Evolutionary ecologist & ornithologist, postdoc Ohio State | PhD UIUC, MSc Kansas State | SciComm, birding, and nature photography | certified Lawn Hater, Cowbird Apologist, Stress Physiology Enthusiast, Typo Lover | they/them 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 | skwinnicki.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mmajh5ilfc2jSpeed ran the National Aviary because we're in town for the Springsteen concert. Wasn't planning on going to the aviary, but luckily my Killdeer baby "Born to Run" shirt doubles for both. (Andean Condor selfie) [contains quote post or other embedded content]19 May 2026 23:15 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmajh5ilfc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mmagtcprbs2jNo *you* cried at the National Aviary looking at the extinct-in-the-wild Guam Kingfisher19 May 2026 22:28 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmagtcprbs2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mm5kn6nvgc22Biggest Week in American Birding? More like biggest week in sleep deprivation I'm just too excited to rest during peak migration in a birding wonderland. Birds were so plentiful on Saturday that I was out birding for 14 straight hours. Then up at 5AM again the next day. But look at who I saw:18 May 2026 18:58 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm5kn6nvgc22https://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mlwnsddw5k2aI'm getting cryptid level photos of this rail but very happy to see it after a 2+ hour stakeout [contains quote post or other embedded content]16 May 2026 01:06 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlwnsddw5k2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mlvmnwu54226My backyard sounds basically the same as yesterday, the migration forecast was correct in predicting little movement around here! Once again the "Northern Yellow Warbler" is actually that Chestnut-sided Warbler. [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 May 2026 15:13 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlvmnwu54226https://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mlvi4mlxrk26This century old rental house has a spooky unfinished basement. Damp, dark, there's a ping pong ball down there that's in a different place every time I go down. I don't let the cats down there without me, but I "accidentally" leave the door open when I'm doing laundry so they "sneak" down haha15 May 2026 13:52 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlvi4mlxrk26https://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mltsjf3mas2qSunday was a "slow day" at Magee Marsh in northwest Ohio. This is what a "slow day" at this warbler-centric festival looks like. These are all the individuals I personally detected, not all of them out there: [contains quote post or other embedded content]14 May 2026 21:53 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mltsjf3mas2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mltrilphsc23I've taken something like 4,000 bird photos in the last week, so processing is going to take awhile. But I did get around to updating this-- 33 down, 4 to go! I'm confident I'll get one of the remaining 4 (Blackpoll) but I'll need to get lucky for the rest (Kirtland's, Mourning, and Connecticut). [contains quote post or other embedded content]14 May 2026 21:34 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mltrilphsc23https://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mltp7xzdtk2qI live a few blocks from the venue for Sonic Temple, the four-day hard rock festival. I'm grateful I like that kind of music, because it's sometimes loud enough to rattle my windows. Here's my feeder neighbors to the distant strains of my favorite song by The Used, "The Bird and the Worm"14 May 2026 20:54 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mltp7xzdtk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mltnutz5uc2bSince 1 May, I've recorded my tiny, noise-pollution filled urban yard for ten minutes on 10 days total (away for the rest). In those 10 days, I've detected 9 new bird species for the year, bringing me up to 51 detected here since 1 March 2026 on my #TenMinMerlin. Spring migration fucking rocks! [contains quote post or other embedded content]14 May 2026 20:29 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mltnutz5uc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mltmefbhu224I usually time my 10 minutes well but today it recorded for 20 because the second I saw it call a Canada Warbler I was out the door to look for it, afraid Merlin was getting tricked again. But it was actually there, first time I've gotten my elusive beloved favorite warbler on my #TenMinMerlin [contains quote post or other embedded content]14 May 2026 20:02 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mltmefbhu224https://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mltloa47bs24For the last three days I've had an extremely talkative Chestnut-sided Warbler in my yard, singing such variable songs it's confusing Merlin Tuesday (left) the "Common Yellowthroat" is that Chestnut-sided, same with the Yellowthroat and "Northern Yellow Warbler" on Wednesday (right) #TenMinMerlin [contains quote post or other embedded content]14 May 2026 19:50 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mltloa47bs24https://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mltl27lets24When I got home on Monday I was very excited to see what had made it into my yard in my absence-- it's peak migration here now too! But just as I started my #TenMinMerlin the neighbor started weed whacking, so instead I got the saddest list for May in Ohio 😭 [contains quote post or other embedded content]14 May 2026 19:39 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mltl27lets24https://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mltkv4uolk24I don't keep track of my #TenMinMerlin birds if I'm not at my house (because I use them to keep track of my backyard bird neighbors) but I try to still do the recording. Last weekend I was at The Biggest Week in American Birding festival in NW Ohio. Perhaps you can see why I go! [contains quote post or other embedded content]14 May 2026 19:36 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mltkv4uolk24https://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mltj45lgqc2bFor