Monthly Archive

Artist Petah Coyne's hauntingly beautiful sculpture pays tribute to Flannery O'Connor's deep fascination with peacocks at The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.

In an update to our post on the oil-afflicted penguins of New Zealand, we’re happy to share that as of today, 94 little blue penguins have been released to their now-clean habitat. Check out the video to watch these happy little guys hurry home!

It’s time for another round of head-to-head photo competition. 

Eagles in mid-air battle won the second matchup. This time, pick your preference out of these two, part of our gallery, “You Lookin’ at Me?” from the Audubon Magazine Photo Awards entries.

Black-necked Stilt. John James Audubon Birds of America.
 
Anyone can now get a daily look inside of one of the most valuable books in the world. Birds of America, the masterwork of 19th century naturalist John James Audubon’s, is on display at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. Bird lovers can view the bird of the day online, too.

Photo: Susanne Nilsjo

Thanksgiving is a time to share and give thanks. This holiday, why not share a few leftovers by putting together a simple recipe for your feathered friends?

 May I assume, gentle reader, that you have at least a passing interest in birds? Or that you know someone who does? If you are in a quandary about what to give to the birders/naturalists in your life, fret no more. Here are my holiday gift suggestions for 2011.

Great stuff on the first matchup! Thanks to all of you who clicked your pick. Surfing Birds earned the win, by just a few votes.

For our next head to head, it’s chicks against eagles (okay, okay, chick photo versus eagle photo). Either way, pick your favorite of the two, vote, then tell all your friends—virtual or otherwise. The winner of this matchup will go up against Surfing Birds sometime mid-December.

If pecan pie’s on your menu for Thursday—for as long as I can remember, it’s been on my family’s Thanksgiving table—get ready to pay a pretty penny for the delectable dessert. The cost of a pound of pecans rose from $7 in 2008 to around $11 this year, according to the Associated Press, with drought in pecan-producing states like Texas and Louisiana making matters worse.

[Photo: National Pecan Shellers Association]

Test-tube turkey sounds like a science experiment gone terribly wrong, but it could be an ethical and environmental breakthrough.

Photo: Xuaxo, Wikimedia Commons

Thanksgiving’s this coming Thursday! If you need a quick break from prepping your menu, take a look at a few pieces we’ve done about the food that’ll likely end up on your plate…