Alexander Lees
@alexanderlees.bsky.social
Birds, science, politics. Reader Man Met Uni, Associate Cornell Lab of #Ornithology, Chair BOURC, Trustee @bou.org.uk SC @ras-network.bsky.social. Usually found in the #PeakDistrict or #Amazonia, he/him. Views own.
Reposted by Alexander Lees
Techno-optimism around AI reveals the contempt these CEOs and tech bros have for the work most of us do. They think writing, thinking and art can all be automated by AI because *they* can’t do any of those things.
February 13, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Techno-optimism around AI reveals the contempt these CEOs and tech bros have for the work most of us do. They think writing, thinking and art can all be automated by AI because *they* can’t do any of those things.
Reposted by Alexander Lees
Claims that #AI can help fix climate dismissed as greenwashing
- Most claims refer to machine learning and not the energy-hungry chatbots and image generation tools
#climatecrisis
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
- Most claims refer to machine learning and not the energy-hungry chatbots and image generation tools
#climatecrisis
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Claims that AI can help fix climate dismissed as greenwashing
Industry using ‘diversionary’ tactics, says analyst, as energy-hungry complex functions such as video generation and deep research proliferate
www.theguardian.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Claims that #AI can help fix climate dismissed as greenwashing
- Most claims refer to machine learning and not the energy-hungry chatbots and image generation tools
#climatecrisis
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
- Most claims refer to machine learning and not the energy-hungry chatbots and image generation tools
#climatecrisis
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Alexander Lees
🔴 Big Tech Accused of AI ‘Greenwashing’
A new report has found that “the promises of planet-saving tech remain hollow”.
📝 @joeygrostern.bsky.social
A new report has found that “the promises of planet-saving tech remain hollow”.
📝 @joeygrostern.bsky.social
Big Tech Accused of AI ‘Greenwashing’
The big tech industry’s claims about the climate benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) are largely unproven and unsubstantiated, according to a new report from a coalition of climate advocacy and a...
www.desmog.com
February 17, 2026 at 11:06 AM
🔴 Big Tech Accused of AI ‘Greenwashing’
A new report has found that “the promises of planet-saving tech remain hollow”.
📝 @joeygrostern.bsky.social
A new report has found that “the promises of planet-saving tech remain hollow”.
📝 @joeygrostern.bsky.social
Reposted by Alexander Lees
FT Big Read: Why rivers are turning orange
Climate change is doing what mining used to - causing metals to flow into the water
www.ft.com/content/2ffa...
Climate change is doing what mining used to - causing metals to flow into the water
www.ft.com/content/2ffa...
The grim message in the ‘rusting’ Arctic rivers
The bright orange waterways are a sign that permafrost is thawing rapidly, with potentially hazardous consequences
www.ft.com
February 17, 2026 at 10:44 AM
FT Big Read: Why rivers are turning orange
Climate change is doing what mining used to - causing metals to flow into the water
www.ft.com/content/2ffa...
Climate change is doing what mining used to - causing metals to flow into the water
www.ft.com/content/2ffa...
Reposted by Alexander Lees
🌡️ For the third year in a row, every day in 2025 was more than 1°C warmer than the 1850–1900 pre-industrial level. Over a third of days were above 1.5°C.
⬇️
⬇️
February 17, 2026 at 9:30 AM
🌡️ For the third year in a row, every day in 2025 was more than 1°C warmer than the 1850–1900 pre-industrial level. Over a third of days were above 1.5°C.
⬇️
⬇️
Reposted by Alexander Lees
New role! 📢 We're looking for a dynamic and experienced Science Manager to join us at BTO. Apply now ➡️ www.bto.org/jobs #Ornithology
📆 Full time, Permanent.
📝 £46,344 per annum.
📍 Hybrid working.
Deadline for applications: Monday 9 March.
📆 Full time, Permanent.
📝 £46,344 per annum.
📍 Hybrid working.
Deadline for applications: Monday 9 March.
February 17, 2026 at 8:00 AM
New role! 📢 We're looking for a dynamic and experienced Science Manager to join us at BTO. Apply now ➡️ www.bto.org/jobs #Ornithology
📆 Full time, Permanent.
📝 £46,344 per annum.
📍 Hybrid working.
Deadline for applications: Monday 9 March.
📆 Full time, Permanent.
📝 £46,344 per annum.
📍 Hybrid working.
Deadline for applications: Monday 9 March.
Reposted by Alexander Lees
Today's #birdart is this wonderful print of Swifts and Swallows after the artist Alison Ingram. Superb.
#birds #art #artappreciation #ukbirds 🪶🎨
@iand777.bsky.social @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social @markavery.bsky.social @alexanderlees.bsky.social @edkeeble.bsky.social @birdlady100.bsky.social
#birds #art #artappreciation #ukbirds 🪶🎨
@iand777.bsky.social @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social @markavery.bsky.social @alexanderlees.bsky.social @edkeeble.bsky.social @birdlady100.bsky.social
February 17, 2026 at 8:07 AM
Today's #birdart is this wonderful print of Swifts and Swallows after the artist Alison Ingram. Superb.
#birds #art #artappreciation #ukbirds 🪶🎨
@iand777.bsky.social @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social @markavery.bsky.social @alexanderlees.bsky.social @edkeeble.bsky.social @birdlady100.bsky.social
#birds #art #artappreciation #ukbirds 🪶🎨
@iand777.bsky.social @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social @markavery.bsky.social @alexanderlees.bsky.social @edkeeble.bsky.social @birdlady100.bsky.social
Reposted by Alexander Lees
To a first approximation, all Australian vertebrates are lizards. 🦎
But not just any lizards, Sphenomorphine skinks!
With more than 280 species they are hyper variable. Now, Janne Torkkola has pulled together the biggest phylogeny of the group to date. Read for free:
doi.org/10.1016/j.ym...
1/4
But not just any lizards, Sphenomorphine skinks!
With more than 280 species they are hyper variable. Now, Janne Torkkola has pulled together the biggest phylogeny of the group to date. Read for free:
doi.org/10.1016/j.ym...
1/4
February 17, 2026 at 12:57 AM
To a first approximation, all Australian vertebrates are lizards. 🦎
But not just any lizards, Sphenomorphine skinks!
With more than 280 species they are hyper variable. Now, Janne Torkkola has pulled together the biggest phylogeny of the group to date. Read for free:
doi.org/10.1016/j.ym...
1/4
But not just any lizards, Sphenomorphine skinks!
With more than 280 species they are hyper variable. Now, Janne Torkkola has pulled together the biggest phylogeny of the group to date. Read for free:
doi.org/10.1016/j.ym...
1/4
Reposted by Alexander Lees
The drunk uncle theory.
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
agree with this (hah) but also think a particular mistake the left made for a long time online, and still makes to an extent, is failing to understand that the person whose mind you may actually change is the one reading the argument you're having, not the one you're arguing with
The secret to engaging in social media debate is knowing you will never win anyone over. The best you can hope for is to have people who already agree with tell you you're awesome. You might great a dopamine thrill from the righteousness of your anger! Fine benefits, all. But you will never win.
February 16, 2026 at 11:35 PM
The drunk uncle theory.
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
Reposted by Alexander Lees
The left, being actually educated, with enough humanities to have discernment and judgement as well as moral reasoning, is pretty damn good at metabolizing new information. And it sniffed this pile of badly generated shit to discern it’s environmentally & informationally poisonous as hell.
I think this is directionally correct and honestly I'm less concerned about what it means for the left's take on AI than I am for the left's ability to metabolize new information and changing circumstances generally www.transformernews.ai/p/the-left-i...
The left is missing out on AI
As a movement, it has largely refused to engage seriously with AI, ceding debate about a threat and opportunity to the right
www.transformernews.ai
February 17, 2026 at 6:39 AM
The left, being actually educated, with enough humanities to have discernment and judgement as well as moral reasoning, is pretty damn good at metabolizing new information. And it sniffed this pile of badly generated shit to discern it’s environmentally & informationally poisonous as hell.
Reposted by Alexander Lees
🔴NEW: The Scottish Government has been secretly lobbied to give the go-ahead to one of Scotland’s most fiercely disputed planning applications, according to emails seen by The Ferret.
Read the full story 👉 https://bit.ly/4kYdMl3
Read the full story 👉 https://bit.ly/4kYdMl3
February 16, 2026 at 5:31 PM
🔴NEW: The Scottish Government has been secretly lobbied to give the go-ahead to one of Scotland’s most fiercely disputed planning applications, according to emails seen by The Ferret.
Read the full story 👉 https://bit.ly/4kYdMl3
Read the full story 👉 https://bit.ly/4kYdMl3
Periodic reminder that moa de-extinction could lead to net biodiversity loss due to conservation deprioritisation of extant species. The (re)introduction process of any resultant genetically-modified Emus will very expensive www.nature.com/articles/s41... #Ornithology
February 17, 2026 at 6:50 AM
Periodic reminder that moa de-extinction could lead to net biodiversity loss due to conservation deprioritisation of extant species. The (re)introduction process of any resultant genetically-modified Emus will very expensive www.nature.com/articles/s41... #Ornithology
Reposted by Alexander Lees
Today I heard Paul Scofield, Senior Curator of Natural History at Canterbury Museum, give a public talk on moa resurrection and the museumʻs partnership with Colossal Biosciences (the “dire wolf” people).
February 17, 2026 at 1:31 AM
Today I heard Paul Scofield, Senior Curator of Natural History at Canterbury Museum, give a public talk on moa resurrection and the museumʻs partnership with Colossal Biosciences (the “dire wolf” people).
Reposted by Alexander Lees
A bit of bird art to share, from Philip Rickman's sketchbook, 1935. Woodcock. @iand777.bsky.social @alexanderlees.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social @nicwilson.bsky.social @mmcminn.bsky.social @markavery.bsky.social
#waders #birds #ukbirds #art #oldbooks 🪶📖
#waders #birds #ukbirds #art #oldbooks 🪶📖
February 16, 2026 at 2:07 PM
A bit of bird art to share, from Philip Rickman's sketchbook, 1935. Woodcock. @iand777.bsky.social @alexanderlees.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social @nicwilson.bsky.social @mmcminn.bsky.social @markavery.bsky.social
#waders #birds #ukbirds #art #oldbooks 🪶📖
#waders #birds #ukbirds #art #oldbooks 🪶📖
Reposted by Alexander Lees
Have you ever once seen the New York Times quote Trump like this?
February 16, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Have you ever once seen the New York Times quote Trump like this?
Reposted by Alexander Lees
never thought I would read the phrase
"competition for conspecifics faeces"
in the abstract of a scientific paper
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
"competition for conspecifics faeces"
in the abstract of a scientific paper
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Seasonal variation in coprophagic foraging in alpine choughs Pyrrhocorax graculus
Coprophagy, defined as the ingestion of faeces sourced from either self (autocoprophagy), conspecific animals (allocoprophagy), or heterospecific animals (heterocoprophagy), is recognized as a physio....
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
February 16, 2026 at 7:37 PM
never thought I would read the phrase
"competition for conspecifics faeces"
in the abstract of a scientific paper
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
"competition for conspecifics faeces"
in the abstract of a scientific paper
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Alexander Lees
Imagination is insane- we have a movie theater in our head and we use it basically for everything. But how did it evolve?
Honestly, I have no idea, but I would like to find out.
This is a first step in this direction. Would love to get thoughts from people here
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Honestly, I have no idea, but I would like to find out.
This is a first step in this direction. Would love to get thoughts from people here
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
The neural basis of imagination: An evolutionary perspective
The study of imagination has progressed due to its operationalization through a variety of behavioural tasks, initially designed for human participant…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Imagination is insane- we have a movie theater in our head and we use it basically for everything. But how did it evolve?
Honestly, I have no idea, but I would like to find out.
This is a first step in this direction. Would love to get thoughts from people here
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Honestly, I have no idea, but I would like to find out.
This is a first step in this direction. Would love to get thoughts from people here
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Alexander Lees
And another bites the dust?
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: this is London calling | Editorial
Editorial: With just seven weeks before its funding runs out, the UK’s greatest cultural asset and most trusted international news organisation must be supported
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 3:40 PM
And another bites the dust?
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Alexander Lees
Are Great Tits becoming Not So-Great Tits? New preprint from @davididiaquez.bsky.social et al. documenting decline in mass of adult Great Tits in @wythamwoods.bsky.social of ~1 s.d. over 47 years - results from carry-over effect of increased population density during the nestling period. Thread ⬇️
We have published a new pre-print showing a decline in great tit adult and nestling mass of around 1 gram in 47 y. [rate of approx. -0.040 Hadanes] With @ellafcole.bsky.social, @devisatarkar.bsky.social, Sam. Crofts, @mcmahok.bsky.social & @sheldonbirds.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
February 15, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Are Great Tits becoming Not So-Great Tits? New preprint from @davididiaquez.bsky.social et al. documenting decline in mass of adult Great Tits in @wythamwoods.bsky.social of ~1 s.d. over 47 years - results from carry-over effect of increased population density during the nestling period. Thread ⬇️
Reposted by Alexander Lees
Had a great time at Manchester Met’s Animal Behaviour and Conservation research day yesterday, with four amazing talks including @vixfranks.bsky.social on HiHi social networks. Enjoyed learning about cool research by @stephharris.bsky.social, @jacobcdunn.bsky.social and Mark Mainwaring too!
