Dr Kate Polarbird Kloza
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drpolarbird.bsky.social
Dr Kate Polarbird Kloza
@drpolarbird.bsky.social
2.4K followers 860 following 520 posts
Semi-nomadic FACRRM with a love of Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic, and all places wild, remote, and beautiful | rural generalist | she/her | Denman Terrestrial Campaign doctor 2024-25 | #polardoc #maccadoc #medsky #GPsky #wildmed #remotemed
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drpolarbird.bsky.social
Very excited that RDAA members can access reciprocal membership to the Society of Rural Physicians Canada - connecting across the world with our rural colleagues
October 24, 2025 at 3:07 AM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
Been back a month but Bunger Hills will always be in my heart

Deep field work is a particularly special privilege in remote medicine
The silhouette of 5 figures walking up a rocky slope towards a glowing band of sunrise. Grey clouds in the sky, to the left is Camel’s Hump (a rock formation) at Bunger Hills, Antarctica
April 4, 2025 at 11:47 PM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
18 days in the deep field at Bunger Hills and it was definitely time to wash my hair: at this point it has gone from festival hair (with dry shampoo) to festy hair

Now I’m fresh, glam and fruit scented

#polardoc
A red and yellow polar pyramid tent with white bunding on the floor. There are 2 bright blue tubs in the bunding along with bottles of shampoo and conditioner and washing water buckets A grey bucket with soapy water in it A white woman with short brown curly hair and a purple jumper and sunglasses stands in front of a polar pyramid tent. Her hair is freshly washed
December 27, 2024 at 9:35 AM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
The rocks out here are just incredible. So much morphological drama

This is tafoni - wind erosion holes in rocks

The geologists out here are working hard with their science and generously teaching us

#BungersHills #polarmed
A rock with honeycomb holes; Bunger Hills Antarctica Layers of rock and crystal that formed due to pressure and heat; Bunger Hills Antarctica Scattered beautiful rocks with camel hump hill in the background; Bunger Hills Antarctica A rock eroded to have a balancing peak on top of a flatter rock; Bunger Hills, Antarctica
December 23, 2024 at 5:05 AM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
Reading “Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow” while sitting in a camp chair in the lee of the medical melon

Outfit is UV protection on this beautiful -4C slightly breezy sunshine day in the Bunger Hills

Yes, that is my laundry between the flags

#polardoc #wildmed #antarctica
A selfie of a woman with a floral face covering, blue glacier glasses, purple wide brim sun hat, teal microdown jacket and black carhart overalls sitting in a deck chair in front of a red fibre glass melon building The circular window of the red fibreglass melon hit, a blue deck chair on rocky ground overlooking an Australian and Canadian flag with washing stung up between the poles. In the background a yellow polar dome tent, and the sea ice
December 16, 2024 at 6:22 AM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
Deep field camp life is all hands on deck working together, regardless of your job

I spent the morning setting up tents with our comms operator and the afternoon pumping water to primary and secondary tanks with the electrician and camp manager

#polardoc #remotemed
A white woman jn a purple hat and sunglasses and black polar clothjng stabds in front of the rock hills of Bunger Hills. In the background are 6 bright yellow polar dome tents. This is the Edgeworth-David field camp in the bunger hills A semi frozen lake is surrounded by a rocky shoreline. In the distance are snow covered hills. The sky is bright blue with some fluffy clouds. This is our water supply A white woman wearing black carhartt overalls and a purple hat is holding a right angled piece of water pipe attached to a blue water hose, behind her are 3 feet hexagonal water tanks called sputniks. In the background are large temporary living tents Bright yellow polar tents are scattered across a rocky flat in front of a snow covered hill. This is our tent city
December 11, 2024 at 11:02 PM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
Phew…flying out to Bunger Hills tomorrow after a crazy week and a bit at Casey station prepping our team’s cargo with the ops and science folk, and checking all my medical kit

