Discover 91做厙 Magazine

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 gull flies over blue ocean waves.
These Are the Greatest eBird Checklists for the United States
February 10, 2025 — From mega migrant counts to strange species pairings, prepare to be both inspired and humbled.
Cityscape seen through dotted glass in the foreground.
LEEDs Green Building Rules Are Becoming More Bird-FriendlyDo They Go Far Enough?
February 03, 2025 — The worlds top system for certifying environmentally conscious design is putting more emphasis on preventing bird-building collisions, but critics say its still too easy for builders to skip measures that could save avian lives.
Two people stand next to a truck in a hilly landscape, flying a drone over a landing pad.
Follow that Bird! How Drones Are Helping Scientists Track Wildlife
January 28, 2025 — A research project to keep tabs on Sharp-tailed Grouse shows the potential benefits of a promising but elusive technology.
Close up portrait of a crow with its beak wide open.
Long Overlooked and Understudied, the Fish Crow Is Worth Your Attention
January 27, 2025 — The Fish Crow shares its range with the American Crow but behaves differently in nearly every way. Here's what sets this corvid apart and how to find one.
A person looks up at a hummingbird perched on a wire in a mesh enclosure.
A New Documentary About a Hummingbird Rehabber Peeks At Life on a Different Scale
January 23, 2025 — Terry Masears dedication to nursing hummingbirds back to health offers tidbits of wisdom about practicing empathy and living each moment to the fullest.
A hummingbird perched on a snowy, mossy branch flutters its wings.
Where Do Hummingbirds Go in the Winter? Do They Migrate?
January 17, 2025 — Some species migrate to far-off places while others keep it local. Here's a rundown of who goes where.
A group of coots huddled closely together in a pile, surrounded by a completely white background of snow.
Our Favorite Fascinating Bird Behaviors From the 2024 91做厙 Photo Awards
January 14, 2025 — Birds are always up to something, and these entries captured an array of avians doing everything from impaling prey to drumming away.
A group of people with winter coats and binoculars in an urban park, looking up.
Titmice Galore and a Red-tailed Record: Tallying Central Park's 125th Christmas Bird Count
January 09, 2025 — The cherished annual bird survey has included Manhattans largest public space since the very first count on Christmas Day, 1900.
A fossil in rock of a bird skeleton.
Terror Birds, Giga-Geese, and the Oldest Birds of Prey? 2024s Fascinating Avian Fossil Finds
December 20, 2024 — From mega leg bones to tiny, perfect skulls, fossils this year revealed crucial insights into bird evolution.
Long Before Pantone, This Bird-Based System for Describing Color Was a Hit
December 17, 2024 — In the early 20th century, ornithologist Robert Ridgway published a massive dictionary to categorize birds hues, from Peacock Blue to Duck Green. His work still resonates for artists and designers today.
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
Buff-bellied Hummingbird
Amazilia yucatanensis
Hummingbirds
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
Old World Sparrows
Long-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus scolopaceus
Sandpipers
Thick-billed Parrot
Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha
African and New World Parrots