News

Around the World in 15 Cranes
February 24, 2017 — Renowned crane conservationist George Archibald just returned from a global tour to meet every species of crane in the wild. Here's what he saw.
Proposed Wyoming Bill Allowing Sage-Grouse Captive Rearing Is Deeply Flawed
February 24, 2017 — The proposal would let commercial farms harvest Greater Sage-Grouse and their eggs. But there's no scientific evidence or public interest to support such an endeavor.
Birdist Rule #61: Find Your First Phoebe, the Gateway Flycatcher
February 23, 2017 — Identifying flycatchers can be unbelievably frustrating, so start off easy.
The Birdist’s Rules of Birding
Pittsburgh’s Famous Bald Eagles Lost Their Nest Tree, But They Aren't Giving Up
February 23, 2017 — Within days of losing their nest, the eagles built a new one and possibly even laid another egg, which would be an unprecedented achievement.
Bird Cams
Even John James Audubon Couldn't Tell the Difference Between Scaup Ducks
February 22, 2017 — Audubon and his rival, Alexander Wilson, disagreed about the habits of scaup ducks. But that's because they were describing two different birds.
Kenn Kaufman's Notebook
To Turn a Schoolyard Into an Outdoor Classroom, Just Add Native Plants
February 21, 2017 — With the help of Audubon Minnesota and some controlled fires, a local school recently restored an overgrown field into original prairie habitat.
Native Plants
Testing Out Song Sleuth, a New App That Identifies Birds by Their Calls
February 21, 2017 — Song Sleuth's advanced software can recognize the voices of 200 common bird species. But how does it fare in the field?
In the Field
Scientists Enlist Drones to Eavesdrop on Songbirds
February 17, 2017 — Using drones equipped with audio recorders, a team of researchers is testing whether the technology could aid in field surveys.
Hear the Many Different Hoots of the Barred Owl
February 17, 2017 — The increasingly common owl has more than a dozen calls, including one that sounds like a monkey.
Birding by Ear
Researchers Identify the Hormone That Tells Migratory Birds to Stop Eating and Keep Moving
February 17, 2017 — According to a new study, the same hormone that signals to humans we've eaten our fill triggers migrating birds to continue their trek.