1/ The world's songbirds sing in just 8 basic sounds. And where a bird lives decides which ones it uses. My first PhD paper is out now in @science.org (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aee6239) Here is what we found:

The collapse of nature in our lifetimes has a sound – or rather a lack of it. Year on year, mesmeric natural soundscapes are ever more dumbed down, as this heart rending recreation of the dawn chorus over recent decades shows. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Listen to Britain’s dawn chorus of 1976: the dramatic loss of birdsong in 50 years

Guardian recreates audio landscape of past filled by loud morning symphony before 73m wild birds were lost

theguardian.com

Curtin University RTP scholarships are open for application! EOI submissions accepted until 31st July through the online portal. I have two projects advertised. To find out more, head to the link and scroll down to see the HDR project opportunities. staffportal.curtin.edu.au/staff/profil... 🧪🌏🏙️🪶🗺️

"In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed..." This paper was born from frustration, grew through deep introspection, and was created with much joy. ✍ Overcoming pride and prejudice for impactful urban nature conservation doi.org/10.1093/bios... #urbanNature 🧪🌏

Overcoming pride and prejudice for impactful urban nature conservation

Abstract. Responding to the biodiversity crisis in cities requires a new model of environmental researcher. Conservation scientists have a critical role to

doi.org

Some generally good reporting from @news.abc.net.au on the HPAI detection here in Aus. Still some work to do when it comes to #womenInSTEM representation though - my @birdlifeoz.bsky.social bestie Dr Lindall Kidd was just on 7.30... Can you see what's missing in the screen grab? 🤦‍♂️🤔🌏🧪🪶🎓

ABC News Australia@news.abc.net.au · last mo.

What do we know about the H5N1 infected birds in Australia, and what does this mean for surveillance?

Bury me in the whale graveyard – let the weird starfish chew my bones | First Dog on the Moon

Bury me in the whale graveyard – let the weird starfish chew my bones | First Dog on the Moon

Scientists have discovered an enormous whale graveyard about 1,200 km long, which seems big but then so are whales * Sign up here to get an email whenever First Dog cartoons are published * Get all your needs met at the First Dog shop if what you need is First Dog merchandise and prints Continue reading...

theguardian.com

We face multiple crises that demand action: biodiversity loss, climate change, land degradation. But tackling these in isolation is perilous. @zslofficial.bsky.social's new report, authored by leading scientists and policy experts, details how approaches to address one crisis can exacerbate others.

New paper! Here we meld our ecology, stats & design brains together to solve a problem encountered working with landscape architects on public open space design. 🧪🌏 We've created a preliminary tool for quantifying how different landscape designs support #urban nature www.nature.com/articles/s42...

New paper!🌏🪶🧪 We once again combine the powers of land use data with citizen science observations, finding that informal green spaces (IGS) may be providing resources for some bird functional groups that could be missing from traditional #urban green spaces. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

This week I'm surveying for toxic cane toads around and behind the invasion front line. Here's some nightmare fuel for you- with up to 8 small toads in every cow hoofprint. #wildoz #tcz

Waahoo! After some admin battles, I've finally had approval to travel to the UK to present @britishecologicalsociety.org Nature-based Solutions symposium! 🌏🧪 I'll be staying on for a week in July after the event, so if you want to catch up please get in touch! #naturebasedsolutions #urban

British Ecological Society@britishecologicalsociety.org · 3mo ago

Only a month left before early bird registrations close for our NbS symposium ⏰ Join scientists, policymakers and those in industry for a 2-day event to examine who benefits from NbS, how decisions are made, what funding models work, and the skills and evidence needed to scale delivery.

Our latest special feature is published! It includes 10 articles spanning key areas of emerging methods in business and biodiversity, presenting a range of methods that are translating this complexity into formats that are digestible and usable by business and finance 🌍🏢 buff.ly/Vy0V0Ql

#2: Plains-wanderer Mythical, austere, even heroic. Stars opposite John Wayne in a couple westerns. Even more mysterious than the name suggests. According to eBird, “unlikely to be observed without deliberate search and professional help.”

Reposting this thread because I think we could all do with a lil green snail with two shells.

Bronwen Scott@snailseyeview.bsky.social · last yr.

