Rebecca Heisman is a freelance science writer based out of Walla Walla, Washington.
Articles by Rebecca Heisman
Birding
Everyone Has a Bird Question They’re Waiting to Ask
January 16, 2020 — If they’re paying enough attention to birds to ask questions, they’re halfway to becoming an advocate for wildlife.
Birding
Seagull or Gull: Who Really Cares?
September 26, 2018 — When birders reflexively correct common names like "seagull" or "Canadian goose," they may turn newcomers off the hobby altogether.
Science
In a Surprising Scientific Find, Enormous Crab Kills Booby on Camera
November 10, 2017 — A researcher studying coconut crabs in the Chagos Islands never expected to capture gruesome video evidence of one preying on a Red-footed Booby.
Conservation
What's at Stake: Training a Generation of Scientists
September 21, 2017 — Ellen George has barely begun her scientific career studying a little—and a little-known—fish called the cisco. Proposed budget cuts to graduate funding and fisheries science threaten to cut it short.
Science
Mallards Are Everywhere, and That’s Great for Wetlands
March 22, 2017 — Forget any misconceptions you might have about the Mallard. These ubiquitous ducks renew and create habitats just by going about their normal lives.
Climate
By Pitching In Around the Nest, Plover Dads Adapt to Warmer Temperatures
December 23, 2016 — A study found that plover dads can compensate for heat waves by helping to incubate eggs, a possible strategy for adjusting to climate change.
Science
Why Do Some Seabirds Eat So Much Plastic? It Smells Like Food.
November 9, 2016 — New research shows that certain seabirds associate a scent produced by common plastics with potential meals—much to their detriment.
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