iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 6h

Galah! They've been unusually AWOL this year, so I was happy when a couple visited my garden recently. #birds

Photo of a Galah, portrait from the belly up. It is a small cockatoo with a bright pink body, light grey back and wings, and light pink crown and crest (which is partly raised). It has textured pink skin around its black eyes, and a light grey beak.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Swamp Wallaby mother and joey.

Photo of two Swamp Wallabies at Sydney Zoo. One is an adult female, the other is a joey that is poking its head and tail out of the female's pouch. They resemble small Kangaroos, with shorter legs and faces, and rounder bodies. They are brown and orange with a black eye mask, black paws and feet, black ear tips, and a dark brown tail.

Close up photo of the mother wallaby's head, side view.

Close up photo of the joey's face as it looks directly at the viewer. With dark brown eyes.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Asian Elephants at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

Photo of two Asian Elephants, framing their heads as they are frce-to-face with trunks curled to touch each other. One has its mouth open, which could be interpreted as a joyous smile. They are brown elephants with relatively small ears (unlike African Elephants that are grey and have larger ears).

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Asian Elephants at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The various moats at Taronga Western Plains Zoo have formed a permanent wetlands habitat, and are greatly appreciated by the waterbirds of Dubbo. (IDs in alt text) #birds

Photo of two Magpie Geese among reeds and grass, with Australian White Ibises in the background. The geese have white bodies, black tails and necks, orange legs, and fleshy pink/orange faces with light grey hooked beaks. One of the geese has its beak open.

Photo of a juvenile or immature Nankeen Night Heron jumping, with wings raised and legs forward, ready to land. It is a small and stout heron with a relatively short neck, streaked in white and dark brown, with rust-coloured flight feathers. Not pictured: The Ibis chasing it.

Photo of a Black Swan on water with reeds. It is a swan that is black rather than white (gasp!), with a bright red beak that has a white stripe towards the tip. Its head is directly facing the viewer as it casually swims away.

Photo of Australian White Ibises in reeds, focused on three in the foreground with more in the background. The birds in the foreground are an adult (left) with two juveniles (R) that are looking at the adult, presumably hoping for food. One of the ibises directly behind them is also an adult and might be the other parent. They are white ibises (gasp!) with black heads and long, curved black beaks. The adults have bald heads with patches of pink skin, while the juveniles have short downy black feathers on their heads and shorter beaks.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The various moats at Taronga Western Plains Zoo have formed a permanent wetlands habitat, and are greatly appreciated by the waterbirds of Dubbo. (IDs in alt text) #birds

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

It was a very rare treat at Taronga Western Plains Zoo to see Tasmanian Devils running* about in the sun. * maybe "galumphing" would be a better word? They have a very odd gait.

Photo of a Tasmanian Devil standing on a rock backlit by the sun. It's a furry black marsupial white a white crescent line across its chest. It has an unusually large head and long forelegs for a marsupial, giving the impression that someone stuck a bear's front onto a possum's rear.

Photo of two Tasmanian Devils arguing on a rock. One is lunging towards the other with its jaw open, showing some very pointy teeth, and the other is understandably cowering away. Not pictured: The accompanying spine-chilling scream that prompted Europeans to call these animals "devils".

Photo of another Tasmanian Devil galumphing through grass in full sunlight. Only one foot is on the ground. From this side view, white stripes are also visible on its fore-legs and rump, and its oddly large head and neck are especially apparent.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

It was a very rare treat at Taronga Western Plains Zoo to see Tasmanian Devils running* about in the sun. * maybe "galumphing" would be a better word? They have a very odd gait.

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Kelly Whyte @kellywhyte.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Birdcare Aotearoa lays out their need for funding here. If you've been thinking about picking up Lineages of the Long White Cloud, don't forget that half the profits go to Birdcare til the end of the month. Play as native birds in DnD, support native birds. Easy. rpgtrader.com/products/175...

rnz.co.nz

Native bird hospital short on funds despite government cash injection

The country's largest native bird hospital says financial pressures are limiting its ability to operate seven days a week, as it prepares for the potential arrival of bird flu.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I was waiting in a line at Western Plains Zoo when this Superb Fairy-wren dropped by to see what all the fuss was about. #birds

Photo of a small, round bird perched on a wooden fence post. It is black, light grey, and brown, with distinctive light blue feathers on its crown, cheeks, and the back of its neck. It is facing and looking at the viewer (slightly angled to the side). Definitely a Birb, bordering on Borb status.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I was waiting in a line at Western Plains Zoo when this Superb Fairy-wren dropped by to see what all the fuss was about. #birds

