Ever since he joined his family, Salem has been an incredibly determined, confident kitten. He’s never met a problem he couldn’t solve, and no matter what challenges are thrown his way, he’s always willing to face them head-on. “He’s so smart and so determined that he will always find a way to get what he
Other Animals
The Magee Marsh Boardwalk, where birders flock every spring during the Biggest Week in American Birding. Photo: Lia Bocchiaro/Audubon During a normal year, the arrival of spring prompts a continent-scale movement not just of birds, but of birders. With their guided walks, educational programs, and camaraderie, birding festivals in many states draw in droves of
Sure, squirrels really don’t seem to mind eating off the ground. But that didn’t stop Rick Kalinowski from offering them a slightly more dignified spot to enjoy their meals. Stephen Messenger Kalinowski has always been a fan of the squirrels who call his yard home — and he wanted them to know it. So, using
Image by Beg Inner/Pixabay Due to the recent pandemic many people are having to stay home from work, school and other social activities in order to reduce the chances of coming into contact with and spreading the COVID-19 disease. Although this social distancing from other people may be difficult it can also be thought of
Charlie Bostwick birding in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, California this year. Photo: Courtesy of Charlie Bostwick Birds swept Jeremy Dominguez off his feet in 2014. An Ohio native, he was in the Navy and stationed in Alaska when an officer dragged him along for a day of birding. He couldn’t believe her enthusiasm. “This
The other week, while dropping by a store near her home in Mexico, Tania Sants noticed a certain someone lingering out front. It was a white cat, sitting all alone. But his presence there was far from random. As Sants came to learn, the clever cat had chosen the spot with a very specific goal
American Robin. Photo: George Ostertag/Alamy After a rough night, I woke up at dawn to the sound of a robin singing. Last night was bad. The coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world dominated every corner of the news, with every headline more horrifying than the last: Rates of infection doubling. Schools, restaurants, offices closing. Major events
Sports leagues may be on hiatus — but that still hasn’t silenced professional sportscaster Nick Heath. While out of work, he’s using his golden voice to add a bit of extra drama to some everyday scenes. Like these two pups enjoying a game of chase. The other day, Heath spotted the pair of lively dogs chasing
Brown Pelican. Photo: Franklin Abbott/Audubon Photography Awards Brown Pelican. Photo: Franklin Abbott/Audubon Photography Awards In late February, National Audubon Society held a Climate Solutions Q&A Call with Vice President/Interim Chief Scientist Chad Wilsey and Senior Climate Scientist Brooke Bateman. Like many of our members, Bateman was introduced to birding by her grandmother and grew up listening
Someone was watching them. Then he wasn’t. Then he was again. This went on and on. Why? That “someone” was a dog on a trampoline. Facebook/Rena Nicole The other day, while Rena Nicole and her partner were out for a stroll through their neighborhood in Ohio, they caught the attention of a local Great Dane.
During the month of March, artists across the world spent much of their time studying the same photo of a flamboyant Appenzeller Spitzhauben. Many of them initially knew nothing about this Swiss chicken, a hardy bird with mottled plumage, but that didn’t matter. For all of the artists, the goal was the same: To create
Amelia Love Clearheart was recording a ballet lesson for her class when an unusual dance partner made a surprise appearance. Clearheart’s cat, Aurora, heard the music start and ran to join the fun. Aurora knows that whenever her mom starts dancing, it’s the perfect opportunity to get a little extra attention. That, however, is not
Snow Goose being tested for bird flu in Barrow, Alaska. Photo: Al Grillo/AP COVID-19, the viral disease gripping the globe, is not bird-related. Researchers believe it likely came from bats. Still, this pandemic understandably provokes fear about wildlife diseases and so provides an opportunity to clear up confusion surrounding the question, “can birds get you sick?” Karel
Whenever a new cat arrives at the RSPCA Friern Barnet Adoption Center, they’re immediately presented with their very own knitted blanket. A lot of cats brought to shelters have had rough lives, and getting something right away that’s all their own is so special and important. RSPCA “It’s something warm and cozy for them to
Dr. Irene Pepperberg and African grey Griffin Life at the moment is incredibly confusing. As I write (03-19-2020), my computer is filled with horrible news reports of all sorts, and the thought of writing a lightweight, chatty piece as a distraction doesn’t seem reasonable. So, I’m going to provide a report about life in a
