Conservation Challenges

Hundreds of dead birds laid out in rows on a large metal table.
More Than 1,000 Birds Collided With a Single Chicago Building in One Night
October 06, 2023 — Weather conditions, a pulse of migrating warblers, and bright lights combined to create a wave of bird death across the city Thursday morning.
A mottled brown whip-poor-will with squinty eyes sits perfectly camouflaged on a tree branch.
Revealing the Mysteries of Whip-poor-wills—and What It Might Take to Save Them
September 29, 2023 — Recently uncovered secrets long held by species in the elusive nightjar family, and those still waiting to be unraveled, could provide information vital to curtailing their recent losses.
Conservation News
An owl flies over a field of tall yellow grasses at dusk, with buildings in the background.
Western Sprawl Is Gobbling Up Grassland Habitat, Raising Risks for Short-eared Owls
July 17, 2023 — Efforts are underway to curb deaths from human hazards in this critically important part of the country for the widespread but declining raptors.
Conservation News
A gray and yellow warbler lies dead on a sidewalk, feet up in the air, while people and cars pass by, the busy city in the background.
Unseen Danger: One Day of Deadly Window Strikes for New York’s Birds
June 26, 2023 — Go behind the scenes with the dedicated New Yorkers working to stop the flood of avoidable deaths that occur in the city each migration season.
Aerial landscape of a forest consumed by fire, a huge area of trees already burned and the sky filled with clouds of smoke.
How Do Wildfires in Canada’s Boreal Forest Affect Birds Across the Continent?
June 22, 2023 — Hundreds of fires continue to blaze in what officials say could become Canada’s worst fire season in recorded history.
Birds and Climate
A dark brown bird with a long bill in water with its wings outstretched.
Plastic Pollution Is So Pervasive That It’s Causing a New Disease in Seabirds
April 06, 2023 — Researchers coined the term “plasticosis” to describe stomach damage related to ingesting trash.
Conservation News
A woodpecker stuck to a glue trap with several bugs. Its wings are splayed out stuck to the paper with many feathers ripped out.
Meant to Catch Spotted Lanternflies, Glue Traps Are a Horrifying Hazard for Birds
March 29, 2023 — Wildlife rehabilitators, unable to save many victims, are urging the public to choose bird-safe methods of managing the invasive insects.
Bird News
Lead Bullets Are Stunting the Bald Eagle's Recovery
February 03, 2022 — A new study found a hidden decline in population growth for eagles in the northeastern U.S. due to lead ammunition.
Climate Change or Habitat Loss? New Study Weighs Which Influences Birds More
January 21, 2022 — Ninety years of Christmas Bird Count data tease apart the effects of habitat loss and warming temperatures on winter bird distributions.
Christmas Bird Count
A Video Captures the Dreadful Toll Window Strikes Take on Migrating Birds
September 16, 2021 — Grisly visuals from New York City show mass bird death, but they're just a glimpse of what happens in cities nationwide.