SK Winnicki, PhD 🏳️⚧️
@skwinnicki.bsky.social
Evolutionary ecologist & ornithologist, postdoc Ohio State | PhD UIUC, MSc Kansas State | SciComm, birding, and nature photography | certified Lawn Hater, Cowbird Apologist, Stress Physiology Enthusiast, Typo Lover | they/them 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 | skwinnicki.com
Pinned
Hi new followers, I’m SK!
Do you know that trope where a character is eaten alive by a dark secret and is forced to publicly confess it? That’s how I feel about every cool fact I learn, and until I can get back to teaching again they’re all coming out here, so buckle up!
Thread of fave posts:
Do you know that trope where a character is eaten alive by a dark secret and is forced to publicly confess it? That’s how I feel about every cool fact I learn, and until I can get back to teaching again they’re all coming out here, so buckle up!
Thread of fave posts:
I should wait until I get my photos* onto my computer but I’m too excited so here’s some I pulled onto my phone quickly
Black Skimmers are one of my favorite #birds in the entire world, I’ll never tire of them.
(*I took a mere 1800 wildlife photos today haha)
Black Skimmers are one of my favorite #birds in the entire world, I’ll never tire of them.
(*I took a mere 1800 wildlife photos today haha)
November 24, 2025 at 11:37 PM
I should wait until I get my photos* onto my computer but I’m too excited so here’s some I pulled onto my phone quickly
Black Skimmers are one of my favorite #birds in the entire world, I’ll never tire of them.
(*I took a mere 1800 wildlife photos today haha)
Black Skimmers are one of my favorite #birds in the entire world, I’ll never tire of them.
(*I took a mere 1800 wildlife photos today haha)
Your network is your net worth
and my network is 500 Black Skimmers right now
and my network is 500 Black Skimmers right now
November 24, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Your network is your net worth
and my network is 500 Black Skimmers right now
and my network is 500 Black Skimmers right now
Wet friends off the dock at the Hilton Head lighthouse
(bottlenose dolphins, I’m assuming Tamanend’s but I could be wrong)
(bottlenose dolphins, I’m assuming Tamanend’s but I could be wrong)
November 24, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Wet friends off the dock at the Hilton Head lighthouse
(bottlenose dolphins, I’m assuming Tamanend’s but I could be wrong)
(bottlenose dolphins, I’m assuming Tamanend’s but I could be wrong)
Honestly a little salty this refuge didn’t advertise the butterfly garden, absolutely didn’t bring the right camera lens for these. Trying to shoot butterflies with a 400mm, I had to keep taking steps backwards to get them in focus.
Went to a wildlife refuge looking for waterbirds. Saw a bunch but I did spend at least 30 minutes stalking a butterfly garden with at least 10 species of butterfly, like this Gulf Fritillary.
November 24, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Honestly a little salty this refuge didn’t advertise the butterfly garden, absolutely didn’t bring the right camera lens for these. Trying to shoot butterflies with a 400mm, I had to keep taking steps backwards to get them in focus.
Went to a wildlife refuge looking for waterbirds. Saw a bunch but I did spend at least 30 minutes stalking a butterfly garden with at least 10 species of butterfly, like this Gulf Fritillary.
November 24, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Went to a wildlife refuge looking for waterbirds. Saw a bunch but I did spend at least 30 minutes stalking a butterfly garden with at least 10 species of butterfly, like this Gulf Fritillary.
Getting photo-bombed by a Willet 😔
But also, impressive work making a Willet look a bit small, they are pretty large sandpipers!
But also, impressive work making a Willet look a bit small, they are pretty large sandpipers!
November 24, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Getting photo-bombed by a Willet 😔
But also, impressive work making a Willet look a bit small, they are pretty large sandpipers!
But also, impressive work making a Willet look a bit small, they are pretty large sandpipers!
For being the most common gull on the beach by far, I'm always still impressed by how much Ring-billed Gulls can take my breath away.
Look at that piercing eye! That strange yellow color! How white they keep their feathers! That ringed bill that makes them conveniently easy to identify!
#birds
Look at that piercing eye! That strange yellow color! How white they keep their feathers! That ringed bill that makes them conveniently easy to identify!
#birds
November 24, 2025 at 2:36 AM
For being the most common gull on the beach by far, I'm always still impressed by how much Ring-billed Gulls can take my breath away.
Look at that piercing eye! That strange yellow color! How white they keep their feathers! That ringed bill that makes them conveniently easy to identify!
#birds
Look at that piercing eye! That strange yellow color! How white they keep their feathers! That ringed bill that makes them conveniently easy to identify!
#birds
I'm getting the sense that it will be much more challenging, if not impossible, to find shark teeth here (Hilton Head Island). Just nowhere near as good beach-combing as my usual haunts north of here (Cherry Grove).
