Andrew Iwaniuk
@evoneuro.bsky.social
neurobiologist, ornithologist, scruffy looking nerfherder, social distancing since 1974, Canadian in Alberta, Treaty 7 lands
🇨🇦 🇦🇺 🧪🪶🧠 stuff
open access link for our book: https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-monograph/6000/Bird-Brains-and-BehaviorA-Synthesis
🇨🇦 🇦🇺 🧪🪶🧠 stuff
open access link for our book: https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-monograph/6000/Bird-Brains-and-BehaviorA-Synthesis
Pinned
Andrew Iwaniuk
@evoneuro.bsky.social
· Jul 2
In celebration of me avoiding becoming department chair for the next 3 years and receiving a new research chair, please enjoy one of my favourite parrot photos from two years ago.
Crimson rosella (Platycercus elegans)
#birds #birding #academicsky #WildOz #parrots 🪶🦜🇨🇦🇦🇺
Crimson rosella (Platycercus elegans)
#birds #birding #academicsky #WildOz #parrots 🪶🦜🇨🇦🇦🇺
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
The parents weren't really interested, but the baby Tawny Frogmouth had to look at everything that went past.
February 2, 2026 at 4:47 AM
The parents weren't really interested, but the baby Tawny Frogmouth had to look at everything that went past.
Anyone in the #Lethbridge area, I will be giving a public talk this week to address the question I get the most: Why study bird brains? I will discuss how studying bird brains led to some major discoveries and helps us understand bird behaviour.
#yql #birds #Alberta
www.sacpa.ca/why-study-bi...
#yql #birds #Alberta
www.sacpa.ca/why-study-bi...
February 2, 2026 at 3:08 AM
Anyone in the #Lethbridge area, I will be giving a public talk this week to address the question I get the most: Why study bird brains? I will discuss how studying bird brains led to some major discoveries and helps us understand bird behaviour.
#yql #birds #Alberta
www.sacpa.ca/why-study-bi...
#yql #birds #Alberta
www.sacpa.ca/why-study-bi...
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
I don't think a lot of Albertans understand that when you have insurance, you still get the FULL bill. And you're on the hook for the FULL bill. You don't know what your insurance company will do about it. There are fights. It's a very stressful experience.
They've never seen a bill at all.
They've never seen a bill at all.
February 1, 2026 at 8:31 PM
I don't think a lot of Albertans understand that when you have insurance, you still get the FULL bill. And you're on the hook for the FULL bill. You don't know what your insurance company will do about it. There are fights. It's a very stressful experience.
They've never seen a bill at all.
They've never seen a bill at all.
JFC Australia please don’t go this route. You are currently my escape plan.
A new opinion poll has put support for One Nation ahead of the Liberals and Nationals as both parties return to Canberra with questions about their leadership. Follow live.
Live: Support for One Nation continues to rise as Nationals face leadership spill
A new opinion poll has put support for One Nation ahead of the Liberals and Nationals as both parties return to Canberra with questions about their leadership. Follow live.
www.abc.net.au
February 1, 2026 at 8:53 PM
JFC Australia please don’t go this route. You are currently my escape plan.
Of course Hauser is in the list. Because it wasn’t enough for him to be found guilty of scientific misconduct
For those of us who were grad students at Harvard in the 1990s it’s interesting to read Marc Hauser’s correspondence with JE, through the lens of Hauser’s subsequent departure from Harvard bc of scientific misconduct.
February 1, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Of course Hauser is in the list. Because it wasn’t enough for him to be found guilty of scientific misconduct
I have yet to decide if this is hilarious or hits too close to home. I’m sure the Respect in the Workplace webinar that we are all asked to complete will provide the answer…
"Most of our high-level administrators have no experience or interest in higher education. But they do have experience and interest in management science, which is universal. (Management science is not a science or a form of management. But we have new early retirement incentives)"
News, Bad and Good, from the Dean of Arts and Sciences
We have no money for copies. But our Live, Love, Learn program now includes two Undergraduate Scribe Fellows. We have no money for raises, but we’v...
buff.ly
January 31, 2026 at 8:37 PM
I have yet to decide if this is hilarious or hits too close to home. I’m sure the Respect in the Workplace webinar that we are all asked to complete will provide the answer…
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
Two of our great Canadian treasures.💔🇨🇦
January 31, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Two of our great Canadian treasures.💔🇨🇦
Glad to see the news picking this up. I just received the proposed changes to migratory bird hunting for review and the biggest issues are the swan season and a mourning dove season. Inability to ID swan species is a huge problem and our data on dove numbers is deficient
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Can you tell these swans apart? This former biologist worries hunters won't | CBC News
The federal government is considering a proposal to establish a new hunting season for tundra swans in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan — a move that one hunter says could endanger the trumpeter swa...
www.cbc.ca
January 31, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Glad to see the news picking this up. I just received the proposed changes to migratory bird hunting for review and the biggest issues are the swan season and a mourning dove season. Inability to ID swan species is a huge problem and our data on dove numbers is deficient
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
A new Powerful Owl site found this morning in a Brisbane conservation area. That's the 3rd new site @lucyparkerpaul.bsky.social & I have found and seen POwls at this year, and another with scat/pellets/POwl feathers, but no POwl seen yet. So a very good start to the year.
