Jenny McKee

Reporter, Audubon magazine
About

Jenny McKee is a former editorial fellow for Audubon magazine. 

Articles by Jenny McKee

An American Oystercatcher walks along the shore in golden hour light.
Can Saving Birds Save the Planet? Scott Weidensaul’s Case for Hope and Resilience Amid a Dire Era of Bird Loss
April 22, 2026 — In “The Return of the Oystercatcher,” the celebrated naturalist and author looks beyond the staggering decline of North American birds to highlight the hard-won victories that prove recovery is possible.
Books
Thousands of seabirds nesting and circling overhead on an otherwise vacant island.
A Remote, Protected Seabird Paradise May Soon Host a Rocket Landing Site
June 20, 2025 — The proposed U.S. Air Force project could disturb unique nesting habitat for multitudes of birds, including 10,000-plus Red-footed Boobies and more than a third of all Red-tailed Tropicbirds.
Conservation News
A female mallard is harnessed with a tracking device.
To Solve the Mallard's Mysterious Decline, Researchers Turn to Hi-Tech Trackers
June 20, 2025 — Biologists are using the devices to better understand the bird's behavior and, ultimately, what might be driving our most common duck's population drop.
Bird Science
Illustration of people watching birds next to a lake.
A New Birding Club Wants to Help COVID Long-Haulers Safely Enjoy Nature Together
April 12, 2024 — Ed Yong, an award-winning science journalist who widely covered the pandemic, recently launched The Spoonbill Club to provide community—and an accessible hobby—for folks with long COVID.
Birding News
A brown bird perched in green leaves, looking up.
How Extreme Weather Tests Facilities Housing the Last of a Species
March 29, 2024 — Natural disasters fueled by climate change imperil critically endangered species under human care. Breeding centers must be more ready than ever to swing into action in an emergency.
Conservation News
A bright green kakapo emerges from a bag on the ground held open by a person's hands.
On Mainland New Zealand, Crafty Kākāpō Are Thwarting Reintroduction Efforts
March 13, 2024 — Ten of the critically endangered parrots were released into a sanctuary in 2023 with hopes of eventually establishing a wild population. The only problem? The birds keep escaping.
Conservation News
Two downy, white-and-gray Barred Owl chicks sit on top of a brick chimney, exquisitely framed by the rust-red metal cap that covers it. The owlets’ large black eyes peer out from their white, heart-shaped faces.
Cuddle up With These Ridiculously Cute Baby Bird Photos
December 19, 2023 — Our favorite chick pics from the 2023 Audubon Photography Awards feature familiar and secretive species at peak charm.
Audubon Photography Awards
A woman with braids and a flower crown holds a large leaf up to her face and looks through a hole in the leaf.
Foraging Isn’t Just for the Birds
September 30, 2023 — Harvesting wild food is a great way to deepen your native-plant know-how. Get started with help from expert and influencer Alexis Nikole Nelson.
News
10 Gorgeous Shots Showcasing Birds and the Native Plants They Need
September 25, 2023 — Check out these stunners from the Plants for Birds category of the 2023 Audubon Photography Awards.
Native Plants
A woman wades into a rocky river in a vast old growth forest.
Fieldwork for All
July 10, 2023 — Eager young scientists dream of careers outdoors, studying and protecting wildlife and ecosystems. To succeed, they need something that’s proven elusive: a feeling of safety.
News