Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦
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secondnaturemb.bsky.social
Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦
@secondnaturemb.bsky.social
23K followers 600 following 8.3K posts
Naturalist, writer, artist, and educator with a Ph.D. in Ecology. I make interpretive signs, illustrations, murals, and books. Sometimes, I chase polar bears and belugas. #scicomm #sciart http://www.discoversecondnature.ca
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secondnaturemb.bsky.social
Two mother polar bears and their respective cubs beating a hasty retreat from a large male who had just showed up in the neighborhood. Males are a risk to cubs. #BearSeason2025 #mammals 🌿
November 15, 2025 at 1:26 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
A very stark reminder why no one goes out on foot after dark in Churchill, Manitoba. This mom and her cubs came just off the beach and behind the town complex. The Polar Bear Alert staff gently herded them away from town to keep everyone safe. #mammals #BearSeason2025 🌿
November 14, 2025 at 3:39 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
Polar bears are solitary for the most part. Usually, the only time you see cuddling is with mom and cubs. However, this is two males. I've noticed that some males will hang out together while waiting for the ice and this will be a precursor to a sparring bout. #mammals 🌿
One male polar bear lays his head on the flank of another bear who is lying down. You can tell that the bottom bear isn't really all that happy about this. His back leg is poised to push the other one off and his head is twisted to the side. Two male polar bears face off on their hind legs against a backdrop of snowy willows. They're not going to hurt each other, just spar.
November 12, 2025 at 4:07 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
I really need to get to bed, but I just poked my head out the back door again. This is the view from my deck. All of this is looking south. When the geomagnetic storms are like this, the oval overshoots me and stretches into the US, which is why so many are seeing it tonight. #aurora
A bright red glow reaches up into the darkness, illuminating the silhouettes of tall slightly scraggly, spruce trees Swirls of green and red light sweep down from the sky, lighting up the forest and contrasting against the Stark silhouettes of trees Dramatic swirls of green and red light swirl down from the middle of the sky, starkly contrasting against the bear of Poplar, tall Spruce trees. Still more dramatic curtains of light sweep down from above in sheets of green and red. The tall bear poplars and spruce spires our starkly silhouetted.
November 12, 2025 at 5:16 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
A few more photos from tonight’s incredible #aurora. I’m fascinated by the amount of red light tonight. This is generated by oxygen molecules being excited by light plasma at least 600 km above the Earth. The green is also oxygen molecules, but much lower (100-250km). Definitely a great night.
A ribbon of green light topped with red swirls across the sky, high above the silhouettes of spear trees. The forest rims a barely frozen pond that reflects a bit of the light. Ribbons of bright, red and green light fill the sky behind the tall silhouettes of spruce trees. The red light is on top of the green. Looking straight up into the night, sky, green swirls of Aurora form of Phoenix, like image surrounded by red light that is glowing higher up behind it. Looking up into the night, sky, curtains of red and green light pour down from high in the atmosphere a start contrast of the silhouettes of trees.
November 12, 2025 at 4:23 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
So this happened an hour ago. I don’t think I’ve seen red this deep in a long time. You could see it quite clearly with the naked eye. #aurora
A bright red curtain of light surrounded by green glow rains down from the sky behind the silhouettes of spruce trees A bright red curtain of light surrounded by green glow rains down from the sky behind the silhouettes of spruce trees A bright red curtain of light surrounded by green glow rains down from the sky behind the silhouettes of spruce trees. The light is reflected in the thin layer of ice covering the pond in the foreground.
November 12, 2025 at 2:07 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
It's unusual to see a bloody face on a polar bear this time of year. Our bears are current nearing the end of their over 140 day fast waiting for Hudson Bay to freeze. This bear, however, must have found an unsuspecting seal along the shore. Definitely a bonus. #BearSeason2025 #mammals 🌿
A healthy-looking polar bear looks at the photographer, showing off the red tinge of dried blood around its muzzle.
November 11, 2025 at 9:15 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
It's ptarmigeddon!
These guys are a lot harder to see now that the snow is on the ground. #birds 🌿
A group of 12 white ptarmigan (tundra chickens) sit in the dead leaves on the ground.
November 11, 2025 at 4:06 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
Polar bears are experts in relaxing. Nothing like a good kelp bed in the sunshine. #Mammals #BearSeason2025 🌿
A polar bear lies on his back in a deep bed of brown kelp next to the blue water of Hudson Bay. He stretches his right arm up over its head. A polar bear lies on his back in a deep bed of reddish kelp and smiles in the sunshine, showing off his canines. A polar bear stretches out on his back in a deep bed of brown kelp in the sunshine.
November 11, 2025 at 2:23 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
Polar bears can reach a top speed of 40 km/h, but rarely run. This poor guy was unfortunately scared off by an emergency helicopter that was landing to help a guest in distress. Thankfully, he didn't have to go far. #Mammals 🌿
A cream-coloured polar bear running along the brown, dry grass/moss of the tundra after being startled by a low-flying helicopter.
November 10, 2025 at 9:23 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
If you see this, post your bird art.

A lot of my art is bird art, but this is one I don't post often. #art
A digital painting of raven flying overhead. It is clasping elderberry branches and multi-coloured yarn with beads on the end in its claws.
