Richard Littauer
@richlitt.bsky.social
PhD in CS at Te Herenga Waka, focusing on birds. Open source. Linguist and conlanger. eBird and iNat. SustainOSS and CURIOSS. He/him.
See https://burntfen.com for a list of things I did when I should have been doing other things.
See https://burntfen.com for a list of things I did when I should have been doing other things.
November 4, 2025 at 9:04 PM
While reading an article from Notornis from 1976, I came across this wonderful sentence.
Standards sure have slipped, haven't they?
Standards sure have slipped, haven't they?
October 29, 2025 at 12:51 AM
While reading an article from Notornis from 1976, I came across this wonderful sentence.
Standards sure have slipped, haven't they?
Standards sure have slipped, haven't they?
October 23, 2025 at 8:34 AM
And here are some cool photos of it.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/259134182
I got these while at the Botanical Society Summer Camp in Nelson Lakes last summer. Took a bit of effort to get new aquatic species with only a camera and a swimsuit. You can see the different leaf shapes here.
I got these while at the Botanical Society Summer Camp in Nelson Lakes last summer. Took a bit of effort to get new aquatic species with only a camera and a swimsuit. You can see the different leaf shapes here.
August 17, 2025 at 12:04 AM
And here are some cool photos of it.https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/259134182
I got these while at the Botanical Society Summer Camp in Nelson Lakes last summer. Took a bit of effort to get new aquatic species with only a camera and a swimsuit. You can see the different leaf shapes here.
I got these while at the Botanical Society Summer Camp in Nelson Lakes last summer. Took a bit of effort to get new aquatic species with only a camera and a swimsuit. You can see the different leaf shapes here.
Oh hello UN. Excited to see people working on supporting open source from the top-down. Hoping that they - we - do more to meet people coming from the bottom up.
#opensource
#opensource
June 18, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Oh hello UN. Excited to see people working on supporting open source from the top-down. Hoping that they - we - do more to meet people coming from the bottom up.
#opensource
#opensource
Two new dream observations last night. First, a large murmuration of Variable Oystercatchers. I saw 2% of the global population, flying over one field.
Second, the first time one has ever been taken by a Peregrine Falcon, which was also a lifer (#93)!
#ebird #dreambirds
Second, the first time one has ever been taken by a Peregrine Falcon, which was also a lifer (#93)!
#ebird #dreambirds
May 22, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Two new dream observations last night. First, a large murmuration of Variable Oystercatchers. I saw 2% of the global population, flying over one field.
Second, the first time one has ever been taken by a Peregrine Falcon, which was also a lifer (#93)!
#ebird #dreambirds
Second, the first time one has ever been taken by a Peregrine Falcon, which was also a lifer (#93)!
#ebird #dreambirds
I've edited my automatic incidental eBird Logger using @alfredapp.bsky.social on my computer to say "Bird logged, well done!" when I log it. Somehow, she says it in a Geordie accent, which I am very OK with.
#ebird
#ebird
May 11, 2025 at 9:36 PM
I've edited my automatic incidental eBird Logger using @alfredapp.bsky.social on my computer to say "Bird logged, well done!" when I log it. Somehow, she says it in a Geordie accent, which I am very OK with.
#ebird
#ebird
Well, that's another article on a very obscure piece of nomenclature submitted.
Fun one to write, but I may be missing the forest for the weeds.
Fun one to write, but I may be missing the forest for the weeds.
April 23, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Well, that's another article on a very obscure piece of nomenclature submitted.
Fun one to write, but I may be missing the forest for the weeds.
Fun one to write, but I may be missing the forest for the weeds.
Fear not, citizens of earth! Moving to New Zealand has not meant that I did not hear the noble American Woodcock this year.
For in my dreams last night, walking next to an abandoned rail track in Hoboken, I heard the mighty PEEEEENT.
Aw yeah, new bird for the dream list.
#birding #dreams
For in my dreams last night, walking next to an abandoned rail track in Hoboken, I heard the mighty PEEEEENT.
Aw yeah, new bird for the dream list.
#birding #dreams
April 21, 2025 at 2:09 AM
I got tired of opening eBird for incidental birds I see from my window while I work on my laptop. So, I made an automatic logger for my command line, and added an Alfred extension so I could log in with a few keystrokes.
codeberg.org/RichardLitt/...
#ebird #code #alfred #osx #communityscience
codeberg.org/RichardLitt/...
