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National Geographic
4 days ago
- Science
- National Geographic
This animal has a built-in taser to stun sharks
Researchers have documented Gulf torpedo rays (Torpedo sinuspersici) using electric shocks to deter large sharks. Photograph by Andy Murch, Nature Picture Library Electric rays are staying out of the stomachs of sharks by shocking them—with up to 200 volts. With powerful jaws and high levels of resistance to toxins, big-bodied sharks such as tiger sharks and great whites can eat just about anything. Sea snakes venomous enough to kill a human with one bite and stingrays armed with six-inch spines are light snacks for these apex predators of the ocean. Scientists have long believed that no marine creature is safe from a large, hungry shark, but at least one group of animals has evolved an effective means of evading shark digestion: electric rays. In a study published last month in the journal Ethology, researchers found that electric rays can scare away both tiger and white sharks by zapping them with powerful electric discharges. While electric rays are known to use their built-in tasers for hunting, this is the first study to show that they also use them for self-defense. "I wouldn't have initially thought that the electric discharge these animals produce would be that effective as a deterrent against predators. But now I'm quite convinced that it may be a very effective defense,' says Yannis Papastamatiou, an ecologist at Florida International University who studies sharks and other marine predators and led the new analysis. A shocking power Found in temperate and tropical oceans around the world, most electric rays measure less than three feet long. But some, like the Atlantic Torpedo Ray, can grow up to six feet (1.8 meters) and weigh up to 200 lbs (90 kg). The largest among these rays can produce electric discharges over 200 volts, which is more than enough to knock a human off their feet. When stimulated by the rays' nervous system, kidney-shaped organs on either side of their head release charged ions—usually to zap a smaller animal for dinner. Magazine for all ages starting at $25/year (Want to learn more about rays? Here are five fun facts.) Electric rays are also known for not shying away from people and large sharks, says Papastamatiou, who is also a National Geographic Explorer. 'Generally, if you're that bold, it's because you're pretty confident in your defensive capabilities," he says. Papastamatiou saw their boldness on full display for the first time while studying great white shark feeding behavior off the coast of Mexico's Guadalupe Island in 2018. He and his colleagues had attached cameras to the dorsal fins of six sharks. In one video, a great white shark approached a Pacific electric ray in the water column. As the shark got within striking distance, the ray appeared to cup its pectoral fins, the posture it typically assumes when zapping its prey. 'The shark suddenly went ballistic and shot up,' recalls Papastamatiou. 'Something had really disturbed it." Two minutes later, the shark returned, but this time it swam right past the ray, perhaps having learned its lesson. All sharks have a unique sensory system that allows them to detect the weak electrical fields produced by living organisms. That makes them extremely sensitive to electricity. But sharks' tendency to eat anything—despite the danger—made the researchers skeptical that what they'd seen might be a coincidence. Then in 2024, a scuba diving instructor named Ali Ansaar captured a similar scene in Fuvahmulah, Maldives, between a Gulf torpedo ray and a tiger shark. This footage, Papastamatiou says, convinced him that what he'd seen wasn't a fluke. Diver Ali Ansaar filmed a Gulf torpedo ray warding off a tiger shark in the Maldives. As part of this study, Papastamatiou and his colleagues re-examined past footage, including an experiment they had conducted in the late 1990s on Pacific electric rays off Palos Verdes, California, and found more examples of the behavior. To observe the differences between predatory and defensive zaps, the team had either offered the Pacific rays freshly speared fish or prodded them on the back with a rod. The rays emitted similarly strong electrical discharges in response to both stimuli, but the poking elicited shorter and more rapid discharges. "If they're doing it for defensive reasons, it makes sense to put out one very quick blast,' says Papastamatiou. 'These animals essentially have a battery, and like any battery, it takes a while to recharge." Lessons in shark deterrence Because this study only involved Pacific electric rays and Gulf torpedo rays, more work is needed to determine if all electric rays are capable of deterring large sharks. The ability of an electric ray to send a shark packing likely depends on its size, says Dave Ebert, a shark scientist at San Jose State University who was not involved with the study. Ebert has found other species of torpedo rays in the bellies of big sharks. 'I think if they're [small enough] sharks can probably eat them,' he says. Small or juvenile rays may not produce enough electricity to deter sharks, while a zap from a larger ray might be enough to escape their jaws—literally. Ebert has also seen torpedo rays sporting big shark bites. 'You could tell from the bite mark that the shark let go.' The study's authors believe their findings not only change what we know about the defensive capabilities of electric rays but also add credence to the idea that zapping large sharks with electric currents is an effective means of deterring them—a lesson that could help humans design better methods to keep sharks away, too. (Here's how to stay safe if you're swimming with sharks.) But more than anything, the behavior suggests that electric rays are not to be underestimated. "Electric rays can pack a punch,' says Ebert. 'They generally don't attack, but if you tease them, they will stun you."
