SK Winnicki, PhD 🏳️⚧️
@skwinnicki.bsky.social
Evolutionary ecologist & ornithologist, postdoc Ohio State | PhD UIUC, MSc Kansas State | SciComm, birding, and nature photography | certified Lawn Hater, Cowbird Apologist, Stress Physiology Enthusiast, Typo Lover | they/them 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 | skwinnicki.com
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Hi new followers, I’m SK!
Do you know that trope where a character is eaten alive by a dark secret and is forced to publicly confess it? That’s how I feel about every cool fact I learn, and until I can get back to teaching again they’re all coming out here, so buckle up!
Thread of fave posts:
Do you know that trope where a character is eaten alive by a dark secret and is forced to publicly confess it? That’s how I feel about every cool fact I learn, and until I can get back to teaching again they’re all coming out here, so buckle up!
Thread of fave posts:
Liked birds since I was a toddler, didn’t want to make it my career because I didn’t want a bad job to also ruin my hobby.
Went to college to be a historian, ended up doing an undergrad thesis for both biology and history degrees. Liked doing both, but liked studying birds too much to stay away.
Went to college to be a historian, ended up doing an undergrad thesis for both biology and history degrees. Liked doing both, but liked studying birds too much to stay away.
November 23, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Liked birds since I was a toddler, didn’t want to make it my career because I didn’t want a bad job to also ruin my hobby.
Went to college to be a historian, ended up doing an undergrad thesis for both biology and history degrees. Liked doing both, but liked studying birds too much to stay away.
Went to college to be a historian, ended up doing an undergrad thesis for both biology and history degrees. Liked doing both, but liked studying birds too much to stay away.
Reposted by SK Winnicki, PhD 🏳️⚧️
It's trans day of remembrance so I'm going to tell you about Rani and why you should watch one of her (and my) favourite movies, Johnny Mnemonic. A thread.
November 21, 2025 at 3:21 AM
It's trans day of remembrance so I'm going to tell you about Rani and why you should watch one of her (and my) favourite movies, Johnny Mnemonic. A thread.
I know I’ve shared this story here before, but one of my favorite early college memories was watching a bunch of scientists deal with the existential crisis that arose from living in a “haunted house.”
1/7
1/7
do you believe in ghosts or are you like me, a person who finds themself saying all the time “I absolutely don’t believe in ghosts, but this place has ghosts.”
November 21, 2025 at 2:28 AM
I know I’ve shared this story here before, but one of my favorite early college memories was watching a bunch of scientists deal with the existential crisis that arose from living in a “haunted house.”
1/7
1/7
Reposted by SK Winnicki, PhD 🏳️⚧️
Oh come ON little Oregon Junco!
If they didn't eat so much seed I'd think they were just fey creatures surviving on joy and rainbows.
Absolutely perfect birds!
#birds #becurious
If they didn't eat so much seed I'd think they were just fey creatures surviving on joy and rainbows.
Absolutely perfect birds!
#birds #becurious
November 20, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Oh come ON little Oregon Junco!
If they didn't eat so much seed I'd think they were just fey creatures surviving on joy and rainbows.
Absolutely perfect birds!
#birds #becurious
If they didn't eat so much seed I'd think they were just fey creatures surviving on joy and rainbows.
Absolutely perfect birds!
#birds #becurious
What’s the most significant advice you received from a teacher?
I had a Geology prof who always said “have strong opinions, loosely held”
Be passionate, assess alternatives with conviction, take sides. But don’t fall so in love with your opinions that you can’t change them with better data.
I had a Geology prof who always said “have strong opinions, loosely held”
Be passionate, assess alternatives with conviction, take sides. But don’t fall so in love with your opinions that you can’t change them with better data.
November 21, 2025 at 12:54 AM
What’s the most significant advice you received from a teacher?
I had a Geology prof who always said “have strong opinions, loosely held”
Be passionate, assess alternatives with conviction, take sides. But don’t fall so in love with your opinions that you can’t change them with better data.
I had a Geology prof who always said “have strong opinions, loosely held”
Be passionate, assess alternatives with conviction, take sides. But don’t fall so in love with your opinions that you can’t change them with better data.
