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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 corvidhuman 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
A group of people with binoculars in a rocky desert landscape.
On Public Lands, Federal Staffing Chaos Threatens Fragile Ecosystems
June 04, 2025 — Layoffs and uncertainty across the already weakened workforce could cause lasting damage to wildlife.
A male Anna's Hummingbird perches on a red hummingbird feeder.
This Hummingbird Rapidly Evolved a Longer Beak to Slurp More Nectar from Feeders, New Study Finds
May 29, 2025 — The 20th century expansion of nectar feeders drove Annas Hummingbirds to spread across Californiaand transformed the birds along the way.
A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird with a bright red gorget perches at a hummingbird feeder.
10 Fun Facts About the Ruby-throated Hummingbird
May 22, 2025 — Meet the spirited sprites whose feats are as dazzling as their feathers
The shallow San Pedro river meanders through grassy reeds.
Will Arizona Save Its Groundwater Before It's Gone for Good?
May 20, 2025 — As wells run dry, difficulties for people and wildlife are surfacing. Advocates say an era of unlimited water pumping must end.
An Osprey flies holding grass in its talons.
The Worlds Oldest Known Osprey Is an Online Sensationand a Living Indicator of Watershed Health
May 19, 2025 — At 29, Iris the Osprey has outlived the odds to become a cherished internet star whose brood of offspring is helping track river health in Montana.
A yellow bird with a white ring around its eye perches on a branch.
This Non-Native Songbird Is Taking Over CaliforniaWill the Rest of the Country Be Next?
May 06, 2025 — The Swinhoes White-eyea small yellow bird native to Asiahas rapidly spread throughout the state and beyond in the past decade, surprising birders and experts alike.
A plain, gray bird perches on a thin, curvy branch.
Researchers Favor Beautiful, Colorful Birds in Scientific Studies, New Analysis Finds
April 25, 2025 — A review of 50 years of ornithological literature revealed a strong bias for familiar, visually appealing species over avians with drabber features. Here's why that's worrisome for conservation.
Clear liquid trickles out of a hummingbird hovering in midair.
Do Birds Pee? Hummingbirds Doa Lot
April 23, 2025 — Unlike most other avians, hummers urinate in a stream much like mammals, releasing liquid waste often and out of necessity.
Closeup of a Kirtland's Warbler perched on a thin branch.
Inbreeding Poses Another Challenge to the Rebounding Kirtlands Warbler
April 14, 2025 — Whole-genome analysis raises concerns about the rare songbird, the authors of a recent study say, but could also help with recovering vulnerable species.
Portrait of a ptarmigan in mostly white plumage and a bright red eyebrow.
This Grouse Is Going Viral: Meet the Willow Ptarmigan, AKA the Awebo Bird
April 11, 2025 — This charismatic species from the Arctic tundra has become an internet sensation thanks to its bizarre calls and meme-worthy behavior.
Bird and Conservation News
More News
Flocks of Purple Martins fly over an urban scene at dusk.
Nearly Half of U.S. Bird Migration Hotspots Are in CitiesHere's Why That Matters
September 16, 2026 — A surprising number of migrating birds are choosing to stop in metropolitan areas, researchers found, raising the stakes for urban conservation efforts.
Smoke from Wildfires Is a Growing Health Threat to Both People and Birds
September 15, 2026 — Catastrophic wildfires are stalling decades of clean air progress. Now scientists are asking: How can we help birds navigate a hazier future?
Moss hangs from old-growth trees in a dense forest.
A Plan to Repeal the Roadless Rule Threatens Prime Habitat in National Forests
September 09, 2026 — Public lands advocates urge Americans to speak out against a proposal to open millions of acres to new roads and logging.

Find a Read

91做厙 magazine publishes a variety of story types in print and online. Peruseand enjoyjust 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 magazines Field Editor for 45 years, Frank Graham, Jr. brought the beauty and resilience of nature into focusas 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 worlds first forensic ornithologist cracked cases, busted criminals, and changed the course of aviationmaking the skies safer for us all.

Essays
The Day We Didnt Save the Starling
An illustration of a woman and young girl crouching down looking at something in a driveway next to a house.
The Day We Didnt Save the Starling

In our rescue attempt, I thought I was giving my young daughters a lesson in compassion. It ended up being the reminder that I needed.

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

A year after Morrisons passing, a journalist and birder reflects on how her time with the cherished author changed her relationship with birdsand with herself.

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

Feeling like you cant make a difference? That couldnt 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
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 meansand how to respond.

Birding Advice and News
Arts and Culture
Feather Detective Roxie Laybournes Career in Six Objects
A metal instrument called a cloacascope on a black background.
Feather Detective Roxie Laybournes Career in Six Objects

From a gynandromorphic grosbeak to feathers collected at a murder investigation in Florida, biographer Chris Sweeney shares six unusual artifacts he found while researching his new book about the worlds first forensic ornithologist.

The 91做厙 Bird Guide
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Dendrocygna autumnalis
Ducks and Geese
Ridgway's Rail
Rallus obsoletus
Rails, Gallinules, Coots
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Starlings and Mynas
American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus
Herons, Egrets, Bitterns