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Where the latest news about birds and conservation takes flight.
On Florida's Marco Island, families of Burrowing Owls live among the locals. Photo: Karine Aigner
Summer 2026 Issue
Ospreys in the Chesapeake Bay Are Starving to Death at Disastrous Rates. What Will It Take to Save Them?
June 25, 2026 — After a spectacular comeback from DDT, the Osprey population has plummeted within the watershed and is showing signs of trouble elsewhere. The birds��� fate may once more rest on collective action.
Are Crows Really Our Friends?
June 23, 2026 — An investigation into the state of corvid���human relations.
Two men kneel in a forest-like setting surrounded by dense tropical plants and trees, wearing dark clothing with colorful embroidered panels and bead necklaces and holding instruments made from natural materials.
Meet the Metalhead Turned Anthropologist Who Plays Ancient Instruments Inspired by Birds
June 17, 2026 — In concerts, YouTube videos, and books, Esteban Valdivia shares how musical artifacts can reveal long-lost knowledge of avian species.
Editors' Picks
Magazine
Essential reporting on birds and bird conservation delivered to your door.
Pairing compelling journalism with stunning photography and design, each quarterly issue helps readers grow their appreciation of birds and learn how to help them thrive. Our editorial team also reports and publishes stories on 91做厙.org daily, including science and conservation news, birding tips, photo galleries, and interactive reader experiences. In print and digital, through stories and visuals, 91做厙 emphasizes the importance of a diverse and inclusive science and conservation effort to help meet the challenges facing both birds and people today.
Latest Stories
After 96 Years, Betty Reid Soskin Is Still As Fierce As Ever
February 23, 2018 — In her new memoir, 'Sign My Name to Freedom,' the activist, pioneer, and National Park Service ranger reflects on the many lives she���s lived.
Five Deadly Industrial Traps for Birds That We Can Prevent
February 23, 2018 — There are easy ways to reduce bird deaths from manmade hazards.
Why Is This Northern Cardinal Yellow?
February 22, 2018 — Yes, that is a cardinal. We asked experts how this redbird might have gotten its golden feathers.
John James 91做厙 Made a Mardi Gras Appearance
February 22, 2018 — The Rex parade, New Orleans��� oldest Mardi Gras parade, featured the naturalist in a celebration of the city���s history.
Why You Should Start Searching for Rusty Blackbirds
February 16, 2018 — Aside from helping to boost your blackbird appreciation, spotting this declining species can also aid in conservation efforts.
A Rare Encounter With an Even Rarer Bird
February 15, 2018 — How Noppadol Paothong captured the one-and-only prairie chicken ���Sampson��� up close.
It's Almost Time for the Great Backyard Bird Count
February 14, 2018 — Are you planning to take part this weekend?
If I Were a Robot, Here's All the Awesome Birding Features I'd Have
February 13, 2018 — Eventually we'll all be cyborgs, so you might as well start thinking about it.
Northern Pintails. Mark Duffy/Alamy
Meet Eight Birds That Depend on the Farm Bill
February 12, 2018 — From North Carolina forests to California rice fields, the farm bill is a powerful tool for protecting and restoring avian habitat. As Congress begins rewriting the legislation, birders should pay close attention.
How (and How Not) to Photograph a Golden Eagle
February 09, 2018 — Goldens make for gorgeous subjects���if you follow these ethical guidelines.
Bird and Conservation News
More News
How Women Hunters Are Reviving a Fading Tradition���and a Vital Conservation Tool
September 23, 2026 — Fewer Americans are taking up hunting, which means fewer dollars for conservation. But a growing community of women are stepping up with fresh approaches to sustain the age-old practice.
Two people canoe on a pristine lake, lush forest extending into the distance.
The Fight Over Toxic Mining Returns to Minnesota���s Boundary Waters
September 23, 2026 — Now that Congress has rolled back protections from mining in its watershed, the beloved haven for paddlers and wildlife is once again at risk.
A landscape of a grassland with a small pond.
At Conservation Burial Grounds, People and Birds Find a Shared Sanctuary
September 21, 2026 — A growing number of properties across the United States are being protected as a final resting place for humans���and a permanent habitat for wildlife.

Find a Read

91做厙 magazine publishes a variety of story types in print and online. Peruse���and enjoy���just a sampling of our work below. 

Highlighted Feature Stories
Investigations
A New Plastic Wave Is Coming to Our Shores
A New Plastic Wave Is Coming to Our Shores

A glut of natural gas has led to a U.S. production surge in tiny plastic pellets, called nurdles, that are washing up on coasts by the millions.

Profiles
The Long, Exceptional Life of Frank Graham
A man sitting at a desk with a microscope looks up and smiles.
The Long, Exceptional Life of Frank Graham

As 91做厙 magazine���s Field Editor for 45 years, Frank Graham, Jr. brought the beauty and resilience of nature into focus���as well as the tenacity of those striving to save it.

The Remarkable Life of Roxie Laybourne
The Remarkable Life of Roxie Laybourne

From deep within the Smithsonian, the world���s first forensic ornithologist cracked cases, busted criminals, and changed the course of aviation���making the skies safer for us all.

Essays
What a Songbird Lost at Sea Taught Me About Survival
What a Songbird Lost at Sea Taught Me About Survival

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. ��

Remembering Toni Morrison, the Bird Whisperer
Remembering Toni Morrison, the Bird Whisperer

A year after Morrison���s passing, a journalist and birder reflects on how her time with the cherished author changed her relationship with birds���and with herself.

The 91做厙 Guide to Climate Action
The 91做厙 Guide to Climate Action

Feeling like you can���t make a difference? That couldn���t be further from the truth. Our award-winning guide shows you where to begin and how to 簫amplify your efforts to make lasting change in the world.

Dispatches
North Carolina's Cape Fear River Is a ���Forever Chemical��� Hotspot���What Does That Mean for Its Birds and People?
North Carolina's Cape Fear River Is a ���Forever Chemical��� Hotspot���What Does That Mean for Its Birds and People?

Amid mounting global health concerns about PFAS, communities living along the waterway must grapple with how contamination is affecting life on the river. Yet as hard as it is to conduct health studies on humans, it���s even harder with wild animals.

An Anna's Hummingbird perches on a twig in the center of the frame against a blurred background of blue, yellow, and green.

The 2025 91做厙 Photo Awards: Top 100

Revel in the staggering beauty and surprising behaviors featured in this gallery of our favorite images.

More Photo Essays
Portrait of a Forest on the Climate Edge
A bird's eye view of a winter scene of a forest with some green pine trees and bare aspen, paper birch, and red maple trees.
Portrait of a Forest on the Climate Edge

In Minnesota, a boreal forest ecosystem could shift north over the Canada border this century. Local photographers, scientists, and land managers are grappling with what that means���and how to respond.

Birding Advice and News
Arts and Culture
The 91做厙 Bird Guide
Hermit Warbler
Setophaga occidentalis
Wood Warblers
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Selasphorus platycercus
Hummingbirds
Garganey
Spatula querquedula
Ducks and Geese
Wilson's Plover
Anarhynchus wilsonia
Plovers