But I didn't often see Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphins this close to shore there, so
But I didn't often see Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphins this close to shore there, so
November 24, 2025 at 2:25 AM
I'm getting the sense that it will be much more challenging, if not impossible, to find shark teeth here (Hilton Head Island). Just nowhere near as good beach-combing as my usual haunts north of here (Cherry Grove).
But I didn't often see Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphins this close to shore there, so
But I didn't often see Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphins this close to shore there, so
Surprised to find a bunch of Marbled Godwits on the beach (in Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA) today.
Kid-me once got in deep trouble with my parents because I saw a bunch of kids throwing rocks at a flock of Marbled Godwits on a beach, so I threw rocks at the kids until they left.
#birds
Kid-me once got in deep trouble with my parents because I saw a bunch of kids throwing rocks at a flock of Marbled Godwits on a beach, so I threw rocks at the kids until they left.
#birds
November 24, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Surprised to find a bunch of Marbled Godwits on the beach (in Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA) today.
Kid-me once got in deep trouble with my parents because I saw a bunch of kids throwing rocks at a flock of Marbled Godwits on a beach, so I threw rocks at the kids until they left.
#birds
Kid-me once got in deep trouble with my parents because I saw a bunch of kids throwing rocks at a flock of Marbled Godwits on a beach, so I threw rocks at the kids until they left.
#birds
Swim with caution in the ponds of South Carolina
November 24, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Swim with caution in the ponds of South Carolina
I'm not sure if I've ever seen a Marsh Rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris) before but I'm immediately a big fan. Look at those tiny little ears! For a rabbit anyway.
November 24, 2025 at 2:04 AM
I'm not sure if I've ever seen a Marsh Rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris) before but I'm immediately a big fan. Look at those tiny little ears! For a rabbit anyway.
what a weird shorebird I saw at the ocean today
November 24, 2025 at 1:54 AM
what a weird shorebird I saw at the ocean today
November 23, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Liked birds since I was a toddler, didn’t want to make it my career because I didn’t want a bad job to also ruin my hobby.
Went to college to be a historian, ended up doing an undergrad thesis for both biology and history degrees. Liked doing both, but liked studying birds too much to stay away.
Went to college to be a historian, ended up doing an undergrad thesis for both biology and history degrees. Liked doing both, but liked studying birds too much to stay away.
November 23, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Liked birds since I was a toddler, didn’t want to make it my career because I didn’t want a bad job to also ruin my hobby.
Went to college to be a historian, ended up doing an undergrad thesis for both biology and history degrees. Liked doing both, but liked studying birds too much to stay away.
Went to college to be a historian, ended up doing an undergrad thesis for both biology and history degrees. Liked doing both, but liked studying birds too much to stay away.
Reposted by SK Winnicki, PhD 🏳️⚧️
It's trans day of remembrance so I'm going to tell you about Rani and why you should watch one of her (and my) favourite movies, Johnny Mnemonic. A thread.
November 21, 2025 at 3:21 AM
It's trans day of remembrance so I'm going to tell you about Rani and why you should watch one of her (and my) favourite movies, Johnny Mnemonic. A thread.
I know I’ve shared this story here before, but one of my favorite early college memories was watching a bunch of scientists deal with the existential crisis that arose from living in a “haunted house.”
1/7
1/7
do you believe in ghosts or are you like me, a person who finds themself saying all the time “I absolutely don’t believe in ghosts, but this place has ghosts.”
November 21, 2025 at 2:28 AM
I know I’ve shared this story here before, but one of my favorite early college memories was watching a bunch of scientists deal with the existential crisis that arose from living in a “haunted house.”
1/7
1/7
Reposted by SK Winnicki, PhD 🏳️⚧️
Oh come ON little Oregon Junco!
If they didn't eat so much seed I'd think they were just fey creatures surviving on joy and rainbows.
Absolutely perfect birds!
#birds #becurious
If they didn't eat so much seed I'd think they were just fey creatures surviving on joy and rainbows.
Absolutely perfect birds!
#birds #becurious
November 20, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Oh come ON little Oregon Junco!
If they didn't eat so much seed I'd think they were just fey creatures surviving on joy and rainbows.
Absolutely perfect birds!
#birds #becurious
If they didn't eat so much seed I'd think they were just fey creatures surviving on joy and rainbows.
Absolutely perfect birds!
#birds #becurious
What’s the most significant advice you received from a teacher?
I had a Geology prof who always said “have strong opinions, loosely held”
Be passionate, assess alternatives with conviction, take sides. But don’t fall so in love with your opinions that you can’t change them with better data.
I had a Geology prof who always said “have strong opinions, loosely held”
Be passionate, assess alternatives with conviction, take sides. But don’t fall so in love with your opinions that you can’t change them with better data.
November 21, 2025 at 12:54 AM
What’s the most significant advice you received from a teacher?
I had a Geology prof who always said “have strong opinions, loosely held”
Be passionate, assess alternatives with conviction, take sides. But don’t fall so in love with your opinions that you can’t change them with better data.