#brisbane #birds #wildoz
#brisbane #birds #wildoz
January 31, 2026 at 2:26 AM
A new Powerful Owl site found this morning in a Brisbane conservation area. That's the 3rd new site @lucyparkerpaul.bsky.social & I have found and seen POwls at this year, and another with scat/pellets/POwl feathers, but no POwl seen yet. So a very good start to the year.
#brisbane #birds #wildoz
#brisbane #birds #wildoz
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
Indigo-capped Hummingbird at El Retorno de los Colibris, Anaime, Tolima #Colombia
#birds #hummingbirds #nature
#birds #hummingbirds #nature
January 30, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Indigo-capped Hummingbird at El Retorno de los Colibris, Anaime, Tolima #Colombia
#birds #hummingbirds #nature
#birds #hummingbirds #nature
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
Peerless. Irreplaceable. Legendary. 🇨🇦💔 Catherine O’Hara helped define modern comedy, from SCTV to Moira Rose. CBC helped nurture and share talents like hers. That’s why public broadcasting matters. Share your favourite O’Hara moment. ❤️ #SaveTheCBC
January 30, 2026 at 7:49 PM
Peerless. Irreplaceable. Legendary. 🇨🇦💔 Catherine O’Hara helped define modern comedy, from SCTV to Moira Rose. CBC helped nurture and share talents like hers. That’s why public broadcasting matters. Share your favourite O’Hara moment. ❤️ #SaveTheCBC
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
The females are also lovely colorful birds, just with a brown head. Their black and white striped tails are my favorite part.
January 17, 2026 at 5:59 PM
The females are also lovely colorful birds, just with a brown head. Their black and white striped tails are my favorite part.
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
Powerful Owl pair sleeping at dusk in a Brisbane conservation park yesterday. After sunset they were allopreening ("kissing"). There was a sign at the entrance saying there would be burn offs, so the Powerful Owl Project will get in touch today to say the POwls are there & where the nest hollow is.
January 29, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Powerful Owl pair sleeping at dusk in a Brisbane conservation park yesterday. After sunset they were allopreening ("kissing"). There was a sign at the entrance saying there would be burn offs, so the Powerful Owl Project will get in touch today to say the POwls are there & where the nest hollow is.
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
I am LOVING the pressure Canadian Premiers are putting on Smith. Eby and Kinew as well.
Doug, you’re often a bozo, but you do know how to wave the Canadian flag.
Go ahead, guys.
Shame her.
Doug, you’re often a bozo, but you do know how to wave the Canadian flag.
Go ahead, guys.
Shame her.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford asking Alberta Premier Danielle Smith "to stand up and say enough is enough" to those leading Alberta's sovereignty movement as they meet with U.S. officials, saying you're either with Canada or not with Canada.
January 29, 2026 at 6:56 PM
I am LOVING the pressure Canadian Premiers are putting on Smith. Eby and Kinew as well.
Doug, you’re often a bozo, but you do know how to wave the Canadian flag.
Go ahead, guys.
Shame her.
Doug, you’re often a bozo, but you do know how to wave the Canadian flag.
Go ahead, guys.
Shame her.
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
new paper alert! CAM researchers Chris Guglielmo & Greg Mitchell (also ECCC) co-authors on study led by Katherine Peel (UOttawa): experimental warming reduced monarch butterfly fat mass via reductions in nectar. Another way glob chg is hurting migrant animals
doi.org/10.1002/gcb4...
doi.org/10.1002/gcb4...
Warming‐Mediated Decreases in Nectar Quality Translate Into Lower Energy Reserves of the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Warming caused a significant decrease in monarch fat mass, likely due to an observed reduction in sucrose concentration caused by warming of the nectar. Since sucrose fuels fall migration and overwin....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:43 PM
new paper alert! CAM researchers Chris Guglielmo & Greg Mitchell (also ECCC) co-authors on study led by Katherine Peel (UOttawa): experimental warming reduced monarch butterfly fat mass via reductions in nectar. Another way glob chg is hurting migrant animals
doi.org/10.1002/gcb4...
doi.org/10.1002/gcb4...