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Taronga Western Plains Zoo is actually run by the Apostlebirds. #birds

Photo of three Apostlebirds huddled closely together on a metal cafeteria chair. They are grey and fluffy with dark eyes and beaks, and mottled brown on their wings and tails. Two are looking directly at the viewer while a third preens.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Taronga Western Plains Zoo is actually run by the Apostlebirds. #birds

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

The wild Blue-faced Honeyeaters at Taronga Western Plains Zoo are pretty tolerant of humans as long as you're calm and quiet. #birds

Photo of a Blue Face Honeyeater on a grevillea branch with flower buds. The bird is black and white with a large zone of bare, blue skin around its eyes, and a stout curved beak in grey and black. It is looking to the side.

Another Blue-faced Honeyeater (or maybe the same?) in the same grevillea plant with an open flower that is red and yellow. The bird has its head tilted and is looking at the viewer warily.

Same subject, close-up crop, it is now drinking from and looking at the flower. The photo is highly detailed, showing the physical structure of the bird's iris.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

The wild Blue-faced Honeyeaters at Taronga Western Plains Zoo are pretty tolerant of humans as long as you're calm and quiet. #birds

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

This waiting room is exposing me to commercial television and I can feel my brain melting in real time.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

One of my favourite moments from Taronga Zoo Sydney: This beautiful Andean Condor. She was on the aviary floor when I arrived, but on seeing me she flew up to a perch and started preening right in front of me. All the other park visitors just walked past, but I was smitten. #birds

Photo of an Andean Condor standing on a rock in the sunlight. She is a very large vulture with black and white feathers, a bald head, and bright red eyes. She is facing away from the viewer (towards the sun), with her wings partly spread.

Same subject, much closer to the viewer. She has her back towards the viewer but has turned her head to preen her back feathers and is looking at the viewer with her bright red eyes. Her back feathers are black with subtle iridescent highlights in the sunlight, and she has a fluffy white ruff around the base of her neck.

Same subject but she has turned to look directly at the viewer, face-on. With her long, hooked beak foreshortened she looks quite sweet and friendly.

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Madeleine Fjäll @madeleinefjall.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

QRP your bird art 🪶

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Opinions sought: Sit Stand Desks! I spend most of my waking hours in front of my PC. I have a bad back, bad knees, bad shoulders, bad neck, I'm really just bad to the bone. If you've used a Sit Stand Desk, has it helped? Good decision, or wasted money?

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Smooth Dunk @smoothdunk2.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

when ai leaves u behind

7 panel comic.

Panel 1:
A Red Guy with AI across his chest looks like he’s about to run away. A Yellow Guy stands next to him. Red Guy says “I’m the future, buddy. You comin’?”
Yellow Guy replies “Nah”

Panel 2:
Red Guy is almost out of the panel. He leans in and says “Enjoy getting left behind, pal”
Yellow Guy replies “ok”

Panel 3:
Yellow Guy stands alone.

Panel 4:
Close up on Yellow Guy, there is a quiet “huff-huff-huff” noise coming from behind him

Panel 5:
Yellow Guy turns to look behind him

Panel 6:
Close up on Yellow Guy’s face as if from the point of view of an attacker.
Yellow Guy yells “Jesus Christ”

Panel 7:
AI Red Guy is now chasing the Yellow Guy.
Red Guy: “Use me”
Yellow Guy “No”
Red Guy “USE ME”

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Home once more. I took 25,264 photos which use 595.7 GBs of storage space. I lack shutter discipline.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

On day 2 of Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, a Galapagos Tortoise yawned at me. (One of another 11,400 photos that I took today)

Photograph of a female Galapagos Tortoise focused on her face (3/4 angle right side). Her mouth is wide open and she is looking at the viewer. Her eye is in clear focus (including sclera), as well as her beak. The various fleshy parts that make up the inside of her mouth are also quite visible, though I won't attempt to name them because tortoises are *not* my special subject.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

On day 2 of Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, a Galapagos Tortoise yawned at me. (One of another 11,400 photos that I took today)

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I took 11,092 photos during day 1 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, and I'm going back for more tomorrow. These are going to take a while to process... ...but here are some of the (free roaming and wild) birds I saw there, because elephants and rhinos are cool but BIRDS ARE AWESOME. #birds

Photo of a Yellow-throated Miner on the ground with its head turned sideways to the viewer. It's close to the camera, with its face in focus and most of its body and the background blurred. The bird is grey with a light belly, yellow beak, bright yellow skin around its dark eyes, black cheeks, and yellow patches on the side of its throat. It is very similar to the better known Noisy Miner, but the yellow neck patches help to distinguish it. This bird was near the cafe at the Zoo's entrance and was hoping for handouts/scraps.

