Messy Ecology
@messyecology.bsky.social
A space to discuss ecology, with a focus on wildlife, and the messyness of human-wildlife coexistence, #conservation, and #wildlife management.
https://www.youtube.com/@MessyEcology
https://www.youtube.com/@MessyEcology
If you are interested in Bears and history, my latest #Substack post is for you!
Find it here:
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
Find it here:
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
Remembering a Remarkable Bear
The story of Winnie, a soldier, and our relationship with bears
open.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:52 PM
If you are interested in Bears and history, my latest #Substack post is for you!
Find it here:
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
Find it here:
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
Happy Halloween, #BlueSky!
Check out my latest #Substack post if you want to read about bats, including a new paper that documents Rats catching and eating Bats!
🤯
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
#bats
#rats
#Halloween
#MessyEcology
Check out my latest #Substack post if you want to read about bats, including a new paper that documents Rats catching and eating Bats!
🤯
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
#bats
#rats
#Halloween
#MessyEcology
October 31, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Happy Halloween, #BlueSky!
Check out my latest #Substack post if you want to read about bats, including a new paper that documents Rats catching and eating Bats!
🤯
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
#bats
#rats
#Halloween
#MessyEcology
Check out my latest #Substack post if you want to read about bats, including a new paper that documents Rats catching and eating Bats!
🤯
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
#bats
#rats
#Halloween
#MessyEcology
As we approach Halloween, how can you make sure your Halloween decorations don't have unintended consequences for wildlife? Read the latest from #MessyEcology on #substack here:
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
#UrbanWildlife
#coexistence
#Halloween
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
#UrbanWildlife
#coexistence
#Halloween
Halloween and Wildlife
How to be mindful about our wild neighbours during this spooky season
open.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:30 PM
As we approach Halloween, how can you make sure your Halloween decorations don't have unintended consequences for wildlife? Read the latest from #MessyEcology on #substack here:
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
#UrbanWildlife
#coexistence
#Halloween
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
#UrbanWildlife
#coexistence
#Halloween
This beautiful #Porcupine crossed between parked cars, grass, a bike path, & eventually a road this morning in front of me. Thankfully, s/he has street smarts, & turned away from the road a few times at the lights of oncoming traffic.
Plz watch for #urbanwildlife, especially as days get shorter!
Plz watch for #urbanwildlife, especially as days get shorter!
October 23, 2025 at 2:40 PM
This beautiful #Porcupine crossed between parked cars, grass, a bike path, & eventually a road this morning in front of me. Thankfully, s/he has street smarts, & turned away from the road a few times at the lights of oncoming traffic.
Plz watch for #urbanwildlife, especially as days get shorter!
Plz watch for #urbanwildlife, especially as days get shorter!
Hey BlueSky, check out our latest post - discussing inspiration and moving forward in the face of doubt.
Striving for weekly posts; follow along for more!
#MessyEcology
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
Striving for weekly posts; follow along for more!
#MessyEcology
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
Finding Inspiration
Starting, Stopping, and the Importance of Moving Forward in the Face of Doubt
open.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Hey BlueSky, check out our latest post - discussing inspiration and moving forward in the face of doubt.
Striving for weekly posts; follow along for more!
#MessyEcology
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
Striving for weekly posts; follow along for more!
#MessyEcology
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
Reposted by Messy Ecology
Big-eyed species are especially vulnerable to the effects of light pollution, a citizen-science effort shows
go.nature.com/4mXMkTX
go.nature.com/4mXMkTX
Bright city lights make birds around the world sing longer
Big-eyed species are especially vulnerable to the effects of light pollution, a citizen-science effort shows.
go.nature.com
August 27, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Big-eyed species are especially vulnerable to the effects of light pollution, a citizen-science effort shows
go.nature.com/4mXMkTX
go.nature.com/4mXMkTX
Reposted by Messy Ecology
Saturday was a wild opening of the fall bird collision monitor season. After a light rain, the sun emerged over the clouds, and BOOM we had a mass of collisions on the north east corner of buildings. Over 70 dead and 20 rescues for our entire downtown team. I am mainly found Tennessee Warblers.
August 26, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Saturday was a wild opening of the fall bird collision monitor season. After a light rain, the sun emerged over the clouds, and BOOM we had a mass of collisions on the north east corner of buildings. Over 70 dead and 20 rescues for our entire downtown team. I am mainly found Tennessee Warblers.