I had a Geology prof who always said “have strong opinions, loosely held”
Be passionate, assess alternatives with conviction, take sides. But don’t fall so in love with your opinions that you can’t change them with better data.
Reposted by SK Winnicki, PhD 🏳️⚧️
Grok, which Musk has touted as "maximally truth-seeking," and "the world's smartest AI," explained to X users today that Musk:
✅ Would beat Mike Tyson in a fight
✅ Is "strikingly handsome"
✅ Should have been drafted over Peyton Manning
✅ Outranks da Vinci as the world's top human
✅ Might be God
✅ Would beat Mike Tyson in a fight
✅ Is "strikingly handsome"
✅ Should have been drafted over Peyton Manning
✅ Outranks da Vinci as the world's top human
✅ Might be God
Over on X today, Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok is having another normal one www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot ranks him as world history’s greatest human
Users on X shared examples of the “truth-seeking” AI chatbot praising its owner as “strikingly handsome,” a “genius,” and fitter than LeBron James.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Grok, which Musk has touted as "maximally truth-seeking," and "the world's smartest AI," explained to X users today that Musk:
✅ Would beat Mike Tyson in a fight
✅ Is "strikingly handsome"
✅ Should have been drafted over Peyton Manning
✅ Outranks da Vinci as the world's top human
✅ Might be God
✅ Would beat Mike Tyson in a fight
✅ Is "strikingly handsome"
✅ Should have been drafted over Peyton Manning
✅ Outranks da Vinci as the world's top human
✅ Might be God
Me: "Taking vacation time is essential for emotional well-being, recovery from burnout, and future productivity. In all jobs but especially true in research, where mental focus is essential. Offering more vacation time should be required, and employees should take it"
Also me: "But not me though"
Also me: "But not me though"
November 21, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Me: "Taking vacation time is essential for emotional well-being, recovery from burnout, and future productivity. In all jobs but especially true in research, where mental focus is essential. Offering more vacation time should be required, and employees should take it"
Also me: "But not me though"
Also me: "But not me though"
Very grateful that Wisdom appears to be on track to outlive me, so I'll never have to experience a November without this annual message
November 20, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Very grateful that Wisdom appears to be on track to outlive me, so I'll never have to experience a November without this annual message
"we need to burn fossil fuels to get to Mars because some day the Earth will die and humanity has to get off of it"
bro if the planet was dying and there was a reasonable plan and a seat dedicated to me on the escape vessel I'd *still* stay here
I wouldn't want to live without the Earth
bro if the planet was dying and there was a reasonable plan and a seat dedicated to me on the escape vessel I'd *still* stay here
I wouldn't want to live without the Earth
November 20, 2025 at 11:30 PM
"we need to burn fossil fuels to get to Mars because some day the Earth will die and humanity has to get off of it"
bro if the planet was dying and there was a reasonable plan and a seat dedicated to me on the escape vessel I'd *still* stay here
I wouldn't want to live without the Earth
bro if the planet was dying and there was a reasonable plan and a seat dedicated to me on the escape vessel I'd *still* stay here
I wouldn't want to live without the Earth
Objectively hilarious
but also wtf is "over-reliance on Earth"
how could one be over-reliant on the only planet in the solar system currently capable of supporting life as we know it
but also wtf is "over-reliance on Earth"
how could one be over-reliant on the only planet in the solar system currently capable of supporting life as we know it
I asked grok who was the better role model for humanity, Jesus Christ or Elon Musk. GUESS WHAT.
November 20, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Objectively hilarious
but also wtf is "over-reliance on Earth"
how could one be over-reliant on the only planet in the solar system currently capable of supporting life as we know it
but also wtf is "over-reliance on Earth"
how could one be over-reliant on the only planet in the solar system currently capable of supporting life as we know it
Also, it's super fucked up that every cool unsolved bird mystery (like how birds orient during migration, still a very open question in the field, with support for a bunch of alternative hypotheses) is presented as definitely solved by the Google AI.
November 20, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Also, it's super fucked up that every cool unsolved bird mystery (like how birds orient during migration, still a very open question in the field, with support for a bunch of alternative hypotheses) is presented as definitely solved by the Google AI.
Hey #birds people, if you were preparing to talk to a 6th grade class about bird mysteries, which ones would you focus on?
My first instinct is migration in general-- an emotionally mysterious behavior with some unanswered mechanistic and evolutionary questions.
But I'm hoping to give alternatives
My first instinct is migration in general-- an emotionally mysterious behavior with some unanswered mechanistic and evolutionary questions.
But I'm hoping to give alternatives
November 20, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Hey #birds people, if you were preparing to talk to a 6th grade class about bird mysteries, which ones would you focus on?
My first instinct is migration in general-- an emotionally mysterious behavior with some unanswered mechanistic and evolutionary questions.
But I'm hoping to give alternatives
My first instinct is migration in general-- an emotionally mysterious behavior with some unanswered mechanistic and evolutionary questions.
But I'm hoping to give alternatives