Maddie Burakoff

Associate Editor, 探花精选 magazine

Articles by Maddie Burakoff

A woman walks through a field holding a goshawk perched on her falconer's glove.
How the New 鈥楬 Is for Hawk鈥 Movie Brought its Goshawk Stars to the Screen
February 04, 2026 — In the film adaptation of Helen Macdonald鈥檚 memoir, the bond between falconer and hawk takes center stage. On set, everything revolved around the avian actors.
Movies & TV
3 Ways Street-Smart Birds Hacked Human Infrastructure in 2025
December 17, 2025 — Recent studies have uncovered some of the clever ways our avian neighbors are making the most of the urban environment.
Bird Behavior
A collage of illustrations showing natural disasters, clean energy sources, healthy habitats, and a ballot box.
To Weather the Growing Costs of Climate Disasters, Some States Are Getting Creative
September 19, 2025 — From tourist taxes to polluter fees, states seek funding solutions to deal with the massive price tag of a warming world.
Climate
A group of people with binoculars in a rocky desert landscape.
On Public Lands, Federal Staffing Chaos Threatens Fragile Ecosystems
June 04, 2025 — Layoffs and uncertainty across the already weakened workforce could cause lasting damage to wildlife.
Conservation News
A male Anna's Hummingbird perches on a red hummingbird feeder.
This Hummingbird Rapidly Evolved a Longer Beak to Slurp More Nectar from Feeders, New Study Finds
May 29, 2025 — The 20th century expansion of nectar feeders drove Anna鈥檚 Hummingbirds to spread across California鈥攁nd transformed the birds along the way.
Bird Science
Four researchers kneeling in sand secure a Brown Pelican by its beak and prepare to swab its mouth.
North Carolina's Cape Fear River Is a 鈥楩orever Chemical鈥 Hotspot鈥擶hat Does That Mean for Its Birds and People?
March 25, 2025 — 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鈥檚 even harder with wild animals.
Feature Stories
Ayana Johnson on a stage in front of a video wall featuring colorful fish and coral.
Meet the Climate Leader Who Wants You to Abandon Hope鈥攁nd Get to Work
March 24, 2025 — Marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, 鈥渁 breath of fresh air鈥 for the climate movement, is helping people envision and build a brighter future.
Climate
A bright yellow meadowlark perched in a sagebrush plant.
A Sweeping New Report Shows U.S. Birds Declining Sharply Across a Range of Habitats
March 13, 2025 — Scientists checked in on species all over the country for the latest State of the Birds report. Nearly everywhere they looked, birds were struggling鈥攊ncluding some that have been resilient in the past.
Conservation Challenges
Four sparrows eat seed at a feeder.
What Does the Avian Flu Surge Mean for Your Bird Feeders?
February 24, 2025 — As H5N1 spreads rapidly, wild birds remain at risk. Here鈥檚 what to know about the outbreak and how to keep your feathered visitors safe.
Bird Feeding and Care
A fossil in rock of a bird skeleton.
Terror Birds, Giga-Geese, and the Oldest Birds of Prey? 2024鈥檚 Fascinating Avian Fossil Finds
December 20, 2024 — From mega leg bones to tiny, perfect skulls, fossils this year revealed crucial insights into bird evolution.
News