National Geographic
4 days ago
- Science
- National Geographic
What causes coral bleaching? Here's how it threatens ocean and human life
Sea water divides the sunset and a ghost land of corals in New Ireland, Papua New Guinea. Ocean acidification has increased coral bleaching around the world. Photograph by Juergen Freund, Nature Picture Library Coral reefs aren't just marine biodiversity hotspots, they're critical to human life. When reefs die, the impact ripples across food systems, local economies, and climate resilience, especially in coastal communities. Here's everything you need to know about bleaching, its impacts on marine life and human communities, and how we can save our reefs. What is coral bleaching? Tropical coral reefs are known for their rainbow of reds, oranges, pinks, and purples, which are produced by a microscopic algae that lives inside the coral tissue. 'Corals have this partnership with a tiny little algae called zooxanthellae,' says Molly Timmers, a marine ecologist for National Geographic Society's Pristine Seas project. In this symbiotic relationship, the algae inside the coral converts sunlight into food through photosynthesis, and shares this energy with its host. Up to 90 percent of a coral's energy comes from the zooxanthellae, also known as algal symbionts. Certain changes, especially increased ocean temperature, can upset this delicate balance. Prolonged heat stress causes corals to expel the algae living in their tissues and turn white, becoming highly vulnerable. 'When coral gets stressed, it's like you and I getting sick,' says Timmers. 'We sweat when we're recovering from something.' The coral expels the algae as a stress response. Without it, the coral loses its color and main source of food. (These photos show what happens to coral reefs in a warming world.) When coral bleaches, it isn't dead—yet. 'They're on life support,' says Michael Sweet, professor of aquatic biology at University of Derby in the United Kingdom. Bleaching impacts a coral's ability to reproduce and to create mucus, making it more susceptible to disease. In the ocean, 'corals are bathed in this microbial soup,' he says. Like snot in a human's nose, mucus helps them capture and get rid of harmful bacteria. 'The mucus is the first line of defense.' If normal environment conditions return quickly, the algae do too. If not, the coral can quickly starve to death. 'It can shut down and just give up, and then it dies quite instantly,' says Sweet. Bleached corals line the reef in Koh Mak, Thailand. Global warming is driving higher temperatures, warming coral so much that they expel the zooxanthellae living in their tissues and turn white. Photograph by Napat Wesshasartar, Reuters/Redux Bailey Thomasson, a restoration coordinator with the Coral Restoration Foundation, scuba dives above bleached corals at Looe Key Reef. Located off Florida's Big Pine Key, Looe Key was the epicenter of massive coral reef bleaching event in summer of 2023 with nearly 100 percent of corals dying. Photograph by Jason Gulley, The New York Times/Redux A school of Cavalla swim above bleached Stony Coral near Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Two-thirds of the Great Barrier Reef have been impacted by coral bleaching as it disrupts the mutually beneficial relationship between corals and the algae that live inside them. Photograph by Gary Bell, Oceanwide/Minden Pictures Coral reefs support 25 percent of the world's marine life. Their structures provide a home, feeding, breeding, and nursery grounds for many fish—housing that's a good deal more efficient compared to the flat seabed. 'You can house more people in a 20-story apartment building than a one-story building,' says Timmers. When corals die and animals lose their home, mobile species migrate and those who can't move might die out—disrupting the food web. 'Things get out of whack,' she says. Coastal communities lose their main food source as well as livelihoods dependent on tourism and hospitality. Their loss can have a cultural impact for Indigenous communities who value natural ecosystems. The Hawai'ian story of creation tells that polyps—the individual organisms that make up the coral colony—were the first animals created. Corals being the very first thing to appear from the darkness demonstrates their importance to the community. (How trash from ancient humans is protecting these coastal islands today.) The disappearance of coral also puts coastal infrastructure at risk. Reefs act as natural breakwaters that can reduce wave energy by 97 percent. Without reefs buffering the shoreline, waves hitting land are more powerful. 