Living Bird Spring 2024—Table Of Contents

The National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska supports more waterbirds than any other place in the Arctic, including a globally significant population of King Eiders. Photo by Gerrit Vyn.

Featured Articles

America’s Arctic: A Remote Patch of Oil-Rich Tundra That Teems with Migratory Birds
About 23 million acres of tundra lakes and wetlands, set aside more than 100 years ago as the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska, are today treasured for their global importance to migratory bird populations and climate stability.
Story by Elizabeth Arnold; Photography by Gerrit Vyn
The U.S. Keeps Making Promises to Oil Companies. The Birds of Teshekpuk Lake Need Promises, Too.
In the nearly continuous daylight of Alaskan summer, millions of breeding shorebirds cram into the wetlands of Teshekpuk Lake, arctic Alaska’s largest lake. The spectacle exceeds the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in terms of importance to migratory waterbirds. But permanent habitat protections have been hard to come by.
Perspective Essay by Gerrit Vyn
A Single Night of Bird Collisions in Chicago Points to the Need for Window Safety
On the night of Oct. 4, 2023, a massive wave of bird migration swept through Chicago. Nearly 1,000 songbirds died after colliding with just one of the many buildings along the waterfront. But it doesn’t have to be so: science shows darkened windows can make a big difference in saving birds.
By Susan Cosier
American Redstarts Can Speed Up Their Migration, but There’s a Cost
Research has uncovered a possible link between when American Redstarts leave for spring migration, how fast they travel, and how likely they are to survive.
By Rebecca Heisman
Find More Birds with These 8 Suggestions for Your Birding Routine
From scanning to studying to sitting still, these easy tweaks can help you find more birds in every season.
By Heather Wolf