Author | Lightnews

Great Basin Bird Observatory @greatbasinbirds.bsky.social · 5h

Ever wonder what humans would look like with owl-sized eyes? Thanks to everyone who joined us last Saturday at Galena Creek for the fun!

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Great Basin Bird Observatory @greatbasinbirds.bsky.social · 1d

Happy Halloween, everyone!

#FieldCamFriday

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Great Basin Bird Observatory @greatbasinbirds.bsky.social · 1d

Looking back to a scene from our 2021 Arizona Pinyon Jay surveys near the Grand Canyon. A lesson to always stake down your tents thoroughly in case the wind picks up! #fieldcampfriday

tents rolled up on their sides, on the red earth, blown by the wind through Pinyon-juniper woodland near the Grand Canyon

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Reposted by Great Basin Bird Observatory

Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · 9d

Sharpie time! It’s always fun to get close looks at #sharpshinnedhawk - they have such personality and are so dynamic during migration at Mt Watatic (MA). We had a respectable count for the #hawkwatch season with 308. Some of my fave frames here! #birding 🪶🦅

A collage of Sharp-shinned Hawks in flight

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Reposted by Great Basin Bird Observatory

Desert Research Institute @driscience.bsky.social · 1d

Celebrate #NevadaDay with curiosity! 🎉

Join DRI archaeologist Megan Stueve on Nov. 5 for Las Vegas #CuriosityLab: The Possible Unknown as she explores how digital tools make Nevada’s landscapes accessible to all.

🎟 Get tickets: bit.ly/clthepossibleunknown

#DiscoverDRI #VirtualOutdoorExperiences

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Reposted by Great Basin Bird Observatory

Scaryanne Denton 🎃🧡 @mariannedenton.bsky.social · 1d

Happiest All Hallow’s Eve from the spooky Horsehead Nebula as it races across our dark skies.

🔭 #Astrophotography

The Flame Nebula, the star Altinak, and the Horsehead Nebula through an astrophotography telescope. Seestar S50 44.50 stacking with 10 second subs.

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Great Basin Bird Observatory @greatbasinbirds.bsky.social · 1d

En route to Pinyon Jay surveys last fall near Spring Creek, NV. May we present Cicada scrawled on a pit toilet wall by an unknown 21st-century poet. 10/10, though it begs the question if this person has ever seen a cicada. #Nevada #OnlyinNevada #cicada

Wall with handwritten:

Cicada -
sick of himself
his own face,
sick of his skin, of the dark
He crawls outside himself
to sing -

(with a sketch of a strange creature with 16 legs)

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Great Basin Bird Observatory @greatbasinbirds.bsky.social · 3d

You never know what you'll find when you're out in the field! An American badger photographed through binoculars by Nevada Pinyon Jay surveyor Macy Schmidt. #Nevada #PinyonJaySurveys

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Great Basin Bird Observatory @greatbasinbirds.bsky.social · 4d

Pinyon Jays are known for their nomadic nature and large home ranges and are typically found within the elevation range of 4,000 to 8,500 ft. Though #PinyonJays can turn up in unexpected places, this particular survey plot may be pushing the upper limits. Beautiful views, though! #birds

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Reposted by Great Basin Bird Observatory

Jack Maynard(he/him) @jhmsparky.bsky.social · 4d

Reskeeting for #BirdOfTheDay pairs

Jack Maynard(he/him) @jhmsparky.bsky.social · Sep 23

These Pygmy Nuthatches visited our campsite's water spigot this morning at Tumalo State Park, Deschutes County, Oregon #birding

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Reposted by Great Basin Bird Observatory

Point Blue Conservation Science @pointblue.bsky.social · 4d

🦉🌎🧪 The new San Francisco Bay State of the Birds website is live! See how #bird populations are changing across the Bay and what it means for habitat health. This data will inform important restoration and land management decisions. sfbaystateofthebirds.org

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Reposted by Great Basin Bird Observatory

Kathy Jones 🍁🇨🇦 @volunteer4birds.bsky.social · 4d

Last chance to help the Atlas with some owl observations.
Two species of #owls, Eastern Screech-Owl & Great Horned Owl begin their breeding cycle and offer one last chance to contribute some owl data to the Atlas in southern #Ontario.
ESOW Map buff.ly/THoxzsT
GHOW Map buff.ly/40GdUtO
#Birds

Card with the same text as the post on Last Chance to help the Atlas with some owl observations. With it is a snoozing Eastern Screech-Owl.

Atlas - 3 map of Great Horned Owl Squares, grey squares need people on the loonout for breeding evidence.

Atlas - 3 map of Eastern Screech-Owl squares, grey squares need people on the loonout for breeding evidence.

two very large and fluffy Great Horned Owl chicks look indignantly at the camera. They are sitting in a stick nest with green leaves behind

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Reposted by Great Basin Bird Observatory

Vladimir Pravosudov @cognitiveecol.bsky.social · 4d

I am looking for a postdoc to work in our long-term system of food-caching mountain chickadees in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The expected start is April 2026. Please see details here: chickadeecognition.com/positions
If interested and qualified, please contact me directly (email on the website).

