Lyn Heideman
@heidelyn.bsky.social
I'm only here for the birds. And, as it turns out, what's good for birds is good for other wildlife and people, too.
(Note on links to articles: if the article has a paywall, I post a gift link; if there's no "gift" notation, the article has no paywall.)
(Note on links to articles: if the article has a paywall, I post a gift link; if there's no "gift" notation, the article has no paywall.)
Pinned
Lyn Heideman
@heidelyn.bsky.social
· Jan 10
This bird looking into your soul may look a bit awkward as the brown juvenile feathers replace the baby down, but he wants you to know that he's a PEREGRINE FALCON and is--or soon will be--the fastest animal on earth. You?
#birds
#birds
Is climate change putting the Winter Olympics on thin ice? Winter is getting shorter. The best snow/ice is near the North & South Poles, which are warming the fastest. Warming means skiing on slush or artificial snow, and skating on melting ice or on indoor rinks. Poor conditions impact both...
February 15, 2026 at 2:31 AM
Is climate change putting the Winter Olympics on thin ice? Winter is getting shorter. The best snow/ice is near the North & South Poles, which are warming the fastest. Warming means skiing on slush or artificial snow, and skating on melting ice or on indoor rinks. Poor conditions impact both...
Did you know? California sea otter pairs hold paws as they sleep so they don't drift apart? The male sage-grouse performs one of nature’s most dazzling courtship dances, to win a mate and continue a species struggling to survive? The red wolf, one of the rarest mammals in America, mate for life...
February 15, 2026 at 12:41 AM
Did you know? California sea otter pairs hold paws as they sleep so they don't drift apart? The male sage-grouse performs one of nature’s most dazzling courtship dances, to win a mate and continue a species struggling to survive? The red wolf, one of the rarest mammals in America, mate for life...
Great start to Great Backyard Bird Count! In the 1st 2 days: 91,000 eBird checklists, 250,000 Merlin submissions, 32,397 Macaulay Library photos/videos/sounds, 411 community events, 6,823 bird species seen/heard worldwide.
Watch the world map light up with bird submissions: ebird.org/gbbc/livesubs?
Watch the world map light up with bird submissions: ebird.org/gbbc/livesubs?
February 14, 2026 at 11:08 PM
Great start to Great Backyard Bird Count! In the 1st 2 days: 91,000 eBird checklists, 250,000 Merlin submissions, 32,397 Macaulay Library photos/videos/sounds, 411 community events, 6,823 bird species seen/heard worldwide.
Watch the world map light up with bird submissions: ebird.org/gbbc/livesubs?
Watch the world map light up with bird submissions: ebird.org/gbbc/livesubs?
“The past warming rate is no longer a reliable predictor of the future." From 1970 to 2010, global warming proceeded at a fairly steady rate: ~0.19°C/decade. Then the warming rate ticked up over the past decade: ~0.27°C/decade, or a 42% increase.
February 14, 2026 at 6:21 AM
“The past warming rate is no longer a reliable predictor of the future." From 1970 to 2010, global warming proceeded at a fairly steady rate: ~0.19°C/decade. Then the warming rate ticked up over the past decade: ~0.27°C/decade, or a 42% increase.
The US Forest Service proposed a new rule that gives the public minimal notification and less time to comment on forest management decisions. They say the changes “will ensure the Forest Service can act swiftly to deliver projects that build healthier, more resilient forests and infrastructure.”
February 14, 2026 at 5:15 AM
The US Forest Service proposed a new rule that gives the public minimal notification and less time to comment on forest management decisions. They say the changes “will ensure the Forest Service can act swiftly to deliver projects that build healthier, more resilient forests and infrastructure.”
Elephant trunks can push over 900 lb trees yet pick up a tortilla chip without breaking it, sense ground vibrations from far-off herds, solve puzzles, craft tools, and much more. How? The 100s of whiskers on an elephant’s trunk are some of the most sophisticated and sensitive in the animal kingdom.
February 14, 2026 at 3:07 AM
Elephant trunks can push over 900 lb trees yet pick up a tortilla chip without breaking it, sense ground vibrations from far-off herds, solve puzzles, craft tools, and much more. How? The 100s of whiskers on an elephant’s trunk are some of the most sophisticated and sensitive in the animal kingdom.
The next Cornell Lab of Ornithology Birds of the World webinar is on Feb 19 at 11 am EST. The topic is Asian Vulture Conservation, featuring Chris Bowden, a leading conservation biologist specializing in globally threatened bird species, particularly vultures across Asia.
February 13, 2026 at 4:46 PM
The next Cornell Lab of Ornithology Birds of the World webinar is on Feb 19 at 11 am EST. The topic is Asian Vulture Conservation, featuring Chris Bowden, a leading conservation biologist specializing in globally threatened bird species, particularly vultures across Asia.
Curious about what the "endangerment finding" is, why all the concern that it's been repealed, and why it's so important to our health and the health of the planet? Here's a good overview: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/c... (gift).
