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Carl Wiens

@carlwiens.bsky.social
401 followers 248 following 186 posts

Experimenting with pattern, colour, collage and science. Dedicated to working with different mediums, on a path of discovery. Anti AI. Painter, illustrator, educator, citizen scientist, outdoor enthusiast www.carlwiens.com

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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 11h
The biggest problem is people with good intentions: I need this blurry phone bird pic to look good. Why not AI it? Then the picture gets distorted, wing band colours and feathers get changed and birds are misidentified. It turns actual sightings into problems and distorts databases.
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 11h
Sorry about the paywall, I often use these links as bookmarks for teaching.
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 11h
Radical abundance of slop
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 13h
It Looked Like a New Species. The Trouble Was, It Didn’t Exist. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/16/s...
nytimes.com
Citizen Science Groups Grapple With the Rise of A.I. Slop
Facing a flood of A.I. slop, groups bent on democratizing science create new checks and balances.
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
'Fisk's fifteen plates, tracking the meander plain contiguously from north to south, are works of art. In them, the Mississippi comes to life: twisting like mating snakes, writhing with river ghosts' - Robert MacFarlane, Is a River Alive? #meander #river #map #sciart
orionmagazine.org
Meander Maps of the Mississippi River - Orion Magazine
Harold Fisk's restless river studies
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The full moon was bright enough to capture some fall colours. I was lucky enough to watch the fall colours explode over the hills surrounding Bray Lake this weekend.
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Ulrike @ulidig.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
New cat species just dropped! www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti...
nationalgeographic.com
Meet the First New Cat Species Discovered in 100 Years
A small, spotted tiger cat from Bolivia may just be the beginning of a wave of new small cat species.
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
At play in the studio #process #collage #studio #artistatplay #play
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Green Heron spotted on my morning paddle (Moira River). My new favourite bird!
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Lazy paddle on the Moira River. Encountered this green heron, my new favourite bird. Going to have to paint this pint sized predator! #labourday #paddle #ornithology #outside
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Monarchs are on the move right now, seeing them everywhere lately! Fall migration is in full swing. Acrylic on vintage map collage on panel, 12x12” #sciart #migration #insects #butterfly #monarch
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Jordan Collver @jordancollver.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Entirely unrelated to the above assessment, I also have some art appearing in this season's InverteFest art book - the first page of this comic about sharpshooter bugs.
Comic page showing the science of how sharpshooter springhopper bugs pee so fast by shooting droplets out of their butt. #sciartPage 2 of a comic about sharpshooter springhopper bugs talking about their rapid-fire peeing being a solution to drinking so much... solution (nonstop xylem sap from plants).
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The Public Domain Review @publicdomainrev.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Nudibranchs as pictured by a Japanese illustrator named Kumataro Ito, artist for the USS Albatross’ Philippine Expedition, 1907–10. More of his stunning images here: publicdomainreview.org/collection/k...
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Wrapping up the summer with a sauna and swim under the moon. 'Night Swimmer', 12 x 12, vintage collage on panel.
A collage of old maps and astronomy images also shows the symbol for swimming within the shapes. The collage is mostly of dark tones except for the swimmer.
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Narwhals Have Stunning Spiraled Tusks. That’s Not the Only Twist. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/28/s...
nytimes.com
Narwhals Have Stunning Spiraled Tusks. That’s Not the Only Twist.
X-rays revealed that the tusks have an internal opposing twist, which may help explain how they grow so straight — the only tusks like them in nature.
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Dropping this glow-in-the-dark Toonie on y'all
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Things are taking shape in the studio. It’s been a busy summer! *Warning: collage is addictive* #process #studio #collage #contemporaryart
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Emma Mitchell @silverpebble2.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Part of petrichor, the delish earthy smell released when rain hits parched ground, is geosmin,a compound from soil bacteria-human👃s can detect it in lower concentrations than sharks can detect blood in water. Seeking out water on dry plains was essential for our ancestors. Here’s a geosmin molecule:
3d rendering of a geosmin molecule
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Patrick Lynch @patrlynch1.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Great article on the amazing work of National Geographic's Fernando Baptista, IMHO, the best narrative information designer working today. newspaperdesign.org/2026/07/07/h... 🧪🌿🌎🐡 #scicomm #sciviz #wildlifeart #visualscicomm #scicomm #infodesign #InformationDesign #GraphicDesign
newspaperdesign.org
How National Geographic's Fernando Baptista Brings Science and History to Life - News Paper Design
Fernando Baptista, Senior Graphic Editor at National Geographic, has built a career turning complex science, history, and archaeology into compelling visual stories. In this conversation with TK Sajee...