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
January 29, 2026 at 2:35 AM
While I appreciate trying to boost tourism in western Canada if you are visiting here, this is a remote area with a relatively high cougar and bear density, highly variable weather and a lot of ATVs and firearm usage. Do not travel here if you aren’t prepared…
www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
The 109km trail opening up the Canadian Rockies
Away from Banff and Jasper national parks, a new rail trail is opening up a previously inaccessible corner of Canada and teaching travellers about the nation's past.
www.bbc.com
January 29, 2026 at 2:16 AM
While I appreciate trying to boost tourism in western Canada if you are visiting here, this is a remote area with a relatively high cougar and bear density, highly variable weather and a lot of ATVs and firearm usage. Do not travel here if you aren’t prepared…
www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
www.bbc.com/travel/artic...
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
Report: Craziest politician in America makes excellent suggestion
January 28, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Report: Craziest politician in America makes excellent suggestion
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
From the DM’s…
Apparently last night at Jamil Jivani’s leadersh…
Er.
Event. It was just an event.
Yeah.
Smith called on the minister of advanced education to create a program so conservative students unhappy with their grades could have a “tip line” to report instructors.
#abpoli #cdnpoli
Apparently last night at Jamil Jivani’s leadersh…
Er.
Event. It was just an event.
Yeah.
Smith called on the minister of advanced education to create a program so conservative students unhappy with their grades could have a “tip line” to report instructors.
#abpoli #cdnpoli
January 28, 2026 at 5:38 AM
Tonight was the sad, but somewhat expected, realization that the Honours student who was barely around last semester and is tough to track down this semester does not seem to know what measurements they are doing or why.
I can only help students who help themselves by showing up.
(sigh)
I can only help students who help themselves by showing up.
(sigh)
January 28, 2026 at 4:08 AM
Tonight was the sad, but somewhat expected, realization that the Honours student who was barely around last semester and is tough to track down this semester does not seem to know what measurements they are doing or why.
I can only help students who help themselves by showing up.
(sigh)
I can only help students who help themselves by showing up.
(sigh)
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
If you are Canadian and posted something snarky about ICE today, then you also have to read & share this new piece from Other Eric.
New from me: More Than 100 Gazans Have Been Accepted to Canadian Universities. Canada Isn’t Letting Them In.
More Than 100 Gazans Have Been Accepted to Canadian Universities. Canada Isn’t Letting Them In.
See a map of the graduate programs they're planning to attend, if the government finally processes their visas
pressprogress.ca
January 27, 2026 at 10:33 PM
If you are Canadian and posted something snarky about ICE today, then you also have to read & share this new piece from Other Eric.
Working a short research proposal today for a student project on owl neuroanatomy. Preliminary data suggest that owls with symmetrical ears, like this Barking Owl, may not be as different in their auditory system anatomy from other birds as once assumed.
#owls #birds #neuroskyence
#owls #birds #neuroskyence
January 27, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Working a short research proposal today for a student project on owl neuroanatomy. Preliminary data suggest that owls with symmetrical ears, like this Barking Owl, may not be as different in their auditory system anatomy from other birds as once assumed.
#owls #birds #neuroskyence
#owls #birds #neuroskyence
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
Mother Nature must have been smoking pot when she came up with this design.
But I love it 😄
Pink cockatoo, Kinchega National Park, New South Wales.
But I love it 😄
Pink cockatoo, Kinchega National Park, New South Wales.
January 26, 2026 at 12:53 PM
Mother Nature must have been smoking pot when she came up with this design.
But I love it 😄
Pink cockatoo, Kinchega National Park, New South Wales.
But I love it 😄
Pink cockatoo, Kinchega National Park, New South Wales.
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
Evolution of the avian jaw joint and middle ear: bioone.org/journals/zoo... 🪶🧪 (📷Watanabe et al.)
January 27, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Evolution of the avian jaw joint and middle ear: bioone.org/journals/zoo... 🪶🧪 (📷Watanabe et al.)
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
The Alt #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #Yellow — birds with any yellow coloring.
Prothonotary Warbler, Kansas 2022
#Birds #NaturePhotography #Nature #Wildlife #BirdPhotography #Warblers #FlyoverCountry
Prothonotary Warbler, Kansas 2022
#Birds #NaturePhotography #Nature #Wildlife #BirdPhotography #Warblers #FlyoverCountry
January 27, 2026 at 4:53 PM
The Alt #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #Yellow — birds with any yellow coloring.
Prothonotary Warbler, Kansas 2022
#Birds #NaturePhotography #Nature #Wildlife #BirdPhotography #Warblers #FlyoverCountry
Prothonotary Warbler, Kansas 2022
#Birds #NaturePhotography #Nature #Wildlife #BirdPhotography #Warblers #FlyoverCountry