Christopher Witt
@msbbirds.bsky.social
Prof & Curator @UNM, Museum of Southwestern Biology
NM Game Commissioner
Studies: bird ecology, evolution, genetics, physiology, biogeography, & toxicology
Enjoys: Birding, hunting, fishing, running
Personal account, not representing UNM or State of NM
NM Game Commissioner
Studies: bird ecology, evolution, genetics, physiology, biogeography, & toxicology
Enjoys: Birding, hunting, fishing, running
Personal account, not representing UNM or State of NM
Reposted by Christopher Witt
Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, keeps shooting out of the ground in Oklahoma.
Experts say it means even more wastewater is spreading underground, poisoning the state’s water supply.
With @readfrontier.bsky.social
Experts say it means even more wastewater is spreading underground, poisoning the state’s water supply.
With @readfrontier.bsky.social
Toxic Wastewater From Oil Fields Keeps Pouring Out of the Ground. Oklahoma Regulators Failed to Stop It.
Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground and threatening Oklahoma’s drin...
www.propublica.org
November 26, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, keeps shooting out of the ground in Oklahoma.
Experts say it means even more wastewater is spreading underground, poisoning the state’s water supply.
With @readfrontier.bsky.social
Experts say it means even more wastewater is spreading underground, poisoning the state’s water supply.
With @readfrontier.bsky.social
Reposted by Christopher Witt
Never cross a picket line.
Physical or virtual.
Don’t do it. Respect the workers rights and process.
Physical or virtual.
Don’t do it. Respect the workers rights and process.
Remember that striking Starbucks workers are asking you not to buy Starbucks right now
November 24, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Never cross a picket line.
Physical or virtual.
Don’t do it. Respect the workers rights and process.
Physical or virtual.
Don’t do it. Respect the workers rights and process.
Reposted by Christopher Witt
Incredible……
Colombia declares its entire Amazon Biome off limits to mining & oil extraction.
Colombia declares its entire Amazon Biome off limits to mining & oil extraction.
Colombia Declares Its Entire Amazon Region Off-Limits to Mining and Oil Extraction
At COP30, Colombia's Minister of the Environment announced that the entire Amazon region would be declared free of mining and oil extraction.
colombiaone.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Incredible……
Colombia declares its entire Amazon Biome off limits to mining & oil extraction.
Colombia declares its entire Amazon Biome off limits to mining & oil extraction.
Reposted by Christopher Witt
Queue the ‘Streisand Effect’ so the American people become even more knowledgable about the law concerning ‘Illegal Military Orders’ and the oath taken to uphold The Constitution.
BREAKING: The Pentagon says it's investigating Sen. Mark Kelly for possible military law violations after he joined a video urging U.S. troops to refuse "illegal orders."
Pentagon says it's investigating Sen. Mark Kelly for video urging troops to defy 'illegal orders'
The Pentagon says that it is investigating Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona for possible breaches of military law after Kelly joined a handful of other lawmakers in a video that called for U.S. troops to refuse unlawful orders.
bit.ly
November 24, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Queue the ‘Streisand Effect’ so the American people become even more knowledgable about the law concerning ‘Illegal Military Orders’ and the oath taken to uphold The Constitution.
Reposted by Christopher Witt
The Amazon Rainforest was shaped by people. Analysis of 262 trees species across 1,521 forest plots reveals that both pre-Columbian Indigenous peoples and European colonists enduringly influenced the forest’s relative abundance of trees. In PNAS: https://ow.ly/VAqY50XuP38
November 21, 2025 at 7:01 PM
The Amazon Rainforest was shaped by people. Analysis of 262 trees species across 1,521 forest plots reveals that both pre-Columbian Indigenous peoples and European colonists enduringly influenced the forest’s relative abundance of trees. In PNAS: https://ow.ly/VAqY50XuP38
Reposted by Christopher Witt
Check out our short warbler hybrid paper out today, including a new unofficial common name. Carotenoid people will find some little tidbits of discussion about how these hybrids can help us understand regulation of yellow feathers.
