From Audubon Magazine

An Osprey flies holding grass in its talons.
The World’s Oldest Known Osprey Is an Online Sensation—and a Living Indicator of Watershed Health
May 19, 2025 — At 29, Iris the Osprey has outlived the odds to become a cherished internet star whose brood of offspring is helping track river health in Montana.
Bird News
A yellow bird with a white ring around its eye perches on a branch.
This Non-Native Songbird Is Taking Over California—Will the Rest of the Country Be Next?
May 06, 2025 — The Swinhoe’s White-eye—a small yellow bird native to Asia—has rapidly spread throughout the state and beyond in the past decade, surprising birders and experts alike.
Bird News
A plain, gray bird perches on a thin, curvy branch.
Researchers Favor Beautiful, Colorful Birds in Scientific Studies, New Analysis Finds
April 25, 2025 — A review of 50 years of ornithological literature revealed a strong bias for familiar, visually appealing species over avians with drabber features. Here's why that's worrisome for conservation.
Conservation News
Clear liquid trickles out of a hummingbird hovering in midair.
Do Birds Pee? Hummingbirds Do—a Lot
April 23, 2025 — Unlike most other avians, hummers urinate in a stream much like mammals, releasing liquid waste often and out of necessity.
Bird Questions and Facts
The Ballad of U10: How One Mischievous Bird Taught Me to Love Gulls Even More
April 17, 2025 — After a chance beach encounter with a banded Herring Gull, cartoonist Rosemary Mosco dug deep into the surprisingly popular bird's life and adventures.
Arts & Culture
Closeup of a Kirtland's Warbler perched on a thin branch.
Inbreeding Poses Another Challenge to the Rebounding Kirtland’s Warbler
April 14, 2025 — Whole-genome analysis raises concerns about the rare songbird, the authors of a recent study say, but could also help with recovering vulnerable species.
Conservation Challenges
Portrait of a ptarmigan in mostly white plumage and a bright red eyebrow.
This Grouse Is Going Viral: Meet the Willow Ptarmigan, AKA the ‘Awebo’ Bird
April 11, 2025 — This charismatic species from the Arctic tundra has become an internet sensation thanks to its bizarre calls and meme-worthy behavior.
Arts & Culture
More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Heron Necks
April 03, 2025 — From how they work to why they're so long, we’ve got answers to all your (maybe?) burning questions.
Bird Questions and Facts
An aerial view of a snowy St. Matthew Island with a tiny spec of a human in the distance.
The Search for One of North America's Rarest Birds
March 31, 2025 — Scientists must journey to remote islands in the middle of the Bering Sea, braving uncertain conditions, to reach the breeding grounds of McKay's Buntings.
Photo Essay
A group of 20 juvenile Brown Pelicans are herded by Alex DeLuca in a beachy landscape.
Ready and Able
March 25, 2025 — The time to spring into action is before it’s too late.
Editor’s Note