Discover APP Magazine

Where the latest news about birds and conservation takes flight.
On Florida's Marco Island, families of Burrowing Owls live among the locals. Photo: Karine Aigner

APP delivers essential news, advice, and reporting on birds and bird conservation.

Pairing compelling journalism with stunning photography and design, each quarterly issue helps readers grow their appreciation of birds and learn how to help them thrive. Our editorial team also reports and publishes stories on APP.org daily, including science and conservation news, birding tips, photo galleries, and interactive reader experiences. In print and digital, through stories and visuals, APP emphasizes the importance of a diverse and inclusive science and conservation effort to help meet the challenges facing both birds and people today.

To receive our award-winning print publication, become a member of the National APP Society.  For our full editorial statement, masthead, pitch guidelines, and pay rates, please visit here

Read the Entire Summer 2025 Issue
A plover chick peeks out from under its parent's feathers on a rocky beach.
Read the Entire Summer 2025 Issue

Inside: Using hi-tech trackers to spy on Mallards. A decades-long campaign helps Piping Plovers reach new heights. How smart feeders connect us to local birdlife—and each other. The Native-led raptor center protecting sacred species and traditions. In Alaska, a push for more industry threatens irreplaceable habitats. You, too, can have a hummer summer. Read these stories and more.

Highlighted Feature Stories
North Carolina's Cape Fear River Is a ‘Forever Chemical’ Hotspot—What Does That Mean for Its Birds and People?
North Carolina's Cape Fear River Is a ‘Forever Chemical’ Hotspot—What Does That Mean for Its Birds and People?

Amid mounting global health concerns about PFAS, communities living along the waterway must grapple with how contamination is affecting life on the river. Yet as hard as it is to conduct health studies on humans, it’s even harder with wild animals.

Latest News and Articles
People with binoculars walking in an urban park.
Science Is Revealing the Social Disparities at the Root of Urban Ecosystems
November 22, 2024 — When it comes to biodiversity, research shows not all neighborhoods are created equal. They’re defined by injustices past and present.
A chickadee covered in bright yellow pollen dust perches on a branch.
15 Brilliant Photos That Celebrate the Link Between Birds and Native Plants
November 21, 2024 — Feast your eyes on our favorite Plants for Birds entries of the 2024 APP Photography Awards.
Alyssa and Kevin Cronin stand on a boardwalk surrounded by palm trees, holding binoculars and smiling.
How Everyone’s Favorite TikTok Dad Brings Birds to a Whole New Audience
November 12, 2024 — Kevin Cronin, known as Kickball Dad to his social media fans, has gotten his millions of followers excited about birding by simply being himself online
Our 10 Favorite Videos From the 2024 APP Photo Awards
November 06, 2024 — Capturing a range of behaviors, all of these shorts got two thumbs up from our panel of judges.
Peaceable Kingdom of Birds by Daniel Bonilla
November 04, 2024 — Location: 930 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10032
A brown adult duck sits in blowing sand with three little fuzzy ducklings pressed against her.
10 Phenomenal Female Bird Photos From the 2024 APP Photography Awards
October 25, 2024 — Our Female Birds category once again delivered an array of amazing images for judges to pore over.
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.
A spider web made of pipe cleaners with fake spiders adorns the inside of a window, looking out on pumpkins on a picnic table.
How to Have a Bird-Friendly Halloween
October 18, 2024 — Follow these tips to ensure your spooky celebrations don't create a scary situation for birds.
Milagra, Condor 1221, perches on a rocky cliffside overlooking a valley during sunset.
Witness the Inspiring Release of Milagra, the Condor Rescued as an Egg After Bird Flu Killed Her Mother
October 09, 2024 — Hatched and raised in captivity, the young bird has defied the odds, returning more than a year later to a wild flock still reeling from disease and lead poisoning.
Portrait of Samuel Henderson wearing binoculars, smiling.
Meet the Kid Who Wowed the Internet With His Incredibly Accurate Bird Calls
October 07, 2024 — The talented 10-year-old’s performance at a school talent show recently went viral on TikTok after folks couldn't believe their ears.

Find a Read

APP magazine publishes a variety of story types in print and online. Peruse—and enjoy—just a sampling of our work below. 

Investigations
A New Plastic Wave Is Coming to Our Shores
A New Plastic Wave Is Coming to Our Shores

A glut of natural gas has led to a U.S. production surge in tiny plastic pellets, called nurdles, that are washing up on coasts by the millions.

Profiles
Can a Scientist and an Owl Be Friends?
A photo of author, Carl Safina, looking to the top right of the frame
Can a Scientist and an Owl Be Friends?

Best-selling author and ecologist Carl Safina has made a career out of his deep explorations of the animal world. But his recent relationship with a rescued owl caused him to go even deeper.

The Remarkable Life of Roxie Laybourne
The Remarkable Life of Roxie Laybourne

From deep within the Smithsonian, the world’s first forensic ornithologist cracked cases, busted criminals, and changed the course of aviation—making the skies safer for us all.

Essays
The Day We Didn’t Save the Starling
An illustration of a woman and young girl crouching down looking at something in a driveway next to a house.
The Day We Didn’t Save the Starling

In our rescue attempt, I thought I was giving my young daughters a lesson in compassion. It ended up being the reminder that I needed.

Remembering Toni Morrison, the Bird Whisperer
Remembering Toni Morrison, the Bird Whisperer

A year after Morrison’s passing, a journalist and birder reflects on how her time with the cherished author changed her relationship with birds—and with herself.

The APP Guide to Climate Action
The APP Guide to Climate Action

Feeling like you can’t make a difference? That couldn’t be further from the truth. Our award-winning guide shows you where to begin and how to ­amplify your efforts to make lasting change in the world.

Dispatches

The 2024 APP Photo Awards: Top 100

Revel in the staggering beauty and surprising behaviors featured in this gallery of our favorite images.

Hooded Merganser. Photo: Edwin Liu/APP Photography Awards
Photo Essays
Portrait of a Forest on the Climate Edge
A bird's eye view of a winter scene of a forest with some green pine trees and bare aspen, paper birch, and red maple trees.
Portrait of a Forest on the Climate Edge

In Minnesota, a boreal forest ecosystem could shift north over the Canada border this century. Local photographers, scientists, and land managers are grappling with what that means—and how to respond.

Birding Advice and News
Bird Books and Culture
A New Book Explores Our Disdain for Pests
A New Book Explores Our Disdain for Pests

Journalist Bethany Brookshire argues that the idea of a “pest” is more about humans’ view of unwanted animals than the critters themselves.

The APP Bird Guide
Blue Bunting
Cardinals, Grosbeaks and Buntings
Blue-winged Warbler
Wood Warblers
! Priority Bird
Mottled Duck
Ducks and Geese
Purple Sandpiper
Sandpipers