Culture

A bird head, wing, feather, and foot silhouetted against a brain scan.
Yes, Birding Does Change Your Brain
March 29, 2023 — Neuroscientists puzzling over how human memory and learning function often turn to birdwatchers to connect the dots.
Field Notes
A flock of Sandhill Cranes fly in a line against a blue sky, the moon in the background.
‘Flight Paths’ Unfurls the Wondrous History of Migration Science
March 10, 2023 — A new book details how amateur birders and bird-loving scientists pieced together the true story of avian migration.
Books
A flock of pigeons takes off from a city street.
A New Book Explores Our Disdain for Pests
February 09, 2023 — Journalist Bethany Brookshire argues that the idea of a “pest” is more about humans’ view of unwanted animals than the critters themselves.
Books
A woman and young girl in raincoats stand outside smiling at the camera.
Everyone Should Have a Mother's Day Birding Tradition Like This
January 30, 2023 — Mother, daughter, and granddaughter take joy in learning the spring migrant birds who show up to their annual May ritual.
Essay
The book cover of Low-Carbon Birding, an illustration of a woman lying on a beach with a bicycle and binoculars and birds flying overhead.
Javier Caletrío Says It’s Time for Birders to Move Away from High-Carbon Birding
January 09, 2023 — A new book ‘Low-Carbon Birding’ challenges birders to give up air travel and twitching and instead enjoy their local species.
Climate
A painting of a flock of robins in flight.
An Abundance of American Robins
December 13, 2022 — Mayuko Fujino’s flock in flight celebrates a common species threatened by climate change.
The Aviary
Eight Fantastic New Birdy and Nature-Themed Books for Kids
November 18, 2022 — Winter is prime time to delve into the rich, thrilling, and instructive worlds evoked by the written word.
Six Books for Bird Nerds and Nature Lovers
November 18, 2022 — These new titles make ideal gifts—or go ahead and treat yourself.
A man looks at a disheveled raptor standing on a table looking back at him.
A Poetic New Film Follows Two Dedicated Brothers Saving Delhi’s Black Kites
October 25, 2022 — In director Shaunak Sen’s acclaimed documentary “All That Breathes,” the lives of the Indian brothers and the city’s ubiquitous raptors are set against a backdrop of pollution and political unrest.
News
A man with glasses, wearing a blue t-shirt, stands in a forest.
Best-Selling Author Jeff VanderMeer Finds That Nature Is Stranger Than Fiction
September 21, 2022 — The novelist attained fame with gripping works of eco-fiction. How hard could it be to rewild his own backyard?
From Audubon Magazine