Rebecca Heisman

Contributor, Audubon magazine
About

Rebecca Heisman is a freelance science writer based out of Walla Walla, Washington. She is the author of Flight Paths (March 2023, Harper Collins), about the history, science, and quirky personalities behind bird migration research.

Articles by Rebecca Heisman

Two Pine Siskins perch on a bird feeder eating nyjer seeds.
The Surprising Connection Between Spruce Trees, Pine Siskins, and Salmonella Outbreaks
February 20, 2026 — New research linking climate, conifer seed production, and siskin irruptions could provide an early warning system for dangerous salmonella outbreaks at bird feeders and among people.
Bird Science
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
A yellow, black, and white warbler stands on a thin, mossy branch and looks up into rain, against a dark green background.
All North American Birds Named After People Will Soon Get New Names
November 01, 2023 — After years of consideration and little news, this week's announcement by the American Ornithological Society caught many birders by surprise.
News
A brown and white eagle with a large yellow beak flies past the tops of pine trees.
When Birds Get Lost, Space Storms May Be to Blame
June 05, 2023 — New analysis of 60 years of bird banding data shows that vagrancy increases during periods of geomagnetic disturbance.
Bird Science
A yellow bird in flight, blue sky in the background.
Migrating Male Birds Race Ahead to Keep Up with Spring’s Early Arrival
January 26, 2023 — New research finds females are lagging behind males as they try and keep up with earlier springs driven by climate change.
Bird Science
A plain, light-colored bird sings while perched on a mossy branch dappled in sunlight.
How Merlin Bird ID Helped Me Discover the ‘Elevator Music of Birding’
August 25, 2022 — After the seemingly magical song identification app helped me discover the Warbling Vireo's song, I now hear it everywhere I go.
News
Silhouettes of large birds fly across the a pink and gray sky in a line. A large full moon in centered in the frame behind them.
A Brief History of How Scientists Have Learned About Bird Migration
April 13, 2022 — Researchers today can follow birds' paths as they fly thousands of miles. But it wasn't always that way. Scroll through more than two centuries of advances in understanding this natural wonder.
Bird Migration
A Pandemic, a Cancer Diagnosis, and a Year List Like No Other
December 18, 2020 — How birds became a thread of sanity through my tumultuous year.
COVID-19
Everyone Has a Bird Question They’re Waiting to Ask
January 16, 2020 — If they’re paying enough attention to birds to ask questions, they’re halfway to becoming an advocate for wildlife.
News
Seagull or Gull: Who Really Cares?
September 26, 2018 — Sure, they're fun facts to share, but when birders reflexively correct common names like "seagull" or "Canadian goose," they may turn newcomers off the hobby altogether.
News