A 2024 Nature article titled "Mexican forest ‘relocated’ in attempt to save iconic monarch butterflies" delves into innovative conservation efforts aimed at protecting the endangered monarch butterfly. Researchers, led by forest geneticist Cuauhtémoc Sáenz-Romero, have initiated a project to transplant oyamel fir trees (Abies religiosa) to higher elevations in Mexico's Nevado de Toluca. This assisted migration aims to provide suitable overwintering habitats for monarchs as their traditional forests in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve become increasingly unsuitable due to climate change. The project involves planting nearly 1,000 fir saplings at varying elevations and monitoring their growth and survival, with the hope that these new forests will become viable sanctuaries for the butterflies in the future. This proactive approach underscores the urgent need for adaptive conservation strategies in the face of rapid environmental changes.  

Nature (2024): “Mexican forest "relocated" in attempt to save iconic monarch butterflies” 

Track your finds with our  Butterfly Tracker

A 2023 study published in Global Change Biology reveals that backyard bird feeders have influenced the evolution of Anna’s hummingbirds on the U.S. West Coast. Since feeders became common after World War II, these hummingbirds have developed longer, slimmer, and sharper beaks—especially males—which help them access artificial nectar sources and compete for feeding territories. This study highlights how everyday human activities can drive rapid evolutionary changes in wild bird species.

Read more: Global Change Biology study on hummingbird evolution 

Track your backyard birds with our Birds Tracker

Bright, fragrant, and alive with activity, wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), also known as bee balm, is a standout native wildflower of North America. Its lavender-pink blooms are pollinator magnets, drawing in bumblebees, hummingbirds (attracted to its tubular flowers), and swallowtail butterflies with their long tongues. The plant's name, fistulosa, means "hollow stems," which early settlers once used as makeshift straws. 

Beyond its ecological charm, wild bergamot has long been valued for its medicinal properties. Native Americans and herbalists brew it into citrusy tea reminiscent of Earl Grey, apply crushed leaves as antiseptic poultices, and enjoy its minty scent for stress relief. Hardy and drought-tolerant, it thrives in poor soil and resists deer, making it perfect for eco-conscious gardens. 

In the Northeast, it can be spotted in places like White Memorial Conservation Center in Connecticut, Shawangunk Grasslands in New York, and Duke Farms in New Jersey. 

Kids can ID wild bergamot by its shaggy, lavender blooms that resemble fireworks, its oregano-mint scent when crushed, and the constant buzz of pollinators—up to 50 visits per hour! It’s more than a flower—it’s a living hub of biodiversity and healing.

Track your finds with our  Wildflower Tracker
To learn more click here: Wild Bergamot (Monarda Fistulosa)

Scientists at the CNRS and the University of Montpellier discovered that flowering plants growing in farmland are increasingly doing without insect pollinators. By comparing field pansies from the Paris region today with those from seeds collected between 1992 and 2001, they found that today's flowers are 10% smaller, produce 20% less nectar, and are less visited by pollinators than their ancestors, indicating a rapid evolution towards self-fertilization due to the decline in pollinator populations. 

To learn more click here: Wildflowers increasingly doing without insect pollinators | CNRS 

Track your finds with our  Wildflower Tracker 

A  recent Nature article highlights a powerful, nature-based solution to climate change: oysters. The Billion Oyster Project, aiming to restore one billion oysters to New York Harbor and Long Island Sound, is using these humble shellfish as a living shield against rising seas and stronger storms. Oyster reefs naturally reduce wave energy, protect shorelines from erosion, filter up to 50 gallons of water per day per oyster, and provide essential habitat for marine life. Unlike concrete seawalls, they grow and adapt with the environment. This large-scale restoration effort is also deeply community-driven, involving students, scientists, and volunteers in hands-on conservation work. It’s not just about saving oysters—it’s about using nature to protect people, revive ecosystems, and build a more resilient coast. As sea levels rise, Long Island Sound’s future may depend on the comeback of its oldest residents: oysters. 

Nature (2024): “How a ‘billion oysters’ could protect the New York coastline from climate change” 

Track your finds with our  Seashells Tracker

K2-18b is a distant exoplanet located about 124 light-years from Earth in the constellation Leo. This intriguing "Hycean" world—believed to be covered in oceans with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere—has sparked excitement after the James Webb Space Telescope detected methane and carbon dioxide in its atmosphere, and possibly dimethyl sulfide, a compound associated with life on Earth. While the planet isn’t visible through backyard telescopes, its host star, K2-18, lies in the direction of the Lion’s constellation in the night sky. 

Read more: NYTimes article on K2-18b and the search for life 

Track your Constellations with our  Night Sky Guide

In an unexpected twist of canine history, a team of Standard Poodles once competed in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska. While the Iditarod is traditionally dominated by huskies and other cold-weather breeds, musher John Suter entered poodles in the 1988 race to demonstrate their endurance and versatility. Though they managed to complete sections of the grueling course, the dogs struggled with the extreme cold and snow-packed terrain. Their participation ultimately led race organizers to implement stricter breed requirements, but it remains a fascinating footnote in poodle lore.

Track your Neighborhood Dogs with our  Tracker