Orange-crowned Warbler. Photo: Devin Grady/Audubon Photography Awards Orange-crowned Warbler. Photo: Devin Grady/Audubon Photography Awards In March, we asked a group of some of our most loyal and engaged members (who participate in Audubon’s Donor Insight Panel survey) to share a conservation victory or personal experience that gave them the inspiration or strength to keep working
With people around the world practicing social distancing, one pet owner came up with a creative way to let his dog enjoy her time outdoors. This week, Vakis Demetriou posted a video showing his dog out for a stroll on the streets near their home in Cyprus — guided along the way by a remote-controlled
American Kestrel. Photo: Zoe Finney/Audubon Photography Awards City life isn’t for everyone, and it can be especially challenging for birds. On top of finding food and places to nest, urban birds have to contend with noise, pollution, and glass surfaces that can produce deadly collisions. Yet, 20 percent of avian species worldwide can be found
While people across the country are stepping up to clear the shelters amidst the coronavirus crisis, some dogs are still very much in need of a hero. Last week, a woman in Orlando, Florida, stepped outside her house to discover a dog lying in her yard. The brown and white pit bull was muzzled and
Amazon parrot. Photo by Sergio Souza/Pexels With schools shutting down, businesses shifting to work-at-home-type of employment and self-isolation as the new normal, we now find ourselves wondering what to do to positively pass the time at home. Let’s strive to find a silver lining to make the most of this unexpected situation and have some
The victim lying on Kevin Hynes’s stainless-steel table on March 11, 2015, showed no obvious cause of death. There were no injuries indicating that she had been hit by a car or electrocuted—the usual killers. Dressed in surgical scrubs and latex gloves, Hynes, a wildlife biologist with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation in
When Brittni Young saw a video of someone playing tic-tac-toe with their cat using treats, she immediately knew she had to try it. It can be easy to get bored spending so much time inside, and what better way to pass the time than by playing games with your cats? After drawing up the board
Nearly a decade ago, ornithologist Ruth Bennett was living in Honduras studying the Golden-winged Warbler, a declining and little-understood species, when she noticed a surprising pattern. The birds near her host university were mostly females. The males, with their distinctive black bibs and brighter golden crowns, congregated farther up the mountain, in humid, dense forest.
If you told Silvio Siamo a month ago that his extremely lazy dog Sparky would soon become his primary workout buddy, he wouldn’t have believed you. But when Siamo’s life turned upside down under quarantine in Italy, he couldn’t have been more grateful to have his 5-year-old mini bull terrier by his side. And the
Illustration: Ana Galvañ As a child, Ana Galvañ would join her grandfather on walks along the southeastern coast of Spain, delighting in the infinite calm sea and antics of seabirds. “I have a very strong attachment to the sea and everything related to it,” says the Murcia-based illustrator. That connection often influences her art, and
This is Tonka — an adorable therapy dog who knows that when times are tough, his sweet presence is needed most. And he’ll be there to offer it, no matter what. Susan Peters For the last year or so, Tonka has made regular visits to residents and patients at Cedar Pointe Health and Wellness Suites in
Sandhill Cranes. Photo: Mark Wright/Audubon Photography Awards To our members, staff, and beyond: In these uncertain times, I wanted to reach out to share that you, your family, your friends, and your colleagues are in our thoughts. We’re all anxious and things are changing quickly—each day feels like five news cycles. Our first priority is the
Humans, it seems, aren’t the only ones whose regular routines have been disrupted by the recent need to stay hunkered down indoors. Just ask this cat named Mylee. Rae Jordan Normally, Mylee spends her days lounging around alone in peace while her family is at work or out and about, giving her free rein of
Great Egret. Photo: Luke Franke/Audubon WASHINGTON – “As we face this global health crisis, now is when we most need the joy of birds and the comfort of the outdoors, but the bird-killer department (@Interior) is busy gutting the law that protects birds,” said David Yarnold, president and CEO of the National Audubon Society. “America
Ever since he was a kitten, Nacho has always been more like a dog than a cat, and his dad wouldn’t have him any other way. “His personality is amazing, I wouldn’t change a thing,” Louis Carter, Nacho’s dad, told The Dodo. “He follows me around the house, licks me and grooms me and only