#ebird #code #alfred #osx #communityscience
April 18, 2025 at 1:15 AM
I got tired of opening eBird for incidental birds I see from my window while I work on my laptop. So, I made an automatic logger for my command line, and added an Alfred extension so I could log in with a few keystrokes.
codeberg.org/RichardLitt/...
#ebird #code #alfred #osx #communityscience
codeberg.org/RichardLitt/...
#ebird #code #alfred #osx #communityscience
For anyone who wants to see how to set this up: put your script in the Run Script box. I have mine set up to run every time I type "thanks".
April 17, 2025 at 2:25 AM
For anyone who wants to see how to set this up: put your script in the Run Script box. I have mine set up to run every time I type "thanks".
This beautiful bird, Neotis heuglinii, was described in 1859 in @bou.org.uk by Hartlaub. His printer did not do a great job with the title, which reads: "Otis heuglinij". The final i could be a j. No one has acted as First Reviser (ICZN Art. 24) that I can tell.
I do so now: The name is heuglinii.
I do so now: The name is heuglinii.
April 9, 2025 at 6:54 PM
This beautiful bird, Neotis heuglinii, was described in 1859 in @bou.org.uk by Hartlaub. His printer did not do a great job with the title, which reads: "Otis heuglinij". The final i could be a j. No one has acted as First Reviser (ICZN Art. 24) that I can tell.
I do so now: The name is heuglinii.
I do so now: The name is heuglinii.
Two new dream lifers today! Secretarybird and a Greater Roadrunner.
The Secretarybird apparently predates Roadrunners in my dreams. Who knew?
#birding #lifebirds #lifebirds
The Secretarybird apparently predates Roadrunners in my dreams. Who knew?
#birding #lifebirds #lifebirds
March 12, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Two new dream lifers today! Secretarybird and a Greater Roadrunner.
The Secretarybird apparently predates Roadrunners in my dreams. Who knew?
#birding #lifebirds #lifebirds
The Secretarybird apparently predates Roadrunners in my dreams. Who knew?
#birding #lifebirds #lifebirds
After hosting a podcast with someone from the UK, I immediately felt that lunch should be a Branston pickle and cheese sandwich. I have no idea why this is the case, and my partner hates it.
What is wrong with me and why do I like this?
What is wrong with me and why do I like this?
March 10, 2025 at 11:23 PM
After hosting a podcast with someone from the UK, I immediately felt that lunch should be a Branston pickle and cheese sandwich. I have no idea why this is the case, and my partner hates it.
What is wrong with me and why do I like this?
What is wrong with me and why do I like this?
I've finally uploaded my photos from Kākācon in Zealandia last year. Good time.
ebird.org/checklist/S2...
www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Happy with a few of these photos.
#birds #zealandia #newzealandwildlife #endemic
ebird.org/checklist/S2...
www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Happy with a few of these photos.
#birds #zealandia #newzealandwildlife #endemic
February 22, 2025 at 10:29 AM
I've finally uploaded my photos from Kākācon in Zealandia last year. Good time.
ebird.org/checklist/S2...
www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Happy with a few of these photos.
#birds #zealandia #newzealandwildlife #endemic
ebird.org/checklist/S2...
www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Happy with a few of these photos.
#birds #zealandia #newzealandwildlife #endemic
If you have access to Birds of the World, my first chapter on a bird there was just published after a good deal of work.
The Tristan Moorhen was a flightless rail that lived only on Tristan in Tristan da Cunha in the south Atlantic.
1/n
The Tristan Moorhen was a flightless rail that lived only on Tristan in Tristan da Cunha in the south Atlantic.
1/n
February 1, 2025 at 2:12 AM
If you have access to Birds of the World, my first chapter on a bird there was just published after a good deal of work.
The Tristan Moorhen was a flightless rail that lived only on Tristan in Tristan da Cunha in the south Atlantic.
1/n
The Tristan Moorhen was a flightless rail that lived only on Tristan in Tristan da Cunha in the south Atlantic.
1/n
My journal article correcting taxonomic names for brittle stars was just published.
Now, this should be called Ophiopsammus maculatus – not maculata.
Which is kind of cool! From iNaturalist observation to Wikipedia page to journal article took around two months.
mapress.com/zt/article/v...
Now, this should be called Ophiopsammus maculatus – not maculata.
Which is kind of cool! From iNaturalist observation to Wikipedia page to journal article took around two months.
mapress.com/zt/article/v...
