Meghan Bartels

Reporter, Audubon Magazine
About

Meghan Bartels is a science journalist based in New York City and was an editorial fellow at Audubon.

Articles by Meghan Bartels

A male and female Canvasback duck face each other in the water, the male looking back with a vibrant red eye.
Bird Eyes Come In an Amazing Array of Colors—but Why Is a Mystery
February 07, 2023 — A recent study analyzing what scientists know about avian eye color finds that there are numerous questions left to solve.
Bird Science
What Comes After Coal? Sometimes, the Answer Has Feathers
September 21, 2018 — Bobwhites and other struggling grassland birds have found refuge on a replanted mining tract in Kentucky, even as the habitat itself is in limbo.
News
Backyard Photography—When Your Backyard Is Also a Nature Preserve
January 19, 2018 — Tara Tanaka and her husband fell in love with the swamp in their backyard. So they bought it, and now she documents its wildlife.
News
Fossils Buried Deep in Lava Tubes Hold Secrets to Hawaii's Avian History
December 14, 2017 — Helen James mixes spelunking and paleontology to piece together the lives of the island's extinct and endangered birds.
From Audubon Magazine
Is That a Robo-Bird or Real Lady? For Male Sage-Grouse, Either Will Do
October 24, 2017 — Gail Patricelli is one of a few researchers using robotic birds to study avian courtship. Her current work focuses on the Greater Sage-Grouse.
News
This Japanese Woodcarver Helps the Blind See Birds Through Touch
September 22, 2017 — Haruo Uchiyama sculpts intricate, life-size birds to teach the world about evolution and extinction. His current mission: modeling 40 species of Hawaiian honeycreepers.
From Audubon Magazine
Watch ‘Birds of May,’ a New Documentary About Red Knots
August 17, 2017 — The film explores the growing debate over the environmental impact of oyster farms in Delaware Bay, an important stopover site for the threatened shorebirds.
News
These Birds Like to Wear Makeup
July 21, 2017 — Only a handful of species in the world exhibit a rare behavior that researchers call 'avian cosmetics.' Why, though, isn't always clear.
News
Two Brothers Want to Save Boobies by Turning Your Feet Bright Blue
July 19, 2017 — Worried about a declining population of Blue-footed Boobies in the Galapagos, the boys decided to raise money and awareness—by selling socks that match the birds' famous feet.
News
American Woodcocks are still hunted today across their range, but scientists think the pressure is sustainable. Their bigger concern for the species is loss of suitable habitat across the Eastern U.S. Copley Fine Art Auctions, LLC
These Hunting Decoys Now Lure Art Collectors Instead of Bird Flocks
June 27, 2017 — A stunning collection of decoys and bird-themed art, collected by a leading conservationist, is up for sale in July.
News