November 10, 2025 at 4:14 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
When you're looking out over the snowy tundra and suddenly these two pop up out of the willows. Polar bears, especially males, will sometimes kill time while waiting for the ice to freeze with a little friendly sparring. #mammals #BearSeason2025 🌿
Two large polar bears can be seen from a distance standing on their hind legs sparring with each other among the bare willows in the lightly falling snow. Two large polar bears can be seen from a distance sparring with each other among the bare willows in the lightly falling snow. Only the head of the left one is visible as he stretches his neck up over the willows to play bitey face with the one standing above him. Two large polar bears are locked in playful battle on their hind legs, viewed from a distance in the bare willows and snowy tundra.
November 10, 2025 at 4:19 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
How I'm feeling between tours 3 and 4 of bear season :) #mammals 🌿
A polar bear sleeps on the snow-dusted tundra with its head stretched out and legs tucked in as snow drifts around it.
November 10, 2025 at 3:27 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
A beautiful sunset over Hudson Bay last night. This never gets old.
A dramatic sunset over a large bay that is very slowly icing in. Snow and blocks of ice are in the foreground and are interspersed with water, reflecting the slate gray clouds and orange sky above.
November 9, 2025 at 12:23 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
The snow squall clouds over Hudson Bay yesterday were amazing.
Huge gray and white snow clothes twisting over Hudson Bay like swirling gray northern lights. Foreground is snow dusted willows with the water of the bay in the distance. Swirling gray and white snow clouds rise up over Hudson Bay has snow dusts the Willows in the foreground
November 8, 2025 at 5:32 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
Furry friend stopping by for a visit. It’s always awe- inspiring to see them this close and such an amazing privilege. #BearSeason2025 #mammals 🌿
November 6, 2025 at 3:07 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
The snow was coming down sideways today on the tundra. Perfect weather for sparring polar bears. #BearSeason 🌿 #mammals
November 5, 2025 at 11:47 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
I'm particularly found of the light on this big bruiser. He was just waking up from a nap. #BearSeason2025 #mammals 🌿
A large polar bear stands solidly on the dry moss of the tundra. The light casts him in harsh shadow, making him look a bit more beat-up than he actually is. A large polar bear stands on the dry brown moss of the tundra in the harsh light of late morning. He looks ready for a fight, but is just getting up from a nap.
November 3, 2025 at 4:47 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
Coming through! Important ptarmigan stuff to do!
#birds 🌿
A white willow ptarmigan with reddish-brown mottling on the back and head walks with purpose over the rocky ground, it's long, fluffy legs eating up the distance with each stride.
November 2, 2025 at 8:23 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
One of my favourite polar bear photos I've taken to date. It was a weird, misty evening with just a sliver of sunlight coming through the fog, lighting up this bear on the rocks just outside of town. #mammals 🌿 #BearSeason2025
A lone polar bear picks its way over a ridge of rounded grey rocks in dim, muted sunlight of late afternoon
November 1, 2025 at 10:18 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
While the polar bears are definitely the star of the show around Churchill these days, I was over the moon with spotting this Brants. Lifer pie (or in my case cake) for me!
These guys nest in the high Arctic and you rarely see them around here. #birds 🌿
Three small black-headed geese (brants) swim in the waves of Hudson Bay near a rocky shore. Two small black-headed geese (brants) swim in the waves of Hudson Bay near a rocky shore. Six small black-headed geese (brants) swim in the waves of Hudson Bay near a rocky shore.
November 1, 2025 at 2:22 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
When you're hungry, but Mom doesn't want to wake up.
#BearSeason #Mammals 🌿🐻‍❄️
A momma polar bear sleeps curled up in a small patch of willows on the rocky tundra. Her cub sits behind her, leaning their head on her side. A momma polar bear sleeps curled up in a small patch of willows on the rocky tundra. Her cub sits behind her, leaning their head on her side and dozing lightly.
October 31, 2025 at 3:56 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
Finally, a little cooler on the tundra today, but not cold enough. We were lucky to see this mom and cub, spending some time inland away from potentially dangerous males along the shore. 🐻‍❄️🌿 #mammals
October 30, 2025 at 2:49 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
An incredible moment on the Coastal Road this afternoon. Many people got to witness this bear roaming the rocks. However, it was getting too close to town and it was important we back off and let it be. Polar bear alert would eventually have to encourage it to move on.
A polar bear walks down off a roundish gray piece of granite into a golden mossy area in the pale light of early evening. The polar bear starts to walk right towards the photographer who is inside of a bus. It is surrounded by gray rounded granite and brownish moss. The polar bear stands on brown moss among rounded boulders of granite and looks off to the left of the image. It is very close to the photographer who is safely inside a vehicle. A polar bear walks down a gravel road lined by Brown bare Willows on either side. In the distance, you can see a large ridge of rounded gray granite. In front of the bear is a black pick up truck who has stopped on the road. Even further down the road there’s another pick up truck belonging to the polar bear alert.
October 29, 2025 at 2:47 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
A beautiful afternoon along Hudson Bay with a bunch of polar bears. It was much too warm for this time of year, so the bears were resting up and saving their energy. #mammals 🌿
October 28, 2025 at 3:17 AM