iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Eoghan Daltun 🌍 @irishrainforest.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Sheep densities across Europe. Native to southwest Asia, these domesticates are possibly the most effective means of killing off forests and other natural ecosystems ever devised.

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British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) @bou.org.uk · 27/07/2026

EARLY VIEW in IBIS A systematic review and meta-analysis of variation in nest predation of ground-nesting birds | onlinelibrary.wiley.... Mari D. Klaussen, Kevin A. Wood, Alex Nicol-Harper, Anita Diaz Isla, Emilie A. Hardouin, Richard A. Stillman | #ornithology 🪶

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RSPB Science @rspbscience.bsky.social · 5h

We’re proud to be featured in Global Flyways, a new digital film series from @birdlifeglobal.bsky.social and @contentwithpurpose.bsky.social In this film, we share how we are working with communities to protect migratory birds: contentwithpurpose.co.uk/birdlife/glo... 🪶 🌍️ #WorldMigratoryBirdDay

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UN Environment Programme @unep.org · 8h

What if a single bird could tell us the health of an entire ecosystem? In Botswana, the Slaty Egret is a key indicator species for the Okavango Delta. This #WorldMigratoryBirdDay, watch how migratory birds connect ecosystems across continents. @cms.int @euenvironmentandclimate.ec.europa.eu

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Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) @cms.int · 09/10/2026

A look inside the CMS Workshop on the Atlas of Animal Migration in Vasto, Italy. Experts from around the world are bringing together new data, technologies and expertise to better understand how animals move across our planet and how those journeys can be protected: www.cms.int/meeting/cms-...

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Onder water in Leiden.nl @owinleiden.bsky.social · 22h

Finally! Some encouraging news from Dutch policymakers about the uncontrollable invasion of American crayfish in the NL. It only took them ~45 years to recognize that the underwaterecology is being obliterated. S't fellow ecologists and I have been warning about for decades. nos.nl/artikel/2634...

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Medieval Illumination @medieval-illuminations.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 09/10/2026

Frutti di mare. Northumberland Bestiary, London ca. 1250-1260. LA, The J. Paul Getty Museum, Ms. 100, fol. 48v. #medieval #MedievalArt

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Dr. Dan Killam @dantheclamman.scicomm.xyz.ap.brid.gy · 08/10/2026

New solar-powered clam just dropped, part of a small club that partner with algae in their bodies for food! Geloina expansa lives in mangroves in South Asia and farms algae called zooxanthellae in its gills, the same type that corals partner with in a process […] [Original post on scicomm.xyz]

photo from the paper (Catherine et al. 2026) showing Geloina gills, which have a brown area that is full of dinoflagellates called Symbiodinium

picture of G. expansa by the legendary Guido Poppe, who literally wrote the book on shells. it has a greenish tinged periostracum. it is shaped quite a bit like a venus clam and is in the same order as them.

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BirdLife Europe & Central Asia @birdlifeeurope.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

WE WON. Lead in gunshot will finally be banned across the EU! Just now, the European Parliament approved in plenary the Commission's proposal to restrict lead in gunshot. This decision ends years of debate on one of Europe's most persistent forms of lead pollution.

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Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) @cms.int · 07/10/2026

This week, international experts are gathering in Vasto, Italy, to advance the Atlas of Animal Migration, a global initiative under CMS that aims to bring together knowledge on where migratory animals travel, the places they depend on and the routes that connect them: www.cms.int/meeting/cms-...

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Paul Dolman @pauldolman.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Upper Teesdale #Curlew - high density but also high breeding productivity thanks to landscape wide predator control. Population self-sustaining unlike most of UK. Main nest predators Badger & Stoat. www.gwct.org.uk/wildlife/res...

gwct.org.uk

Study shows grouse management is one of several factors resulting in a high number of breeding curlews in Upper Teesdale - Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust

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Jérôme Marty (he/him) @freshwater.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

And the invasion continues in 31 Miles Lake with Myriophyllum taking more and more coverage each year.

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everwilduk.bsky.social @everwilduk.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Look closely at a Freshwater Snail and the story changes Many freshwater snails carry both male and female parts, and the ram's-horn kinds have red blood, which is rare among molluscs and lets them breathe in stagnant water. Found by Pine, NWT The card is in the link. everwild.uk

Freshwater Snail (Gastropoda), spotted in Northwest Territories.

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Martin George @jannerbirder.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

“Every year an estimated 95,000 #seabirds, including Razorbills and Guillemots, are accidentally caught in nets off European coasts.” “But simple deterrents tested by Cornish fishers and devised by scientists and the RSPB have been shown to reduce the toll by about two-thirds.”

theguardian.com

Floating scarecrows: how Cornish fishers are stopping seabirds drowning in their nets

Simple deterrents can slash the number of razorbills and guillemots being trapped underwater, two-year study shows

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Simon Knott @simonknott.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

St Francis reads a sermon to birds who flock to a tree to listen. A wallpainting at Wissington, Suffolk. Today's the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis in 1226. The Wissington paintings are dated c1280, so it's just possible the artist was alive in the saint's lifetime.

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European Bird Census Council @ebcc.info · 01/10/2026

A new study using European Breeding Bird Atlas 2 (EBBA2) data shows that selecting Europe’s 30% highest-priority terrestrial areas could protect 49% of species’ ranges and 63% of species’ populations. More: www.ebcc.info/using-ebba2-...

