It’s a while since I’ve shared any #Sciart. I only began a regular drawing practice at the start of last May. I draw nearly every day now and it’s made a huge difference. Here’s a recent orchid drawing.
Melanie Newfield
@melanienewfield.bsky.social
Science and environment writer and communicator. Loves to talk about risk. Obsessed with plants and hopes to one day see every species of eucalypt. I make the science behind important issues accessible here: https://theturnstone.substack.com
Another important election coming up! New Zealand's #BugoftheYear So many great candidates it's hard to choose. The forest restorer's faithful friend? Tough as a tardigrade tadpole shrimp? Saved by an invasive species giant wētā? Punk mite? #sciart
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. And a virtual hug for those who find the day difficult.
Another candidate for New Zealand’s #favouriteplant. A button daisy unique to the wild and windswept Kaitorete Spit. So cute and fuzzy #sciart
Here's another candidate for favourite New Zealand plant, the beautiful pīngao. It's great at stabilising sand and is used for traditional Māori weaving, but is threatened by coastal development, sea level rise and the invasive marram grass.
It's time to vote again! This time, there's a shortlist of 40 amazing native plants which are contenders for NZ's favourite native plant. OK, some of the contenders are a little obscure, but who couldn't love a rebel forget-me-not! Voting links here. You don't need to be in New Zealand.
I did an art class this weekend and had a go using a dip pen and plant inks. Drawing was fun and I loved the look the pen and inks made, apart from the nibs being almost impossible for a left hander to write with (although drawing was fine). Here's my drawing of prairie grass. #sciart
So it turns out that the story of austral snipe is an emotional rollercoaster. The story of tutukiwi is one of the saddest in #conservation, but the story of the Campbell Island snipe is one of the happiest. So here it is... #Sciart
Melanie Newfield@melanienewfield.bsky.social · 9mo agoFeeling sad today, so thought I'd share something from one of my art projects, which is to bring life to Aotearoa's #extinct species. Here's a little treasure called tutukiwi, a shorebird which lived in the forest, extinct in 1964.
Feeling sad today, so thought I'd share something from one of my art projects, which is to bring life to Aotearoa's #extinct species. Here's a little treasure called tutukiwi, a shorebird which lived in the forest, extinct in 1964.
There's so much wrong in the world that it's overwhelming. But, if you can, spare a thought for the thousands of species which are silently slipping into extinction. This adorable weevil's just hanging in there, but how many more of our smaller creatures have we lost without noticing?
It’s a while since I’ve shared any #sciart, so here’s a recent piece to accompany my article on the North Island kōkako. I’ve also included a piece from a year ago when I first started drawing to illustrate my articles.
If you're into science communication #Scicomm and are in Auckland, Hamilton, Napier-Hastings, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch or Dunedin, check out the networking night for the Science Communicators Association of NZ. I'm co-hosting in Wellington.
Most accurate journalism I've seen on Aotearoa/ New Zealand in a long time.
the Juice Media@thejuicemedia.com · 10mo agoThe Government of New Zealand has made a new tourism ad and it's surprsingly honest and informative!
On my recent visit to #TiritiriMatangi island I took this video in the forest. The birdsong here is extraordinary. I’ve never heard anything like it.
If you need something uplifting, it’s hard to go past the story of the hihi, and how a group of high school students and their inspirational teacher helped bring it back from the brink of extinction. open.substack.com/pub/theturns...
A new sunrise
Tiritiri Matangi has given us hope for the survival of the hihi, but these birds are still in serious trouble (11 minute read)
open.substack.com
Such a frustrating and misleading headline. Do better @theguardian.com
Emily Cassidy@enviroem.bsky.social · 11mo agoSoybeans are overwhelming used for feed. 80% of protein produced on Brazil's croplands is used to feed animals iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1.... The recent tariff issue is a prime example of how the world's taste for meat (not soy) is shaping distant landscapes. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Just a quick reminder that polls close tomorrow in the year's most anticipated election: #Birdoftheyear2025 #BOTY2025 Make sure you get your votes in, and if you aren't sure who to vote for, here are nine worthy but sometimes overlooked candidates. theturnstone.substack.com/p/time-to-vote
Time to vote!
The year's most contentious election - that's right, it's Bird of the Year 2025 (5 minute read)
theturnstone.substack.com
Another under appreciated candidate for #birdoftheyear2025, the teeny-tiniest tītīpounamu. #sciart Weighs less than a large garden snail.
Here it is, my guide to why you should vote for some of Aotearoa’s under-appreciated birds. open.substack.com/pub/theturns...
Time to vote!
The year's most contentious election - that's right, it's Bird of the Year 2025 (5 minute read)
open.substack.com
I decided to get behind #Birdoftheyear2025 so I've written a guide and done some drawings for 9 underappreciated birds. Here's one for hākoakoa #skua since I was inspired by @hakoakoa-boty.bsky.social The guide comes out tomorrow. Can you guess which other birds are on my list?
Hihi putting in a strong showing a day before voting opens in #BirdoftheYear2025
Bluesky Elder Dirt@rubdirtinit.bsky.social · 11mo agoSorry, this poster won me over
Something to help you through one of the most momentous decisions you'll make all year - which bird to vote for in #BirdoftheYear2025
Forest & Bird@forestandbird.bsky.social · 11mo agoNeed some help choosing which birds to vote for in the 20th Bird of the Year? Download our handy flowchart. Voting opens Monday! 👉https://f.mtr.cool/euvawqrgje #BOTY2025 #BirdoftheYear2025 #BirdoftheYear
I'm still finishing my work after 9pm because I decided to take a 3 hour walk this afternoon in the most perfect Wellington weather. Totally worth it. I made someone very happy.
Drawing moths has given me a new appreciation of a group which I previously studied as pests. Here are a couple whose arrival in New Zealand led to major eradication programmes. #sciart
#MothMay got extended - I'm still drawing moths! Here's a couple of highlights from my article about the latest in lepidopteran fashion, as some of nature's most striking moths strut down the runway with flying colours. @loadofolbobbins.bsky.social #SciArt
