research Archives - Page 6 of 11 - American Ornithological Society

white swan with black neck and head and a baby swan on its back — Black-necked Swan with cygnets. Photo by Felipe Dreves.

21 February 2020

Pinnipeds Can Create Conservation Challenges When Birds Are on the Menu

When hungry sea lions started using an important wetland in Chile like an all-you-can-eat swan buffet, local authorities were taken by surprise.

small blue, black, and white bird perched on a mossy tree trunk — Black-throated Blue Warblers have shifted the timing of their spring and fall migrations over the past fifty years. Photo by Kyle Horton.

20 February 2020

AOS

Fifty Years of Data Show New Changes in Bird Migration

New research shows that fall migration patterns have been shifting over time.

a small white fungus with bites missing, in front of a background of dirt and leaves — A truffle partially eaten by birds. Photo by Matthew Smith.

19 February 2020

AOS

Birds & Truffles in Chile’s Temperate Rainforests

How does a fungal ecologist end up getting a grant from an ornithological society?

collage of photos of multiple songbird and woodpecker species — Common species encountered in Florida hardwood forest mixed-species flocks: (left) Tufted Titmouse, leader or “nuclear” flocking species; (clockwise from top center) Blue-headed Vireo, Pine Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow-throated Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker. Photos by Mitchell Walters.

12 February 2020

AOS

Do Foragers of a Feather Flock Together?

If you were to go birdwatching along a forested trail during the Florida winter, chances are you wouldn’t encounter much at first.

photo of six newly hatched swallow nestlings, arranged from largest to smallest — The size hierarchy within a brood of Tree Swallows. Photo by Sara Sparks.

29 January 2020

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Testing Tree Swallow Nestlings’ Parasite Susceptibility

In many bird species, the eggs in a clutch don’t necessarily hatch at the same time, creating a hierarchy of size within broods.

two researchers handling a captured owl — Researchers attach a GPS transmitter to a captured owl. Photo by Nick Kryshak.

22 January 2020

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Biologists Recommend Urgent Action to Protect California Spotted Owls

In the Pacific Northwest, the range expansion of Barred Owls has already contributed to a conservation crisis for Northern Spotted Owls.

a small gray and yellow bird, dead, lying on pavement — Adult male Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) killed by a window collision at a building on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK. Close inspection reveals trauma to the tip of the bill. Photo by Tim O’Connell.

10 January 2020

AOS

Taking a Closer Look at Bird–Window Collisions

You have probably heard the startling impact of a bird hitting a glass pane, or perhaps you’ve come across a dead bird beneath a window. While the effect on the bird was lethal, you were likely affected by that event too.

17 December 2019

AOS

Red-winged Blackbird Nestlings Go Silent When Predators Are Near

If you’re a predator that eats baby birds — say, an American Crow — eavesdropping on the begging calls of nestlings can be an easy way to find your next meal.

photo of a taxidermied owl — Long-whiskered Owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi) specimen at the LSU Museum of Natural Science. Photo by Paige Jarreau.

13 December 2019

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Unraveling the Mystery of the Long-whiskered Owlet

Every museum has its “greatest hits” tour ⁠— those specimens steeped in museum lore that you show off to visitors.

a young woman dressed for the outdoors stands on a brown hillside — Researcher Grace Musser in the field.

02 December 2019

AOS

What a Fossil Foot Can Teach Us About Ancient Relatives of Cranes

In ancient Chinese mythology, cranes were said to carry the souls of the dead to paradise.