Reposted by SK Winnicki, PhD 🏳️⚧️
Grok, which Musk has touted as "maximally truth-seeking," and "the world's smartest AI," explained to X users today that Musk:
✅ Would beat Mike Tyson in a fight
✅ Is "strikingly handsome"
✅ Should have been drafted over Peyton Manning
✅ Outranks da Vinci as the world's top human
✅ Might be God
✅ Would beat Mike Tyson in a fight
✅ Is "strikingly handsome"
✅ Should have been drafted over Peyton Manning
✅ Outranks da Vinci as the world's top human
✅ Might be God
Over on X today, Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok is having another normal one www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot ranks him as world history’s greatest human
Users on X shared examples of the “truth-seeking” AI chatbot praising its owner as “strikingly handsome,” a “genius,” and fitter than LeBron James.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Grok, which Musk has touted as "maximally truth-seeking," and "the world's smartest AI," explained to X users today that Musk:
✅ Would beat Mike Tyson in a fight
✅ Is "strikingly handsome"
✅ Should have been drafted over Peyton Manning
✅ Outranks da Vinci as the world's top human
✅ Might be God
✅ Would beat Mike Tyson in a fight
✅ Is "strikingly handsome"
✅ Should have been drafted over Peyton Manning
✅ Outranks da Vinci as the world's top human
✅ Might be God
Me: "Taking vacation time is essential for emotional well-being, recovery from burnout, and future productivity. In all jobs but especially true in research, where mental focus is essential. Offering more vacation time should be required, and employees should take it"
Also me: "But not me though"
Also me: "But not me though"
November 21, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Me: "Taking vacation time is essential for emotional well-being, recovery from burnout, and future productivity. In all jobs but especially true in research, where mental focus is essential. Offering more vacation time should be required, and employees should take it"
Also me: "But not me though"
Also me: "But not me though"
Very grateful that Wisdom appears to be on track to outlive me, so I'll never have to experience a November without this annual message
November 20, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Very grateful that Wisdom appears to be on track to outlive me, so I'll never have to experience a November without this annual message
"we need to burn fossil fuels to get to Mars because some day the Earth will die and humanity has to get off of it"
bro if the planet was dying and there was a reasonable plan and a seat dedicated to me on the escape vessel I'd *still* stay here
I wouldn't want to live without the Earth
bro if the planet was dying and there was a reasonable plan and a seat dedicated to me on the escape vessel I'd *still* stay here
I wouldn't want to live without the Earth
November 20, 2025 at 11:30 PM
"we need to burn fossil fuels to get to Mars because some day the Earth will die and humanity has to get off of it"
bro if the planet was dying and there was a reasonable plan and a seat dedicated to me on the escape vessel I'd *still* stay here
I wouldn't want to live without the Earth
bro if the planet was dying and there was a reasonable plan and a seat dedicated to me on the escape vessel I'd *still* stay here
I wouldn't want to live without the Earth
Objectively hilarious
but also wtf is "over-reliance on Earth"
how could one be over-reliant on the only planet in the solar system currently capable of supporting life as we know it
but also wtf is "over-reliance on Earth"
how could one be over-reliant on the only planet in the solar system currently capable of supporting life as we know it
I asked grok who was the better role model for humanity, Jesus Christ or Elon Musk. GUESS WHAT.
November 20, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Objectively hilarious
but also wtf is "over-reliance on Earth"
how could one be over-reliant on the only planet in the solar system currently capable of supporting life as we know it
but also wtf is "over-reliance on Earth"
how could one be over-reliant on the only planet in the solar system currently capable of supporting life as we know it
Also, it's super fucked up that every cool unsolved bird mystery (like how birds orient during migration, still a very open question in the field, with support for a bunch of alternative hypotheses) is presented as definitely solved by the Google AI.
November 20, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Also, it's super fucked up that every cool unsolved bird mystery (like how birds orient during migration, still a very open question in the field, with support for a bunch of alternative hypotheses) is presented as definitely solved by the Google AI.
Hey #birds people, if you were preparing to talk to a 6th grade class about bird mysteries, which ones would you focus on?
My first instinct is migration in general-- an emotionally mysterious behavior with some unanswered mechanistic and evolutionary questions.
But I'm hoping to give alternatives
My first instinct is migration in general-- an emotionally mysterious behavior with some unanswered mechanistic and evolutionary questions.
But I'm hoping to give alternatives
November 20, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Hey #birds people, if you were preparing to talk to a 6th grade class about bird mysteries, which ones would you focus on?
My first instinct is migration in general-- an emotionally mysterious behavior with some unanswered mechanistic and evolutionary questions.
But I'm hoping to give alternatives
My first instinct is migration in general-- an emotionally mysterious behavior with some unanswered mechanistic and evolutionary questions.
