Birds

Small fossil has big implications for bird brain evolution

Birds descended from the dinosaurs, but researchers have known relatively little about how the bird's brain took shape over millions of years. A new fossil sheds light on that mystery.

This swampy paradise is Alabama’s winter haven for sandhill cranes

As many as 25,000 sandhill cranes migrate to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge every winter, along with a handful of highly endangered whooping cranes. 

Annual Birmingham-Area Bird Count Canceled Due To Pandemic

Since Alabama Audubon's Christmas Bird Count won't happen this year, researchers could miss out on data about bird populations.

Birmingham Development Threatens Chimney Swift Habitat

Chimney swifts are a common sight in Birmingham. You might notice large numbers of them as they funnel into chimneys. Many people mistake them for bats. But as new development replaces old buildings and their chimneys, the chimney swift population is at risk. Birmingham Audubon is working to reverse the decline by constructing “swift towers” throughout the city.

For the Birds

On a quiet Sunday morning, the parking lot of the National Guard Armory is already filled with cars and vans and RVs, bearing tags as far away as Louisiana and Texas. A family reunion, maybe? Well, not exactly. The visitors who are flocking to this sprawling space are members of a unique subculture: bird enthusiasts. […]