them out to dry.
Conservation News
A crowd of people stand in the foreground watching a huge flock of birds fly around a brick chimney.
Where Do Vaux’s Swifts Spend the Night? A Community Science Effort Is Mapping Their Roost Sites
March 30, 2026 — For nearly 20 years, volunteers have counted up swarms of birds as part of a project to find, and protect, their short-term homes along the Pacific Flyway.
Conservation News
Meet the Musical Artists Who Are Paying Royalties to Nature
March 30, 2026 — A lot of musicians use wild sounds in their work. Some are now splitting their profits with the planet.
Arts & Culture
A woman walks through a field holding a goshawk perched on her falconer's glove.
How the New ‘H Is for Hawk’ Movie Brought its Goshawk Stars to the Screen
February 04, 2026 — In the film adaptation of Helen Macdonald’s memoir, the bond between falconer and hawk takes center stage. On set, everything revolved around the avian actors.
Movies & TV
How Street-Smart Birds Are Hacking Human Infrastructure
December 17, 2025 — Recent studies have uncovered some of the clever ways our avian neighbors are making the most of the urban environment.
Bird Behavior
A collage of illustrations showing natural disasters, clean energy sources, healthy habitats, and a ballot box.
To Weather the Growing Costs of Climate Disasters, Some States Are Getting Creative
September 19, 2025 — From tourist taxes to polluter fees, states seek funding solutions to deal with the massive price tag of a warming world.
Climate
A group of people with binoculars in a rocky desert landscape.
On Public Lands, Federal Staffing Chaos Threatens Fragile Ecosystems
June 04, 2025 — Layoffs and uncertainty across the already weakened workforce could cause lasting damage to wildlife.
Conservation News
A male Anna's Hummingbird perches on a red hummingbird feeder.
This Hummingbird Rapidly Evolved a Longer Beak to Slurp More Nectar from Feeders, New Study Finds
May 29, 2025 — The 20th century expansion of nectar feeders drove Anna’s Hummingbirds to spread across California—and transformed the birds along the way.
Bird Science
Four researchers kneeling in sand secure a Brown Pelican by its beak and prepare to swab its mouth.
North Carolina's Cape Fear River Is a ‘Forever Chemical’ Hotspot—What Does That Mean for Its Birds and People?
March 25, 2025 — Amid mounting global health concerns about PFAS, communities living along the waterway must grapple with how contamination is affecting life on the river. Yet as hard as it is to conduct health studies on humans, it’s even harder with wild animals.
Feature Stories