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Conservation News

A large open field, made up of brown, dormant wild grass.
In Alabama’s Black Belt, Scientists Are Banding Birds In Rare Patches of Prairie to Aid Restoration Efforts
June 25, 2026 — Most of the South’s historic prairie is lost. Alabama ÌÇÐÄlogo is researching how birds use what remains—and how to piece together more grassland habitat.
Aerial of Lake Powell at its lowest level since 1964.
As Water-Sharing Negotiations Heat Up, Wildlife Habitats Along the Shrinking Colorado River Are at Risk
June 25, 2026 — Extremely low snowpack has raised the stakes for Western states debating how to cut back water use. A new agreement could offer a lifeline to ecosystems or leave them out to dry.
Ospreys in the Chesapeake Bay Are Starving to Death at Disastrous Rates. What Will It Take to Save Them?
June 25, 2026 — After a spectacular comeback from DDT, the Osprey population has plummeted within the watershed and is showing signs of trouble elsewhere. The birds’ fate may once more rest on collective action.
A gray and yellow Kirtland's Warbler perches in a young pine tree, framed by the green branches.
Kirtland’s Warblers Are Declining Fast. Can We Turn Their Fate Around Again?
June 25, 2026 — In Michigan, conservationists are experimenting with new ways to manage forest habitats for this heralded comeback species.
A Monarch butterfly perched in a tree with a tiny gps tracker on its back.
Your Phone Can Already Detect Migrating Monarch Butterflies, but This App Lets You See Them
June 24, 2026 — Thanks to tiny new trackers and Bluetooth, scientists—and you—can now follow the epic journeys of individual butterflies.
Left: A man's arm with a lesser yellowlegs tattoo places a decoy of the same bird on the ground. Right: A hand holds a lesser yellowlegs fitted with colorful leg bands.
Biologists Are Racing to Protect These Elusive Shorebirds. But First They Have to Catch Them
June 24, 2026 — Colombia’s rice fields may seem like an unusual place to seek out Lesser Yellowlegs, but these croplands could play an important role in safeguarding the dwindling species.
Photo Essay
A Black-crowned Night Heron stands on a rock with a body of water in the background.
New York City’s Black-crowned Night Herons Are Vanishing—and Could Totally Disappear in a Decade
June 03, 2026 — The waters and islands around the city have been home to thousands of the breeding birds for decades, but their numbers are now mysteriously plunging, according to New York City Bird Alliance.
Immediate Opportunities to Build on State and Partner Efforts for Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Restoration
May 20, 2026 — New federal report provides background and potential solutions for challenges at Great Salt Lake
Western Water
A Pileated Woodpecker clinging to a moss-covered tree trunk in a forest habitat.
The Good Neighbor Authority—The Most Important Forest Management Tool You’ve Probably Never Heard of
May 12, 2026 — The Good Neighbor Authority eases cooperation when things get messy.
Grasslands, Aridlands and Forests
A bright blue mountain bluebird sits on the branches of a dry bush.
How a Once Obscure Federal Law Could Shape America’s Public Lands for Decades
May 12, 2026 — The Congressional Review Act is increasingly part of discussions about   the management of our national parks, monuments and wildlife refuges.
Grasslands, Aridlands and Forests