Birds

An illustration of a falcon

Conservation

An unlikely coalition helps the striking raptors soar again

Birds crowd the cypress trees and branches hanging over the water.

Conservation

The Port Royal Cypress Wetlands and Rookery is a stunning ecological success story

A wet osprey perches on a surfboard

Land & Conservation

“I treated it like I was rescuing a small child,” says Richard Miller, who sprang into action on Folly Beach, South Carolina, to save an injured raptor

A blue florida scrub jay

Land & Conservation

Along ancient sand dunes, a long-studied, whip-smart bird still astonishes biologists

Three photos of birds: cerulean warbler, burrowing owl, scarlet tanager

Seven Southern

Rare, secretive, or just plain beautiful, these species are a treat to behold

A Chuck-will's-widow on a branch

Land & Conservation

These two nightjars—mainstays of the Southern soundscape—are easily confused

A portrait of a man in a yellow jacket

Music

With a little help from Bon Iver’s frontman and Mother Nature’s chorus, the North Carolina musician cracks open a window to the woods

A pair of whooping cranes.

Land & Conservation

A century ago, the species almost went extinct. Today, their numbers are edging upwards, but the fight for their survival is far from over.

A bald eagle perches in a tree

Land & Conservation

And the best time to see them (hint: it’s now)

A male red-winged blackbird.

Land & Conservation

These beautiful and rowdy little guests have descended on the South for the winter

Duck hunting in Black Pearl, Maryland.

The Wild South

Green-winged teal are up, and some other species also saw increases. But it’s a mixed bag as waterfowlers prepare to head into the blinds.

A brown pelican in flight

Land & Conservation

The release of two rehabilitated brown pelicans is the result of millions of years of evolution, cosmic coincidence, and the hard work of conservation-minded South Carolinians

A close-up image of a quail's head.

Land & Conservation

Now approved by the FDA, a Texas scientist’s parasite-fighting feed could be a game changer for the South’s beloved game bird

A collage of two portraits of women with binoculars

Champions of Conservation

After feeling unwelcome in the field, two scientists start a nonprofit to help other historically marginalized or excluded nature lovers

A white dog points in a field

Sporting

In the famed Alabama region, a rich tradition of quail hunting and dog work is enjoying a hard-won revival

A man stands in a field with binoculars

Land & Conservation

Ornithologist and eBird co-founder John Fitzpatrick has created a blueprint for how a development can be mutually beneficial to people and wildlife

A collage of three photos. On the right a cardinal, on the left a bird with red speckles, in the center a clear bird feeder with a camera attached.

Gardens

A smart bird feeder, a bounty of garden seeds, avian artwork, and more thoughtful finds to delight both birders and feathered friends

A male painted bunting

Land & Conservation

A songbird that looks dipped in paint, a delicate pink wader, and an iridescent duck—learn what gives these beautiful birds their color, plus how to spot them

A woman sits at a desk and works on a taxidermy duck

Arts & Culture

From her Virginia studio, a taxidermist resurrects the beauty of the field

A yellow bird sits in the branches of a tree

Land & Conservation

My quest to identify an ultra-rare species in my Charleston yard attracted birders from near and far—and sparked unexpected, shared joy