News

My Brief Reign and Embarrassing Fall as a Fantasy Birder
February 05, 2020 — Here's where I failed and the best players cleaned up during 2019's inaugural fantasy birding season.
An Alaskan Mine Threatens the Site of the World's Largest Gathering of Bald Eagles
February 03, 2020 — In the Chilkat Valley, eagles, bears, and people depend on healthy salmon runs. A proposed mine could put the entire ecosystem at risk.
A Shaky Song Reveals an Old Sparrow's Age to Younger Competition
January 31, 2020 — Birds can lose their singing skills over time, and according to a new study, Swamp Sparrows use these clues to identify territorial threats.
Federal Government Moves to Gut America's Most Important Bird Law
January 30, 2020 — A change to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act would make permanent the administration's position that killing birds is legal if it's unintentional.
As Waters Continue to Rise, Florida's Keys Face a Daunting Future
January 28, 2020 — During this year's Christmas Bird Count on Key West, the impacts of climate change were impossible to ignore.
Conservation
Albatross Wearing Data Trackers Are Exposing Illegal Fishing Boats
January 27, 2020 — The seabirds' knack for finding fishing vessels could help authorities crack down on crimes on the high seas.
Listen: Greater Rhea Nests Are Filled With Dozens of Whistling Eggs
January 27, 2020 — Males of this huge South American species mate with several partners, resulting in exceptionally large—and musical—clutches.
Podcast
This Is PigeonBot, the World's Most Bird-Like Flying Robot Yet
January 24, 2020 — Researchers have gleaned new insights (and some feathers) from Rock Pigeons that further unravel the mysteries of avian flight.
New Federal Water Rules Ditch Protections for Wetlands and Small Streams
January 23, 2020 — Despite scientific pushback, the Trump administration's updated regulations loosen oversight on millions of miles of waterways.
Cookies, Honey, Tangerines, Manure—These Birds Have Some Strange Scents
January 23, 2020 — There's still a lot scientists don't know about odor in the avian world, but this much is clear: Some species really smell.