Shannon Skalos, PhD
@shannonskalos.bsky.social
Sad federal biologist | Ornithologist | Raptor Biologist | #TeamBird | Mother of Harriers | Hummingbirds, Hawks, & House Wrens | opinions mine | she/her/mom | IG: shannon_skalos
Update: lots of snow has fallen, and the resident beaver has emerged to inspect
November 29, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Update: lots of snow has fallen, and the resident beaver has emerged to inspect
Happy Thanksgiving! ❄️🦃
November 27, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Happy Thanksgiving! ❄️🦃
Reposted by Shannon Skalos, PhD
It's Friday, and apparently bluesky is ready for this fun revelation:
Dinosaurs lived on the other side the Galaxy.
Dinosaurs lived on the other side the Galaxy.
November 21, 2025 at 5:11 PM
It's Friday, and apparently bluesky is ready for this fun revelation:
Dinosaurs lived on the other side the Galaxy.
Dinosaurs lived on the other side the Galaxy.
Reposted by Shannon Skalos, PhD
Hi Bluesky! We are the Genomic Variation Laboratory based at UC Davis. Our current projects include:
🧬 CRISPR-based SHERLOCK assays for eDNA detection
🧬 Metabarcoding to detect animal and plant diversity in predator diets and ecosystems
🧬 Population genetics of fishes
and more!
🧬 CRISPR-based SHERLOCK assays for eDNA detection
🧬 Metabarcoding to detect animal and plant diversity in predator diets and ecosystems
🧬 Population genetics of fishes
and more!
November 24, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Hi Bluesky! We are the Genomic Variation Laboratory based at UC Davis. Our current projects include:
🧬 CRISPR-based SHERLOCK assays for eDNA detection
🧬 Metabarcoding to detect animal and plant diversity in predator diets and ecosystems
🧬 Population genetics of fishes
and more!
🧬 CRISPR-based SHERLOCK assays for eDNA detection
🧬 Metabarcoding to detect animal and plant diversity in predator diets and ecosystems
🧬 Population genetics of fishes
and more!
I miss California 🌁🌄😢
November 26, 2025 at 2:41 AM
I miss California 🌁🌄😢
Reposted by Shannon Skalos, PhD
It's been awhile, but I found myself recommending to someone today our groundbreaking code, lead by the inimitable Andy Kern, that magically converts pdfs to... pdfs. This solves the conversion issue so many journals pose to the intrepid scientist. github.com/andrewkern/p...
GitHub - andrewkern/pdf2pdf: does the magical pdf-to-pdf conversion popular in academic journal submission sites and does it faster than they do
does the magical pdf-to-pdf conversion popular in academic journal submission sites and does it faster than they do - andrewkern/pdf2pdf
github.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:29 AM
It's been awhile, but I found myself recommending to someone today our groundbreaking code, lead by the inimitable Andy Kern, that magically converts pdfs to... pdfs. This solves the conversion issue so many journals pose to the intrepid scientist. github.com/andrewkern/p...
Look how Great this Cormorant is.
November 24, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Look how Great this Cormorant is.
A movie that takes place where you’re from
November 23, 2025 at 9:59 PM
A movie that takes place where you’re from
Incredibly heartbroken to have to announce that my husband and I did not, in fact, see the Yellow-headed Caracara in Wilmington, Delaware today 😫
November 23, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Incredibly heartbroken to have to announce that my husband and I did not, in fact, see the Yellow-headed Caracara in Wilmington, Delaware today 😫
Reposted by Shannon Skalos, PhD
The Trump Administration is looking to decimate the Endangered Species Act. Proposed changes would:
- LIMIT new species from being listed
- REMOVE protections for federally-threatened species like Piping Plovers
- REDUCE critical habitat protections
- LIMIT new species from being listed
- REMOVE protections for federally-threatened species like Piping Plovers
- REDUCE critical habitat protections
November 20, 2025 at 12:59 AM
The Trump Administration is looking to decimate the Endangered Species Act. Proposed changes would:
- LIMIT new species from being listed
- REMOVE protections for federally-threatened species like Piping Plovers
- REDUCE critical habitat protections
- LIMIT new species from being listed
- REMOVE protections for federally-threatened species like Piping Plovers
- REDUCE critical habitat protections
Too much light pollution in central Maryland, but still cool to see the faint pinks and greens of the aurora
November 12, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Too much light pollution in central Maryland, but still cool to see the faint pinks and greens of the aurora
To be clear, I’m not happy about any of this. I think the dems completely betrayed their base. They conspired with republicans to make this “deal” to reopen the government. The promise of a vote on healthcare means nothing. We got literally nothing from this shutdown and the dems lost everything.
