Dr Alex Bond
@thelabandfield.bsky.social
Conservation, curator in charge of birbs, island hopper, runner, connoisseur of fine teas, biscuit fiend, v left, queer af, Erdős–Bacon = 8, he/him. [🏳️🌈🇨🇦🐧 and some 🇦🇺🇵🇳] 📍 Tring & Milton Keynes, UK https://linktr.ee/albnd
Other things you can do as a cis ally: -use "prefer not to say" when orgs/employers want to collect your demographic data. -nab some trans flag merch - pins, patches, etc. Flood the market with false positives -ask orgs that ARE enforcing this, HOW they are doing so. Make it awkward af
Slurms MacKenzie@slurmsmackenzie.bsky.social · 12h agoEHRC Code of Practice comes into effect today so remember to be an absolute pain in the arse to any service provider who is trying to actively enforce it.
I've been a mentor for the last two years and it's been a lot of fun! Not a huge commitment, and I've had some amazing mentees (well, all of them really!). If you're keen (as a mentor or mentee), I'm happy to answer any questions. #ornithology
The Seabird Group@theseabirdgroup.bsky.social · 9h agoOur Guillemates 2026/27 mentoring is now open for sign-up! 🐧 Join a colony of peers at a similar career stage 🤝 Be matched with a mentor (or become one!) 🎤 Take part in population-wide talks 🔹 Mentee sign-up: forms.gle/HyxYdjYz6Lgt... 🔹 Mentor sign-up: forms.gle/AQUHoa5NKa5h...
new paper (my first w/ a Tok Pisin abstract)! our 2024 camera trap record of the rare New Britain Thrush prompted a review of all known observations of the species since its description—a mere 15 total. led by MS student Jason Gregg for the brand-new Journal of Lost Species: doi.org/10.66264/3c8...
Bede's World! Bede's World! Party time! Venerable!
New species of antthrush, the Baturité antthrush (Chamaeza baturitensis, right): www.scielo.br/j/zool/a/qbw... 🪶🧪 (📷Eduardo P. Brettas)
I love that the size of a ground hornbill nestbox is essentially a small shed. #ornithology
FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology@africanornithology.bsky.social · 2w agoArtificial nesting sites (nestboxes) can boost breeding opportunities for the Southern Ground-Hornbill. In South Africa, nestboxes increased the number of breeding groups, revealing their value as a conservation tool where natural nest sites are scarce. doi.org/10.1017/S095... #AfricanOrnithology
FOUND! 🔍 Red Weaver rediscovered in Kenya! The striking Red Weaver has been documented for the first time since 2014. Supported by an Ornis Birding Expeditions x Lost Birds Expedition Grant. More: abcbirds.info/3RTJhSS @rewildorg.bsky.social @birdlifeglobal.bsky.social
🆕 #seabirds paper led by Alyssa Piauwasdy Leg-mounted GLS had no detectable effect on chick growth, fledging, or adult return rates in Wedge-tailed Shearwaters on Oʻahu. Year did. Chicks grew slower in El Niño — tagged or not. 🔗 doi.org/10.5751/JFO-... #geolocators #biologging #Hawaii
Journal of Field Ornithology: Geolocator devices did not affect chick growth or adult return rates in Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (<em>Ardenna pacifica</em>) despite interannual variation in chick develo...
Although biologging has transformed seabird ecology, bird-borne devices could alter the behaviors being studied, including parental care. We tested for effects of leg-mounted light-level geolocators (...
doi.org
Sharks may not be full of plastic! Finally, some good fuckin' news!
Dr Alex Bond@thelabandfield.bsky.social · 2d agoThe finding: no plastic (>1 mm) in any specimen. In marine plastic research, that's a rare and genuinely good result. It suggests pelagic elasmobranchs here may have lower plastic exposure than we'd assume, and gives us a solid baseline to track change over time.
Good to be back from our important research trip exploring the balls of other libraries.
Got woken up in the middle of the night multiple times by a bunch of coots fighting to the death. There was insane bird shrieking, the sounds of violently splashing water. I've seen these angry little assholes try to drown each other in the daytime before but at 3 a.m.? Seek some therapy, children.