But I'm hoping to give alternatives
This thread contains memorials for some of the trans siblings we lost around the world in the last calendar year, drawn from this website that contains 367 reports from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025.
367
And that doesn't include some of my friends
tdor.translivesmatter.info/reports?from...
367
And that doesn't include some of my friends
tdor.translivesmatter.info/reports?from...
November 20, 2025 at 6:22 PM
This thread contains memorials for some of the trans siblings we lost around the world in the last calendar year, drawn from this website that contains 367 reports from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025.
367
And that doesn't include some of my friends
tdor.translivesmatter.info/reports?from...
367
And that doesn't include some of my friends
tdor.translivesmatter.info/reports?from...
Chalking has been banned on Ohio State’s campus this entire semester to prevent everyone from any political speech. For the most part the students are complying.
But the progressive churches on the edge of campus aren’t, which is pretty rad. They also hosted a pro-Palestine rally last week.
But the progressive churches on the edge of campus aren’t, which is pretty rad. They also hosted a pro-Palestine rally last week.
November 20, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Chalking has been banned on Ohio State’s campus this entire semester to prevent everyone from any political speech. For the most part the students are complying.
But the progressive churches on the edge of campus aren’t, which is pretty rad. They also hosted a pro-Palestine rally last week.
But the progressive churches on the edge of campus aren’t, which is pretty rad. They also hosted a pro-Palestine rally last week.
My sister was invited to bring her photogenic doodle to a commercial shoot
But wasn’t told what the commercial was actually for
So if you see a heinous ICE recruiting ad or political bullshit ad with an adorable rescue doodle know that the dog isn’t in support
But wasn’t told what the commercial was actually for
So if you see a heinous ICE recruiting ad or political bullshit ad with an adorable rescue doodle know that the dog isn’t in support
November 20, 2025 at 2:23 AM
My sister was invited to bring her photogenic doodle to a commercial shoot
But wasn’t told what the commercial was actually for
So if you see a heinous ICE recruiting ad or political bullshit ad with an adorable rescue doodle know that the dog isn’t in support
But wasn’t told what the commercial was actually for
So if you see a heinous ICE recruiting ad or political bullshit ad with an adorable rescue doodle know that the dog isn’t in support
My heart rate occasionally quadruples for no reason in the evening, perhaps some sort of undiagnosed POTS like thing.
My fitbit interprets that as exercise, and because it’s connected to my employee wellness portal, frequent exercise earns me a discount on my healthcare costs. So that’s nice?
My fitbit interprets that as exercise, and because it’s connected to my employee wellness portal, frequent exercise earns me a discount on my healthcare costs. So that’s nice?
November 20, 2025 at 1:49 AM
My heart rate occasionally quadruples for no reason in the evening, perhaps some sort of undiagnosed POTS like thing.
My fitbit interprets that as exercise, and because it’s connected to my employee wellness portal, frequent exercise earns me a discount on my healthcare costs. So that’s nice?
My fitbit interprets that as exercise, and because it’s connected to my employee wellness portal, frequent exercise earns me a discount on my healthcare costs. So that’s nice?
I'm in a few fun Facebook groups for photos of birds with neat color mutations or birds that are possibly hybrids. It's fun to see intriguing individuals!
But whew now that it's waterfowl hunting season it's so many pictures of dead birds, it's like jumpscare season this time of year
But whew now that it's waterfowl hunting season it's so many pictures of dead birds, it's like jumpscare season this time of year
November 20, 2025 at 1:06 AM
I'm in a few fun Facebook groups for photos of birds with neat color mutations or birds that are possibly hybrids. It's fun to see intriguing individuals!
But whew now that it's waterfowl hunting season it's so many pictures of dead birds, it's like jumpscare season this time of year
But whew now that it's waterfowl hunting season it's so many pictures of dead birds, it's like jumpscare season this time of year
It's been a few years since I participated in @skypeascientist.bsky.social (just too sick to commit to extra tasks for a few years there)
I forgot how exciting it is to be matched with a teacher, I really hope the students want to learn about bird evolution
I forgot how exciting it is to be matched with a teacher, I really hope the students want to learn about bird evolution
November 20, 2025 at 12:00 AM
It's been a few years since I participated in @skypeascientist.bsky.social (just too sick to commit to extra tasks for a few years there)
I forgot how exciting it is to be matched with a teacher, I really hope the students want to learn about bird evolution
I forgot how exciting it is to be matched with a teacher, I really hope the students want to learn about bird evolution
Reposted by SK Winnicki, PhD 🏳️⚧️
Fish have committed credit card fraud
November 19, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Fish have committed credit card fraud
Reposted by SK Winnicki, PhD 🏳️⚧️
Absolutely unhinged. The opposite — in almost every case — of what the “free speech warriors” claimed they wanted. It was always, as it so often is, just about control.