Excited to be heading to the deep field

#polardoc
A white woman wearing a purple sun hat, green reflective glasses and a fluorescent rainbow cloud high vis vest over a black thermal top stands in front of a side opening shipping container filled with hard plastic cases for science equipment. It’s a bright sunny day, and there’s snow on the ground with pours of foot prints in it A selfie of a white woman wearing a purple cable knit beanie, green reflective glasses, and black overalls and thermal top. She stands in front of a yellow building with cage pallets of equipment in the open door Dramatic skies over Casey! There’s grey storm clouds with some sunshine out at sea. In the foreground is sastrugi snow rolling down to dark rocks and the navy blue ocean A bright bluebird Antarctic day. The sun is shining, there’s no clouds in the sky and the sun is glowing bright white. The water in the bay is shimmering a rich blue. This is the view from Casey station over Newcombe Bay
December 8, 2024 at 6:54 AM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
Here is a penguin

It’s an Adélie penguin

It’s my placeholder penguin til I can sort my photos from an epic day out walking on the sea ice around the Swain Island group ~40 minutes away from Casey station

#polardoc
A group of 5 adelie penguins are standing on snow on the sea ice. In the back ground are brown rocky outcrops, these are the Swain Islands. The sky is blue with no clouds. It’s a perfect Antarctic summer day
November 30, 2024 at 9:18 AM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
The unseen but critical aspect of wilderness and expedition medicine: preparing and packing your kit before you go

No matter how large or small trip, prior preparation determines your success and safety

#wildmed #remotemed #polardoc
On the right hand side are bright coloured red and green cordura rectangular bags - these are remote first aid kits. Next to them are an assortment of cardboard boxes and black nally bins This is kit to be organised and packed In the back are big black space cases, in front of them are beige space cases with boxes on them. This is medical kit waiting to go to the deep field
November 27, 2024 at 11:19 PM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
Saying g’day to my penguino buddies at the Antarctic Circle

Rather apt as I began my polar career at Casey and had a photo shoot with outgoing winter doctor at this very same sign 14 years ago

#polardoc
A yellow metal sign with the words “Antarctic Circle” cut out from and two metal penguins sitting on top sits in the snow of Antarctica. A white woman dressed in a beanie, yellow and black bib and brace and a black thermal top is high giving the penguins It’s a perfect day in Antarctica A white woman dressed in yellow and black bib and brace, a black thermal and a purple beanie is leaning against a yellow metal sign that says Antarctic circle. There are two metal penguins on top of the sign. The sign casts a shadow onto the white snow behind
November 27, 2024 at 9:12 AM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
We’re on snowbird one!

Next stop ANTARCTICA
A white woman with shirt hair is wearing an N95 mask and a rainbow check shirt with a black thermal underneath. She is seated in an aircraft. She is grinning and wide eyed Kate is excited to be flying to Antarctica
November 26, 2024 at 7:43 PM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
It is a magical place, there’s that unique smell of rotting kelp, salt air, bird feather oil from the moults, and seal wallow. It’s pungent but also welcoming, a reminder you’re in a place ruled by weather and nature
King penguins on a black rocky beach with rolling green hills behind them. The photo is taken at Green Gorge, Macquarie island A green silver triangular leafed plant with stems shooting vertically that have individual red flowers in them like dots. The plant sits in a grassy plain with mountains behind. The photo is of stilbocarpa Polaris, a plant on Macquarie island A white coffee cup half full of coffee sits on a wooden balcony that is covered in moss. In the foreground is tussock grass. The view looks into a black rocky beach dotted with king penguins. Behind them are rolling green hills hidden in cloud. The photo is of the verandah view from Green Gorge Hut, Macquarie island Photo is of a black rocky beach where the stones are wet. In the centre are dry stones forming the outline of an elephant seal weaner. The photo indicates a seal slept here during the rainstorm. The photo was taken at Green Gorge, Macquarie Island
November 26, 2024 at 8:31 AM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
The truck on top delivers your ordered food while the sushi circles below on the underground

I’m in heaven 💜
A blue toy truck is running on tracks above a sushi conveyor belt, it has a flat tray at the back to deliver food. In the foreground are the tables for customers
November 24, 2024 at 3:33 AM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
No, not my babies
A photo of 4 western grey kangaroos around a black feed bowl. The centre kangaroo has a Joey poking its head out of her pouch. In the right corner is the pink head of a galah looking at the food bowl
November 23, 2024 at 1:32 AM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
Post yourself from a different era

