Science

How a Landmark Environmental Law May Have Quietly Saved a Billion Birds
January 06, 2021 — New research reveals a previously uncounted benefit of the Clean Air Act—at a time when the Trump administration is weakening its protections.
How Researchers Hope to Save the Florida Scrub-Jay From an Inbreeding Crisis
December 17, 2020 — Human development has caused the bird's gene pool to shrink. An ambitious experiment to relocate scrub-jay families could bring reprieve, while also pointing the way to preserving other threatened species.
What Is Killing Wisconsin's Bald Eagles?
December 16, 2020 — For 25 years researchers struggled to find the culprit behind a mysterious illness plaguing eagles around the Wisconsin River. Finally, a clue emerges.
Glistening Glass Sculptures in the Desert Explore Bird Molt and Gender Transition
October 23, 2020 — Through science and art, Silas Fischer explores the connection between Gray Vireos and the researcher's own queerness.
Ask Kenn: Do More Birds Migrate Through the Eastern United States?
October 15, 2020 — In this month's Ask Kenn!, bird expert Kenn Kaufman provides a detailed look at how geography shapes the routes of migratory birds.
Roxie Laybourne studies specimens from the Birds Collection at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., in 1992. Chip Clark/Division of Birds, NMNH, Smithsonian Institution
The Remarkable Life of Roxie Laybourne
October 05, 2020 — From deep within the Smithsonian, the world’s first forensic ornithologist cracked cases, busted criminals, and changed the course of aviation—making the skies safer for us all.
How Migrating Birds Could Warn Us of the Next Pandemic
October 01, 2020 — In 1918, an avian flu virus became a devastating human contagion. Scientist studying shorebirds and waterfowl are hoping they can foresee such events and possibly even prevent them.
Cuts to the Postal Service Threaten an Essential Tool for Conservation
September 30, 2020 — Scientists who rely on the mail to gather data and run bird studies worry about what could be lost without reliable delivery.
Recent ‘Megafires’ Imperil Even Fire-Loving Forest Birds
September 29, 2020 — Many birds, such as owls and woodpeckers, thrive in forest habitats created after fire. But the hotter, bigger, more destructive megafires out West might be too much even for them.
Scientists Are Unraveling the American Robin's Surprisingly Mysterious Migration
September 28, 2020 — Researchers hope new studies of these widespread birds will reveal their movements—and tip us off to disease outbreaks and other threats.