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Kris Gates

@krismgates.bsky.social

2K followers 770 following 5.8K posts

Scientist, atheist, educator. Proud PNW liberal; Oregon. Striving to be a part of our more perfect union. Lover of birds, cats, baking & preserving. Facts Matter. #Bird photos are mine unless noted otherwise. Joined 4/24 Missing Post News! She/her/pissed

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Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 28m

Scone of the Day: Lemon & Loganberry.
Made with lemon curd and lemon-zested sugar.

A wire rack of eight golden scones studded with scarlet berries.

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 1h

Underrated comment!

Reposted by Kris Gates

Byron Hurley Photography @byronhurley.bsky.social · 1h

Duck #birds #wildlife #photography 🌿

A closeup of a mallard drake's eye

Reposted by Kris Gates

FactPost @factpostnews.bsky.social · 4h

Fox: Roasted coffee prices are up 22% in the past year. There's a 50% tariff on coffee from Brazil. That's the nation's biggest coffee supplier. Take a look at this bag right here. The container that bag came in is costing this coffee shop $68,000 more than it did over the summer

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 1h

This device on the park boardwalk has special significance these days.

An outdoor device that changes color when there is risk of ice making a boardwalk slippery. It reads IceAlert.

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 2h

I like the symmetry of this.

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 2h

He's there every day.

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 2h

I wonder if the arch-shaped frame would be nice at the top of the arrangement? It could lend a sort of architectural structure to the rest of it.

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 2h

As a chemist by training, I'm always interested in the Nobel award for chemistry. This year's is fascinating! Metal-organic frameworks that may serve many functions. Also timely because my book group is reading Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle with its "Ice-9" threats.
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemi...

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 was awarded jointly to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi "for the development of metal–organic frameworks"

www.nobelprize.org

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 2h

What are the brackets (?) for, affixed to front and rear?

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 3h

I think you're too far East, but they're definitely in the western half of the state.
Ah, the eternal question of nature vs. nurture! Young GRHE only stay with their parents for about a month, but I don'y know the answer.

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 3h

As I was out looking for birds, my eye was drawn to the slight movement of this katydid, about 15 feet away. I quickly zoomed in with my camera to watch its progress. When I looked again with my naked eye, I could no longer find it, so complete was its camouflage among the leaves.

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 3h

surface to lure prey. When a fish rises to take it, the #bird grabs the fish. I’ve never seen that particular behavior, but I have watched them fishing with great determination; they hunt both during the day & at night. I have the most luck finding them in the early morning hours just after dawn.

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 3h

breeding season when it also has a beautiful russet throat with dramatic frontal striping🪶. Like many waders, they may stand motionless as they hunt for small fish, frogs & crustaceans but GRHE are also known to use tools. Using bread crust, bugs, or other bait, they'll drop it onto a water's

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 3h

once in a while you’ll see one out in the open, especially if they feel safe up in a tree or perched on something in the water. This #bird used to be called the Green-backed Heron before being split from the Striated Heron found in South America. Green plumage on back & crown is most colorful during

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 3h

#Bird of the Day: Green Heron (GRHE)
The easiest way to identify a Green Heron is to look for a dark, medium-sized heron flying away from you. These shy birds are easily spooked, & as they often pose in the shallow water near a bank, it’s very common for them to depart just as you approach. However,

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 4h

Aren’t they gorgeous?!

Reposted by Kris Gates

Qasim Rashid, Esq. @qasimrashid.com · 15h

It's so ridiculous that MAGAs believe the GOP line that "Democrats want to give free healthcare to immigrants."

My dudes immigrants aren't getting free healthcare in the United States. American citizens aren't even getting free healthcare. You know who is?

The people lying to you about immigrants.

Reposted by Kris Gates

ᴄʜᴀʀʟᴇʏ★ᴘɪʀᴏᴛʜ @charlespiroth.bsky.social · 17h

Three Barn Owls at a quatrefoil church window. Shot at a local church in North Norfolk, England.
📷 Richard Brooks

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 13h

Did Hegseth do a BMI check on those agents?

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 13h

I think they’re all on Ozempic.

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 14h

Yup! The pigeon will be fine and will make its presence known sooner or later! They've got chicks (of chickens) in stock right now so there is food readily available.

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 14h

Naughty Baja! 😅

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 15h

I've seen house sparrows at our similar stores here. Word must get around.
I tried to tell an employee today of the pigeon but they seemed uninterested in their chatting being interrupted by an actual customer.

Kris Gates @krismgates.bsky.social · 15h

I also like them. And I think they're quite beautiful in a subtle fashion.
Our last sunny/75F day of the summer today & I tried to soak it all in. This winter will be punctuated with a couple trips for birds and all the lovely holiday baking & gathering. In these joys, I will immerse my weary self.