Photo of a Blue-faced Honeyeater with Banksia flowers. It is a relatively large bird with black throat, white belly, olive back and wings, a black head with a white stripe at the rear and large zones of bare blue skin around its slightly off-white eyes. This bird was near the hippos.

Photo of a Pacific Black Duckling swimming though reflective water. It is fairly young, still somewhat fluffy, with dark brown eyes, an already large dark beak, and zones of light and dark brown feathers including dark stripes through its eyes. It is very cute. There was a family of these ducks in the Cheetah enclosure (it's probably fine).

Photo of an Apostlebird on a bare tree branch. It is a medium-to-large passerine bird with layered feathers of grey and brown, with a stout black beak, brown eyes, and sturdy black legs/feet. It is looking at the viewer with only passing interest because humans are so limited in their uses. This is one of countless (hundreds at least) Apostlebirds throughout the zoon. I think the zoo functionally belongs to them - humans are tolerated as long as we keep leaving crumbs in our wake.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I paused at the Capertee Rest Stop today and found this Regent Honeyeater mural on the public toilets. The toilets play an audio recording of the honeyeater to help with identification. I visited the valley and *might* have glimpsed one, but alas no photo so I'll never know for sure. #birds

Photo of a public toilet with an impressive mural painted on the side depicting a three Regent Honeyeaters (black birds with bright yellow faces and markings) against a background of burnt trees, a green valley, and a small nest in a flowering eucalypt tree.

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KASETTETAPE @kasettetape.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

If you don't respect people as human beings that need to eat, sleep, and stay mentally well, you aren't worth working with, tbh. And I doubt you pay enough to be worth it anyway.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Out of the blue I've decided to add Taronga Western Plains Zoo to my list, so I'm driving to Dubbo for a 3 night stay.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

A Gang-gang Cockatoo (female) that visited me at home a few days ago. #birds

Photo of a female Gang-gang Cockatoo on a branch - it's a small greyish parrot with a curled, lacey crest, large white beak, and dark brown eyes. Though mostly grey, it has hints of orange, yellow and cream, with light barring on its wing and shoulder feathers.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

A Gang-gang Cockatoo (female) that visited me at home a few days ago. #birds

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

My final zoo visit (for now) was to Sydney Zoo which only opened in 2019 and I'm sure was named primarily for SEO reasons. It has less appeal for me personally (many primates, hardly any birds), but it did introduce me to the eldritch horror that is an Ostrich's armpit. #birds

Photo of a young (I think?) Ostrich walking away which glancing over its shoulder at the viewer.

Photo of another Ostrich walking away from the viewer. This one has its head lowered and its wings spread wide in some kind of display.

Crop and zoom of the previous photo framing the 'arm' of the Ostrich's left wing. It is a surprisingly large featherless limb with veins and wrinkles coloured in pink, orange, blue, and purple. The points where many of the feathers attach to the arm are clearly discernible, and on the lower side the pinions of said feathers create the impression of a thin, wide, toothy maw that leads to a black dimension where elder gods watch and wait.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Imagine a typical spider. WRONG!!! (and right!) They are as diverse as they are beautiful. Here are just some of the tiny friends that I found in my garden tonight. #spiders

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Imagine a typical spider. WRONG!!! (and right!) They are as diverse as they are beautiful. Here are just some of the tiny friends that I found in my garden tonight. #spiders

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Still processing my photos from Taronga Zoo, but here's a Swamp Wallaby who came into possession of the One Ring.

Photo of a wallaby (a fun-sized Kangaroo). It is mostly brown, with light fur on its limbs and jawline, dark fur on its face, and orange/red on its crown and belly. It is hunched forward, eyes narrowed, hands clasped together as though jealously guarding a precious item.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Still processing my photos from Taronga Zoo, but here's a Swamp Wallaby who came into possession of the One Ring.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Refusing to be upstaged by the other animals at Taronga Zoo, these wild Australian Wood Ducklings said "You want cute? WE'LL SHOW YOU CUTE!" #birds

Photograph of a female Australian Wood Duck with 11 (eleven!) ducklings foraging for greenery growing between flagstones. The ducklings are dark brown and white and very fuzzy with stripes on their face that resemble their mother's. The mother is mottled brown and cream with a solid brown head except for white stripes above and below the eyes.

