Urbanization is rapidly transforming natural habitats and poses growing challenges for wildlife. One lesser-known consequence is its potential impact on bird song, which plays a crucial role in communication, reproduction, and survival. In a new study examining 65 European songbird species, researchers found that birds living in more urbanized environments tended to use a wider range of dominant frequencies in their songs. However, clear changes in dominant song frequency were detected only in some species. These findings suggest that urbanization does not universally alter bird song, but both changes and the absence of adaptation may still have important consequences for birds living in noisy cities. The researchers emphasize the need for further studies and for urban planning measures that help maintain suitable habitats for diverse bird communities.

New research documents two whales travelling between Australia and Brazil  - breaking records for the greatest distances ever confirmed between individual whale sightings.

Each year, the American Ornithological Society (AOS) recognizes early-career researchers with awards celebrating excellence in ornithology. This year’s early-career research awardees represent remarkable contributions to the scientific study and conservation of birds. The 2026 recipients will accept their awards and deliver plenary talks at the 2026 AOS annual meeting (AOS 2026) this August in Amherst, Massachusetts, USA.

The AOS’s James G. Cooper Early Professional Award and the Ned K. Johnson Early Investigator Award recognize outstanding and promising work by researchers early in their careers. Our 2026 James G. Cooper Award winners are Devon DeRaad and Fengyi Guo. This year, the AOS awarded the Ned K. Johnson Award to Olivia M. Smith.

A UC Riverside researcher used high-speed video to reveal how scissor-tailed nightjars create one of the most curious sounds in the avian world.

Behind the scenes at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, a record-breaking conservation milestone is helping secure the future of one of the world’s most imperiled amphibians. Months of meticulous care and coordination enabled Brookfield Zoo Chicago to successfully breed and raise 12,244 Puerto Rican crested toad tadpoles to be released in the wild. Over the last decade, the Zoo has contributed nearly 40,000 Puerto Rican crested toad tadpoles to island-wide recovery efforts led by the Puerto Rican Crested Toad Conservancy (PRCTC).

In a new study published in Conservation Letters, scientists built the most comprehensive models ever of the ranges of 2,858 important fungal species and compared them with the world’s protected landscapes. The findings highlight a mismatch: Conservation has been built around the life we see, without regard to the hidden organisms below our feet that help aboveground life thrive. These range maps offer a roadmap to begin charting a new course.

A new study of the largest dam removal project in United States history on the Klamath River in Oregon and California is offering new insight into a long-running water conflict by finding that farmers and conservation groups share priorities that may help guide decision-making on future river restoration projects.