Non-native songbirds in North America
A guide to 16 exotic passerines of the lower 48 states and southern Canada.
Jesse Greenspan
Jesse Greenspan is a Berkeley-based freelance journalist who writes about history and the environment. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Scientific American, Audubon, the History Channel, and other outlets.
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A brief history of exotic birds in the United States
Avian introductions into the U.S. have been a constant occurrence since well before the founding of the country.
Why Hawaii is the epicenter of the avian extinction crisis
Often called “the extinction capital of the world,” Hawaii has experienced far more avian loss than the other 49 states combined. Using the fossil record, … Read More “Why Hawaii is the epicenter of the avian extinction crisis”
10 bird species that need our help now
Over the years, several bird species have been saved from extinction. Here are 10 more that need our help.
10 great birds with bad names
Some avian monikers just don’t pass the sniff test.
297. Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont, California
A site in the San Francisco Bay Area where you can see bitterns, rails, shorebirds, raptors, and many other birds.
291. Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve, Oakland, California
This hillside land near Berkeley is a good spot to look for West Coast specialty passerines, including Wrentit, Oak Titmouse, and California Thrasher.
Birding the world: What drives big listers
A half-century ago, no one had seen even 4,000 bird species. Now, some birders are homing in on the 10,000-species mark.
233. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, New York
On the outskirts of New York City, this refuge protects coastal wetlands that support sizable breeding populations of waterfowl, wading birds, songbirds, and Osprey.
141. Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, New York
An urban haven for kestrels, sparrows, and other open-country birds.