What will it take to protect the California Condor as it slowly makes its way back from near extinction? We visit the key breeding center in Idaho for a close-up look at the continent's largest bird.

We're six months into a journey across the continent to research a book for Simon & Schuster on bird conservation. Here's Beverly's take on the many fascinating birds, dedicated people and a few wrong turns along the way.

Learning to bird by ear just got a little easier. Cornell's Merlin app now includes sound identification. Here's our review of the new service:

We were on the trail of the rare Hawaiian Palila most of the day before we finally got close enough for a glimpse. It was an encounter we'll always treasure.

In other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service bird news, it has proposed to allow the Mt. Ranier white-tailed ptarmigan to be listed as "threatened" under the federal Endangered Species Act. These approvals for listing seem to be about as rare as the endangered birds themselves in the past few years. And although the bird will gain all sorts of protections when it's officially listed, its prospects aren't great. Read all about it here: