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booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Curiosititis
@booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
470 followers 430 following 610 posts
Avid reader, lifelong learner, birding, love all things open source, R user, love data analysis and visualization. All photographs posted on this account are taken by me unless explicitly noted otherwise or shared as reposts.
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booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
A hooded vulture from my recent trip to the Carolina Raptor Center.

January 17 2026. Charlotte NC US.

#birds #vultures #CarolinaRaptorCenter
Hooded vulture photographed in profile through metal wire fence. Visible from shoulders up, the bird has a bare pinkish-white head and neck, dark brown hood, and dark brown plumage. 1/3. A hooded vulture photographed through a metal wire fence. Only the head of the bird and part of the neck are visible. The face is pinkish white while the black beak curves down sharply. The head has dark brown fluffy feathers that look like a hood from the front. Hooded vulture photographed in profile through a metal wire fence.
January 26, 2026 at 7:43 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Enjoyed watching this video and learning about bird behavior at feeders. The slow motion photography is beautiful.

#birds #birdfeeders #AllAboutBirds
Understand Bird Behavior at the Feeder: Backyard Birds Revealed
The Backyard Birds Revealed video series is made possible by Wild Birds Unlimited. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5URePkU16k&list=PLgSpqOFj1Ta4DRdyHxiqK-6xHIxuYgd2h&index=3 Show Transcript [...
www.allaboutbirds.org
January 26, 2026 at 12:48 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
This hawk (red-shouldered?) was in the trees near our feeders for a couple of hours today.

January 25, 2026. Charlotte NC US.

#birds #BirdsofNC #hawks #BackyardBirding
A red-shouldered hawk perches on a tree branch facing the camera and looking to its right.
January 26, 2026 at 2:21 AM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
The snow and cold temperatures kept our feeders very busy today. Suet nuggets seemed to be very popular!

At any time, we probably had 20-25 birds at our feeders and on our deck floor except when hawks were nearby in the trees.

January 25 2026. Charlotte NC US.

#birds #BirdsofNC #BackyardBirding
Cardinals, goldfinches, and house finches at various bird-feeders attached to the deck rail. A layer of snow/ice is on the rail. A red-bellied woodpecker, two white-throated sparrows, and cardinals feed from various bird-feeders attached to a deck rail. The rail is covered with a layer of snow/ice.
January 25, 2026 at 11:37 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
An Eastern Towhee braving the snow on our deck this morning.

January 25 2026. Charlotte NC US.

#birds #towhees #BackyardBirding #BirdsofNC
Eastern Towhee standing on snow-covered deck in profile view, head turned left, showing black back with white stripes along wing feathers. An in-shell peanut and some seeds lie scattered on top of the snow.
January 25, 2026 at 9:24 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
We scattered seeds and nuts on our snow-covered deck this morning—about half an inch fell overnight. The birds are incredibly active.

January 25 2026. Charlotte NC US.

#birds #BirdsofNC #BackyardBirding
A house finch perches on the rim of a snow/ice covered birdbath. A gold finch eating seeds from an in ice/snow covered deck floor. A dark-eyed junco perched on the top rail of a deck covered with ice. Several birds (cardinals, sparrows, gold finches, house finches) feeding on the seeds on a snow-covered floor of a deck.
January 25, 2026 at 3:04 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Alan (@alan678.bsky.social), #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #poise. The alt is #white.

I've gone with the alt theme with these tufted #titmice that were at our feeders yesterday. Likely, it was two individuals.

January 24 2026. Charlotte NC US.

#birds #BackyardBirding #BirdsofNC
Four photos of tufted titmice perched on a tube bird feeder. The birds have grey backs, white breasts, large dark eyes, and pointed grey crests on their heads.
January 25, 2026 at 2:26 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
A red-bellied woodpecker at our bird-feeders, this afternoon. A female cardinal is perched on a tree branch in the background.

January 24 2026. Charlotte NC US.

#birds #BirdsofNC #BackyardBirding #woodpeckers
Red-bellied woodpecker clutches a peanut in its bill while clinging to the mesh of a tube feeder.
January 24, 2026 at 9:59 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
A Northern Cardinal and a Carolina Wren busy at one of our feeders this morning.

A good photo for a future #BirdoftheDay theme that, I am sure, Rob (@robcrank68.bsky.social) and Alan (@alan678.bsky.social) will choose. 😀

#birds #wrens #cardinals #BackyardBirding #BirdsofNC
A Carolina Wren and male Northern Cardinal share a tube feeder. The wren perches slightly above the cardinal, both with their heads tucked behind the feeder as they feed.
January 24, 2026 at 5:39 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
For #SquirrelSaturday, here's a #squirrel performing acrobatics to feed on suet.

April 25 2025. Charlotte NC US.

#squirrels
January 24, 2026 at 12:38 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Rob, today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Swans and the Alt theme is #Pigeons&Doves.

I've gone with these pigeons.

July 13 2025. Porto Portugal.

#birds #BirdsofPorto
Two pigeons on stone pavement. One appears in profile while only the head and neck of the second are visible in the frame. Overhead view of a pigeon showing a black head, neck, and breast, with light gray wings marked by black stripes. A pigeon in profile, perched on stone pavement. Its head and neck display dull grey plumage with black spots, contrasting with its black back and belly. White feathers accent the tail.
January 24, 2026 at 12:14 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Alan (@alan678.bsky.social), today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #walking, birds walking.

This #willet and boat-tailed (?) #grackles are my contribution.

#birds #BirdsofNC
A willet walks across a sandy shore still wet from the receding Atlantic. Boat-tailed grackles foraging together—glossy black bodies, striking yellow eyes, moving purposefully across the ground.
January 23, 2026 at 2:49 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Rob (@robcrank68.bsky.social), today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #TailsUp, any bird with its tail raised.

This rufous treepie is my contribution.

October 5, 2025. Kolkata India.

#birds #treepies #BirdsofKolkata
A bird with a cinnamon-colored body, black head, and a long tail foraging on the ground for food.
January 22, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Reposted by Curiosititis
mitpress.bsky.social
Renowned engineer and lifelong birder Lorna Gibson reveals the marvel of how birds work, exploring the hidden microscopic structures and engineering principles that keep birds aloft and alive.

"Birds Up Close" flies onto shelves April 28th, 2026: mitpress.mit.edu/978026204989...
Image of "Birds Up Close: An Engineer Explores Their Hidden Wonders" by Lorna Gibson. The cover depicts a zoomed in image of a white feather over a black-and-white bird with a red cap and a seed in its beak. Text below the image features a review from Kirkus that reads "Eye-opening, if best suited for the geekiest birds and enginerds."
January 21, 2026 at 9:40 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Alan (@alan678.bsky.social), the #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #singing, birds singing or calling.

Here's a red-winged blackbird singing/calling.

June 28 2022. Minneapolis MN US.

#birds #blackbirds
January 21, 2026 at 11:30 AM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
A "tree of life" full of #cormorants, a painted #storks nest, and black-crowned night #herons.

During a walk around Rabindra Sarobar in South #Kolkata, I discovered this remarkable tree serving as a sanctuary for birds.

Possibly a repost.

March 11 2025. Kolkata India.

#birds #BirdsofKolkata
Cormorants crowd the tree branches while a pair of Painted Storks tend their nest with chicks. Black-crowned Night Herons round out the scene.
January 20, 2026 at 12:48 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Rob (@robcrank68.bsky.social), today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #FeedingTime, any bird eating, and the Alt theme is #Gulls.

I've gone with this Common Grackle feeding its young one.

June 21 2025. Charlotte NC US.

#birds #CommonGrackles #BirdsofNC #BackyardBirding
January 20, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Reposted by Curiosititis
theguardian.com
Back-scratching bovine leads scientists to reassess intelligence of cows
Back-scratching bovine leads scientists to reassess intelligence of cows
Brown Swiss in Austria has been discovered using tools in multiple ways – something only ever seen in humans and chimpanzees Scientists have been forced to rethink the intelligence of cattle after an Austrian cow named Veronika displayed an impressive – and until now undocumented – knack for tool use. Witgar Wiegele, an organic farmer and baker from a small town in Carinthia near the Italian border, keeps Veronika as a pet and noticed that she occasionally played with sticks and used them to scratch her body. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 4:04 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Alan (@alan678.bsky.social), the #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #Winterlight , any bird highlighted by winter sunlight.

I've gone with a #willet enjoying the stunning Atlantic Ocean sunrise and #EasternBluebirds.

December 2025. NC US.

#birds #BirdsofNC #backyardbirding
A Willet stands alert at the ocean's edge, scanning the surf and receding waters for prey as dawn breaks over the Atlantic. Two Eastern Bluebirds share a birdbath's edge, sunlight catching the brilliant blue gradations across the nearer bird's plumage. An Eastern Bluebird perches on the rim of a metal ring, its back turned toward the camera. Sunlight illuminates its radiant blue plumage.
January 19, 2026 at 12:05 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
A short video from yesterday of a king vulture at the Carolina Raptor Center.

I learned that these vultures poop on their own legs apparently to cool themselves and to kill off bacteria!

January 17 2026. Charlotte NC US.

#birds #vultures #CarolinaRaptorCenter
January 18, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Reposted by Curiosititis
beachrelaxin.bsky.social
They're neck and neck, folks. This one is coming down to the wire!

Common Mergansers

#BirdOfTheDay #TwoOfAKind #birds #nature #photography #StunDay #EastCoastKin
Two female ducks with cinnamon brown heads, long thin reddish orange beaks and pale gray back swim close together in a rippling stream. Their fluffy crests flattened and their are necks are outstretched as if they are reaching for the finish line with the one at the front of the frame and in focus just ahead of the other.
January 18, 2026 at 1:48 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Rob (@robcrank68.bsky.social), today's #BirdOfTheDay theme as #TwoOfAKind pairs of the same bird.

I share this short video of a downy woodpecker mom and juvenile (son?).

May 11 2025. Charlotte NC US.

#birds #woodpeckers #BirdsofNC #backyardbirding
January 18, 2026 at 1:51 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
My contribution to today's #SquirrelSaturday.

January 17 2026. Charlotte NC US.

#squirrels
A squirrel sitting under a open bowl feeder with peanuts in shell and eating a peanut.
January 17, 2026 at 11:29 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Alan (@alan678.bsky.social), the #BirdOfTheDay theme for today is #perfectperch birds perched on a branch.

A white-throated #sparrow accompanied by a downy #woodpecker nearby is my contribution.

January 14 2026. Charlotte NC US.

#birds #backyardbirding #BirdsofNC
A white-throated sparrow rests on a branch while a downy woodpecker clings to the trunk nearby.
January 17, 2026 at 4:26 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Buddhist monks on their Walk for Peace from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, DC passed through Concord, North Carolina yesterday—Day 83 of their journey to promote peace.

I was fortunate to witness this leg of their walk.

#WalkforPeace #W4P
Several buddhist monks, escorted by police cars, walking up a hill. Crowds gather outside the church hall, awaiting the monks' address. A Walk for Peace banner featuring a sketch of a pigeon holding a green leaf in its mouth. The words 'HOPE,' 'COMPASSION,' 'LOVING-KINDNESS,' 'HARMONY,' and 'LOVE' gracefully adorn the pigeon's feathers, while 'WALK FOR PEACE' appears in bold letters across the bottom of the banner.
January 17, 2026 at 7:18 AM