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“Bronzed” Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula versicolor. For more about the cover photo, see pp. ii–viii in the online edition of this issue of Birding. See also the Featured Photo, p. 50. Lafitte’s Cove Nature Preserve, Galveston Co., Texas; Apr. 17, 2021. Photo by © Brian E. Small.

As these long summer days shorten, you may be seeing fledglings strike out into the world, early birds migrating through, and the July issue of Birding in your mailbox.

The bright-eyed grackle on the cover might be familiar to you, but do you know the etymology of the word “grackle,” or the history of its subspecies? Rick Wright dives into the complex story of grackles in the Featured Photo, “Genus Quiscalus: Natural History and Cultural Significance.” Members can also access an online-only photo salon by Brian E. Small, the photographer of the cover image, who celebrates common birds and their “Ordinary Beauty.”

When you’re ready to take your own beautiful photos, move on to Mike Henry’s Tools of the Trade column. Mike discusses the famous golden hour, and why you should try taking photos in all different types of lighting, even the scarier ones. 

For a completely different angle on bird photography, visit Martin Freeland’s Frontiers in Ornithology column. For the very first time, a new bird species – the Hooded Jewel-Babbler – has been described solely from photos taken by automatic cameras. Although this is an exciting scientific feat, the researchers themselves caution prudence and case-by-case review of new species described in this way.

The July issue also contains some reporting from us to you: the ABA Annual Report, where you can read about all the different programs we worked on in 2025, and the ABA Donor Wall, where we celebrate our wonderful donors from 2025. Thank you for helping us pursue our mission: making birding better by providing knowledge, sharing experiences, and building community.

On the topic of bird organizations, check out the July Birding Interview with the Executive Director and CEO of the American Ornithological Society, Judith “Jude” Scarl. Judith covers a wide range of topics, from bird conservation and research to figure skating and motorcycle riding.

As always, the Book & Media Reviews take their full form online. In this issue:

  • Donna L. Schulman reviews “Bird City: Adventures in New York’s Urban Wilds” by Ryan Goldberg
  • Cathy Carroll reviews “Woodpecker: A Year in the Life of North American Woodpeckers” by Paul Bannick
  • Michael L. P. Retter reviews “Make Myna Double: Cocktails for Bird Lovers” by Katie Stryjewski

There’s a lot more to read in the issue – so get in there and enjoy! Until we meet again, happy birding.