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A huge colony of bats fly towards light shining through the opening of a cave.
In a Sky Ruled by Ancient Birds, Bats Conquered the Dark
October 23, 2026 — More than 50 million years ago, bats first took flight, carving out their own nighttime niche to avoid avian rivals and dangerous daytime skies.
A green and red Hummingbird Clearwing moth hovers at a white flower.
Double Take: Why Hummingbird Moths Look and Act Just Like Hummingbirds
August 20, 2026 — If you've confused these two lookalikes before, you're not alone. Here's what the moths have in common with hummers, how they differ, and where to see them.
A Hummingbird Clearwing moth hovers at a yellow flower.
Love Birdwatching? Give Bugwatching a Go This Summer
June 23, 2026 — While birds take it easy during the hottest months, set your sights on smaller wonders: insects and other arthropods all around you.
A bumble bee hovering next to yellow flowers.
Behind the Scenes at the Federal Bee Lab Powered by Native Plants
October 24, 2024 — At this unconventional research lab, government scientists and curious community members support native pollinators and other wildlife from the ground up.
Conservation News
A large beaver dam holds back a pond. In the background, a person in a blue jacket walks beside the pond in a foggy green landscape.
In the Arctic, Beavers Are Climate Winners. Should We Let Them Take Over?
February 27, 2024 — The voracious builders are reshaping the tundra, and generating controversy about whether their presence is cause for concern—or hope—in a warming world.
Conservation News
Three otters in the water eating the carcass of a pelican
River Otters With a Taste for Pelican Are Changing a California Park’s Ecology
December 15, 2023 — Dramatic photos and video capture the semiaquatic mammals attacking Brown Pelicans in Point Reyes National Seashore, a behavior documented only once before but that is becoming increasingly common in the preserve.
Bird News
Why You Should Scale Up Your Birding By Looking for Reptiles
March 23, 2023 — Lower your binoculars and expand your next trip by seeking out snakes, lizards, and amphibians. Here are some expert tips to get you started.
Birding Advice
A World Without Beavers Is a World Without Wildlife We Love
August 02, 2018 — The buck-toothed mammals are the best ecosystem engineers nature has to offer. Ben Goldfarb's exhaustive new book explains why.
Books