We’ve looked at snails with one shell and slugs with no shells. Now let’s have a look at a snail with two shells, because Nature laughs at our puny attempts to pigeonhole. In today’s #AtoZ – J is for Julia (Juliidae) (1/9) Pic: © uwkwaj CC BY-NC

Floof Lump, with snack, from today 🤍 (Hamataliwa grisea) #EmotionalSupportSpood

"there seems to be tacit support for the idea tt it may not be politically correct but that it’s “natural” for the public to direct its frustration at migrants. I don’t accept this. There are plenty of ways to express anger at a failing political system without scapegoating particular communities."

Yes, Pauline Hanson’s voters are struggling with economic pressures. But blaming migrants won’t ease their pain | Sisonke Msimang

One Nation supporters are not unique or special. And there are plenty of ways to express anger at a failing political system without scapegoating particular communities

theguardian.com

Beltane or Bealtaine was a Celtic/Gaelic festival held on the 1st May to mark the beginning of summer. One of the key parts of the festival (alongside massive bonfires, feasting & making merry with beer 👀) was the exchange of posies to bring good luck. Here's a Beltane posy for you from my garden 🌿

Read and share this open letter from former oil and gas leaders, calling on the Australian Government to not keep us locked into outdated fossil fuel as they consider how to respond to the latest energy shocks. energycrossroads.com.au

A Letter to Government from Former Oil & Gas Professionals

energycrossroads.com.au

Never forget that when Seoul, Korea removed the Cheonggyecheon expressway in 2003 and replaced it with a restored stream, 1000 acre park and improved public transit, not only did it TRANSFORM the city’s public life and economic success, but the car traffic got better. The car traffic got BETTER.

That's a wrap for SCBO's 30 days of #ConservationOptimism! Amongst the climate challenges and biodiversity crises, we hope this has been a reminder that conservation practitioners, citizen scientists & communities are working tirelessly for our threatened species and ecosystems, and having success!

Finally caught Eigg and Muck in the act of transferring the brain cell. 🐈🐈‍⬛ #indoorCats

Idk man, where’s the evidence of the evidence for evidence based conservation doi.org/10.1002/2688...

I have a favour to ask those of you who AREN’T from the city-building professions, who probably have LOTS of followers who don’t spend much time thinking about better ways for more people to get around cities with less space, fewer crashes & emissions, etc. Please share the article below. Thanks!

Urban Truth Collective@urbantruth.bsky.social · 3mo ago

NEW: The One-Hour City Conspiracy! “Here's the REAL conspiracy: Too many people are forced into car-dependent lives, with more health harms, crashes, noise, air pollution, social isolation —& less space for everything our streets should be giving us.” Thanks @usa.streetsblog.org #1HourCityConspiracy

YAAAASSSSSSS!! Splendid fairywrens made the list!

Robert Francis@birdhistory.bsky.social · 3mo ago

#93: Splendid Fairywren There are four other "splendids" (Splendid Astrapia, White-eye, Starling, and Sunbird). It's a tight race between them, but there's no more ethereal group than the fairywrens.

#94: Willie-wagtail Birds with people names are one of the best sub-categories, and none wears theirs so explicitly as this guy. (Robin, JACKdaw, and MAGpie are others, I wrote about them here): open.substack.com/pub/birdhist...

BABY 🖤 Dusky pygmy rattlesnakes are already small, and this is a tiny child at that. She could comfortably curl up on my watch face. Pretty chill, though I did not test this thoroughly.

Good news for *not so* good times 🐭 Some feel-good stories you might have missed! #ecology

YESSSSSSSS!!!! I FOUND ONE OF THE BEST BUTTERFLIES IN THE WORLD AHHHHHHHH!!!! 🤯😭 Caria plutargus amazonica I’m CRYING!! 🦋

#LaborValues Everyone in so-called Australia will experience disability at some point in their life, either personally or in their family. We are a rich enough country to fund proper, equitable & humane support. Making disability an industry for profit is neoliberal bullshit. #auspol

Amy Remeikis@amyremeikis.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Listening to the gas executives yesterday while also listening to the health minister explain why we just can't afford to give support to people who need it, was just one of those WTF are we doing moments. (Plus an overheard convo that stuck in my mind) www.thenewdaily.com.au/life/health/...