Also: new taxonomic Class (or approximate equivalent) to the bucket list! Aves Mammalia Condrichthyes Actinopterygii Reptilia Malacostraca Insecta Angiosperms
Dr Alex Bond@thelabandfield.bsky.social · 2d agoNew @adriftlab.bsky.social study alert: we looked for plastic in the guts of 44 juvenile sharks and chimaera from the Bass Strait, gummy shark, southern saw shark, and elephant shark, all bycatch from 2018 trawl and longline fishing. 🦈 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
New @adriftlab.bsky.social study alert: we looked for plastic in the guts of 44 juvenile sharks and chimaera from the Bass Strait, gummy shark, southern saw shark, and elephant shark, all bycatch from 2018 trawl and longline fishing. 🦈 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Come and join our wonderful IBIS Associate Editor team! Great opportunity for professional development and community contribution:
British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU)@bou.org.uk · 2d ago📢 ASSOCIATE EDITORS WANTED Join us! IBIS is looking for Associate Editors to join our editorial team and support the peer review process Read more and complete the application form: bou.org.uk/ibis/vaca... #ornithology 🪶
Don’t forget to sign up to our seabird pride panel discussion. Whether you identify as queer or not, come along and learn how to make our field more inclusive! 🏝️🏳️🌈🪶
The Seabird Group@theseabirdgroup.bsky.social · 2w agoJoin us for our next panel discussion 'Being queer in Seabird Science'! 🏳️🌈 🗓️ Friday 7th August ⏲️ 09:30 - 11:00 (BST) 📍 Online Sign-up here to receive the joining link: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... 📷 @scottishseabird.bsky.social
OK hive mind, do I know anyone who is up on best practice for archives that are a mix of digital and physical? I need a brain to pick!
Just in case anyone on here still has images or other stuff hosted on the digital collections portal iDigBio, make sure you have your own copies. Servers are shutting down permanently on August 31st 2026. idigbio.gbif.us/post/2026/me...
URGENT: ACT NOW to ensure your images and other media are not lost forever! - Integrated Digitized Biocollections (iDigBio)
Making data and images of millions of biological specimens available on the web.
idigbio.gbif.us
OK hive mind, do I know anyone who is up on best practice for archives that are a mix of digital and physical? I need a brain to pick!
#TodayInQueerHistory August 2 (1977) Hal Fischer's Gay Semiotics is displayed for the 1st time at his 1st solo show, at the Lawson de Celle Gallery in San Francisco. The piece explores the visual language of the gay community. It's a celebration of identity. He pops up in MuseumBums and Hotties 🥰📚
Jack Shoulder@jackshoulder.bsky.social · 4d ago#TodayInQueerHistory August 1 (1714) At around 0730 this morning, Queen Anne died. One of her doctors wrote "I believe sleep was never more welcome to a weary traveller than death was to her." Anne had intense and passionate relationships with her confidantes Abigail Masham and Sarah Churchill.
One of many blunt posts from an uncompromising thread on AI mania with citations, and link to an essay version at /2 for those who prefer.
By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C)@doctorow.pluralistic.net · 4d agoSuresh says he's *never* seen a successful enterprise AI project: "Every single one – we have seen 0% success in a year and a half." Not one of their clients would face a business challenge if OpenAI went out of business tomorrow. 27/
OK ENOUGH PLAYING AROUND WHO THE FUCK HAS THIS VARIED THRUSH?!
Dr Alex Bond@thelabandfield.bsky.social · last wk.you know, for a taxon described in 1991, it's surprisingly hard to figure out where the holotype is.... Honestly, taxonomists.
Never be caught out unable to identify that pterosaur in your bins again! An essential reference for all field workers
Nick Garland@naturalhistorynick.bsky.social · 4d agoEvery known pterosaur, in one book, illustrated. Five years of work with Pete Buchholz and twenty paleoartists. Now live on Kickstarter! fossi.ls/ks
Folks if you're looking for a career pivot, this actually sounds quite cool (and is just down the road from me?!)
The Heraldry Society@theheraldrysociety.bsky.social · 4d agoA notice from The Heraldry Society concerning William Cowley the UK's last commercial parchment and vellum maker.
Worth remembering that this government is subsidising a theme park to the tune of £1.3bn. An amount that would go some way to preserving the intellectual and economic footprint of our universities.
James Woodfield@jameswoodfield.bsky.social · 4d agoAccording to the parliamentary annual report & accounts for the 2025/26 financial year, the cost of subsidising the bars in the House of Commons alone was around £5.8 million. Meanwhile, to save £3 million less than that, Jodrell Bank is being defunded and shut down. share.google/MRHIvCsCsKoc...
To the reviewer and AE who were *adamant* that we should delete these watercolors: FYI im getting loads of compliments on them. Everyone says we need more art like that in peer-reviewed pubs.
Rafael Marcondes@rafamarcondes.bsky.social · last mo.Also check out these GORGEOUS watercolors by Rice biology/art student Caroline Pollan!