January 15, 2025 at 8:29 AM
My journal article correcting taxonomic names for brittle stars was just published.
Now, this should be called Ophiopsammus maculatus – not maculata.
Which is kind of cool! From iNaturalist observation to Wikipedia page to journal article took around two months.
mapress.com/zt/article/v...
Now, this should be called Ophiopsammus maculatus – not maculata.
Which is kind of cool! From iNaturalist observation to Wikipedia page to journal article took around two months.
mapress.com/zt/article/v...
So, Forsterygion lapillum is well formed, and even if it moves genus later (when new taxonomy papers come out, for instance), it'll stay lapillum.
Hooray!
This concludes the adventure.
Hooray!
This concludes the adventure.
December 30, 2024 at 9:11 PM
So, Forsterygion lapillum is well formed, and even if it moves genus later (when new taxonomy papers come out, for instance), it'll stay lapillum.
Hooray!
This concludes the adventure.
Hooray!
This concludes the adventure.
I mean, look at this little guy.
December 29, 2024 at 2:26 AM
I mean, look at this little guy.
New dream bird a few nights ago: Great Egret. It's a relatively rare bird in New Zealand, and this was the first time I've logged it in my dreams. I don't remember the details.
December 19, 2024 at 7:40 PM
New dream bird a few nights ago: Great Egret. It's a relatively rare bird in New Zealand, and this was the first time I've logged it in my dreams. I don't remember the details.
The gender of a bird. In this case, Crypturellus.
Grammatical gender, the ICZN's Code, and how to share this stuff on a blog without sniping my own publications of the work. I'm not sure I can.
www.burntfen.com/2024-12-18/t...
Grammatical gender, the ICZN's Code, and how to share this stuff on a blog without sniping my own publications of the work. I'm not sure I can.
www.burntfen.com/2024-12-18/t...
December 18, 2024 at 9:04 AM
The gender of a bird. In this case, Crypturellus.
Grammatical gender, the ICZN's Code, and how to share this stuff on a blog without sniping my own publications of the work. I'm not sure I can.
www.burntfen.com/2024-12-18/t...
Grammatical gender, the ICZN's Code, and how to share this stuff on a blog without sniping my own publications of the work. I'm not sure I can.
www.burntfen.com/2024-12-18/t...
Ata mārie, Aotearoa.
A beautiful morning today. Woke up before sunrise, meditated on this bench, and then ran down to the ocean and swam to the floating doc and back. My goal was to see if I could keep the seagull on the dock while also swimming around it; need to make a wider circle next time.
A beautiful morning today. Woke up before sunrise, meditated on this bench, and then ran down to the ocean and swam to the floating doc and back. My goal was to see if I could keep the seagull on the dock while also swimming around it; need to make a wider circle next time.
December 9, 2024 at 6:11 PM
Ata mārie, Aotearoa.
A beautiful morning today. Woke up before sunrise, meditated on this bench, and then ran down to the ocean and swam to the floating doc and back. My goal was to see if I could keep the seagull on the dock while also swimming around it; need to make a wider circle next time.
A beautiful morning today. Woke up before sunrise, meditated on this bench, and then ran down to the ocean and swam to the floating doc and back. My goal was to see if I could keep the seagull on the dock while also swimming around it; need to make a wider circle next time.
I am giving a talk about #ebird and #R and #Python and #birding in ten minutes! Come watch!
seagl.org/watch
seagl.org/watch
November 9, 2024 at 9:22 PM
I am giving a talk about #ebird and #R and #Python and #birding in ten minutes! Come watch!
seagl.org/watch
seagl.org/watch
This is what a Breeding Bird Survey route looks like.
My trip report from this June, doing the Craftsbury BBS route. I double-checked the data yesterday, and got to relive every one of the fifty stops.
ebird.org/tripreport/2...
#birds #ebird #birding
My trip report from this June, doing the Craftsbury BBS route. I double-checked the data yesterday, and got to relive every one of the fifty stops.
ebird.org/tripreport/2...
#birds #ebird #birding
October 8, 2024 at 9:33 PM
This is what a Breeding Bird Survey route looks like.
My trip report from this June, doing the Craftsbury BBS route. I double-checked the data yesterday, and got to relive every one of the fifty stops.
ebird.org/tripreport/2...
#birds #ebird #birding
My trip report from this June, doing the Craftsbury BBS route. I double-checked the data yesterday, and got to relive every one of the fifty stops.
ebird.org/tripreport/2...
#birds #ebird #birding