Late 1990s ?1998 or 1999 I think (very dusty photo as I was cleaning out the folks cupboards)
A white teenage girl wearing a dusky pink lace v-neck medieval style dress ans a silver necklace. She has brown hair that is tied back, and a sullen expression. There are two people either side of her crooped out. The photo is dusty
November 21, 2024 at 11:35 PM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
Lunch outside in the shade, enjoying bare feet on the grass in the park, and eating salad

Best part of waiting for Antarctic flight weather windows is making the most of the little things you can’t do while south 💜🐧

#polardoc
Photo shows a street in Launceston. The frame is dominated by a large leafy green tree casting shade on outdoor tables. The sky is bright blue with no clouds. There’s terraced buildings lining the street, and cars travelling on the road
November 20, 2024 at 12:35 AM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
First leg of the journey south begins! On the coach to Launceston to meet the flight to Casey later this week

Feels funny to be going north to head south, the excitement is building 🐧💜

#polardoc
A white woman wearing a pink headband, lilac jumper and n95 mask js sitting in a coach. She is smiling with her eyes
November 18, 2024 at 11:49 PM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
Y’all need to see my new denim jumpsuit that I asked to embroidered with penguins

Not only did she deliver, she gave me all the Antarctic and sun-Antarctic species I’ve lived with, and Adelie’s flipper giving on the front
The back of a dark denim jumpsuit with hand embroidered penguins. The species are Adelie, gentoo, and emperors A close up photo of the embroidery on the back of the jump suit. You can see the stitching details in the penguins who are grouped together The front of the dark denim jumpsuit with breast pockets. Above the left is stitched “Dr Kate” in green thread and above the right pocket are two adelie penguins touching flippers. A man’s hand is on the right holding the jumpsuit flat A close up of the front writing above the breast pockets on the left is “Dr Kate” stitched in cursive writing in green thread. On the right are 2 adelie’s touching flippers
November 16, 2024 at 2:50 AM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
May I crash your WA lizard party to seek assistance in identifying this beautiful creature who’s taken up welcome residence in our shed in the wheat belt?

Please and thank you!
A lizard with white bands on the tail standing on a concrete shed floor
November 15, 2024 at 11:43 PM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
New hoodie vibes. Was saving it to wear in the field camp but the new fleece was too alluring
Photo is of the top corner of a lilac l hoodie. A round logo says “her trails stay wild” and inside the logo is a drawing of the sun rising over brown mountains, a blue river and green stylised pine trees
November 14, 2024 at 10:54 PM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
I always called out hello and said their names as I walked past their lake. Their spirit is part of this magical island, and they each produced groundbreaking work that is still in use today. It’s an honour to be a thread in the story they started 5/end

Photo is me with lake Bennett behind me
A white woman in brightly coloured winter hiking clothing stands in the foreground. Behind her is snow on the ground and surrounding hill, with a blue lake in the centre
November 14, 2024 at 7:42 AM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
The four scientists are:
Isobel Bennett
Mary Gillham
Hope Macpherson
Susan Ingham

They travelled together on the Nella Dan in 1959 (photo from the AAD) and spent the summer researching seabirds and near shore ecology 2/
A black and white photo showing 4 women waving from the side of a ship
November 14, 2024 at 7:29 AM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
Found this gorgeous book in the shops today. It tells the story of 4 groundbreaking women biologists who were the first women to go on ANARE expeditions to Macquarie Island

Perfect present for tweens 1/

#polardoc
Photo is an illustrated book cover showing a red ship with the silhouette of 4 women on the bow. The ship is in blue water, and seabirds fly over head while gentoo penguins look on from the rocky shore. The book is called South with the Seabirds: follow four remarkable women to edge of the world. The author is Jess McGeachin
November 14, 2024 at 7:24 AM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
How I know it’s hot on the farm - this beautiful specimen sought refuge in the shed

Usually they’re outside hunting in the sun and recharging
A small goanna or bungarra is standing on the concrete floor of the shed. In the background is a keg, miscellaneous piping, and a gas bottle
November 14, 2024 at 12:38 AM
drpolarbird.bsky.social
I’ve created a wilderness/remote med feed. #wildmed, #remotemed, and #polardoc will pick up your posts for the feed!
4 people dressed in polar clothing standing the foreground with a scree covered mountain behind them
November 13, 2024 at 11:27 PM