Asher Elbein

Reporter, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Magazine

Articles by Asher Elbein

Canceled Birding Festivals Deal Host Towns a Major Economic Blow
April 01, 2020 — As event organizers are forced to make tough decisions over coronavirus concerns, local businesses and nonprofits brace for the fallout.
What’s the Difference Between a ‘Borb’ and a ‘Floof’?
March 10, 2020 — Now that we know what constitutes a birb, it's time to break down the internet's other two nicknames for birds.
When Is a Bird a ‘Birb’? An Extremely Important Guide
December 12, 2019 — The internet meme has been around for seven years now, so it's high time we establish some ground rules.
Proposed Pipeline Would Cut Through Golden-cheeked Warbler Habitat
June 28, 2019 — The Permian Highway gas project plans to use eminent domain to seize and raze swaths of Texas Hill Country—home to the endangered songbird.
Did Neanderthals Catch and Kill Golden Eagles for Their Feathers and Talons?
June 21, 2019 — New evidence suggests that the ancient hominids held raptors in high esteem—and might have even passed that practice to us.
Is the Mothman of West Virginia an Owl?
October 26, 2018 — More than 50 years after the first sighting, the best explanation for the infamous cryptid might be a nocturnal bird of prey. ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ investigates.
This Fossil Is Probably the First to Preserve Ancient Bird Lungs
October 25, 2018 — If so, the similarity of the 120-million-year-old organs to those in modern birds sheds new light on avian evolution.
Boom or Bust: The Last Stand of the Attwater's Prairie-Chicken
August 06, 2018 — Each summer captive breeders release hundreds of the birds into Texan prairies—but few survive. Maybe, just maybe, this year they'll get lucky.
Sirens of Greek Myth Were Bird-Women, Not Mermaids
April 06, 2018 — A new translation of Homer’s Odyssey corrects the record: The Sirens' seductive power lies with their otherworldly, avian knowledge.
This Newly Discovered Dino-Bird Sported Flashy, Iridescent Feathers
January 23, 2018 — A Chinese fossil suggests that some feathered dinosaurs flaunted glamorous getups to rival the colorful displays of modern birds.