February 13, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Had a great time at Manchester Met’s Animal Behaviour and Conservation research day yesterday, with four amazing talks including @vixfranks.bsky.social on HiHi social networks. Enjoyed learning about cool research by @stephharris.bsky.social, @jacobcdunn.bsky.social and Mark Mainwaring too!
Reposted by Alexander Lees
Amazing story of a moth once thought extinct being recorded in the wild after 150 years!
This story shows the power of platforms like #inaturalist and the value of a #bioblitz, with this moth recorded during the Great Southern BioBlitz 2021 @gsbioblitz.bsky.social
#mothsmatter #inverts #bugsky
This story shows the power of platforms like #inaturalist and the value of a #bioblitz, with this moth recorded during the Great Southern BioBlitz 2021 @gsbioblitz.bsky.social
#mothsmatter #inverts #bugsky
An emerald-green moth missing for nearly 150 years has been rediscovered in South Africa.
Photos posted online confirmed the survival of Drepanogynis insciata, once known only from 1870s specimens — highlighting the power of citizen science platforms like iNaturalist.
Photos posted online confirmed the survival of Drepanogynis insciata, once known only from 1870s specimens — highlighting the power of citizen science platforms like iNaturalist.
Citizen science rediscovers rare South African moth
A strikingly handsome emerald-green moth, lost to science for nearly one-and-a-half centuries, has been rediscovered in South Africa by citizen scientists who posted photographs of it online. The…
news.mongabay.com
February 14, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Amazing story of a moth once thought extinct being recorded in the wild after 150 years!
This story shows the power of platforms like #inaturalist and the value of a #bioblitz, with this moth recorded during the Great Southern BioBlitz 2021 @gsbioblitz.bsky.social
#mothsmatter #inverts #bugsky
This story shows the power of platforms like #inaturalist and the value of a #bioblitz, with this moth recorded during the Great Southern BioBlitz 2021 @gsbioblitz.bsky.social
#mothsmatter #inverts #bugsky
Generative AI in its current form isn't going to facilitate any step-change in scientific understanding
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Grant proposals drafted with AI help more likely to win NIH funding
But funding proposals to US agencies also tend to be more similar to previously funded projects if they are written or edited with the help of a chatbot.
www.nature.com
February 15, 2026 at 6:52 AM
Generative AI in its current form isn't going to facilitate any step-change in scientific understanding
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Alexander Lees
It's still a shock to find a new PFAS forever chemical hotspot, even when it's inevitable. A bit of digging around paper mills, which often use PFAS, revealed the banned carcinogen PFOS at levels as high as 3,000ng/l in groundwater in south Cumbria
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Race to find source of carcinogenic Pfas in Cumbria and Lancashire waters
Exclusive: High levels of banned ‘forever chemical’ have been detected in rivers and groundwater at 25 sites
www.theguardian.com
February 14, 2026 at 7:37 AM
It's still a shock to find a new PFAS forever chemical hotspot, even when it's inevitable. A bit of digging around paper mills, which often use PFAS, revealed the banned carcinogen PFOS at levels as high as 3,000ng/l in groundwater in south Cumbria
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Alexander Lees
club300.dk/articles.php...
Hadn’t seen this note previously on a potential W-w x Velvet Scoter hybrid collected in Greenland
Hadn’t seen this note previously on a potential W-w x Velvet Scoter hybrid collected in Greenland
Club300.dk - Artikler
club300.dk
February 14, 2026 at 6:58 PM
club300.dk/articles.php...
Hadn’t seen this note previously on a potential W-w x Velvet Scoter hybrid collected in Greenland
Hadn’t seen this note previously on a potential W-w x Velvet Scoter hybrid collected in Greenland
Reposted by Alexander Lees
Friendly reminder:
NO ONE needs AI slop and more AI data centres
EVERYBODY needs clean water, affordable energy, and a habitable planet
NO ONE needs AI slop and more AI data centres
EVERYBODY needs clean water, affordable energy, and a habitable planet
February 8, 2026 at 10:50 AM
Friendly reminder:
NO ONE needs AI slop and more AI data centres
EVERYBODY needs clean water, affordable energy, and a habitable planet
NO ONE needs AI slop and more AI data centres
EVERYBODY needs clean water, affordable energy, and a habitable planet