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Digital sewage heap sums it up
nytimes.com
AI Slop Is Everywhere. Spotify, LinkedIn and Others Have Had Enough.
Spotify, LinkedIn and others are trying to dig out of a digital sewage heap full of low-quality content made with artificial intelligence.
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Turkey Vulture!
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
For those who celebrate International Owl Awareness Day! 9 owl species (row by row): Short Eared Owl, Long Eared Owl, Saw-Whet Owl, Snowy Owl, Screech Owl, Great Horned Owl , Great Grey Owl, Barn Owl, Barred Owl. If you have encountered one or more in the wild, you know why they are so compelling.
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Skot Armstrong @skot.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Los Angeles Public Library unveils the world’s largest pop-up book www.thisiscolossal.com/2026/07/dani...
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
I'll be working on some moth paintings in the coming weeks. Part of a larger series of biodiversity paintings. #lepidoptera #nature #localwildlife #nature
blog.ontarioparks.ca
5 common moths and how to identify them
With an ever-increasing interest in some of the smaller wildlife found in our provincial parks, moths are quickly becoming the new park stars!
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
It's a big shift. This year I'm thinking, hey at least it's mid July before the wind sent in the orange skies!
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c0nc0rdance @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Look again! 🤨 We have wildlife photographer Andreas Kay to thank for this video of the 'feather mimic moth caterpillar' in the rainforests of Ecuador. Protective mimicry is common in this family of moths, but this is an uncommonly exceptional job. 🪶😀 (📷: Andreas Kay)
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Thrilled and honoured to have this painting awarded the Juror's Choice Award at Art in the County! You can see this in person at the County Arts Gallery in the Picton Armoury until July 12. Part of a fantastic collection of local talent! #contemporaryart #localcolour #warblers #princeedwardcounty
Painting with 12 warblers arranged in a pattern. All of the birds are seen in profile, looking from right to left. The warblers are species that were banded at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory during spring migration.
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Love this!
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Excited to be included in this juried show, opening next Saturday. Nice to have my painting showcased in the announcement. I've had an amazing spring birdwatching, seeing so many new species. The Art of Birds: Watching is at the Museum of Northern History in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. #birdwatching
Show announcement: The Art of Birds: Watching. At the Museum of Northern History, Kirkland Lake, Ontario. Opes June 13. The image shows the face of an owl with different feather patterns. The owl peers at us with an intense gaze.
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Jordan Collver @jordancollver.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it. -Mary Oliver, Sometimes (2008) (Image: Dewdrop by M.C. Escher, 1948)
An immaculate black and white engraving by Escher of a small (hawthorn?) leaf with a dewdrop in it, refracting and magnifying the fractal pattern of the leaf and reflecting the room around it.
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Biking/Birdwatching Cycled 30k on the Cataraqui Trail today, it was buzzing with birdsong. Spotted three absolute beauties along the way (circled) - Redstart, Yellow Warbler and a Yellowthroat. I let out a little woop for the last one! Spring Migration. Get outside. #birdwatching #warbler #cycling
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article...
theglobeandmail.com
In a bustling world, forest bathers trade to-do lists for the stillness of nature
Ecotherapy practices teach us how to slow down, breathe deeply and quiet our rattled minds
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
I'm not a lister but I do enjoy the challenge of finding new spots and species. I have more time to do it now, it's so enjoyable.
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Spotted one of these beauties today at Vanderwater Conservation Area. Impressive bird, first time sighting! Yellow crown, very unique. #birdwatching
allaboutbirds.org
Black-backed Woodpecker Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Nearly synonymous with burned forests over much of its range, the Black-backed Woodpecker specializes on eating big, juicy wood-boring beetle larvae. It is an inky black bird with a sharp white stripe...
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Took a walk in the woods. Always a treat to see trout lilies welcome the spring sunshine. Also known as adder’s tongue (sounds badass).
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Evenin... I saw an evening grosbeak for the first time today. I may never be the same.
allaboutbirds.org
Evening Grosbeak Range Map, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
A heavyset finch of northern coniferous forests, the Evening Grosbeak adds a splash of color to winter bird feeders every few years, when large flocks depart their northern breeding grounds en masse t...
