iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Jen Cross

Molly Bangles @mollybangles.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Barn Owls! in Manhattan! 🦉🌃 This week, a family of Barn Owls was discovered on a water tower in NYC. Two adults and five young ones have been observed/confirmed so far! 10.9.2026, NYC Photos taken at night, using long exposure and ambient light - it is actually VERY dark up there! #birds

Close up of the top of a wooden water tower at night, with part of a brick and stone building and out of focus light green foliage in the foreground at the right of frame. On the very top of the water tower, a Barn Owl is perched. Another Barn owl is just below/ to the right, and a third one at the bottom of the slope of the tower’s roof, to the far right. A closer look reveals two more Barn Owls peering through a hole in the roof, facing the camera

Close up of the same water tower; three Barn Owls are visible on and near the very top of the tower

Closer crop of the top of the water tower - one Barn Owl is perched on the front/left slope, blending in very well with the rust-brown of the roof. Two other owls are peering out of the hole; one owl still has downy baby feathers at the top of their head

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I went to grad school at UPenn and my mom was confused when I was accepted. She was telling people about me being accepted to Penn State. Anyway, to your point, even some Penn State alums that I know weren’t great in their reaction to the Sandusky crimes.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

It wasn’t UPenn, it was Penn State.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Hi Adie! Doing well, just been doing some different stuff. Playing lots of pickleball and I’m about 2/3 of the way through the PA Master Naturalist training class.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Squeaky Pete started his work week by terrorizing another roll of toilet paper. He then moved on to his ball toy before wrapping up the morning honing weaponry on the cardboard scratcher. The morning has been exhausting. Siesta time. 😴

A sleepy brown tabby cat laying on a desk near the window.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Happy #Caturday from Squeaky Pete who decided it would be good fun to shred a roll of toilet paper.

A small brown tabby cat sitting politely and looking very innocent amongst the shredded remains of a roll of toilet paper. He is in a room with gray carpet and blue walls and there is a cat carrier and bookshelf in the background.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

10/10 best fashion commentary

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

No, the Phanatic thrives in a hot, humid urban environment and must have a steady diet of beer and hotdogs.

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Reposted by Jen Cross

Mike Saunders 🇺🇦 @hardwaterhacker.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Rob says the #BirdOfTheDay theme, is #Borbs, birds looking plump. The Alt theme is #Brown, birds with brown in their plumage. I'll take both with this Sharp-tailed Grouse #birds #nature #wildlife

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Who wore it better? Phillie Phanatic vs Gambel’s Quail #BirdOfTheDay #Borb

The shaggy green mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies shaking his tummy while dancing on the infield. An infielder scratched his head in the background.

A very fluffy, round Gambel’s Quail strutting his stuff. He has a black topknot, brown cap, gray chest, black belly, and stylish while and brown striping on his sides.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

This is a fascinating read. If you enjoy science and history it’s worth a few minutes of your time. 🌿

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Reposted by Jen Cross

Nature’s Edge @edge-nature.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

There’s still a few around. White-lined Sphinx moth in the garden.

A moth colored with tans, brown and white stripes, the hind wings have pink bands.

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Reposted by Jen Cross

Declan Troy @troydeclan.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Listen up little buck, you have an entire mountain and yet you want to walk right where I'm standing. OK, wherever you want to go. Chugach State Park #Alaska 🦊

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Took a little break from social media and have been doing some different things. I learned to play pickleball and play ~4 days a week and I’m taking the PA Master Naturalist Class now too. At some point I need to rebalance my time for nature walks and photography. 😊

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I have. Along with their predatory prowess and aerial agility, male American Kestrels also are incredibly handsome with their stylish slate blue feathers. 10/10 The Best Mini Murderbird 👑

A small bird perched on a thin branch. He has a slate blue cap and wing coverts and black primary feathers. He has coppery colored secondary coverts (at the shoulder) and a tan belly with a few black dots. He is looking at the camera as if he’s thinking “how can anyone question my awesomeness?”

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Fun fact: Caracaras are also in the Falconidae family. #BirdOfTheDay #Raptors Carunculated Caracara, Crested Caracara, Black Caracara

A bird with black on the top of the wings and black and white on the bottom, a heavily streaked chest, black head with orange facial skin, and snazzy white pantaloons. It is landing on a gravel road.

A mostly dark brown bird with a white throat and upper chest, black crest (blocky shaped head) and heavy orange bill. It is standing on the crossbar of a wooden electric pole.

An all black bird with orange facial skin. It is perched in the tree canopy looking down at the photographer with a suspicious gaze.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

A fine selection of falcons for #BirdOfTheDay #Raptors American Kestrel aka the best mini murderbird, Prairie Falcon, Peregrine Falcon

A bird with a slate cap, dark streaks under the eye like a football player, warm tan chest with a few polka dots at the edges, and a warm tan tail with a dark band and white tips. He is perched on a rusty pole and you can see blood spatter on the underside of his tail. Gray storm clouds fill the sky.

A bird with brown on white patterning. It is in flight and zooming past a brown cliff face.

A bird with gray wings and a light belly with dark gray horizontal banding. He has streaks below his eyes like a football player, and a black cap. He is standing on the concrete structure underneath a bridge.

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Reposted by Jen Cross

mossworm.bsky.social @mossworm.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

babies, you ate almost all the leaf. you're going to run out of leaf to stand on

Group of tint black and orange caterpillars eating a woolly pipevine leaf together

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Reposted by Jen Cross

Melissa Crytzer Fry @crytzerfry.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Somebody didn't do a good job of sticking the landing. Though the ramp that the javelina removed made a decent resting spot. Sonoran Desert #Toad.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Brood parasitism is a survival strategy that evolved in a number of species over thousands of years. I think it’s ok to appreciate it. In fact, studies on how birds like cuckoos and cowbirds grow into adults that recognize their own species are quite interesting.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

This is great. Birders might recognize the beak, build, and tail and correctly recognize the bird as a member of the cuckoo family. 🤩

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I just learned the dichotomous key for tree IDs and was thinking “I bet the tree is a mess too” lol One thing I like about my subjects is I take a lot of pictures of things that don’t tend to show up in AI, but I bet posting them anywhere online feeds the AI beast too.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

All the wrought iron stuff is a mess, no dead blossoms or eaten leaves, and I’m sure you can find issues with light and shadow too. It’s depressing that many people love AI - bright colors, unrealistic scenes - more than real photography. Go outside people, touch grass, nature is good.

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Reposted by Jen Cross

Glen Grambo 🇨🇦 @glengrambo.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

A few of the fancy sparrows have started to come through on their trip south. This juvenile White-crowned sparrow hasn’t developed the black and white striped headgear of the adults yet, but it’s still fancy! It dropped in for a quick drink, and a bath in the creek! #Birds 🪶

A juvenile White-crowned sparrow in a shallow rocky stream. The water is all black and the surrounding rooms are pink and lit by the sun. The sparrow is mottled brown with distinct brown stripes on its head. The stripes will be black on stark white when it becomes an adult. The sparrow is reflected in the black stream.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

@skypeascientist.bsky.social does great work bringing scientists to classrooms and I’m happy to support them. These calendars are a super fun way to help fund the program! Get one today!

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Love all the pollen on the bee.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I’m not in TX, I’m in PA. I post here, on Instagram, and on iNat.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Bonus, our lil sweat bee showing off some xenomorph-like mouthparts. Sweat Bee (Augochlora sp.)

A small metallic bee standing in the middle of a flower with its mouthparts extended.The flower is yellow with bright pink stripes extending from the middle.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

One of the things you aim for in photography is leading lines that guide the eye. This petunia seems custom colored for Dramatic Bee Framing. Sweat Bee (Augochlora sp.)

A small metallic bee in the middle of a flower. The flower is yellow with deep pink coloring seeming to explode out from the middle.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

He may end up being spoiled. 🥰

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Such a great caterpillar. We found the one I posted by shaking vegetation onto a sheet. It was a nice find for me, I hadn't spotted one yet.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Yes, he's got a very handsome coat. He spent two months at the shelter maybe because he was a little skittish, but he was friendly when I met him and has settled down a lot and seems very happy.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Here's a link to the PA program. I'm not sure all 50 states have it, but there are other similar programs like Master Watershed. pamasternaturalist.org

pamasternaturalist.org

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Visit the post for more.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

It's a volunteer program that started in Texas to train people to work in local parks and outdoor education. The curriculum focuses on local ecology and includes 12 classes and 4 field trips. Afterward you are required to complete volunteer hours and continuing eduction to maintain certification.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Thanks, he was a very good boy.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

He’s a cutie. I named him Pete as in Squeaky Pete because he talks a lot. Lol

A small brown tabby standing next to some plants. He has a halo because of course he will be good and not mess with the plants!

A brown tabby cat laying on a white shelf. He has a very casual look.

A brown tabby standing on his hind legs looking out the window.

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Jen Cross @jencross.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Oh yes, we did the benthic invertebrate shuffle! Some of the critters were quite small!

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