Zoe Grueskin

Oct 9, 2024 | audubon.org | Zoe Grueskin

As the temperature ticked up toward 90 degrees Fahrenheiton the last Saturday of September, eager fans poured into a usually barren basin in Arizona’s Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, just south of the Utah border. Some had driven for hours, hoping to catch a glimpse of the young icon whose image adorned bright blue t-shirts for sale at the merch table.

Sep 17, 2024 | audubon.org | Zoe Grueskin

In October 2010, Jim Rapp was on his way to a rally in Washington, D.C., when he realized he didn’t have a sign. A birder and environmental advocate, Rapp took a cue from the hunters and fishers he worked alongside on conservation issues in Maryland, who drew a straight line from their outdoor activities to political action. He hopped off the bus, bought some poster board and markers, and a slogan was born: “I bird, I vote.”For many birders, it’s an idea that resonates.

Sep 12, 2024 | audubon.org | Zoe Grueskin

Feathers define birds as we know them. Whether fanned in courtship display, slicing the air, or gliding through water, birds’ plumage makes them unique among living animals. But as fascinating and glorious as feathers may be, they are merely dead tissue, and any damage to them is permanent. Too many impaired feathers spells disaster for a bird. Luckily, birds can replace their mangled plumes—and they do so at least once a year in a process called molting, often right under the noses of birders.

Jul 20, 2024 | audubon.org | Zoe Grueskin

Called molt-migrants, some birds take a detour on their annual trip south just to refresh their plumage. Palabras de Zoe Grueskin Associate Editor, Audubon Magazine Migration takes a lot out of birds. Besides the tremendous energy long-distance flights require, birds' journeys put them in the way of myriad risks both natural and human-caused, so they have strong incentives to take the most direct route possible.

Jul 16, 2024 | audubon.org | Zoe Grueskin

Called molt-migrants, some birds take a detour on their annual trip south just to refresh their plumage. Words by Zoe Grueskin Associate Editor, Audubon Magazine Migration takes a lot out of birds. Besides the tremendous energy long-distance flights require, birds' journeys put them in the way of myriad risks both natural and human-caused, so they have strong incentives to take the most direct route possible.