'Seafaring people know that when you have fringing reefs, the wave energy is stopped before your community,' says Timmers. Stronger waves pummeling the coastline also increases the risk of erosion and flood damage. Sediment covers part of this Brain coral as it experiences coral bleaching. Healthy coral colonies are a green-brown color and clearly show the coral's grooves. Photograph by Norbert Wu, Minden Pictures Scientists are developing various ways of protecting corals from bleaching. One method involves shading corals from the hot sun using underwater parasols made from cloth. Some experts are preserving species in controlled 'biobanks' to keep them safe from extreme conditions in the wild. Others are supporting restoration efforts by breeding or moving heat-tolerant corals to new areas. Marine protected areas, fisheries management, and pollution measures are also important. Some researchers are even experimenting with a method known as known as cloud brightening, or manipulating the clouds above reefs to make them more reflective and therefore keeping the waters cooler.— However, critics worry about potential unintended consequences, such as changes to weather patterns. 'Prevention is better than cure,' says Sweet. 'We need to tackle climate change. That should always be front and center.' Experts say if we take urgent action now, reefs around the world can recover and thrive. 'It is devastating, what is happening,' says Timmers, 'but there's still hope.'
National Geographic
05-06-2025
- Science
- National Geographic
The surprisingly relatable reason why some birds get cranky
Trafficked roads, loud noises, suffocating smog. For some people, living in the city can be stressful and unnerving. But a growing body of research shows some city birds can be more aggressive than their rural counterparts, suggesting they too feel the pressures of city life. In a study published in April in the journal Animal Behavior, researchers showed that Galápagos yellow warblers that live near trafficked roads in the Ecuadorian archipelago respond to intruders more aggressively than those living farther away from traffic. They're not the only bird species affected by city life. Numerous studies have investigated the phenomenon of angry urban birds—finding that species such as great tits, European robins, song sparrows, and dark-eyed juncos show more aggression toward each other when they live near urbanized sites. While it's clear that 'in some species of birds, urban populations are more aggressive than rural populations,' there are many different theories for why this happens, says Jeremy Hyman, a professor and department chair of biology at Western Carolina University. A song sparrow sings on a branch in California. Research suggests song sparrows may display more aggression in cities because they feel more territorial. Photograph By Marie Read/Nature Picture Library In the last decades, the Galápagos archipelago has seen a drastic increase in the human population, with permanent residents today increasing by six percent each year. An increase that requires more infrastructure to house more people, and more cars to move them around. This makes it a perfect 'laboratory' to study how birds respond to new, busy conditions, according to study authors. The researchers selected 38 warbler territories on two islands of the archipelago: Santa Cruz Island, and Floreana Island; both crossed by a main road used by cars. The warblers were located either near the road or at least 300 feet away. From scuba diving to set-jetting In each territory, they played recordings of traffic noise and warblers singing, which simulated an intrusion. 'Each bird was tested once with just the warbler speaker being active, and once with the warbler speaker plus the [car] noise speaker active,' says Çağlar Akçay, a behavioral ecologist at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge and study author. When exposed to the sounds of encroaching birds and car noise playing in the background, the warblers living close to the road responded more aggressively than when there was no noise playing. They also responded more aggressively to noise compared to their 'rural' counterparts—getting closer to the speakers and sometimes even attacking them. Mike Webster, an ornithologist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology who was not involved in the research, says the study is 'pretty convincing' and offers a clear look at how a single environmental change can influence behavior. '[It] really kind of helps us focus in on what the causes of the differences in behavior might be,' he says. Why so angry? Generally, animals that live in cities tend to be bolder and more aggressive—both characteristics that enable them to survive in such complex habitat. 'Individuals that can't deal with constant disturbance, such as noise, people, cars, etc. would be unlikely to thrive in an urban habitat,' says Hyman. Some birds may become more aggressive because cities are rich in food sources—and so there's strong competition to establish a foothold. 