Below: Photo of Los Angeles smog before pollution was regulated. 🌎
Below: Photo of Los Angeles smog before pollution was regulated. 🌎
February 13, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Curious about what the "endangerment finding" is, why all the concern that it's been repealed, and why it's so important to our health and the health of the planet? Here's a good overview: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/c... (gift).
Below: Photo of Los Angeles smog before pollution was regulated. 🌎
Below: Photo of Los Angeles smog before pollution was regulated. 🌎
Bad news: Today Trump announced the repeal of the "endangerment finding," the scientific finding that says greenhouse gases (GHG) threaten human life and well-being: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/c... (gift). It means the EPA (now the Environmental Pollution Agency) can no longer regulate GHG. 🌎
Trump Administration Erases the Government’s Power to Fight Climate Change
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 12:53 AM
Bad news: Today Trump announced the repeal of the "endangerment finding," the scientific finding that says greenhouse gases (GHG) threaten human life and well-being: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/c... (gift). It means the EPA (now the Environmental Pollution Agency) can no longer regulate GHG. 🌎
Good news! The California Fish & Game Commission voted today to list the Southern and Central Coast mountain lions as “threatened” under the California Endangered Species Act. Thanks to all of you who signed the petition—these adorable kittens thank you, too. I definitely hear purring. 🌎
February 13, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Good news! The California Fish & Game Commission voted today to list the Southern and Central Coast mountain lions as “threatened” under the California Endangered Species Act. Thanks to all of you who signed the petition—these adorable kittens thank you, too. I definitely hear purring. 🌎
Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC) just wrapped up its 126th season. What does the CBC data tell us? View and download CBC population trends for ~450 species in the U.S. and Canada and ~50 species in Latin America and the Caribbean: www.audubon.org/community-sc...? #birds
February 12, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC) just wrapped up its 126th season. What does the CBC data tell us? View and download CBC population trends for ~450 species in the U.S. and Canada and ~50 species in Latin America and the Caribbean: www.audubon.org/community-sc...? #birds
The 2026 Audubon Photography Awards are accepting entries! The awards celebrate the beauty and diversity of birds by honoring the best photos and videos of birdlife. The contest spans the Western Hemisphere just as #birds do....
February 12, 2026 at 12:26 AM
The 2026 Audubon Photography Awards are accepting entries! The awards celebrate the beauty and diversity of birds by honoring the best photos and videos of birdlife. The contest spans the Western Hemisphere just as #birds do....
LAST CHANCE TO SAVE BOUNDARY WATERS: America’s most visited wilderness is under assault. A Chilean mining company proposes a sulfide-ore copper mine on the lands surrounding Boundary Waters. The mine would leach sulfuric acid, permanently poisoning the area’s pristine landscapes and waters.
February 11, 2026 at 12:39 AM
LAST CHANCE TO SAVE BOUNDARY WATERS: America’s most visited wilderness is under assault. A Chilean mining company proposes a sulfide-ore copper mine on the lands surrounding Boundary Waters. The mine would leach sulfuric acid, permanently poisoning the area’s pristine landscapes and waters.
“We're pretty close to total victory.” A small group of conservatives has worked for 16 years to stop all government efforts to fight climate change; they were just waiting for someone like Trump. Their efforts are poised to pay off. The EPA is expected to repeal the endangerment finding shortly....
February 10, 2026 at 11:36 PM
“We're pretty close to total victory.” A small group of conservatives has worked for 16 years to stop all government efforts to fight climate change; they were just waiting for someone like Trump. Their efforts are poised to pay off. The EPA is expected to repeal the endangerment finding shortly....
Preening between birds of the same species is thought to maintain the pair bond between mated partners. Cross-species preening (image below of a Black Vulture preening a Caracara) had rarely been documented but is now being seen around the world. Theories abound...
February 10, 2026 at 3:01 AM
Preening between birds of the same species is thought to maintain the pair bond between mated partners. Cross-species preening (image below of a Black Vulture preening a Caracara) had rarely been documented but is now being seen around the world. Theories abound...
Located in Tonto National Forest, Oak Flat is a stunning expanse of wildlands in the AZ high desert. Those public lands are at risk of being transferred to Resolution Copper, a foreign mining company that plans to use block-cave mining to collapse Oak Flat into a crater 1,000-feet deep and...
February 10, 2026 at 1:29 AM
Located in Tonto National Forest, Oak Flat is a stunning expanse of wildlands in the AZ high desert. Those public lands are at risk of being transferred to Resolution Copper, a foreign mining company that plans to use block-cave mining to collapse Oak Flat into a crater 1,000-feet deep and...
Terrified deer stranded on thin ice in the middle of a lake. What could go wrong? Everyone—from the man who called for help to the fire dept's ice rescue expert to the game wardens—knew what to do. The deer? Unhurt and released into the woods (video): wapo.st/4r6481W (gift). 🌎
Firefighter bear-hugs terrified deer on icy lake in daring rescue
“She was obviously very frightened and didn’t want anything to do with me,” said firefighter Gavyn Gallagher.
wapo.st
February 9, 2026 at 8:23 AM
Terrified deer stranded on thin ice in the middle of a lake. What could go wrong? Everyone—from the man who called for help to the fire dept's ice rescue expert to the game wardens—knew what to do. The deer? Unhurt and released into the woods (video): wapo.st/4r6481W (gift). 🌎
Bad Bunny's halftime performance highlighted the horrible electricity situation in Puerto Rico. There's more: Trump has canceled solar projects in Puerto Rico that were part of a $1 billion fund created by U.S. Congress in 2022 to help boost energy resilience in Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria.