I mean, the title says it all: Genetic confirmation of an “uncommon mourningthroat” (Geothlypis philadelphia × G. trichas): A rare but persistent hybrid warbler. Fun stuff with @kevinfpbennett.bsky.social and Kurt Gielow, OA in @wilsonornithsoc.bsky.social!
🦉 🧪
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
🦉 🧪
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
November 21, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Check out our short warbler hybrid paper out today, including a new unofficial common name. Carotenoid people will find some little tidbits of discussion about how these hybrids can help us understand regulation of yellow feathers.
Reposted by Christopher Witt
Just out in Systematic Biology, we explore the role of gene flow in island phylogeography of the Solomons Black-and-white Monarch complex. doi.org/10.1093/sysb...
Up first, strong genetic structure between islands groups and weak (but present!) structure between Pleistocene-connected islands (🧵)
Up first, strong genetic structure between islands groups and weak (but present!) structure between Pleistocene-connected islands (🧵)
November 21, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Just out in Systematic Biology, we explore the role of gene flow in island phylogeography of the Solomons Black-and-white Monarch complex. doi.org/10.1093/sysb...
Up first, strong genetic structure between islands groups and weak (but present!) structure between Pleistocene-connected islands (🧵)
Up first, strong genetic structure between islands groups and weak (but present!) structure between Pleistocene-connected islands (🧵)
Reposted by Christopher Witt
Our lab from @HHMINEWS & @UCBerkeley is looking for undergrads to come for an internship!
www.hhmi.org/programs/cec...
www.hhmi.org/programs/cec...
Summer Undergraduate Research Experience | HHMI
The Cech Fellows Program is a paid, nine-week summer research experience empowering the next generation of scientific leaders.
www.hhmi.org
November 20, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Our lab from @HHMINEWS & @UCBerkeley is looking for undergrads to come for an internship!
www.hhmi.org/programs/cec...
www.hhmi.org/programs/cec...
Reposted by Christopher Witt
Instead, the House and Senate have proposed alternative budget views. If we want science to continue to do more than survive... but thrive, then Congress should pass a budget that enhances America's science portfolio (i.e., closest to the Senate version as in NSF example below).
November 19, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Instead, the House and Senate have proposed alternative budget views. If we want science to continue to do more than survive... but thrive, then Congress should pass a budget that enhances America's science portfolio (i.e., closest to the Senate version as in NSF example below).
‘Endowed Chair of Ornithology’ jobs don’t come along too often, but here’s one: umiami.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UMFacu...
College of A&S - Biology - FAC - Robert E. Maytag Chair of Ornithology - Associate Professor to Professor
Current Employees: If you are a current Staff, Faculty or Temporary employee at the University of Miami, please click here to log in to Workday to use the internal application process. To learn how to...
umiami.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:05 PM
‘Endowed Chair of Ornithology’ jobs don’t come along too often, but here’s one: umiami.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UMFacu...
Reposted by Christopher Witt
In an increasingly divided world, how do strangers become friends? Parakeets might have something to teach us! New paper on formation of affiliative relationships, led by Dr. Claire O’Connell doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
November 12, 2025 at 1:39 PM
In an increasingly divided world, how do strangers become friends? Parakeets might have something to teach us! New paper on formation of affiliative relationships, led by Dr. Claire O’Connell doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
Reposted by Christopher Witt
How do GWAS and rare variant burden tests rank gene signals?
In new work @nature.com with @hakha.bsky.social, @jkpritch.bsky.social, and our wonderful coauthors we find that the key factors are what we call Specificity, Length, and Luck!
🧬🧪🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
In new work @nature.com with @hakha.bsky.social, @jkpritch.bsky.social, and our wonderful coauthors we find that the key factors are what we call Specificity, Length, and Luck!