Reposted by Messy Ecology
Report injured birds in Chicago area & volunteer/support birdmonitors.net
Chicago is the most dangerous city for migrating birds, turn out lights 11pm-6am to help birds reach their destination
aeroecolab.com/illinois
make windows bird friendly flap.org
live bird migration map
birdcast.info
Chicago is the most dangerous city for migrating birds, turn out lights 11pm-6am to help birds reach their destination
aeroecolab.com/illinois
make windows bird friendly flap.org
live bird migration map
birdcast.info
August 27, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Report injured birds in Chicago area & volunteer/support birdmonitors.net
Chicago is the most dangerous city for migrating birds, turn out lights 11pm-6am to help birds reach their destination
aeroecolab.com/illinois
make windows bird friendly flap.org
live bird migration map
birdcast.info
Chicago is the most dangerous city for migrating birds, turn out lights 11pm-6am to help birds reach their destination
aeroecolab.com/illinois
make windows bird friendly flap.org
live bird migration map
birdcast.info
Hi people of #BlueSky,
I took my first stab at a #Substack post. Please consider taking a look.
#MessyEcology
#Ecology
#Wildlife
#Coexistence
#Conservation
#Management
#Science
#Ethics
#Biology
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
I took my first stab at a #Substack post. Please consider taking a look.
#MessyEcology
#Ecology
#Wildlife
#Coexistence
#Conservation
#Management
#Science
#Ethics
#Biology
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
An Introduction to Messy Ecology
Starting something new... at last
open.substack.com
August 10, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Hi people of #BlueSky,
I took my first stab at a #Substack post. Please consider taking a look.
#MessyEcology
#Ecology
#Wildlife
#Coexistence
#Conservation
#Management
#Science
#Ethics
#Biology
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
I took my first stab at a #Substack post. Please consider taking a look.
#MessyEcology
#Ecology
#Wildlife
#Coexistence
#Conservation
#Management
#Science
#Ethics
#Biology
open.substack.com/pub/messyeco...
Reposted by Messy Ecology
What a difference 6 months makes. In honour of the summer #solstice (8:42 pm tonight in Saskatoon), here’s a comparison of Dec 20 (sunrise 9:12am, set 4:56pm) and June 20 (sunrise 4:45am, set 9:31pm). Both pics at 8:30am. Happy #Solstice! #GoodMorningFromSaskatoon
June 20, 2025 at 7:17 PM
What a difference 6 months makes. In honour of the summer #solstice (8:42 pm tonight in Saskatoon), here’s a comparison of Dec 20 (sunrise 9:12am, set 4:56pm) and June 20 (sunrise 4:45am, set 9:31pm). Both pics at 8:30am. Happy #Solstice! #GoodMorningFromSaskatoon
It's that time of year! See any slightly clumsy birds begging for food? Probably some young that have left the nest not too long ago!
#Birds
#BackyardBirds
#MessyEcology
#UrbanWildlife
#Birds
#BackyardBirds
#MessyEcology
#UrbanWildlife
Junior magpies waiting around for parent. Just look at their reaction when parent arrives 😁 #birds
June 21, 2025 at 3:16 AM
It's that time of year! See any slightly clumsy birds begging for food? Probably some young that have left the nest not too long ago!
#Birds
#BackyardBirds
#MessyEcology
#UrbanWildlife
#Birds
#BackyardBirds
#MessyEcology
#UrbanWildlife
Reposted by Messy Ecology
Climate misinformation turning crisis into catastrophe, report says.
False claims obstructing climate action, say researchers, amid calls for climate lies to be criminalized.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
False claims obstructing climate action, say researchers, amid calls for climate lies to be criminalized.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Climate misinformation turning crisis into catastrophe – major report
False claims obstructing climate action, say researchers, amid calls for climate lies to be criminalised
www.theguardian.com
June 21, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Climate misinformation turning crisis into catastrophe, report says.
False claims obstructing climate action, say researchers, amid calls for climate lies to be criminalized.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
False claims obstructing climate action, say researchers, amid calls for climate lies to be criminalized.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Messy Ecology
Tonic immobility in cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichthyes): function, evolutionary history, and future directions 🦑🧪🐟🦈 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Tonic immobility in cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichthyes): function, evolutionary history, and future directions - Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries
Tonic immobility, a temporary cessation of voluntary movements, is a widespread phenomenon within the animal kingdom. While commonly regarded as an ‘anti-predator’ defence strategy, empirical evidence...
link.springer.com
June 11, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Tonic immobility in cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichthyes): function, evolutionary history, and future directions 🦑🧪🐟🦈 link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Some movement on the sidewalk by a busy road caught my eye this morning.
Aren't #Ants fascinating and inspiring? 🐜
It's amazing how much life we see around us, even in the most ordinary places, when we take a moment to appreciate it.
