COVID-19

The docks in Beaufort, North Carolina, where the author's adventure began. Megan Mayhew Bergman

Seeking Home Aboard the Night Heron

April 23, 2021 — The pandemic prodded me to fulfill a lifelong dream of living on a boat. I’m learning the ropes surrounded by the birds of my North Carolina childhood.

What a Songbird Lost at Sea Taught Me About Survival

March 24, 2021 — Aboard a mission to explore the alien life of the deep ocean, a chance encounter with a migratory bird offered a point of connection—one that has felt poignant this past year.  

A Year of the Pandemic: How Have Birds and Other Wildlife Responded?

March 09, 2021 — The slowdown in human activity—a period scientists are calling the “anthropause”—was a mixed bag for animals.

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.

At a Time of Standstill, Remembering the Significance of Life on the Move

October 16, 2020 — With fall migration well underway, birders can appreciate the ecological and societal importance of global mobility during a difficult year.

Birdwatching Is a Bright Spot in a Pandemic-Stricken Economy

August 06, 2020 — Sales are through the roof for seed suppliers, birdhouse builders, and small businesses helping people connect with the nature in their backyards.

Pandemic-fueled Surge in Wild Turkey Hunting Tests Declining Populations

June 18, 2020 — Turkey hunters with extra time on their hands are behind a harvest spike that could have lasting impacts, biologists warn.

Grisly Report Raises Questions About the Cruise Industry's Impact on Migrating Birds

May 28, 2020 — Lights on ships can lure birds to their deaths, but nearly a decade after a call for more research, the scale of the problem is anyone's guess.

An Annual Birding Competition Adapts to the Pandemic By Going Global

May 28, 2020 — Every spring, birders at the American Museum of Natural History vie to see the most birds in Central Park. This year, competing from their quarantine spots around the world brought unexpected benefits.

Meet the Bird World's Essential Workers

May 21, 2020 — Despite the pandemic, these pros are working long hours to save injured birds and at-risk species that need them.