New: Reuters has tallied job losses, suspensions and investigations stemming from the reaction to Charlie Kirk's Sept. 10 assassination. Its findings: More than 600 Americans have been punished, and the figure is likely to be an under-count.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
November 19, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Absolutely unhinged. The opposite — in almost every case — of what the “free speech warriors” claimed they wanted. It was always, as it so often is, just about control.
I grow frustrated with local news-- by focusing so much on stories of violence, they inadvertently promote the idea that the world is more violent than it is (leading voters to candidates who promise security at all costs).
But holding up a mic to a cow is incredible
www.10tv.com/article/news...
But holding up a mic to a cow is incredible
www.10tv.com/article/news...
November 19, 2025 at 6:24 PM
I grow frustrated with local news-- by focusing so much on stories of violence, they inadvertently promote the idea that the world is more violent than it is (leading voters to candidates who promise security at all costs).
But holding up a mic to a cow is incredible
www.10tv.com/article/news...
But holding up a mic to a cow is incredible
www.10tv.com/article/news...
Modern infrastructure is incredible
Pothole filled roads for everyone burning tons of gasoline to drive their SUV alone to work
Cracked sidewalks for bikes, motorized scooters, and robots
Muddy trash-filled ditches for pedestrians
What a great use of space and resources
Pothole filled roads for everyone burning tons of gasoline to drive their SUV alone to work
Cracked sidewalks for bikes, motorized scooters, and robots
Muddy trash-filled ditches for pedestrians
What a great use of space and resources
November 19, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Modern infrastructure is incredible
Pothole filled roads for everyone burning tons of gasoline to drive their SUV alone to work
Cracked sidewalks for bikes, motorized scooters, and robots
Muddy trash-filled ditches for pedestrians
What a great use of space and resources
Pothole filled roads for everyone burning tons of gasoline to drive their SUV alone to work
Cracked sidewalks for bikes, motorized scooters, and robots
Muddy trash-filled ditches for pedestrians
What a great use of space and resources
It looks like the plant growing 2-3 stories up on an American Sycamore trunk on campus is not some parasitic mistletoe but rather a black nightshade giving its best epiphyte impression.
Getting a sample to identify it seemed unlikely at the height, but I found some under the leaf litter below!
Getting a sample to identify it seemed unlikely at the height, but I found some under the leaf litter below!
November 19, 2025 at 5:27 PM
It looks like the plant growing 2-3 stories up on an American Sycamore trunk on campus is not some parasitic mistletoe but rather a black nightshade giving its best epiphyte impression.
Getting a sample to identify it seemed unlikely at the height, but I found some under the leaf litter below!
Getting a sample to identify it seemed unlikely at the height, but I found some under the leaf litter below!
I mostly interact with my urban yard White-tailed Deer. They are typically polite and shy.
Every once in awhile I need a good reminder they’re not always like that!
My friend and bird photographer Jeffrey Kilmer just got this footage of bucks pursuing a doe and 😳
m.youtube.com/watch?v=_-7f...
Every once in awhile I need a good reminder they’re not always like that!
My friend and bird photographer Jeffrey Kilmer just got this footage of bucks pursuing a doe and 😳
m.youtube.com/watch?v=_-7f...
Bucks and Doe
YouTube video by Jeffrey Kilmer
m.youtube.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:40 AM
I mostly interact with my urban yard White-tailed Deer. They are typically polite and shy.
Every once in awhile I need a good reminder they’re not always like that!
My friend and bird photographer Jeffrey Kilmer just got this footage of bucks pursuing a doe and 😳
m.youtube.com/watch?v=_-7f...
Every once in awhile I need a good reminder they’re not always like that!
My friend and bird photographer Jeffrey Kilmer just got this footage of bucks pursuing a doe and 😳
m.youtube.com/watch?v=_-7f...
"God gives Their toughest battles to Their strongest soldiers" I whisper to myself over and over as I try to do super basic tasks in Microsoft Access and still end up on help forums
November 18, 2025 at 11:36 PM
"God gives Their toughest battles to Their strongest soldiers" I whisper to myself over and over as I try to do super basic tasks in Microsoft Access and still end up on help forums