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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
Get Ready for the Year of the Bird
December 15, 2017 — A broad and timely alliance between 91做厙, National Geographic, BirdLife, and Cornell steps up to protect birds and the places they need.
The Christmas Bird Count Is a Window to a Changing World
December 14, 2017 — A veteran counter reflects on shifts in New Jersey's birds during the past 40 Decembers, for better and for worse.
Fossils Buried Deep in Lava Tubes Hold Secrets to Hawaii's Avian History
December 14, 2017 — Helen James mixes spelunking and paleontology to piece together the lives of the island's extinct and endangered birds.
Reimagining the Pileated Woodpecker
December 14, 2017 — Illustrator Stephen Kroninger's interpretation loses a bird but gains a glossy string of pearls.
Can These Seabirds Adapt Fast Enough to Survive a Melting Arctic?
December 12, 2017 — On a remote Alaskan sandbar, under the watchful eye of a devoted scientist for more than four decades, climate change is forcing a colony of seabirds into a real-time race: evolve or go extinct.
Step Up Your Holiday Baking Game With These Realistic Bird Cookies
December 08, 2017 — Ecologist Sarah MacLean is whipping up a cookie guide to the birds of North America, and she has some tips for your kitchen.
Good Value
December 07, 2017 — The top-scoring scopes for less than $1,000.
Top of the Line
December 07, 2017 — The top-scoring scopes in the $2,000-plus range.
How We Ranked 'Em
December 07, 2017 — An explanation of our methodology.
Midrange
December 07, 2017 — The top-scoring scopes in the $1,000-$2,000 range.
Bird and Conservation News
More News
Aerial of thawing tundra on the side of a frozen lake.
Can Teshekpuk Lake, a Vital Arctic Refuge, Be Saved? Gerrit Vyn Hopes His Images Will Help
September 23, 2026 — With fossil fuel development encroaching, the conservation photographer is devoting himself to protecting the remote bird-breeding ground, among the world���s most important.
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.

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
Lincoln's Sparrow
Melospiza lincolnii
New World Sparrows
Sage Thrasher
Oreoscoptes montanus
Mockingbirds and Thrashers
Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosa
Sandpipers
Berylline Hummingbird
Saucerottia beryllina
Hummingbirds