February 9, 2026 at 4:12 AM
Bad Bunny's halftime performance highlighted the horrible electricity situation in Puerto Rico. There's more: Trump has canceled solar projects in Puerto Rico that were part of a $1 billion fund created by U.S. Congress in 2022 to help boost energy resilience in Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria.
Ospreys, also called seahawks, are majestic raptors found on coasts, lakes, and rivers around the world. They are the only hawk or eagle species that can submerge completely to catch fish, then take to the air again thanks to their specialized wings.
February 9, 2026 at 3:21 AM
Ospreys, also called seahawks, are majestic raptors found on coasts, lakes, and rivers around the world. They are the only hawk or eagle species that can submerge completely to catch fish, then take to the air again thanks to their specialized wings.
In a first-of-its-kind complaint, Michigan's AG Dana Nessel accused 4 fossil fuel majors and the top US oil lobby of acting as a “cartel” to stifle the growth of renewable energy and EVs, while suppressing information about the dangers of the climate crisis. The conduct, the lawsuit alleged,...
February 9, 2026 at 2:46 AM
In a first-of-its-kind complaint, Michigan's AG Dana Nessel accused 4 fossil fuel majors and the top US oil lobby of acting as a “cartel” to stifle the growth of renewable energy and EVs, while suppressing information about the dangers of the climate crisis. The conduct, the lawsuit alleged,...
Northern Royal Albatross, NZ: That was fast! WYL (dad) returned after 1 day at sea. As the chick gets bigger, the parents' foraging trips will need to be longer to provide enough food for the chick and themselves (video by Lady Hawk & courtesy of Cornell Lab): www.youtube.com/watch?v=94IJ.... #birds
Royal Albatross ~ WYL Returns After Only Being Gone One Day! Beautiful Changeover With BOK 💕 2.7.26
YouTube video by Lady Hawk
www.youtube.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Northern Royal Albatross, NZ: That was fast! WYL (dad) returned after 1 day at sea. As the chick gets bigger, the parents' foraging trips will need to be longer to provide enough food for the chick and themselves (video by Lady Hawk & courtesy of Cornell Lab): www.youtube.com/watch?v=94IJ.... #birds
Good news on California Condors: The Peregrine Fund (TPF) reports that 17 young condors were successfully released in 2025, joining the Arizona-Utah flock. TPF has a management facility at the Vermilion Cliffs where the condors prepare for release and are carefully monitored after release.
February 8, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Good news on California Condors: The Peregrine Fund (TPF) reports that 17 young condors were successfully released in 2025, joining the Arizona-Utah flock. TPF has a management facility at the Vermilion Cliffs where the condors prepare for release and are carefully monitored after release.
BirdWise is an interactive, web-based quizzing tool from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that is designed to help build bird identification skills: academy.allaboutbirds.org/birdwise/. Try a free sample set of 35 quizzes: app.academy.allaboutbirds.org/regions/regi...? #birds
BirdWise: Learn Bird Identification with Photo-based Quizzing
Learn the bird ID you want to know with BirdWise quizzes! Learn to ID 640+ birds in the U.S. and Canada with this self-directed, customizable learning tool.
academy.allaboutbirds.org
February 8, 2026 at 3:41 AM
BirdWise is an interactive, web-based quizzing tool from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that is designed to help build bird identification skills: academy.allaboutbirds.org/birdwise/. Try a free sample set of 35 quizzes: app.academy.allaboutbirds.org/regions/regi...? #birds
It wasn’t the honeybees that needed saving; it's our 4,000 species of native bees that are in trouble. Scientists are finding that honeybees actually accelerate the demise of native bees by spreading disease, outcompeting native bees for pollen and nectar,...
February 8, 2026 at 2:41 AM
It wasn’t the honeybees that needed saving; it's our 4,000 species of native bees that are in trouble. Scientists are finding that honeybees actually accelerate the demise of native bees by spreading disease, outcompeting native bees for pollen and nectar,...
Bald Eagle Nests! Big Bear's Jackie and Shadow are working on a 2nd clutch while defending the nest from other eagles coveting their prime real estate (video by @skh4birdies.bsky.social and courtesy FOBBV) : www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMSd.... More? The West End Eagles on beautiful Catalina Island, CA.
FOBBVCAM Eagles🦅Jackie and Shadow Defend⚔️ Nest and Territory from Multiple Intruders🚫2026 Feb 7
YouTube video by SK Hideaways
www.youtube.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:33 AM
Bald Eagle Nests! Big Bear's Jackie and Shadow are working on a 2nd clutch while defending the nest from other eagles coveting their prime real estate (video by @skh4birdies.bsky.social and courtesy FOBBV) : www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMSd.... More? The West End Eagles on beautiful Catalina Island, CA.