Conservation

Fire takes over a grassy forest floor, leaving black ash and smoke in the already burned area.
Meet the Fire Starters Restoring One of North America鈥檚 Greatest Forests
October 02, 2023 — In the Southeast, the fates of longleaf pines and Red-cockaded Woodpeckers are inextricably tied. To save both, we must remember how to embrace fire.
News
A huge cactus towers above other cacti and plants in a landscape.
A Bold Bet to Ensure the Future of Desert Birds: Plant Thousands of Cacti
October 02, 2023 — Can saguaro cacti that take root today survive the next century of extreme wildfire and drought? Tucson 探花精选 aims to find out.
Field Notes
Image composite of an overpass stretching over a 10-lane highway in a mountainous landscape.
Projects That Help Wildlife Navigate Highways Gain Speed
September 29, 2023 — Simple solutions reduce road hazards to animals, and now more money is flowing to implement them.
Field Notes
A photo of a Least Tern parent holding a worm towards its chick, which has its mouth open, on the beach.
Dog Lover to Dog Lover: It鈥檚 Time to Share the Shore
August 31, 2023 — As shorebirds face innumerable obstacles to survive, small actions like leashing our pets or sticking to dog-friendly beaches can go a long way.
Coasts and Oceans
Black vulture bird with a large beak and a wrinkly face looking to the side against a light grey backdrop
Black Vultures鈥 Northward Expansion Creates New Conflicts with Farmers
June 30, 2023 — The newcomers occasionally prey on calves, leading livestock producers to take up arms. But are reports of the problem exaggerated?
News
A cormorant bird swims underwater, rays of sunlight shining through dense kelp plants.
A Photographer Documents Kelp Forests鈥 Decline and Efforts to Bring Them Back
June 24, 2023 — In our attempts to restore kelp forests, hungry sea urchins should not be villainized, says Kate Vylet. 鈥淓verything鈥檚 just trying to survive.鈥
From the Magazine
Aerial landscape of a forest consumed by fire, a huge area of trees already burned and the sky filled with clouds of smoke.
How Do Wildfires in Canada鈥檚 Boreal Forest Affect Birds Across the Continent?
June 22, 2023 — Hundreds of fires continue to blaze in what officials say could become Canada鈥檚 worst fire season in recorded history.
Birds and Climate
Aerial view of a wetland landscape.
鈥楧evastating鈥 Supreme Court Decision Leaves Wetlands Unprotected
May 26, 2023 — Developers can now drain or pollute most wetlands without violating the Clean Water Act, legal experts say.
News
Plunging view of a river from the top of a dam with green algae in the foreground on the wall of the dam below
With a Historic Dam Removal Imminent, Tribes Prepare for a Klamath River Rebirth
May 24, 2023 — The project, set to begin this summer, promises to boost dwindling salmon populations, bolster tribal traditions, and restore a rich ecosystem.
News
A small yellow and black bird perches on a vine amid out of focus green leaves.
Using Science to Craft Conservation Policy that Emphasizes Biodiversity in a Changing Climate
April 18, 2023 — As the Biden Administration implements the America the Beautiful initiative, a new study identifies areas most likely to provide refuge for plants and wildlife as temperatures warm.
Climate