#MessyEcology
#UrbanWildlife
#Don'tGiveUp
#Determination
Aren't #Ants fascinating and inspiring? 🐜
It's amazing how much life we see around us, even in the most ordinary places, when we take a moment to appreciate it.
#MessyEcology
#UrbanWildlife
#Don'tGiveUp
#Determination
June 12, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Some movement on the sidewalk by a busy road caught my eye this morning.
Aren't #Ants fascinating and inspiring? 🐜
It's amazing how much life we see around us, even in the most ordinary places, when we take a moment to appreciate it.
#MessyEcology
#UrbanWildlife
#Don'tGiveUp
#Determination
Aren't #Ants fascinating and inspiring? 🐜
It's amazing how much life we see around us, even in the most ordinary places, when we take a moment to appreciate it.
#MessyEcology
#UrbanWildlife
#Don'tGiveUp
#Determination
Male mouse fetuses can develop female organs in utero if their mother is iron deficient during pregnancy
https://go.nature.com/43wHINR
https://go.nature.com/43wHINR
Male mice can grow ovaries if their pregnant mums are iron deficient
Nature - The study is the first to show that low iron levels can affect fetal sexual development.
go.nature.com
June 8, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Excellent (short) read, questioning our framing of gulls as #pests. Considering the state of our #oceans, is this simply an inevitable outcome, an example of their resilience?
#WorldOceansDay
#Human-WildlifeCoexistence
Disclaimer: Please do not feed wildlife!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
#WorldOceansDay
#Human-WildlifeCoexistence
Disclaimer: Please do not feed wildlife!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trying to get rid of noisy, food-stealing gulls is missing the point – it’s humans who are the pests | Sophie Pavelle
Hawks, spikes and sonic repellants are among the measures used to deter these birds. Perhaps we should try sharing our planet, says writer and science communicator Sophie Pavelle
www.theguardian.com
June 8, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Excellent (short) read, questioning our framing of gulls as #pests. Considering the state of our #oceans, is this simply an inevitable outcome, an example of their resilience?
#WorldOceansDay
#Human-WildlifeCoexistence
Disclaimer: Please do not feed wildlife!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
#WorldOceansDay
#Human-WildlifeCoexistence
Disclaimer: Please do not feed wildlife!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
ALERT for hummingbird feeders! Plz:
1) ONLY use 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water (NO fancy/substitute sugars!)
2) wash your feeder frequently
Otherwise, you may be doing more harm than good: “If you can’t or won’t do this, please do not put out a feeder at all”
www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...
1) ONLY use 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water (NO fancy/substitute sugars!)
2) wash your feeder frequently
Otherwise, you may be doing more harm than good: “If you can’t or won’t do this, please do not put out a feeder at all”
www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...
Animal centre issues plea to hummingbird feeders after bird poisoned in Victoria
An animal welfare organization in Victoria, B.C., is calling on birders to be cautious after a hummingbird was fed a toxic concoction that will ultimately lead to its demise.
www.ctvnews.ca
May 27, 2025 at 9:44 PM
ALERT for hummingbird feeders! Plz:
1) ONLY use 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water (NO fancy/substitute sugars!)
2) wash your feeder frequently
Otherwise, you may be doing more harm than good: “If you can’t or won’t do this, please do not put out a feeder at all”
www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...
1) ONLY use 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water (NO fancy/substitute sugars!)
2) wash your feeder frequently
Otherwise, you may be doing more harm than good: “If you can’t or won’t do this, please do not put out a feeder at all”
www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...
Reposted by Messy Ecology
How do parasitic plants find their prey? New study shows dodder vines use touch sensitivity and light detection to hunt victims. These master grafters even attempt to parasitize metal objects.
Learn more: wp.me/pdRZhH-m3g
#Botany #PlantScience 🧪
Learn more: wp.me/pdRZhH-m3g
#Botany #PlantScience 🧪
May 23, 2025 at 7:30 PM
How do parasitic plants find their prey? New study shows dodder vines use touch sensitivity and light detection to hunt victims. These master grafters even attempt to parasitize metal objects.
Learn more: wp.me/pdRZhH-m3g
#Botany #PlantScience 🧪
Learn more: wp.me/pdRZhH-m3g
#Botany #PlantScience 🧪
Reposted by Messy Ecology
“This demonstrates a deep connection between the ecosystem and atmospheric processes." 🧪 Cool new study from Matt Boyer etal.
