Mike VanHelder

Articles by Mike VanHelder

Inside the World of Elite Bird Costuming
June 30, 2017 — A niche part of the larger "furry" subculture, bird costumers create carefully crafted, life-size versions of avians and other bird-like creatures.
Washington State ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Chapters Rally to Help Save the Marbled Murrelet
January 26, 2017 — This seabird with unusual nesting habits is endangered due to loss of old-growth forest stands in the Pacific Northwest.
New Research Shows Hummingbirds Need Exceptional Brains to Hover
January 06, 2017 — Moving in all directions requires some serious brainpower.
Scientists Discover First Mummified Example of a Feathered Dinosaur Tail
December 09, 2016 — The rare, amber-encased fossil, which belonged to a young coelurosaur, tells a new story about feather evolution.
The Common Swift Is No Longer the Fastest-Flying Animal
November 21, 2016 — And here's a surprise: It wasn't even dethroned by another bird.
Scientists Finally Have Evidence That Frigatebirds Sleep While Flying
August 11, 2016 — According to a new study, the birds can stay aloft for weeks by power napping in ten-second bursts.
Genes Play a Big Role in Songbirds' Travel Plans
July 29, 2016 — New research shows that Swainson's Thrushes use a "genetic map" to pick their migration routes.
The ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Guide to Catching "Birds" in Pokémon Go
July 14, 2016 — Flying pokémon are everywhere. Here's how you can master them—both in your neighborhood and at your nearest ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Pokéstop.
New Bulbul Species Was Hiding in Plain Sight, Scientists Say
July 06, 2016 — In a classic case of cryptic speciation, one South Asian songbird is found to have a doppelganger.
A Stunning Look at the First 3-D Prehistoric Bird Wings Ever Found by Scientists
June 30, 2016 — The fossils were discovered in Myanmar amber—a form of mummification that's typical for insects.