I believe it is a chicken bone!

View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Hocking Hills State Park, Upper Falls. Photo © Jesse Weaver. Hocking Hills State Park, Cedar Falls. Photo © Jesse Weaver. Jesse Weaver writes that a previous photo lesson on stitching panoramas together inspired him to use...

Aquarius

Oct 1, 2026

Aquarius is a sprawling constellation that stretches across nearly 40° of the southern sky on autumn evenings…

And NOT After Us!

Oct 1, 2026

“Mammal-ling” With Friends Grand Prize Winner!

Invisibles, October 2026: Ring-necked Pheasant

Oct 1, 2026

Can you find the hidden objects?

Birds

Browse All Birds

Look for Birds!

Find all thirty-two kinds of birds hidden in this puzzle.

You Can Draw a Green Heron

In six steps, you can draw this Green Heron too!

Favorite Focus, October 2026

Enjoy these recent favorite photos from our readers!

You Can Draw a Ruby-throated Hummingbird Submissions

Hummingbird artwork submissions from our readers

Invisibles, October 2026: Ring-necked Pheasant

Can you find the hidden objects?

Pictures & Poems, October 2026

View the full issue in the Magazine Archive

In Search of Mammals

“Mammal-ling” With Friends First Place Winner

A Day With the Birds

Birding With Friends Grand Prize Winner View the full issue in the Magazine Archive The old gray minivan gave an arthritic creak and jerked to a stop just as the house door swung open and Magenta’s nimble feet sprinted down the sidewalk.She opened the door and bounced...

Birding ‘Round the Clock

I sat down at my desk and started writing as fast as I could hear them…

Even New Mexico Has Birds

Birding With Friends Second Place Winner View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Photo © Daniel Martin. The early morning air was fresh and cool. Dark trees loomed around two gray forms moving silently along the trail. Last night’s rain had softened any dry grass...

Opportunity Day

I had been discouraged about birding this spring, until that morning…

Study Guide Puzzles, September 2026

Practice identifying challenging fall warblers!

Pictures & Poems, September 2026

Enjoy this artwork from our young readers!

Caption This Painted Bunting

Submit your favorite caption for this Painting Bunting on ice.

Creation Close-ups, September 2026

Enjoy these nature moments from our readers!

Creation Close-ups, August 2026

Enjoy these nature moments from our readers!

You Can Draw a Scarlet Tanager

In six steps, you can draw this Scarlet Tanager too!

Pictures & Poems, August 2026

Enjoy this artwork from our young readers!

You Can Draw an Eastern Bluebird Submissions

Enjoy these submissions for You Can Draw an Eastern Bluebird!

Birding at Nature Friend

Such noise! The birds were fussing, scolding, screaming, and downright hollering at the top of their little lungs, if birds holler.

Aquarius

Oct 1, 2026

Aquarius is a sprawling constellation that stretches across nearly 40° of the southern sky on autumn evenings…

Browse All Animals

Insects & Arachnids

Favorite Focus, September 2026

Sep 3, 2026

Enjoy these favorite photos from our readers!

Browse All Insects & Arachnids

Water Life

Hey, Look at This Shell!

Jun 1, 2026

From colorful sea slugs to massive clams, mollusks are some of the most fascinating creatures in the ocean. Let’s meet a few of them!

Browse All Water Life

Plants & Fungi

Seeds Fired Like Bullets

Oct 1, 2026

It was a fine October day, and I definitely wasn’t expecting to be shot at.

Browse All Plants & Fungi

Reptiles & Amphibians

Birding at Nature Friend

Aug 1, 2026

Such noise! The birds were fussing, scolding, screaming, and downright hollering at the top of their little lungs, if birds holler.

Browse All Reptiles & Amphibians

Astronomy

Browse All Astronomy

Aquarius

Aquarius is a sprawling constellation that stretches across nearly 40° of the southern sky on autumn evenings…

A Queen Points the Way

I thought I could be an explorer—from my own backyard. But first, I got lost.

Creation Close-ups, October 2026

Nature moments with our readers

Favorite Focus, September 2026

Enjoy these favorite photos from our readers!

Aquila

View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Aquila, the Eagle, is a mid-sized constellation that lies right along the summer Milky Way just south of the zenith on September evenings in the mid-northern latitudes. Altair, the brightest star of Aquila, marks the...

The Milky Way

View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Milky Way over Straker Lake. Photo © Steven Russell Smith. The Milky Way is a very ordinary-sounding name for an extraordinary subject. It describes the hazy band of light crossing the night sky, which shows up especially...

In Our Skies, September and October 2026

A calendar of astronomical events

An Occul What?

View the full issue in the Magazine Archive Moon and Venus, June 17, 2026. Photo © Adrian and Kevin Shank. “Did you hear there will be an occultation?”“An occul what?”“An occultation! The Moon will go in front of Venus.”“Oh, you mean an eclipse?”“Well, yeah, it’s...

Exploring Nature, August 2026

Nature highlights for August

Scutum

Scutum, the Shield, is a small constellation that lies along the summer Milky Way, just south of the Summer Triangle…

Study Guide Puzzles, August 2026

Reinforce nature facts with these fun puzzles!

Favorite Focus, August 2026

Enjoy recent favorite photos from our readers!

Hercules

M13. Photo © Reinhold Wittich/Dreamstime.com. Hercules, the Strongman, is a large constellation that lies straight east of Bootes, the constellation we focused on last month. If you imagine a line connecting Arcturus and Vega, the two brightest stars that are...

Light Sailing

Is it possible to sail on light? This question was asked hundreds of years ago and answered relatively recently.

In Our Skies, July and August 2026

A calendar of astronomical events

Favorite Focus, July 2026

Enjoy recent favorite photos from our readers!

Bootes

View the full issue in the Magazine Archive M3. Photo © Reinhold Wittich|Dreamstime.com. Bootes lies nearly straight overhead on June evenings in the Northern Hemisphere. This constellation is relatively easy to find, not only because of its distinctive kite-like...

Browse All Wondernose

Exploring Nature

Exploring Nature, May 2026

May 1, 2026

Nature highlights for May.

Browse All Exploring Nature