Penguin poo helps keep Antarctica cool
Huge colonies of penguins in Antarctica fill the air with ammonia, which stabilises particles in the atmosphere that allow climate-cooling clouds to form
www.newscientist.com
May 22, 2025 at 4:11 PM
“This demonstrates a deep connection between the ecosystem and atmospheric processes." 🧪 Cool new study from Matt Boyer etal.
Reposted by Messy Ecology
"Hey GBIF, what day is it?"
Us: "The best day of the year - #InternationalDayForBiologicalDiversity!" 🤩🐛🧬
As a global biodiversity data infrastructure, GBIF works with our international network to provide anyone, anywhere, open access to data about all types of life on Earth.💚
#BiodiversityDay
Us: "The best day of the year - #InternationalDayForBiologicalDiversity!" 🤩🐛🧬
As a global biodiversity data infrastructure, GBIF works with our international network to provide anyone, anywhere, open access to data about all types of life on Earth.💚
#BiodiversityDay
May 22, 2025 at 8:40 AM
"Hey GBIF, what day is it?"
Us: "The best day of the year - #InternationalDayForBiologicalDiversity!" 🤩🐛🧬
As a global biodiversity data infrastructure, GBIF works with our international network to provide anyone, anywhere, open access to data about all types of life on Earth.💚
#BiodiversityDay
Us: "The best day of the year - #InternationalDayForBiologicalDiversity!" 🤩🐛🧬
As a global biodiversity data infrastructure, GBIF works with our international network to provide anyone, anywhere, open access to data about all types of life on Earth.💚
#BiodiversityDay
Reposted by Messy Ecology
Today is International Day for Biological Diversity!🐦🌍
Let us renew our commitment to identifying, safeguarding and restoring Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) worldwide.
Let’s live in harmony with nature.🌿
Find out more👉 datazone.birdlife.org/about-our-sc...
@keybiodiversity.bsky.social
Let us renew our commitment to identifying, safeguarding and restoring Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) worldwide.
Let’s live in harmony with nature.🌿
Find out more👉 datazone.birdlife.org/about-our-sc...
@keybiodiversity.bsky.social
May 22, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Today is International Day for Biological Diversity!🐦🌍
Let us renew our commitment to identifying, safeguarding and restoring Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) worldwide.
Let’s live in harmony with nature.🌿
Find out more👉 datazone.birdlife.org/about-our-sc...
@keybiodiversity.bsky.social
Let us renew our commitment to identifying, safeguarding and restoring Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) worldwide.
Let’s live in harmony with nature.🌿
Find out more👉 datazone.birdlife.org/about-our-sc...
@keybiodiversity.bsky.social
Reposted by Messy Ecology
My Birdathon #AlphabetOfBirds continues!
*T* is for Tyrant flycatchers (family Tyrannidae), a group that contains hundreds of species. My local favourites are the Western kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) and Eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) #birds (1/5)
*T* is for Tyrant flycatchers (family Tyrannidae), a group that contains hundreds of species. My local favourites are the Western kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) and Eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) #birds (1/5)
May 23, 2025 at 1:00 AM
My Birdathon #AlphabetOfBirds continues!
*T* is for Tyrant flycatchers (family Tyrannidae), a group that contains hundreds of species. My local favourites are the Western kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) and Eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) #birds (1/5)
*T* is for Tyrant flycatchers (family Tyrannidae), a group that contains hundreds of species. My local favourites are the Western kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) and Eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) #birds (1/5)
Reposted by Messy Ecology
FAIR WARNING: It’s ground squirrel kiddo season and excessive cuteness levels may occur or be occurring 🌿
May 22, 2025 at 10:58 PM
FAIR WARNING: It’s ground squirrel kiddo season and excessive cuteness levels may occur or be occurring 🌿
Reposted by Messy Ecology
Red wolves are one of the most endangered canids in the world—with fewer than 20 believed to remain in the wild. Every sighting, pup, and howl is a sign of hope—and a reason to keep fighting for their future. 🐺 #wolfconservationcenter #saveredwolves
May 20, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Red wolves are one of the most endangered canids in the world—with fewer than 20 believed to remain in the wild. Every sighting, pup, and howl is a sign of hope—and a reason to keep fighting for their future. 🐺 #wolfconservationcenter #saveredwolves
Reposted by Messy Ecology
A little journey for you today about snakes 🐍. Scroll down through 8 images for the whole story.
#SnakeEducation #Snakes #SnakeHeroes
#SnakeEducation #Snakes #SnakeHeroes
May 20, 2025 at 5:25 AM
A little journey for you today about snakes 🐍. Scroll down through 8 images for the whole story.
#SnakeEducation #Snakes #SnakeHeroes
#SnakeEducation #Snakes #SnakeHeroes