I think the strategy is to get us furloughed feds all paid, make the holidays less stressful by eliminating the layoff threats through January, then try to negotiate ACA subsidies, and if (when) that goes nowhere with republicans, the dems will shut it all down again…
November 10, 2025 at 2:30 PM
To be clear, I’m not happy about any of this. I think the dems completely betrayed their base. They conspired with republicans to make this “deal” to reopen the government. The promise of a vote on healthcare means nothing. We got literally nothing from this shutdown and the dems lost everything.
Good morning, I’m still angry.
November 10, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Good morning, I’m still angry.
I think the strategy is to get us furloughed feds all paid, make the holidays less stressful by eliminating the layoff threats through January, then try to negotiate ACA subsidies, and if (when) that goes nowhere with republicans, the dems will shut it all down again…
November 10, 2025 at 3:15 AM
I think the strategy is to get us furloughed feds all paid, make the holidays less stressful by eliminating the layoff threats through January, then try to negotiate ACA subsidies, and if (when) that goes nowhere with republicans, the dems will shut it all down again…
Pearl Crescent 🧡
November 3, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Pearl Crescent 🧡
Is…is this…trolling?
“We present this gold crown to you on this joyous occasion”
Trump: Thank you very much
Trump: Thank you very much
October 29, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Is…is this…trolling?
Reposted by Shannon Skalos, PhD
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
October 29, 2025 at 1:08 AM
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Reposted by Shannon Skalos, PhD
The official USDA site is blaming trans people for SNAP benefits expiring.
October 27, 2025 at 12:30 PM
The official USDA site is blaming trans people for SNAP benefits expiring.
Reposted by Shannon Skalos, PhD
#CrowCoG is hiring🚨MULTIPLE PAID RESEARCH ASSISTANT POSITIONS 🚨for our 2026 field season (May - Sep)! Field and aviary-based positions - come help us study the remarkable tool-making New Caledonian crows. Apply here: bit.ly/3WlxxHE
October 27, 2025 at 8:57 AM
#CrowCoG is hiring🚨MULTIPLE PAID RESEARCH ASSISTANT POSITIONS 🚨for our 2026 field season (May - Sep)! Field and aviary-based positions - come help us study the remarkable tool-making New Caledonian crows. Apply here: bit.ly/3WlxxHE
My kids and I made a six-layer rainbow cake today, just for funsies 🌈🎂
October 26, 2025 at 12:23 AM
My kids and I made a six-layer rainbow cake today, just for funsies 🌈🎂
Just look at the reductions to the USGS science centers in this document. An 80% reduction in staff is all the scientists. The only people left will be admin and IT staff who will be needed to shutdown the centers. The writing is on the wall for all other EMA science centers…
See for yourself. The releases court document outlines all the planned RIFs for competitive areas that include protected union members. Areas not included are not safe. They simply have no union members relevant to the TRO.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Just look at the reductions to the USGS science centers in this document. An 80% reduction in staff is all the scientists. The only people left will be admin and IT staff who will be needed to shutdown the centers. The writing is on the wall for all other EMA science centers…
Reposted by Shannon Skalos, PhD
See for yourself. The releases court document outlines all the planned RIFs for competitive areas that include protected union members. Areas not included are not safe. They simply have no union members relevant to the TRO.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:41 PM
See for yourself. The releases court document outlines all the planned RIFs for competitive areas that include protected union members. Areas not included are not safe. They simply have no union members relevant to the TRO.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Given the recently revealed planned layoffs for some USGS science centers that have protected union members covered by the TRO for shutdown layoffs, it is now obvious this administration is primed to go through with eliminating the USGS Ecosystem Mission Area. Once the shutdown is over, we’re done.
October 21, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Given the recently revealed planned layoffs for some USGS science centers that have protected union members covered by the TRO for shutdown layoffs, it is now obvious this administration is primed to go through with eliminating the USGS Ecosystem Mission Area. Once the shutdown is over, we’re done.
Just sitting here waiting to be fired
October 20, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Just sitting here waiting to be fired
Reposted by Shannon Skalos, PhD
Los Angeles-based activist and #1 NYT bestselling author and illustrator, Nikkolas Smith, draws 'AntifAmerica' featuring the Portland Frog and Portland Chicken, in response to No Kings Day yesterday.
October 20, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Los Angeles-based activist and #1 NYT bestselling author and illustrator, Nikkolas Smith, draws 'AntifAmerica' featuring the Portland Frog and Portland Chicken, in response to No Kings Day yesterday.