Not pictured: The adult male duck (except for one foot at the very top of frame), and EVEN MORE DUCKLINGS (my lens was not wide enough).

Photo of one of the ducklings trying to pull greenery from between flagstones. Its large feet are forward as it braces for the effort involved.

Photo of two of the ducklings, one standing upright, the other with a leg raised as it walks. Both are looking in the general direction of the viewer.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Refusing to be upstaged by the other animals at Taronga Zoo, these wild Australian Wood Ducklings said "You want cute? WE'LL SHOW YOU CUTE!" #birds

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Imagine showing up to work and being told that your job is to water the lizards.

Photo through a glass pane of a zoo keeper inside a reptile house using a squirt bottle to spray water onto a pair of Australian Frilled Lizards (aka "Frill-necked Lizards") which are basking on a branch under a heat lamp. It's hard to tell who's having more fun: The lizards or the keeper.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Case in point: Taronga's breed, release, and monitor program for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater. There are only a few hundred of these beautiful birds left in the wild. #birds

Photo of a Regent Honeyeater in an aviary at Taronga Zoo, Sydney, perched on a thin green branch surrounded by spikey green leaves. The bird is black with yellow skin around its brown eyes and yellow-edge feathers on its belly, back, wings, and tail. It ID bands on its right leg and a small tracking device on its back (only visible as a thin transmitter wire).

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

In my ongoing quests to take more reference photos and tend to my mental health I made a last-minute decision to stay at the Willdlife Retreat at Taronga Zoo this week. This was the view from my room. It was a delightful experience. My one regret is that I only stayed for one night.

Wide angle photo (taken using a phone) of the view from a hotel window looking down into a wildlife sanctuary surrounded by more hotel rooms. The sanctuary has a variety of Australian trees and plants with foothpaths and a few low walls. Directly outside the room there is a bare tree (with fresh sprigs artificially attached lower down) with a Koala dozing in a fork in the tree.

Close-up of the Koala from the previous photo, this time using a proper camera and lens. The Koala is dozing peacefully with its eyes closed while it clings onto the tree. Its right arm and leg are hanging lazily, revealing sharp curved claws and leathery footpads.

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Tyler Walpole ➡️ NYCC @tylerwalpole.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

RT if you've never had a tab of ChatGPT open, period.

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Me: Hello, I'm here to take reference photos so if anyone feels like putting on a show, I'd be most grateful. Glossy Ibis: How about this? Me: ::dies:: #birds

Photo of a Glossy Ibis in a large, sunlit aviary, standing on one leg with both wings extended upwards. Its head is hunched down and turned 3/4 towards the viewer. Its feathers are glossy, ranging from black in the shadows to iridescent blues, greens, and purples on the wings and forehead, and rich orange brown on the body and arms.

Same subject but it is now bowing towards the viewer clearly showing the top of its head and back, and the rich array of colours on its arm feathers.

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The Razzdazzler @the-razzdazzler.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

drops my monthly offering of art and scuttles away like a little crab #birds #birdart #digitalart idk what to tag this as it's 3am and i'm so tired </3

a drawing of a Red-Shafted Northern Flicker against a white background

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Me: Hello, I'm here to take reference photos so if anyone feels like putting on a show, I'd be most grateful. Glossy Ibis: How about this? Me: ::dies:: #birds

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David C. Simon @davidcsimon.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Superb Fairy-wren in our Callistemon. #birds

Photo of a small passerine bird on a callistemon branch with green leaves and bright red flower buds. The bird is round and coloured in distinct regions of black, sky blue, light grey, and brown, with a long blue/black tail held upright.

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Glen Grambo 🇨🇦 @glengrambo.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Gracklepalooza has been in full swing for a couple weeks now, and even though it has recently diminished a bit, the grackles are still here and looking fabulous! This male Grackle wanted to make sure we knew that he should NEVER have been called “Common” … and he’s quite mad about it! #Birds 🪶

A male Common Grackle in a green spruce tree. There are a few brown cones hanging from one of the branches. The grackle is incredibly colourful with his bright blue head, shimmering bronze body and vivid purple and violet wings! He is also looking quite mad, as usual!

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