It's time to spring into action and plant something in your garden (even if just in a pot) that helps our critters. What are your favourite plants for the birds and the bees? Find out my favourites for NZ gardens here

Native Plants I Recommend for NZ Gardens

NZ wildlife artist and lifelong gardener Judi Lapsley Miller shares her favourite native plants for attracting birds, bees and butterflies—and those she avoids.

artbyjlm.com

Astonishing, heartwarming story in the NY Times (and, for those who like a "New Zealand mentioned", Vaughn Jones is the only ever kiwi Fields Medalist) www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/s...

The 92-Year-Old Mathematician and the Teenage Apprentice (Gift Article)

Joan Birman thought her major discoveries were behind her. Then came an email from a young neighbor — a girl who knew little but wanted to learn.

nytimes.com

Which six would you choose? 🤔🐦 www.artbyjlm.com/cardsurvey2026 I’m updating my greeting card range - if you have a moment, could you rate the 12 contenders? Your votes decide which six I'll print! You’ll also get a 20%-off code for my cards, notebooks, and washi. (Pictured are the current cards)

Find out which bird raised the most for conservation this year, and the stories behind the art! www.artbyjlm.com/blogs/news/w...

You know that feeling when you're struggling to stay awake? #kakapo chicks Tiwhiri-A3 and Tiwhiri-A4 in Tiwhiri's nest on Pukenui/Anchor Island. Both around two weeks old, and doing well. #kakapo2026 #conservation #parrots

Exciting times on Anchor Island as we check #kakapo nests for hatching. We’re letting eggs hatch in nests to reduce management intensity. Last night I found these two newly-hatched chicks in Konini’s nest, along with a fertile egg I carried back under a lunar eclipse. #kakapo2026 #conservation

The first #kakapo chick for four years hatched two days ago (on Valentine’s Day for those who like to anthropomorphise!). Here’s Tiwhiri-A1-2026 in Yasmine’s nest. 📸: Deidre Vercoe. www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-r... #kakapo2026 #conservation #parrots #birds

If you'd asked me which celebrity would posthumously unveil a list of people she wanted fired into the sun, I would not have guessed Jane Goodall

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘@kojamf.bsky.social · last yr.

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

Celebrities and venture capitalists throw millions at a company claiming it can breed fake dodos, which seems especially cruel given the dodo’s living relative., the Samoan tooth-billed pigeon or manumea, is on the brink of extinction for lack of money. news.mongabay.com/2025/09/fund...

Funding is needed to save Samoa’s ‘little dodo’ from extinction (commentary)

It’s early August 2025. Deep in the rainforests of Upolu, on the island of Samoa, Moeumu “Moe” Uili and I have paused our hike, counting the seconds between coo calls from an unseen pigeon hidden in t...

news.mongabay.com

It's my favourite time of year! Time to announce which bird raised the most for conservation 🤩🐦 Who do you think reigned supreme? www.artbyjlm.com/blogs/news/w... #birds #nzbirds #birdart #artbyjlm #conservationfundraising #conservationart

Thought it was time to update my avatar. This wee ruru is called "The Stargazer" #nzbirds #birdart #artbyjlm #fineart #photoart

Happy news for kiwi pukupuku fans! These kiwi are genetically bottlenecked, with only about four birds contributing to the current known population's genetics. Additional genetic diversity could make a huge difference in protecting this taonga species from extinction. www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Little spotted kiwi found on New Zealand's mainland for first time in 50 years

"I'm not sure how to express how thrilling this rediscovery is for the conservation world," an expert says.

rnz.co.nz

Those in NZ: you can see #kakapo and #takahe on last night's Fiordland episode of Endangered Species Aotearoa on TVNZ. Streaming on TVNZ+ #conservation #birds

I love Mad Magazine

Apparently this isn't even made up!

Chelsea Whyte@chelswhyte.bsky.social · 2y ago

Retro is in, even in the ocean. The orcas are once again wearing salmon hats www.newscientist.com/article/2457...

This tūī has opinions! #captionthis #birds #birdphotography

Favourite new word. 'Wofination' 🤓 gizmodo.com/scientists-s...

These Rare Wolves Sip Nectar Like Bees—and May Pollinate Like Them Too

Researchers have observed some wolves visiting as many as 30 flowers at a time, drawn by their apparently sweet and delicious nectar.

gizmodo.com

Jonathan Eisen@phylogenomics.bsky.social · 2y ago

So. Incredibly. Cool.

What the Andromeda galaxy would look like from earth if it was a bit brighter

So happy to hear that Pepper the Cockatoo from Staglands has been found! She's such a character. www.1news.co.nz/2024/11/24/e...

'Early Christmas miracle' - Pepper the cockatoo found in Porirua

A young man who saw a 1News story about the missing parrot recognised her after purchasing Pepper online earlier this week.

1news.co.nz

Gotta love a classic tūī feeding on wharariki flax photo op! #nzbird #zealandia #tui #birdphotography #birds

now over 200,000!! 200,275 as at 8:42 am

Tze Ming Mok 莫志明@tzemingdynasty.bsky.social · 2y ago

Closing in fast on 200,000 signatures. The current count (194,339 right now) is the same number of people as 6.7% of voters in the 2023 general election, more than the entire NZ First vote. 250,000 would beat the entire Act Party vote. #ToitūTeTiriti

Toitū Te Tiriti! Kei kona a wairua tonu ahau. It's how we are here. It's why we can stay. It protects people and planet. It stands in the way of unfettered exploitation of both. Anyone who thinks that's a BAD thing should be ashamed.

"Everyone’s a sellout now" Naomi Klein is quoted (via The Guardian) saying the biggest change in the world since 1999 is "neoliberalism has created so much precarity that the commodification of the self is now seen as the only route to any kind of economic security."

Everybody has to self-promote now. Nobody wants to.

So you want to be an artist. Do you have to start a TikTok?

vox.com

Wellington has got the "bird sitting on power line" upgrade package.

You can now buy my South Up, Aotearoa Centred, Equal-Earth Projection Map https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2023/12/you-can-now-buy-my-south-up-aotearoa-centred-equal-earth-projection-map/ I'm delighted to announce that I've actually finished a project! Over the last few years, I've been designing a …

You can now buy my South Up, Aotearoa Centred, Equal-Earth Projection Map

I'm delighted to announce that I've actually finished a project! Over the last few years, I've been designing a custom map. As per the credo of the "Organization of Cartographers for Social Equality", this map uses the Equal Earth projection to ensure proportional land0mass size, the South is at the up, and - of course [...]

shkspr.mobi

Fabulously exciting rond BORB news! (If you know, you know.) 💜#birds

Eileen Kiffin @eileenkiffin.bsky.social · 3y ago

Responding to today's prompt to post #birds hanging out with other critters. This tiny pīwakawaka fantail is trying to gob down a big brown fly, but fails much to its frustration. (tried posting an animated GIF but sadly it didn't work on Blue Sky - but this photo still shows the battle was real)

If you feel the need for more #birds in your feed, I'll try to help you out... This whistful bird is a toutouwai or North Island robin. They don't miss a trick, and can even do complicated arithmetic. #awesomebirdsofnz

One of the first groups bluesky recommended to me was Fungi Friends - I feel seen! 🍄📷 I call this image "The Diva" - just reminds me of Diana Ross and The Supremes 😆

coolio - just worked out how to switch my bluesky handle to my domain! sweet