Winter 2023 Issue

Two adult albatrosses tend to a fuzzy chick in its nest.
A Single Mexican Island May Be Our Best Hope for Saving Black-footed Albatrosses
November 18, 2023 — To secure the future of the imperiled seabirds, scientists are transporting eggs from Hawaii to Mexico, where Laysan Albatross foster parents await.
A researcher holds a gray bird and attaches a geotag to its back.
An Unwavering Focus
December 04, 2023 — Birds and the scientists striving to protect them are tenacious.
Landscape with a blue lake and forest seen through colorful fall foliage in the foreground and mountains in the background.
On Our Flight Path
December 05, 2023 — How we are setting ourselves up for even greater success in 2024.
Illustration of a prairie chicken walking on a farm with cows, a tractor, and an oil well in the background.
How to Fortify the Endangered Species Act for the Next 50 Years
November 17, 2023 — In the years ahead, flora, fauna, and the ecosystems they depend on will face many hazards, both old and new. These actions could strengthen the act’s ability to meet evolving challenges.
A Force of Conservation, the Endangered Species Act Faces a Fraught Future
November 17, 2023 — Fifty years after its passage, the powerful policy has proven effective at preventing wildlife from going extinct. Only with innovation and advocacy can it continue to do so for decades to come.
An Evening Grosbeak with a GPS tag on its back, held in someone's hand with a snowy forest behind it.
A Beloved Winter Finch Is In Decline—and Scientists Want to Know Why
November 15, 2023 — Feeder visits from Evening Grosbeaks are rarer than in the past, and a new initiative is trying to understand the root causes.
A woman stands outside looking up at the trees overhead holding binoculars and a phone.
How Do Birds Respond to Extreme Wildfire Haze? Project Phoenix Aims to Find Out 
November 15, 2023 — Harnessing the power of community science can help birds as smoke pollution from blazes becomes more extreme.
group of teenagers with two adults standing on a trail with green mountains in the background
Why Bird Advocates Want to Double Down on Conservation Across the Americas
November 08, 2023 — A bipartisan U.S. bill would ramp up funding for the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act, an under-the-radar program with a long reach.
A kayaker paddles in a pristine lake, the clear water mirroring the forest on either side.
This New App Looks to the Birds to Bolster Southeast Alaska’s Economy
November 15, 2023 — A birding trail developed by Audubon Alaska and partners seeks to shift the region away from reliance on extractive industries.
Portrait of Carl Safina outside, looking to the top right of the frame
Can a Scientist and an Owl Be Friends?
November 08, 2023 — Best-selling author and ecologist Carl Safina has made a career out of his deep explorations of the animal world. But his recent relationship with a rescued owl caused him to go even deeper.
A woman in winter gear walks through deep snow down a hill surrounded by evergreen trees, a vast snowy mountainous landscape in the background.
As Stands of Whitebark Pine Disappear, Could the Clark's Nutcracker Soon Follow?
November 18, 2023 — A intrepid researcher faces steep odds as she attempts to study nutcrackers in the Cascade Mountains. But the birds—and the singular trees they help sustain—are too important for her not to persist.
Two sandhill cranes flying in front of out-of-focus transmission lines.
The Race Is on to Build Big Power Lines, Clean Energy’s Missing Ingredient
November 07, 2023 — Careful siting and thoughtful construction can make transmission lines less dangerous for birds, experts say.
The Bone-Eating Bearded Vulture Is Reclaiming Europe’s Skies
November 17, 2023 — Once widely persecuted, the majestic scavenger is making a remarkable rebound in Europe, but new threats could undermine a full recovery.
Other Issues
Fall 2025
For The Hautman Brothers, the Secret to Duck Stamp Dominance Is All in the Family
Summer 2025
After Four Decades, Efforts to Save Great Lakes Piping Plovers Are Seeing Signs of Major Success
Spring 2025
North Carolina's Cape Fear River Is a ‘Forever Chemical’ Hotspot—What Does That Mean for Its Birds and People?
Winter 2024
How Much Longer Can These Cold-Loving Birds Last in the Rapidly Warming Rockies?