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Explore Birds

Grid of three photos showing physical features of Wild Turkeys.
Get to Know a Wild Turkey's Weird Anatomy
September 19, 2025 — Snoods, beards, and wattles—oh my!
Bird Questions and Facts
A group of male turkeys, feathers puffed out, walk side by side in a suburban front yard.
How to Defeat a Bully—If That Bully Is a Wild Turkey
September 19, 2025 — Our step-by-step guide to fending off an aggressive gobbler about town.
About Birds
A mother Wild Turkey hen perches on a sturdy branch with her wings spread, protecting her small chicks.
The Wild Turkey Is a Comeback Bird We Can’t Take for Granted
September 19, 2025 — From bustling towns to rural woodlands, turkeys seem to be everywhere these days. But despite being an undeniable conservation success, questions still loom about the fate of this beloved yet confounding bird.
Feature Stories
A portrait of the author standing in a pine forest in Maine.
This Psychologist Wants to Hear About the Moment You Fell in Love with Birds
September 19, 2025 — By collecting “spark bird stories,” Jenn Lodi-Smith aims to understand why people get hooked on birds—and how to encourage those experiences.
Birding
Two researchers, with equipment and notebooks splayed across a boardwalk in a forest, sit cross-legged while they record data.
Scientists Can Now Track How High Songbirds Fly Over the Ocean—a Potential Lifesaver
September 19, 2025 — Researchers are gathering new insights that improve migration science and may help make offshore wind energy more friendly to small birds with big treks.
Bird Migration
A long exposure photo showing the movement of a flying squirrel gliding from a tree across a starry night sky.
It's a Bird, It's a Bat—No, It's a Flying Squirrel. And It Might Be Closer Than You Think.
September 19, 2025 — Flying squirrels are widespread across the United States, but spotting the nocturnal rodents takes some effort. Unless you're a Spotted Owl, that is.
At Home
People sit on a bench in an urban park and look through binoculars.
A New Program Helps New York’s Public-Housing Residents Discover the Nature Right Outside Their Doors
September 19, 2025 — The city’s housing authority houses half a million people on campuses rich in green space. Advocates see that as a big opportunity to bring birding’s benefits to more New Yorkers.
Birding News
Illustration of kids building bird houses at a table and looking out the window at birds.
How Educators Are Fostering the Next Generation of Avian Advocates
September 18, 2025 — Experts say it isn’t hard to get kids excited about birds—and conservation action.
Birding News
A messy clump of leaves and sticks sits in the fork of a tree.
How to Tell if That Nest Belongs to a Squirrel or a Bird
September 18, 2025 — Squirrels build structures called dreys that can be easy to mistake for a crow or hawk’s nest.
Bird Nests and Breeding
A red squirrel climbing down a tree with a peanut in its mouth pauses and looks up.
Why Squirrels Deserve Your Respect (If Not Your Birdseed)
September 18, 2025 — Sure, they ransack feeders, but there’s a lot to love about the crafty rodents.
At Home