iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

LOOK AT THIS BIRD ebird.org/species/bllt...

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The male called and displayed for about 20 minutes and then not one but two females arrived. There was just barely enough light to get these photos, and the backlighting was for reals... but it was magic.

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Last year I walked for an hour in the dark in the forests of Western Papua to see this bird display at dawn. 100% worth it.

Male and female 12-wired bird of paradise

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Jer Thorp @jerthorp.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Quite the pre-storm sunset in Brooklyn tonight

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LOOK AT THIS BIRD en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmete...

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Jer Thorp @jerthorp.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Finally: This course is serious enough that you can DEFINITELY get your boss to pay for it. But it is also fun. And centered around care. I hope you'll join me. Or spread the word?

This course is extremely unique it's worth every penny and you cannot get this anywhere else. It's such an adorable course and Jer is wonderful. I'd recommend this to everybody

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Jer Thorp @jerthorp.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The course is very much designed for beginner coders and/or beginner birders. But there is a high ceiling with lots of room to explore for those who are a bit more advanced.

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Jer Thorp @jerthorp.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

You'll learn to make art from bird data, and to cultivate a mindful birding practice. You'll discover a whole world of creative possibility and you'll learn a TON about birds and the history of humans counting them. The course is online and cohort based. So you will learn with a cozy group.

Colorful data visualization of an entire year of bird observations from Orange County Florida

This course was life-changing! I now enjoy time outside looking for birds at home and away and I learned a lot more on coding

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Jer Thorp @jerthorp.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

This is the American Titan, the largest mushroom in the Western Hemisphere. Yes, it is edible. 🍄

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Jer Thorp @jerthorp.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Guys I found an SR-71 Blackbird moth

A moth that looks like a stealth bomber micromachine

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Also, and I say this with conviction: I am not an AI! I've been teaching and writing and making about data since 2009. You'll get unlimited office hours with me, and we'll get to engage in deep discussions about birds, art, and data!

I've worked for three decades at the intersection of art, data and nature.I was The New York Times' first Data Artist in Residence, an innovator in Residence at the Library of Congress and I am a National Geographic Explorer.

I have created and led projects that have been installed in Times Square, performed at the MoMA in Manhattan and exhibited at galleries around the world.

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This course is super fun... but don't take my word for it!

This course is extremely unique, it's worth every penny and you really cannot get this anywhere else.It's such an adorable course and Jer is wonderful. I'd recommend this to anyone.

This course really was life changing! I now enjoy time outside looking for birds, at home & away... and I learned A LOT more on coding

s a Data Scientist at Der Spiegel, I'm always looking for unique ways to tell stories through data. This course was exactly what I was looking for - a perfect mix of getting outdoors with creative data viz.

This course was really fantastic. It opened up new avenues for me to see both in my daily life and my job as a developer.It rekindled my love for creative coding and gave me space to explore urban nature in a fun and supportive setting.

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We'll talk about the history and context of bird data, from 2550bc to the second world war to apps and AI. Along the way we'll learn a lot about some fantastic feathered friends! (About 11,000 of them!)

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My Binoculars to Binomials courses start in 11 days! You'll get to dive in to truly astounding datasets like eBird, Xeno-Canto, and the Christmas Bird Count. You'll learn techniques for expressive data viz on the web and in real life. And you'll do it all alongside a group of curious learners.

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Jer Thorp @jerthorp.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

If you're a data viz person and you're looking for a creative kickstart, why not look to the birds? Bird data is as fascinating as it gets, huge in scale and changing every day. It's also profoundly important as we face an uncertain ecological future. Best of all, you can make it yourself!

Visualization of every bird counted in a year in Orange County, Florida

Visualization of every bird counted in the Brooklyn Christmas Bird Count

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Here is my considered response to the AI + math discourse.

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Jer Thorp @jerthorp.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Please meet my new friend, Sphendononema guildingii. We found it in a hole.

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Jer Thorp @jerthorp.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

It was a very good day in Colombia. Great Potoo, Spectacled Caiman, Tent-making Bat, and a ridiculously gorgeous beach. First cohort of my Living in Data retreats ends tomorrow morning.

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Jer Thorp @jerthorp.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I will warn you that you'll be starting on a path that might see you up on a hill in Colombia at 7:30 am watching toucan and making artwork in the jungle.

