Birds

Sports optics manufacturer Swarovski Optik has cooked Merlin Bird ID and Mammal ID smarts into a pair of high-end binoculars called the AX Visio to name birds and other critters at the touch of a button.

A kangaroo riffing on his air guitar, a sentient snowball, a face-planting seabird, a comically depressed owl and a twinkle-toed otter are among the funny, candid images that shone brightest in this much-loved, feel-good wildlife photography contest.

Technology has been very kind to bird lovers, with apps such as Merlin Bird ID allowing enthusiasts of all levels to easily identify their local feathered friends. Now, the BirdWeather PUC ups the ante to turn anyone into a global bird citizen scientist.

One inconvenient truth for the clean energy industry – and a source of seemingly great concern to the fossil fuel lobby – is the indisputable fact that wind turbines kill birds. Researchers say smarter turbines could dramatically cut the toll.

The Bird Photographer of the Year has announced its 2023 competition winners. It's a stunning celebration of our fine feathered friends that captures birds doing what they do best and looking magnificent while doing it.

zU-studio has revealed plans for a new luxury residence in Costa Rica. Named N2 Private House, the project is inspired by the country's avian population and its overall form is designed to resemble a bird that's about to take flight.

Flapping-wing drones may be more agile and energy-efficient than their fixed-wing counterparts, but most of them still can't loiter in one spot. A new model addresses that limitation by using a claw mechanism to perch in a bird-like fashion.

The winners of the world’s largest bird photography contest have been revealed featuring a spectacular array of avian sights, from a hummingbird catching a droplet of water to a gorgeous snap of a rock ptarmigan launching off the top of a mountain.

For anyone with even a passing interest in ornithology, the annual Audubon Photography Awards is like Christmas in July. Now in its 13th year, the contest consistently delivers a spectacular collection of images highlighting rarely photographed bird behaviors.

Birds regularly eat large quantities of crops, and often become accustomed to stationary devices designed to scare them away. That's why scientists are now looking at using autonomous drones to do the job.

BIG has produced a lot of out-of-the-box designs, but the firm's latest project is one of its most unusual. Looking like a large pinecone suspended among the trees, the Biosphere will offer a small treehouse-style hotel room covered in 350 birdhouses.

Much as we may like pigeons, they can make quite a mess of buildings and other structures, potentially posing a health hazard. According to new research, autonomous drones may be ideal for harmlessly chasing the birds away.