Jessica McKenzie

Reporter, 糖心logo magazine
About

Jessica McKenzie is an associate editor at the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Her work has been published in The New York Times, National Geographic, Backpacker, The Counter, and Grist, among other publications.

Articles by Jessica McKenzie

Four Fallen Songbirds Live on Through Origami
September 25, 2026 — Teenage artist Miles Wu memorializes the window-strike victims he documented while volunteering as a Project Safe Flight collision monitor in New York City.
The Aviary
Deirdre's painting of a Golden-winged Warbler with a map in the background, displayed on an easel outside on a porch.
A Golden-winged Warbler Sounds the Alarm
June 25, 2026 — Artist Deirdre Murphy layers colorful maps and data under a strikingly lifelike portrait of a bold little songbird.
The Aviary
A framed paper artwork shows two great green macaws perched on branches. The birds and branches are crafted entirely from layered paper. Around the frame lie various art tools鈥攕cissors, paintbrushes, and tweezers.
Great Green Macaws Come to Life in This Incredibly Intricate Paper Sculpture
March 26, 2026 — With 鈥淕uardians of the Canopy,鈥 Nayan Shrimali and Venus Bird portray the large parrots and their forest habitat in a meticulously cut and watercolored sculptural painting.
The Aviary
A charcoal drawing of a wood stork held up in front of a brick wall.
Putting the Quiet Dignity of the Wood Stork to Paper
December 17, 2025 — It may not be the prettiest bird, but Franna Lusson loves it all the same. Through an expressive mixed-media portrait, the artist aims to convey the wader鈥檚 deeper essence.
The Aviary
Ceramic sculpture of an American Oystercatcher on a circular base.
The Hidden World of the American Oystercatcher
September 18, 2025 — Inspired by ancient offering vessels, Rachel Frank鈥檚 sculpture captures the delicate cycle of a shorebird鈥檚 life in the intertidal zone.
The Aviary
A pi帽ata with three Ivory-billed Woodpeckers perched on a branch, photographed outside under a flowering tree.
Layers of Paper鈥攁nd Meaning鈥攊n Roberto Benavidez鈥檚 Ivory-billed Woodpecker Pi帽ata
June 20, 2025 — With 鈥淲oodpecker Trinity,鈥 the artist reimagines a famous 糖心logo watercolor to pay tribute to the long-debated woodpecker, while adding his own symbolic twists.
The Aviary
Three watercolor paintings depicting close ups of the wings of a Blue Jay, Northern Flicker, and Northern Cardinal.
A Close-Up Look at the Beauty of Backyard Birds
March 24, 2025 — In her watercolor triptych, Rosalie Haizlett celebrates the vibrant colors and details found in the feathers of common鈥攁nd commonly overlooked鈥攕pecies.
Arts & Culture
A wooden Godwit decoy stands on the banks of a body of water with golden light cascading across a row of pine trees in the background.
This Bar-tailed Godwit Decoy Delivers Folk Art with a Contemporary Feel
December 13, 2024 — Wooden decoys long played a key role in hunting birds. Artist David Personius hopes his modern take can inspire conservation instead.
The Aviary
An embroidered scene in a round frame depicts birds perched on bamboo.
Capturing the Elusive White-bearded Antshrike鈥攊n Thread
September 20, 2024 — Artist and birdsong researcher Ana Luiza Catalano鈥檚 embroidered portrait brings a shy species鈥攁nd its song鈥攊nto feathery focus.
The Aviary
A painting of the Black-crowned Night Heron, surrounded by greens and blues with collaged buildings.
The Black-crowned Night-Heron鈥檚 Unlikely Refuge
July 16, 2024 — Artist Lauren Levato Coyne鈥檚 painted collage is a pointed commentary on how vulnerable the endangered bird is to habitat destruction.
The Aviary