News

A nuthatch standing on wood covered in suet dough holds a chunk in its beak.
This Addictive Homemade Suet Will Keep Your Birds Returning for More
November 17, 2023 — Give feathered visitors a dietary boost with Zick Dough, an energy-rich delicacy made by nature writer Julie Zickefoose.
A group of people sitting on lawn chairs and blankets in the grass, all looking in the same direction with binoculars and cameras.
A New Book From the Feminist Bird Club Offers a Fresh Framework for Birders
November 17, 2023 — Not your typical birding guide, the book explores how we can promote the well-being of birds alongside the people that care for them.
Books
A whimsical, surreal oil painting of a towhee perched on a branch in a snowy, mountainous landscape with a bright blue sky filled with swirling clouds.
A Surreal Spin on An Abundant Sparrow
November 16, 2023 — In "Spotted Towhee" artist Phyllis Shafer depicts a widespread bird of the West in a rapidly changing landscape.
The Aviary
A Ridgway’s Rail swims in a wetland, reeds and tall grass reflected in the water.
Cocopah Indian Tribe Secures $5.5 Million for Habitat Restoration in the Colorado River Delta
November 15, 2023 — ÃÛèÖAPP partners with Cocopah Tribe to bring more resources to key riparian area.
Western Water News
An Evening Grosbeak with a GPS tag on its back, held in someone's hand with a snowy forest behind it.
A Beloved Winter Finch Is In Decline—and Scientists Want to Know Why
November 15, 2023 — Feeder visits from Evening Grosbeaks are rarer than in the past, and a new initiative is trying to understand the root causes.
Field Notes
A black seabird with orange feet and bill, a white face, and yellow tufts on its head, stands on a mossy rock with its wings outstretched.
Tufted Puffins are Getting a Boost in the Pacific Northwest
November 15, 2023 — ÃÛèÖAPP and partners are launching new efforts to save this declining seabird.
Coasts and Oceans
A group of male and female Wild Turkeys foraging close together.
Native Americans Domesticated Turkeys Long Before the Pilgrims Arrived
November 15, 2023 — Indigenous societies in the Americas valued the birds so highly that they tamed them at least twice, including in the U.S. Southwest. Turkey feathers still have abundant uses to tribes there today.
Culture
A kayaker paddles in a pristine lake, the clear water mirroring the forest on either side.
This New App Looks to the Birds to Bolster Southeast Alaska’s Economy
November 15, 2023 — A birding trail developed by ÃÛèÖAPP Alaska and partners seeks to shift the region away from reliance on extractive industries.
Field Notes
A woman stands outside looking up at the trees overhead holding binoculars and a phone.
How Do Birds Respond to Extreme Wildfire Haze? Project Phoenix Aims to Find Out 
November 15, 2023 — Harnessing the power of community science can help birds as smoke pollution from blazes becomes more extreme.
Field Notes
Sam Olivares-Mejia stands in front of a white wall, next to a pink bougainvillea. Her dark hair is pulled back from her face and she wears a brightly colored pink top patterned with orange flowers.
ÃÛèÖAPP Spotlight: Sam Olivares-Mejia Creates Better Data for a Better World
November 14, 2023 — The Dangermond GIS fellow reflects on the power of accessible data to amplify people’s relationships to their environment.