'Only the most aggressive males can manage to hold a territory in this place where lots and lots of birds would like to have a territory,' says Hyman. But food scarcity may also make some urban species more aggressive, and so 'birds have to fight an awful lot in order to maintain a large enough territory to get the resources that they need.' High levels of stress caused by noise and other factors might also play a role in making birds more aggressive, notes Hyman. But does being more aggressive enhance your chances of survival? In some cases, aggression seems to be 'a worthwhile cost', says Sarah Foltz, a behavioral ecologist at Radford University. One study that looked at song sparrows living in southwest Virginia showed that aggression didn't impact how much bird parents invested in their offspring. Female birds even spent as much and sometimes more time at the nest than their less aggressive rural counterparts. Overall, the benefits of being more aggressive seem to depend on the kind of habitat the birds are in. For some species, like the song sparrow, some urban areas offer suitable habitats with more food and fewer predators. They might become more aggressive to defend it, and ensure a good habitat were to raise their offspring—and so have better chance of survival. Another 'big unanswered question,' says Hyman, is whether birds learn to be aggressive during their lifetime, or if birds born in urban populations have some measure of aggression encoded in their genes. 'There's little bits of evidence on both sides,' he says. But what scientists do know is that some birds can be highly adaptable. 'Aggression definitely has a genetic component to it,' says Foltz. 'But also, we know that when we change environmental factors, birds change their aggression' Overall, Foltz says scientists are still trying to understand just how much urban density different species can tolerate and which characteristics of an urban environment influence aggressiveness the most. 'We've got all these little pieces,' she says, 'But it's still coming together to make a bigger picture, so it's sort of an unfinished puzzle.'
National Geographic
15-05-2025
- Science
- National Geographic
The world's sweetest dolphin is facing extinction—but it's not too late
Irrawaddy dolphins have captured hearts for generations for their adorable smirks and ability to help humans catch fish. Now it's our turn to help them. An orphaned Irrawaddy dolphin rests in the arms of its caretaker at the Marine Endangered Species Veterinary Hospital in Rayong, Thailand. Photograph By Sirachai Arunrugstichai/Getty On Myanmar's Ayeyarwady River, fishers tap the side of their boats and wait. If they're lucky, a gray dolphin with a rounded head and smirk appears. These are Irrawaddy dolphins—social, intelligent mammals that have fished alongside humans for generations. The dolphins herd fish toward the fishers' cast nets, and in return, they snag fish trapped near the edges or stuck in the mud at the bottom for themselves. One dolphin, named Gotama, is even known for giving a special signal—a flick of the tail—right before the fishers should cast their nets. She passed this signal on to her calf, to the delight of the fishers. 'This is a pretty rare phenomenon in the world in terms of human and wildlife cooperation. So, it's something we're not only interested in conserving on a species level, but also on a cultural level too,' says Brian Smith, a river dolphin expert and recently retired Wildlife Conservation Society researcher. 'It's a lesson to humanity about our relationship with wildlife.' Two Irrawaddy dolphins jump from the water. The dolphins are threatened by gill nets that trap fish in rivers. Photograph By Roland Seitre, Nature Picture Library While these fishers and their cast nets generally have a friendly relationship with the dolphins, not everywhere in the river is as hospitable. Tragically, gill nets—which hang vertically and trap fish by their gills—are entangling dolphins and driving them toward extinction. Without urgent action, these cooperative, curious creatures could disappear forever. 'If we don't get a handle on the accidental killing of these animals in fishing nets,' Smith says, 'particularly gill nets, the species is finished,' much like the Yangtze river dolphin, which disappeared from China's waters in 2006, despite conservation efforts, as well as Mexico's Vaquita dolphins, down to around 10 individuals. 'They're like children' The Irrawaddy dolphins are more than just helpful fishing companions. They are a strong part of the community, supporting the ecotourism industry for the region, as well as playing a part in local folklore. One legend tells of two mischievous children sent to collect firewood. Lost and hungry, they find a shaman's hut. After eating enchanted rice and diving into the river for water, they transform into dolphins. When villagers find them, it's too late to reverse the spell. 