Culture

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 comically bad mutant bird costume resembling a grotesque pterodactyl perches on a roof in a still from a film.
We Dare You to Watch These Frighteningly Bad Bird Horror Movies
October 18, 2023 — You know, good-bad.
News
Two young siblings with red hair stand outside on a boardwalk smiling and laughing.
These Twins Hope to Become Their Own Duck Stamp Dynasty
August 28, 2023 — Kira Sabin went viral in 2021 after making a TikTok video about their entry for the annual art competition. Two years later, they're still going for a win—and hoping partnering with their sibling helps.
News
A young woman outside near a river holds a tripod and spotting scope and looks at the camera.
Mya-Rose Craig’s Search for Family Amid an Extraordinary Life of World Birding
August 15, 2023 — Birdgirl, a memoir by the 21-year-old birder and activist, is an affecting story of a daughter seeking her parents as they, together, seek birds.
Books
Waterfowl on a pond seen through tall grass, the end of a gun visible in the foreground.
Two New Books By Unlikely Advocates Make the Conservation Case for Hunting
May 09, 2023 — A birder and a Brooklynite examine their opposition to hunting, give it a try, and—finding a deeper sense of stewardship—urge others to reconsider.
Books
An illustration of a robot reaching up with one arm towards a hovering red bird.
Can New AI Chatbots Like ChatGPT Help You Identify Birds?
April 04, 2023 — ‘APP’ magazine’s intrepid AI expert pushed the cutting-edge technology to its limits on field marks, native plants, and ... Mr. Bean?
News
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