the second year in a row, my favorite warbler (Canada Warbler) has chosen to spend a day in my urban Columbus Ohio backyard. They're not especially common here and not always very easy to spot, so I'm so so very grateful when one stops by 💛🖤 #birds14 May 2026 19:04 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mltj45lgqc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mlpbvodais2hWhy didn't I just work from home? Well, you see, the neighbor Fish Crow nest is outside the window of my home office and I know from experience I'll just watch them feeding their babies all day long and not get any work done. [contains quote post or other embedded content]13 May 2026 02:45 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlpbvodais2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mlp75ak3dc2hWorking in an environment/natural resources department is a hoot sometimes I waded thigh-deep in a stinky urban creek today to grab a hurt duck so I had my stinky waterlogged hiking boots off to dry, told my officemates I'd put them back on if too stinky, got "I worked with elephants, this is fine"13 May 2026 01:55 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlp75ak3dc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mloixajgkc2oThe folks at our wildlife rescue know that they should always lie to me and tell me that everything worked out fine for each animal that I bring in, so I'm happy to report that this duck is doing great and also will live forever. [contains quote post or other embedded content]12 May 2026 19:18 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mloixajgkc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mloiq3qvpk2oStable ecology jobs are few and far between at the moment, but the team I'm on is actually hiring! Come coordinate the third Ohio Bird Atlas! This'll be a 5+ year role, based at Ohio State. Bachelor's degree required (Master's preferred). Please share! https://osu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/OSUCareers/job/Columbus-Campus/Ohio-Bird-Atlas-3-Outreach-Specialist_R150441-112 May 2026 19:14 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mloiq3qvpk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mlodkksz622ySome mornings you think you're going to quickly scan the local park for warblers but then you get involved with a duck rescue instead (his wing is broken and he's en route to the wildlife center and I'm soaking wet). But I got to the park and a local birding friend was crying watching him, so....12 May 2026 17:41 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlodkksz622yhttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mlmngtidfs2iI first attended the Biggest Week birding festival when I was 14, I've been a guide there off and on for over a decade. For so long I've dreamt of finding a rare bird to share there, just elated I did yesterday! eBird rare bird reports include the number of lists. One of these isn't like the rest:12 May 2026 01:33 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlmngtidfs2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mlmil3avvc2iI was relatively feral as a child in Ohio in the 90s/00s, spending most of the daylight outside wandering the woods. Yet I didn't see my first tick until I moved to Kansas. Now it's basically daily in central Ohio (climate change), you can see it in the Lyme increase: https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/08/14/lyme-disease-ohio-cases [contains quote post or other embedded content]12 May 2026 00:06 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlmil3avvc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mlmh4conmc2iUpdate: 27 [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 May 2026 23:40 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlmh4conmc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mlmdwe7l422nWalking around my urban neighborhood, listening to the sound of traffic, passersby, barking dogs, distant music, planes coming into the airport, construction ...and the super haunting song of a Veery in the yard. It sounds so very magical and out-of-place https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vtJ14MV64WY&pp=ygUKdmVlcnkgc29uZw%3D%3D11 May 2026 22:43 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlmdwe7l422nhttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mlm5s626es2nSeeing the photo someone got of him an hour after I left and I absolutely recognize the tree because I stalked it over and over because Merlin thought it heard the bird there. But I certainly wouldn't count a Merlin report that I didn't confirm myself. So close yet so far! [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 May 2026 20:53 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlm5s626es2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mlm4wnqxdk2nThere was a Kirtland's Warbler reported in Columbus (Ohio) today. Filled with hubris I went after it, thinking "who needs a festival to get rare warblers" Anyway I didn't find it, but not for lack of trying. Walked miles and miles, got really sunburn, and came home with 26 ticks somehow11 May 2026 20:38 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlm4wnqxdk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mljdhv632c2zI'm not leading walks today because my mom and siblings come up for Mother's Day every year so my mother would like you all to know that see spotted the first Harris's Sparrow ever reported at this festival, asked me what it is and I immediately lost it haha [contains quote post or other embedded content]10 May 2026 17:57 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mljdhv632c2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mlj7wlpyu22zHarris's Sparrow across the road from the east end of the Magee Marsh boardwalk10 May 2026 16:53 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlj7wlpyu22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/skwinnicki.bsky.social/post/3mlh775was22jSpent *hours* today trying to find a rare Golden-winged Warbler. Got it just as this brutal storm came through So my dad could make a "Golden-winged at the end of the rainbow" joke [contains quote post or other embedded content]09 May 2026 21:35 +0000at://did:plc:exxuoika2qlqlk7oidz3pkq7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlh775was22j