News

Federal Funding Provides Some Wins for Water Conservation and Birds in the West
April 14, 2022 — While many programs received increases, more funding is needed to address climate change and prolonged drought.
Western Water News
Left photo shows a close-up of a hand holding a bird with a yellow head, striped wings, and white belly. On the right, a hand holds a bird with a black-capped head and a black-and-white body.
This Pioneering Collaboration Will Open a New Window Into Bird Migration
April 14, 2022 — Pooling research from numerous international partners, Ô¼ÅÚÊÓƵ's Migratory Bird Initiative promises to paint the fullest picture yet of the awe-inspiring phenomenon.
A close-up image shows a Yellow Warbler’s feather in great detail: yellow barbs photographed against a black background, with a brownish shaft running through the center of the feather.
The Bird Genoscape Project Aims to Unlock the Secrets in Birds’ Feathers
April 14, 2022 — Recent breakthroughs have allowed researchers from across the Western Hemisphere to begin building a DNA library filled with insights about where birds migrate and their resilience to mounting pressures.
In a landscape of shrubs and palms, one person stands atop a ladder holding the top of a small tower with three antennas, while two others stand at the base of the tower.
Where Do the Birds Go?
April 14, 2022 — Ô¼ÅÚÊÓƵ’s Migratory Bird Initiative has already started to find out.
Ô¼ÅÚÊÓƵ View
An American Woodcock pokes its long bill into the brown earth beneath a shrub in a city park. Out of focus, behind the park's wrought iron fence, are pedestrians and vehicles.
Making Discoveries and Connections in a Time of Migrations
April 14, 2022 — There’s much to celebrate, and still much we need to understand.
Letter From the Editor
A lone wind turbine is seen in the expanse of blue ocean off the coast of Rhode Island at sunset.
Off the East Coast, a Massive Network of Wind Turbines Is Coming—Along With New Risks for Migrating Birds
April 14, 2022 — Species journeying over the Atlantic Ocean will soon have to navigate wind farms. But without clean energy, their futures are more imperiled.
A huge flock of large birds flies across a blue, yellow, and pink sky, taking up the whole frame. Blurry outlines of trees are in the background.
How Migrating Snow Geese Helped Stretch My Perspective
April 14, 2022 — The seasonal movements of birds have captivated humans for millennia. Now we know enough about their flights to make surprising connections.
A colorful illustration shows a phenology wheel—a scientific diagram that uses a series of concentric circles to show the alignment of sunlight, plant growth, and insect emergence. In this illustration, birds are flying chaotically around the wheel, showing their struggle to keep up with the advancement of spring.
A Matter of Timing: Can Birds Keep Up With Earlier and Earlier Springs?
April 13, 2022 — The seasons are changing as the planet warms. Some migratory species may break under the strain—but others could surprise us.
Four photos, from left: A dead juvenile American Robin with an orange-mottled chest; a hand holds the glistening stomach of a Mourning Dove; against a red background seeds of different colors are arranged in concentric circles; two slender green plants grow in a brown, white, and black ceramic pot.
Flying Gardens of Maybe
April 13, 2022 — Artist Andrew S. Yang coaxes new life from seeds that bird-strike victims consumed, turning dead ends into second chances.
The Aviary
Two smiling children look at a small yellow bird, a Wilson's Warbler, held carefully by a scientist. One of the children gently touches the bird.
To Experience Migration in a New Way, Check Out a Bird Banding Station
April 13, 2022 — Visiting or volunteering at one of these sites can provide up-close avian encounters and a chance to contribute to valuable data collection.