🧬🧪🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Specificity, length and luck drive gene rankings in association studies - Nature
Genetic association tests prioritize candidate genes based on different criteria.
www.nature.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:05 AM
How do GWAS and rare variant burden tests rank gene signals?
In new work @nature.com with @hakha.bsky.social, @jkpritch.bsky.social, and our wonderful coauthors we find that the key factors are what we call Specificity, Length, and Luck!
🧬🧪🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
In new work @nature.com with @hakha.bsky.social, @jkpritch.bsky.social, and our wonderful coauthors we find that the key factors are what we call Specificity, Length, and Luck!
🧬🧪🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Christopher Witt
Here’s what everyone must say.
Mamdani: "My message to ICE agents & to everyone across this city is that everyone will be held to the same standard of the law. If you violate it, you must be held accountable. There is sadly a sense growing that certain people are allowed to violate that law, whether they be POTUS or ICE agents."
November 5, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Here’s what everyone must say.
Reposted by Christopher Witt
Harlem Congressman Vito Marcantonio is Mamdani’s closing message—and practiced at the Garland Fund’s law firm. Of course. #TheRadicalFund is all around us. @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social
UNTIL IT’S DONE, Ep. 5: Vito Marcantonio
There are many who dismiss our vision for New York as impossible. To them, I say we need look only to our past for proof of how we can shape the future.
Tomorrow is Election Day. And this is the final Until It's Done of our campaign.
There are many who dismiss our vision for New York as impossible. To them, I say we need look only to our past for proof of how we can shape the future.
Tomorrow is Election Day. And this is the final Until It's Done of our campaign.
November 4, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Harlem Congressman Vito Marcantonio is Mamdani’s closing message—and practiced at the Garland Fund’s law firm. Of course. #TheRadicalFund is all around us. @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social
Reposted by Christopher Witt
Look at these cosplay cowboys, geared up to wage war against us.
NEW: Footage of a US citizen in Chicago being rammed then dragged from her car on her way to work.
Abducted, with no warrant, her family couldn’t find her for hours.
She was later released with NO CHARGE.
A DHS statement said she “violently resisted arrest, injuring two officers”.
You decide…
Abducted, with no warrant, her family couldn’t find her for hours.
She was later released with NO CHARGE.
A DHS statement said she “violently resisted arrest, injuring two officers”.
You decide…
November 3, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Look at these cosplay cowboys, geared up to wage war against us.
Reposted by Christopher Witt
Again Mackenzie Scott ftw www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2025/11/03/s...
Spelman College receives $38 million ‘unrestricted’ gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott
The university says Scott’s gift lets it address expanding financial aid and scholarship support and investing in a state-of-the-art technology infrastructure “to enhance the academic experience.”
www.atlantanewsfirst.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Again Mackenzie Scott ftw www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2025/11/03/s...
Reposted by Christopher Witt
There are five birds with the word "rainbow" in their names.
Let's meet them.
🪶
Let's meet them.
🪶
November 2, 2025 at 11:56 PM
There are five birds with the word "rainbow" in their names.
Let's meet them.
🪶
Let's meet them.
🪶
Reposted by Christopher Witt
Join us on Nov 18 at 2:30 PM MST to learn about CAMBIUM grad fellowships in biodiversity informatics & climate change @uarizona.bsky.social. For incoming Fall 2026 students interested in big data, ecology, evolution, climate adaptation & more. Register: events.trellis.arizona.edu/en/f44lNu67/... 🌵🧬🌐
November 3, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Join us on Nov 18 at 2:30 PM MST to learn about CAMBIUM grad fellowships in biodiversity informatics & climate change @uarizona.bsky.social. For incoming Fall 2026 students interested in big data, ecology, evolution, climate adaptation & more. Register: events.trellis.arizona.edu/en/f44lNu67/... 🌵🧬🌐
Reposted by Christopher Witt
Only a few pages into @carlzimmer's new book, but already learned something (something an avian systematist should already know...):
"pedigree" derives from the french "pied de grue", as branching family tree diagrams were thought to resemble a crane's foot.
