The Disappearing Culture of Purple Martin Landlords
“You have to have almost a cruel streak in you to be a successful Martin landlord."
Wren Folklore and St. Stephen’s Day
The tiny winter songbirds are clever kings to the Irish. They're also fodder (literally) for post-Christmas ritual.
Our Long-Running Love Affair with Pigeons
Through crazes of pigeon-fancying, these birds have been reshaped into a dizzying variety of forms.
Migrating Birds Face an Unexpected Danger: Glass Buildings
Research shows that building collisions take a staggering annual toll on North America's bird population.
Has the U.S. Government Abandoned Birds?
Recent changes to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 leave birds vulnerable to industry, experts say.
The Manly Birdwatchers of Ontario
Finding a hobby that doesn't undermine your 19th-century masculinity can be tough.
Puffins Seen Using Tools, Breaking Dumb-Puffin Stereotypes
Reputed to be a less intelligent bird species, puffins have been observed scratching themselves with sticks.
The Thick-Billed Parrot Is Not Extinct–Not Yet
But one hasn't been seen in the U.S. since 1995, not long after the end of the last reintroduction program.
New York City Bans Foie Gras
The practice of eating fatty goose livers dates back to at least 2500 BCE. Is there a humane way to produce it?
The Case of the Thinning Eggshells
How the proliferation of pesticides like DDT almost undid the Peregrine falcon.