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If your organization supports training, let them know that some of the world's best data people have taken Binoculars to Binomials and have come out with new skills and approaches, critical data thinking skills and lots of new inspiration. Autumn cohorts start September 21st! jerthorp.me/learning

AI Mode conversation: give me verbatim textYou sent: 1 image and said: give me verbatim textgive me verbatim text"As a Data Scientist at Der Spiegel, I'm always looking for unique ways to tell stories through data. This course was exactly what I was looking for - a perfect mix of getting outdoors with creative data viz." #binocularstobinomialsAI can make mistakes, so double-check responses You sent: 1 image"I'm a UX researcher. I'm really interested in quantitative methods, specifically related to environmental conservation data... but have been scared to take the leap.This course showed me how to gain access to these REALLY specific datasets AND it broke the seal and now I am OBSESSED with coding and find that I really like debugging.I'm no longer afraid of diving into this thing I've wanted to get into for a long time."#binocularstobinomialsYou sent: 1 image"This course was really fantastic. It opened up new avenues for me to see both in my daily life and my job as a developer.It rekindled my love for creative coding and gave me space to explore urban nature in a fun and supportive setting."

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They spent ten weeks learning to build and observational practice, to access fascinating biodiversity datasets, and how to make expressive visualizations on the web and in the physical world.

"I'm a UX researcher. I'm really interested in quantitative methods, specifically related to environmental conservation data... but have been scared to take the leap.This course showed me how to gain access to these REALLY specific datasets AND it broke the seal and now I am OBSESSED with coding and find that I really like debugging.I'm no longer afraid of diving into this thing I've wanted to get into for a long time."

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What do data professionals from the New York Times, Washington Post, Spiegel and Bloomberg have in common? They've taken my course on birding and data visualization!

"As a Data Scientist at Der Spiegel, I'm always looking for unique ways to tell stories through data. This course was exactly what I was looking for - a perfect mix of getting outdoors with creative data viz." #binocularstobinomials

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Jer Thorp @jerthorp.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Whooping Motmot! Motmots are woodland birds that are related to kingfishers and bee-eaters. Can you guess what kind of sound they make?

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My view for the next two weeks.

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Jer Thorp @jerthorp.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

LOOK AT THIS BIRD ebird.org/species/yetw...

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Jer Thorp @jerthorp.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Tomorrow I'm off to the jungle in Colombia to lead two Living in Data retreats. It's a delight to lead these strange convenings. We'll investigate ecosystems, make art, and generally dream about better futures. Sign up for my newsletter to hear about future adventures! www.jerthorp.me/news

A group of people work on art in the jungle

"I'm not sure how to explain just how extraordinary this retreat was. Five days absolutely immersed in the most remarkable ecology, collaborating with a cohort of creative, open, enthusiastic people.Each day Jer offered a provocation, an invitation that set into motion all manner of new ways of approaching my writing and art. I left with a half dozen new creative projects gestating and a dozen new people I want to collaborate with."-Matt R.

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Jer Thorp @jerthorp.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Faerie ring under the Manhattan Bridge

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Jer Thorp @jerthorp.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Here are some birds I drew back when my book was released.

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Charred brocolli rabe, anchovies and pecorino. Started in a pan, finished on a stone. I make pizza every week and this... might be the best one?

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I've been teaching for 30 years, in university classrooms and around kitchen tables. This is the most fun I've ever had. If you need something to kickstart your creative brain and/or reconnect you to nature, jump on in! www.jerthorp.me/learning 🪶📊

AI Mode Conversation: give me verbatim textYou sent: 1 image and said: give me verbatim textgive me verbatim text“This course is extremely unique, it's worth every penny and you really cannot get this anywhere else.It's such an adorable course and Jer is wonderful. I'd recommend this to anyone.” #binocularstobinomials

“Jer is the kind of teacher who makes you forget you're even learning. He has this amazing way of weaving together bird watching, coding, and citizen science that just clicks.”

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Fall cohorts for my Binoculars and Binomials course start September 21st! Learn creative coding & data visualization skills, build a mindful birding practice and make some friends. 100% AI free! Registration is on a sliding scale up to 50% off. www.jerthorp.me/learning 🪶📊

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Jer Thorp @jerthorp.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Sometimes when you're grumpy a bath will make you feel better. Other times it will just make you feel wet

Juvenile Black Crown Night Heron up to its chest in water

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Just an amazing morning for spotting my favourite nudibranch, the White-lined Dorina. Found the ittiest bittiest one I've ever seen (about the size of a sunflower seed) and some of the biggest ones I've ever seen. Also a lot of range in color from pure white to golden yellow.

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I love the patterns on this Woody Chiton

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But not this CHONK of a Noble Dorid (Peltodoris nobilis)

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This yellow-edged Cadlina was my first nudi of the day. All of the ones I've posted so far have been in the 1-3cm range...

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I also found a few of my fave nudi, the White-lined Dirona.

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