Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
30 results for "kingfisher"
A park ranger in England asked the universe for a sign, and seconds later a rare, shy kingfisher flew straight to her and perched on her hand. The magical encounter lasted 10 minutes while she continued watering flowers.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2Ff9%2Fa4%2Ff9a4af17-b326-4f00-8d64-92966468f938%2F705306451_1423631536459186_5155291432592042996_n.jpg)
Four rare Guam kingfisher chicks hatched at a Virginia conservation facility this spring, a crucial win for a bird that exists only in captivity with just 125 left worldwide. Even better: some of their relatives are already thriving in the wild after being released to a protected Pacific island last year.
Six years after a farmer illegally stripped trees and gravel from a mile-long stretch of England's River Lugg, new photos show nature staging a remarkable comeback. The waterway that supports salmon, otters, and kingfishers is healing itself.
A £1 million nature recovery project in Sheffield has transformed 400 acres into a thriving wildlife haven, with harvest mice nests jumping from 40 to 215 in just three years. Volunteers donated nearly 7,000 hours to create new homes for endangered species while protecting the community from flooding.
When Shruti and Sunil Agarwal noticed workers cutting down mangroves during their daily walks, they pulled out their phone and started recording. That simple decision sparked a years-long fight that saved 80 hectares of wetland and brought thousands of flamingos back to Navi Mumbai.
After seven months of paperwork and permissions, Gurunandan Rao and his team transformed a forgotten, silt-filled pond into a thriving water body in a single night. Birds returned within days, and the pond now holds twice the water it once did.
A beloved Australian festival canceled two years ago due to burnout is back and thriving, with 20,000 visitors flocking to watch competitors hurl rubber tuna across a beach. The community saved their 60-year tradition through public outcry and teamwork.
A 23-year-old transformed his Delhi terrace into a thriving urban forest with 500 native plants attracting 200 bird species. After a story went viral, a Los Angeles filmmaker invited him to feature in an upcoming documentary.
Eco-conscious travelers are discovering a new side of India's famous mangrove delta through sustainable homestays run by local communities. These nature-focused accommodations offer authentic experiences while protecting the UNESCO World Heritage Site's fragile ecosystem.
%2Ffile%2Fattachments%2Forphans%2FGathering-TheWilds_289436.jpg)
A Johannesburg park so dangerous people avoided it for 20 years is now the city's top-rated green space, thanks to one artist who filled it with colorful animal sculptures. James Delaney's simple act of beautification drew thousands back to The Wilds.
An Odisha artist created a stunning biodiversity map of the Sundarbans using traditional West Bengal folk art, capturing 60 species and the lives of communities who call the mangrove delta home. The hand-illustrated work celebrates one of Earth's most vital ecosystems without using any AI.
South Sudan's newly named UNESCO World Heritage Site protects millions of migrating birds and rare species like shoebills. The designation promises new support for one of Africa's last intact savanna ecosystems.
Scientists worldwide are turning to biomimicry, copying nature's billion-year-old designs to fight climate change with solutions that work with ecosystems instead of against them. From termite-inspired buildings to river systems that heal themselves, these nature-based approaches are proving both effective and sustainable.
Britain is voting on which native animals will grace new banknotes, with puffins, dolphins, and bumblebees making the shortlist. The public can choose their favorites until July 3rd in a celebration of UK wildlife.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2Fa9%2F51%2Fa9518e38-1b67-4fb2-978f-0843460ea7fc%2F01_female_red_handfish_white_bg_cr_joel_sartore_national_geographic_photo_ark_ng-3002033.jpg)
Wildlife photographer Joel Sartore has spent 18 years documenting Earth's incredible biodiversity, one portrait at a time. His Photo Ark now holds images of 18,000 species, preserving their beauty before they disappear.
The European Central Bank is letting citizens pick the next euro banknote designs for the first time. Voters can choose between celebrating cultural icons like Marie Curie and Leonardo da Vinci or showcasing Europe's native birds and rivers.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F0b%2Fb4%2F0bb47b9a-284a-414a-9bb9-d5425444394e%2Fblackbird_fit_2.jpg)
Missy Dunaway is painting every bird Shakespeare mentioned in his work, creating 65 detailed pieces that blend art, literature, and history. Each painting comes with an essay exploring what these creatures meant to people in the 1600s.
For the first time ever, 70% of Americans diagnosed with cancer now survive at least five years. Chicago's City of Hope is celebrating this milestone with phone booths where anyone can leave encouraging messages for newly diagnosed patients.
Deep in India's Jim Corbett National Park, the Dhikala Zone is giving wildlife lovers an extraordinary chance to witness Bengal tigers and rare species in their natural habitat. This remote sanctuary combines vast grasslands, dense forests, and the unique opportunity to stay overnight inside one of Asia's most vibrant ecosystems.
A conservation program in India's Bhitarkanika National Park has been so successful that scientists now use drones to count the thriving saltwater crocodile population. The January 2026 survey recorded 1,858 crocodiles in what's become one of the world's most remarkable wildlife comeback stories.
Showing 20 of 30