"pedigree" derives from the french "pied de grue", as branching family tree diagrams were thought to resemble a crane's foot.
November 7, 2024 at 4:05 PM
Only a few pages into @carlzimmer's new book, but already learned something (something an avian systematist should already know...):
"pedigree" derives from the french "pied de grue", as branching family tree diagrams were thought to resemble a crane's foot.
"pedigree" derives from the french "pied de grue", as branching family tree diagrams were thought to resemble a crane's foot.
Reposted by Christopher Witt
Amazing. From: The global biomass of wild mammals, PNAS (2023), 120 (10) e2204892120
doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
October 16, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Amazing. From: The global biomass of wild mammals, PNAS (2023), 120 (10) e2204892120
doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
Reposted by Christopher Witt
The Good Samaritan, by Joseph Highmore, 1744, 📸 by @patricksmith04
November 2, 2025 at 4:49 AM
The Good Samaritan, by Joseph Highmore, 1744, 📸 by @patricksmith04
Reposted by Christopher Witt
Pleased to see published today: the Molecular Ecology special issue on "Genomics of Speciation"; many interesting papers: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/1365294x...
Included in this issue is our paper on "The Distribution and Dispersal of Large Haploblocks in a Superspecies":
doi.org/10.1111/mec....
Included in this issue is our paper on "The Distribution and Dispersal of Large Haploblocks in a Superspecies":
doi.org/10.1111/mec....
October 30, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Pleased to see published today: the Molecular Ecology special issue on "Genomics of Speciation"; many interesting papers: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/1365294x...
Included in this issue is our paper on "The Distribution and Dispersal of Large Haploblocks in a Superspecies":
doi.org/10.1111/mec....
Included in this issue is our paper on "The Distribution and Dispersal of Large Haploblocks in a Superspecies":
doi.org/10.1111/mec....
SIX cat species >4,200 m?!?! That’s amazing. I don’t imagine there would be more than two at similar heights in the Andes
Camera traps at new heights. 📸
In Arunachal Pradesh, at 4,200m above sea level, WWF India have documented some incredible species living at this altitude, including 6 wild cat species!
Part of our ongoing work to support snow leopards and their prey, with thanks to #DarwinInitiative.
In Arunachal Pradesh, at 4,200m above sea level, WWF India have documented some incredible species living at this altitude, including 6 wild cat species!
Part of our ongoing work to support snow leopards and their prey, with thanks to #DarwinInitiative.
October 30, 2025 at 2:33 PM
SIX cat species >4,200 m?!?! That’s amazing. I don’t imagine there would be more than two at similar heights in the Andes
Reposted by Christopher Witt
Think about this for a minute
Breaking on MSNBC:
Two federal prosecutors have been placed on leave at the direction of the White House after filing a sentencing memo seeking 27 months in prison for a pardoned Jan. 6 rioter who brought illegal guns and ammunition to President Obama's house in 2023.
Two federal prosecutors have been placed on leave at the direction of the White House after filing a sentencing memo seeking 27 months in prison for a pardoned Jan. 6 rioter who brought illegal guns and ammunition to President Obama's house in 2023.
October 29, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Think about this for a minute
Reposted by Christopher Witt
"According to his running club, the man, who is a U.S. citizen, was returning from a team run when agents pulled him out of his vehicle, tackled him to the ground and kneeled on top of him, allegedly breaking six ribs and causing internal bleeding"
US citizen, 67, ‘has six ribs broken’ by Border Patrol agents, his running club says
The incident unfolded Saturday in Chicago’s Old Irving Park neighborhood, where residents say federal agents disrupted a children’s Halloween parade
www.independent.co.uk
October 28, 2025 at 8:40 PM
"According to his running club, the man, who is a U.S. citizen, was returning from a team run when agents pulled him out of his vehicle, tackled him to the ground and kneeled on top of him, allegedly breaking six ribs and causing internal bleeding"