Rachel Fritts is a science writer based in the Washington, DC, area.

Articles by Rachel Fritts

From Audubon Magazine

An Artificial Island May Be the Lifeline Maryland's Common Terns Need

By Rachel Fritts
October 04, 2021 — Seabirds have been in worrying decline in the state's Coastal Bays region, but a makeshift nesting site shows promise to help them rebound.
News

10 Fun Facts About the American Crow

By Rachel Fritts
August 25, 2021 — From holding their own funerals to their penchant for maintaining grudges, this is one fascinating corvid.
From Audubon Magazine

The Quest for 'Lost' Birds Delivers Highs and Lows

By Rachel Fritts
July 13, 2021 — Thousands of species exist in a liminal space of conservation—they haven't been seen in a long time, but that doesn't mean they are extinct. Groups hope to crowdsource more rediscoveries.
Common Loons Fe and ABJ offer a fish to their chick, the pair’s 32nd together. Laura Wong
News

The World's Two Oldest Common Loons Are a Couple—and Amazing Parents

By Rachel Fritts
May 26, 2021 — A quarter-century ago, two loons joined forces to become a Michigan wildlife refuge’s resident power couple.
News

Follow These Amazing Instagram Accounts for Beautiful Bird Photos

By Rachel Fritts
May 12, 2021 — Need more feathers in your feed? These photographers have you covered.
News

Birds Gave This Photojournalist Hope in the Wake of Tragedy

By Rachel Fritts
April 29, 2021 — For Joshua McKerrow, posting daily bird photos has provided perspective and connection as he navigates trauma and grief.
Greater Prairie-Chicken. Ravi Hirekatur/Audubon Photography Awards
Science

The Surprising Reason Scientists Haven't Been Able to Clone a Bird Yet

By Rachel Fritts
April 28, 2021 — Thanks to their eggs, avians are tremendously difficult to clone. But new technologies may provide a workaround for saving at-risk species.
News

Ducks Are Moving North as Winters Warm

By Rachel Fritts
March 30, 2021 — A new study confirms that some Southern waterfowl populations are dwindling as birds opt for northern locales that were previously too cold.
Climate

When It Gets Too Hot, Phoenix's Lovebirds Turn to Air Conditioning

By Rachel Fritts
March 25, 2021 — Feral parrots in North America’s hottest city have found a creative way to stay cool in extreme heat, expected to get worse with climate change.
News

False Scents Can Trick Predators Into Ignoring Nesting Shorebirds

By Rachel Fritts
March 17, 2021 — A new study finds that habituating hungry mammals to certain appetizing smells makes them far less likely to invade nests.