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
12 local warblers banded at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory (PEPtBO) Spring migration is underway! Looking forward to the arrival of these winged jewels in our area. #sciart #migration #birding #warblers #peptbo #birdbanding
12 different species of warblers seen in profile, all facing to the left. They appear in 4 rows, surrounded by foliage.
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
#InverteFest is here (24-30 April), show us your invertebrate-themed creations! Green Darner These impressive dragonflies travel up to 1000 km north in the spring. Annual migration involves three generations of insects. #sciart #collage #migrants #dragonfly #spring
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
I'll be attending a coin exchange in Toronto, April 23 at the Eaton Centre, signing and answering any questions about the design.
mint.ca
2026 Public Coin Exchange – Toronto, ON | The Royal Canadian Mint
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
We need to take better care of this planet, our home. #earthday #SciArt #illustration #planetearth
Illustration of planet earth. Europe, Africa, North and South America can be seen. There are clouds and oceans visible as well.
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Spring Migration Green Darner These impressive dragonflies travel up to 1000 km north in the spring. Annual migration involves three generations of insects. New work, currently featured at QAC Gallery in Belleville: Carto/Topo/Geo/Graphic #sciart #collage #migrants #dragonfly #spring
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
“My intent was to create a visual tribute that showcased the CN Tower within a growing & changing city.” Designed by Canadian illustrator Carl Wiens, the new commemorative circulation coin shows the Toronto skyline—past, present, and aglow at night. Discover the CN Tower coin design: bit.ly/4uPgTjp
bit.ly
Behind the Design: CN Tower Commemorative $2 Circulation Coin | The Royal Canadian Mint
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Spring Migration Monarch Butterfly Plant native species in your garden to welcome these hardy travellers as they work their way north from wintering grounds in Mexico. New work, currently featured at QAC Gallery in Belleville: Carto/Topo/Geo/Graphic #sciart #atrisk #migrants #birds #spring
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Spring Migration Arctic Tern These terns travel from Arctic breeding grounds to Antarctica where they catch the Antarctic summer, covering over 40,000 kms. Incredible! New work, currently featured at QAC Gallery in Belleville: Carto/Topo/Geo/Graphic #sciart #atrisk #migrants #birds #spring
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Spring Migration Barn Swallow Barn swallows are a threatened species locally. They make distinctive mud nests on man-made structures. Amazingly agile fliers! New work, currently featured at QAC Gallery in Belleville: Carto/Topo/Geo/Graphic #sciart #atrisk #migrants #birds #spring
Two birds are pictured in flight. They are barn swallows, acrobatic fliers that are seen from above. These birds have orange markings on their face and chest and blue iridescent shoulders and backs, and a forked tail. The background is a patchwork of old maps, with a blue circle containing the birds.
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Quinte Arts Council @qac1967.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Carto / Topo / Geo / Graphic: Rediscovering Lost Maps Exhibition by Carl Wiens 📍 QAC Cultural Hub & Gallery, Belleville Exhibition Dates: April 2 – April 30
A pattern of cubes formed from collaged pieces of maps. Also formed with map collage on top is the symbol for swimming.
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Love maps? My new exhibition is an exploration of map aesthetics and design, the graphic qualities that go into making and interpreting maps. This body of work is the culmination of a year spent collecting, cutting, layering, and re-imagining vintage maps and atlases. Thoughts and images:
carlwiens.com
Carto/Topo/Geo/Graphic — Carl Wiens Studio
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
New work, currently featured at QAC Gallery in Belleville: Carto/Topo/Geo/Graphic Show runs through the month of April 12" x 12", acrylic on vintage map collage on panel Send a message for pricing #collage #migration #ornithology #birds #maps
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
These birds are at risk (special concern), as their numbers are in decline. Many insectivores face climate disruption and pesticides, impacting feeding patterns. I have seen these incredible fliers a number of times, they are a joy to watch, look for them high overhead.
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Carl Wiens @carlwiens.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Spring Migration Common Nighthawk On warm summer evenings, Common Nighthawks roam the skies over treetops, grasslands, and cities. In the dim half-light, these long-winged birds fly in graceful loops, flashing white patches out past the bend of each wing as they chase insects. #sciart #birds #art
Two birds are in flight, seen from below. They have crescent shaped white patches on their wings and underneath their bills. These are birds that hunt insects and have large mouths. The background is a patchwork of old maps in cube shapes, there is a blue ring surrounding the birds.
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