POSITIONS

default description

chickadeecognition.com

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Great Basin Bird Observatory @greatbasinbirds.bsky.social · 5d

Sunrise over pinyon-juniper forest in central Nevada. #Nevada #PinyonJaySurveys

Sunrise hits the top of snow-skiffed peaks over pinyon-juniper woodland.

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Great Basin Bird Observatory @greatbasinbirds.bsky.social · 6d

An organized tote system can allow for some comfort in otherwise harsh field conditions. Our Pinyon Jay surveyors sure are resilient! #Nevada #PinyonJaySurveys

The snowy bed of a pickup in pinyon-juniper, with totes, and a stove set up to cook up a warm meal!

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Great Basin Bird Observatory @greatbasinbirds.bsky.social · 7d

Pinyon Jay fledgling begging in the Sheep Range north of Las Vegas. Note the pale-yellow inner edge of bill (the gape), and the overall gray color. #PinyonJay #Nevada #birds

Pinyon Jay fledgling in pinyon pine.

Photo by Ned Bohman.

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Great Basin Bird Observatory @greatbasinbirds.bsky.social · 7d

Are you in the Reno-ish area? Join us tomorrow morning for a bird walk and a trivia session on owls at Galena Park, in Reno!

Bird Walk and What Do You Know About Owls Trivia Session — Great Basin Bird Observatory

Join Great Basin Bird Observatory and Northwest Nevada Bird Alliance (Lahontan Audubon Society) at the Galena Creek Visitor Center for a bird walk and trivia session! Ned Bohman of the Great Basin Bird Observatory will lead the bird walk starting at 8:00 AM at the Visitor Center, and Alan Gubanich w

www.gbbo.org

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Great Basin Bird Observatory @greatbasinbirds.bsky.social · 8d

Another day, another campsite! Our Pinyon Jay surveyors are often camping for up to 10 days at a time in remote locations. #FieldCampFriday

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Great Basin Bird Observatory @greatbasinbirds.bsky.social · 8d

Are you in the Reno-ish area? Join us tomorrow morning for a bird walk and a trivia session on owls at Galena Park, in Reno!

Bird Walk and What Do You Know About Owls Trivia Session — Great Basin Bird Observatory

Join Great Basin Bird Observatory and Northwest Nevada Bird Alliance (Lahontan Audubon Society) at the Galena Creek Visitor Center for a bird walk and trivia session! Ned Bohman of the Great Basin Bird Observatory will lead the bird walk starting at 8:00 AM at the Visitor Center, and Alan Gubanich w

www.gbbo.org

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Great Basin Bird Observatory @greatbasinbirds.bsky.social · 22d

Starting work in winter certainly increases the chances of encountering unfavorable road conditions. Sometimes you need someone to pull you out of the mud (& bring you some pie), which is exactly what happened to this team on our 2024 crew. Thanks 775 Off Roading Rescue! #FlashbackFriday #Gratitude

Kind rescuer with field crew in snow, with freed pickup!

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Great Basin Bird Observatory @greatbasinbirds.bsky.social · 23d

You can learn more about this program at:

Pinyon Jay Community Science Hub

Great Basin Bird Observatory's Pinyon Jay Community Science HUB, for all things Pinyon Jay! This species is of critical conservation concern, visit this page to learn more about this important volunteer effort.

pinyon-jay-community-science-gbbo.hub.arcgis.com

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Great Basin Bird Observatory @greatbasinbirds.bsky.social · 23d

GBBO also runs a Pinyon Jay Community Science Program, and partners with other individuals and groups to collect needed information about Pinyon Jay locations, habitat use, & conservation needs. THANK YOU to the many people who have helped conserve Pinyon Jays through this program!

A massive Pinyon Jay flock flies over Carson City, Nevada, taken by one of our volunteers! Looks like a cloud of tiny black dots silhouetted against an actual cloud.

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Great Basin Bird Observatory @greatbasinbirds.bsky.social · 23d

Sunset over a Pinyon Jay survey plot east of Tonopah. Gold may not be in those hills, but it's certainly on it!

#GoldenHour #NevadaPinyonJays

Golden hour lighting up distant mountain, seen through pinyon-junipers, with the field truck in the foreground, and mostly blue skies, with wispy clouds.

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Great Basin Bird Observatory @greatbasinbirds.bsky.social · 25d

Beautiful views from Arizona! #ArizonaPinyonJays

Mountain views, with clouds scudding across blue skies.

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Great Basin Bird Observatory @greatbasinbirds.bsky.social · 26d

Surveying for Pinyon Jays often leads to other fun wildlife encounters, like this Great Horned Owl! Photo by our intrepid 2025 Nevada Pinyon Jay crew.

Great Horned Owl perched on ground in rocky draw.

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