Writings

A Barn Swallow rises from the surface of a pond, surrounded by suspended droplets and splashing water.

September 24, 2026

Vanishing Swallows, an avian gothic from the early republic.

In the early American republic, swallows seemed to vanish each winter—and some observers believed they disappeared underwater. A bird mystery about observation, explanation, and what happens when people see something real but get the story wrong.

A Black Phoebe perches upright on a slender branch against a softly blurred green background.

September 17, 2026

The Luckiest Sayornis on Earth

A Black Phoebe at the Huntington Library and Gardens becomes an experiment in taxonomy, attention, and particularity—and a reminder that eventually every category gives way to one bird, on one branch.