'So, people kind of care for them because they feel they're like children,' says Danielle Kreb, a scientist with the nonprofit Yayasan Konservasi Rare Aquatic Species of Indonesia. Irrawaddy dolphins also have a quirky trick—they spit water. It's not just for fun, though. They use it to herd fish into tight groups so they're easier to catch. Some scientists even think they might do it to impress a potential mate. Irrawaddy dolphins are unique among marine mammals because they are one of only six species that can live in freshwater. But they can also inhabit coastal waters—a trait shared by even fewer species. Their range includes patches of coastal waters of South and Southeast Asia, as well as three specific rivers: the Mekong in Cambodia, the Mahakam in Indonesia, and the Ayeyarwady in Myanmar. While the species as a whole is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the populations in these three rivers are considered critically endangered, with fewer than 100 individuals estimated in each. The remains of an endangered Irrawaddy dolphin. Photograph By Sirachai Arunrugstichai These rivers and coastal areas are often close to intense human activity, so in addition to gill nets, they face additional threats from pollution, habitat degradation from reduced or altered freshwater flows due to dams and embankments, coal-carrying ships, and illegal "electro-fishing"—a practice in which fishers send electric currents through the water to stun fish. This not only depletes the fish populations that dolphins rely on, but it can also injure or kill the dolphins themselves. One dolphin studied by Kreb in Indonesia's Mahakam River—where only about 60 individuals remain—was nicknamed Moose. Moose and her newborn calf, just minutes old, were both found dead. Testing later revealed they had been poisoned, likely by a pellet meant to kill fish. 'It's a really sad, sad case,' says Kreb. 'And it broke my heart because I felt I knew her very well. She had the sweetest face ever.' Committing to conservation Kreb is leading local conservation efforts along the Mahakam River, focusing on outreach, education, and the use of acoustic pingers to reduce dolphin deaths. These small devices emit a high-pitched, irritating sound that deters dolphins by disrupting their echolocation, keeping them away from dangerous fishing nets. But the design required careful calibration, Kreb explains: The sound had to be strong enough to act as a warning, but not so intense that it drove dolphins away from critical feeding areas. These pingers are effective at a range of about 10 meters, she says. Since launching the program in 2021, her team has distributed around 270 of them across the river. To raise awareness and funds for dolphin conservation—including the River Guard Program, where local people are hired to patrol the river and remove the gill nets from the waters—a small team of scientists and supporters, including Smith, swam 120 kilometers along the Mekong River in March, through the heart of Irrawaddy dolphin habitat. They stopped in villages to join outreach events organized by WWF Cambodia, government agencies, and local officials. A caretaker calms an orphaned Irrawaddy river dolphin at the Marine Endangered Species Veterinary Hospital in Rayong, Thailand. When the dolphin's ready, it will be released to join its wild pod. Photograph By Sirachai Arunrugstichai/Getty For Smith, conservation efforts need to focus on these small critical river populations, but also the last remaining stronghold of about 6,000 individuals in Bangladesh. He was part of the team that discovered this population in 2009, found mostly in the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest. 'The biggest contribution that could be made would be a long-term, sustainable effort to provide alternative livelihoods or supplementary livelihoods to the current fishers,' he says. 'And you have to have enforcement to make sure everybody's playing by the rules, establishing gill-net-free zones in the core areas of their distribution.' One of the great challenges in conservation is that often, what works isn't flashy or new—it's the 'same old, same old,' says Smith. But sustaining and strengthening those proven efforts is exactly what's needed to protect these animals. And this isn't just about saving species because they're rare or beautiful. It's about protecting something deeply meaningful to the communities who live alongside them, he adds. Smith remembers a young boy in the Irrawaddy region who worked with his father, cooperatively fishing with the dolphins. The whole village would playfully argue about who loved the dolphins most, until the boy finally said, 'Well, I love the dolphins more than I love my mother.' In the end, says Smith, this isn't just a biodiversity issue; it's also about 'conserving what's important to people.'
National Geographic
14-05-2025
- Health
- National Geographic
Listening to birds sing really does soothe your brain. Here's why.
Spending time in nature is important for your mental health. But studies show that even just listening to birds singing can ease symptoms of anxiety and depression. A European robin, Erithacus rubecula, sings in a tree in Norfolk, England. Studies have linked the sound of birdsong to reduced levels of depression and anxiety. Photograph By David Tipling, Nature Picture Library But why does birdsong feel special? As social creatures, 'we are hardwired to want to connect to things,' says Cindy Frantz, social and environmental psychologist and chair of psychology at Oberlin College and Conservatory. The parts of our brain that we use to form relationships with people help us build bonds with nature too—birds included. Here's why paying attention to their playful chirps, buzzy whistles, and whimsical calls really is as restorative as it feels. How birdsong bolsters our mental health A growing body of research suggests that birdsong is a gateway to nature's many benefits, whether you live in a rural town or a bustling city. For a 2022 study published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers asked roughly 1,300 people to log information about their environment and how they were feeling three times a day for two weeks. When theyreported seeing or hearing birds, they had a significantly better sense of mental well-being, even after the researchers accounted for the benefits of being near green and blue spaces (like seeing trees or hearing water). The mental health boost from bird encounters lingered for hours too. The researchers noted that the participants were aware of the study's primary goals, which may have made them more conscious of and biased toward their own feelings. Plus, the study took place during the height of the COVID pandemic, likely affecting the participants' baseline stress levels and emotional response to birds. (What happens to your brain when you see a bird in nature?) However, another 2022 study published in the same journal also highlighted the contrast between listening to the sounds of nature versus urban environments. Among 295 participants, those who listened to six minutes of birdsong through headphones reported feeling less depressed, anxious, and paranoid. And the more vibrant the birdsong, the better: Reduced depression was specifically linked to hearing a variety of species singing together compared to those who only listened to the songs of two species. Participants who were subjected to six minutes of traffic noise, unsurprisingly, felt more depressed. A 2020 study from California Polytechnic State University drew similar conclusions after researchers played a 'phantom chorus' throughout a quarter-mile of two hiking trails in Boulder, Colorado. They hid speakers where birds would naturally reside and broadcasted a variety of songs to simulate greaterbiodiversity. 'We had to use some deception,' says study author Clinton Francis, an associate professor who researches avian and evolutionary ecology at Cal Poly's biological sciences department. 'One of my graduate students was so nervous that an incredibly good eBirder was going to find a speaker and be outraged.' (To their knowledge, the speakers went undetected by the trails' visitors.) (Nat Geo's ultimate guide to "touching grass.") Once visitors exited the paths, they were asked to fill out a questionnaire designed to tease out how they felt mentally. It's worth noting that self-reported data, in general, is limited because people can struggle to accurately recall and interpret their own thoughts and emotions. Still, the results were uplifting: People who experienced the 'phantom chorus' which only lasted about 10 minutes, felt a greater sense of cognitive restoration—a 'clearing of the mind,' per Francis—than those who hiked the trails while the speakers were turned off. Scientists don't fully understand why hearing more bird species can lead to a greater wellness boost, but they're hopeful that future studies will continue to explore the link. What is it about birdsong that soothes our brains? Many experts believe birdsong signals safety. Imagine feeling on edge as you walk through a suspiciously quiet forest: 'You realize that all the birds have stopped singing,' Francis explains. 'That's a cue that there may be a predator or other source of danger around. So it could be that birdsong, over our history, has been a reliable cue that the world is at ease and we can be relaxed.' As for the boost in mental clarity? Researchers haven't pinned down how birdsong, specifically, refreshes your mind; some studies have indicated that exposure to nature reduces activity in parts of the brain associated with stress and rumination, or repeatedly thinking negatively about yourself. The natural world squashes self-consciousness because it allows us to forget ourselves, Frantz says. Tuning into birds is also a form of mindfulness, because it roots you in the present moment, she adds. Being in community with nature delights your senses with what scientists have dubbed 'soft fascination,' meaning it captures your attention but doesn't overload it. The sights, smells, and sounds of the outdoors are starkly delicate compared to flashing lights and blaring horns. Watching tree buds unravel, soaking in the smell after rain, hearing the gentle coo of a mourning dove: 'Maybe it just makes us feel like we're actually living,' Francis says. How to get more birdsong in your life While studies have found that recordings of birdsong benefit your mental health, Francis stresses that nothing compares to experiencing the real thing. Still, 'nature does not have to be expansive or pristine,' Frantz says. Put up a smart bird feeder in your yard or download an app like Merlin Bird ID, which identifies birds based on their songs. She theorizes that learning the names of different species may help you feel even more connected to them. And the next time you hear a symphony of white-throated sparrows or spot a flashy warbler singing from the treetop, pause and appreciate the magic—the sounds of spring are fleeting, after all.