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BirdLife Europe & Central Asia @birdlifeeurope.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

A once in a generation opportunity to restrict lead in gunshot is on the table. While the Commission’s proposal to restrict lead in gunshot is approaching the end of its scrutiny period in the European Parliament, MEP Pietro Fiocchi has tabled a new objection.

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Rachel Deering @racheldeering.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Morning. 🖼️ Tunnicliffe, What To Look For In Autumn, 1960.

Autumnal forest floor scene of leaves, red squirrel, fungi, nuts, jay in flight in distance and thrush, falling leaves, illustration.

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Curlew Action @curlewaction.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Read the full summary of current Curlew populations across Europe, from the recent AEWA conference in Finland: www.curlewaction.org/the-state-of...

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Renewables Grid Initiative @renewablesgrid.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

📘 Our 2025 Annual Report is out! From bird protection in the field to COP30 and the European Grids Package: how RGI turned the energy transition's toughest questions into workable answers. Read the full report 👇 buff.ly/syO4xQD

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RSPB @rspb.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Knot flocks touch down in today's Autumn Arrival Spotlight, arriving from the Arctic to join resident birds. Watch and wonder as thousands gather on tidal mudflats at RSPB Snettisham, creating mesmerising aerial displays as they move in unison.

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

To end this 🧵 for #WorldRiversDay, join me on a drift down the River Little Ouse along the #Norfolk #Suffolk border into the lowering autumn sun. With the River Water-Crowfoot (Ranunculus fluitans), it's like sliding down Rapunzel's flowing locks, but with more Minnows. youtu.be/TrGS3ZP0Qaw #rivers

youtu.be

A drift down the Little Ouse over flowing Rapunzel-like skeins of Water-Crowfoot, past Minnow shoals

YouTube video by Nicola Crockford

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The water level of the River Little Ouse, here forming the #Norfolk #Suffolk boundary, seems very low - Grey Wagtails were feeding on the exposed mud - perhaps since Denver Sluice was opened recently for 1st time since mid-June. Yesterday the water had dropped to an autumnal 14.2°C (air 19). #rivers

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

In this reach of the River Little Ouse amazing drifts of #mollusc shells including Great & Keeled Ram's-Horns (Planorbarius corneus, P. carinatus), Great Pond Snail (Lymnaea stagnalis), Horny Orb-Mussel (Sphaerium corneum) & Jenkin's Spire-Snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum). #MolluscMonday #invert

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I like this pic of a Common Bithynia (Bithynia tentaculata) at the end of the rainbow. With more River Nerites (Theodoxus fluviatilis) & their eggs, Acute Bladder Snail (Physella acuta), plus Common River-Snail (Viviparus viviparus) & chomping Great Ram's-Horn (Planorbarius corneus). #MolluscMonday

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Abundant Caddisfly larvae in River Little Ouse; colonies ?Welshman's Button(Sericostoma personatum); on a cow bone, Agapetus fuscipes? as well as Brown Sedge (Anabolia nervosa); ?Cinnamon Sedge (Limnephilus lunatus) & mayfly nymph; Grannom (Brachycentrus subnubili) & snail eggs. #riverflies #invert

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I'd to detach a Glossiphonia complanata leech from the scissors before getting out. Plenty of them & their egg capsules under rocks, along with Erpobdella octoculata & big green Duck Leech (Theromyzon tessulatum). Maybe the long thin ones are Biocular Leech (Helobdella stagnalis). #WormWednesday

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Downstream of Thetford this reach of River Little Ouse is littered not only with the usual drinks cans & bottles, crisp packets, tyres & gun cartridges but also numerous handbags, wallets, CDs, cassettes, a handy pair of scissors which I salvaged & various puzzling contraptions. #norfolk #suffolk

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

This reach of River Little Ouse maybe my most ornithologically rich river swim. Apart from Kingfishers, at one point I had Grey Heron, Great & Little Egrets all in one field of view. Unthinkable 20 years ago. Also a pair of Dabchicks. No wonder the Minnows are a bit shy here! #BirdsSeenIn2026

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Also lots alien #invasivespecies, Egyptian & Canada Geese as well as Mute Swans, Mallards & Pied Wagtails. Was mystified by "sunflower seed like" organisms on river bed until saw some germinating & realised likely sunflower seeds from bird food for the waterfowl! #BirdsSeenIn2006 #RiverLittleOuse

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Lots big burrows of alien #invasivespecies Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus). Only saw 1 Freshwater Sponge. Under rock, a (not!) Milk-White Planaria (Dendrocoelum lacteum) & Wandering Snail (Ampullaceana balthica). On Thurs Little Ouse 14.6°C (air 22). Time to switch to non-holey wetsuit!

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Reminder that all not perfect in River Little Ouse, is fairly abundant green #algae, Gutweed (Ulva intestinalis) & Blanket weed (Cladophora glomerata). Not sure if also Water Net Hydrodictyon reticulatum? Plus alien #invasivespecies Canadian & Nuttall's waterweeds (Elodea canadensis & E. nuttallii)

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Some good beds of Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) along this reach of the River Little Ouse, still in flower along with the Water Mint (Mentha aquatica). Arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia) looking distinctly autumnal as are sloe laden boughs of Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). #Wildflowerhour

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Other important components of Little Ouse aquatic vegetation: feathery fronds of River Water-Dropwort (Oenanthe fluviatilis) - see maybe its seedlings; & other umbellifers, Fool's Watercress (Helosciadium nodiflorum) on the river bed & upstanding Lesser Water-Parsnip (Berula erecta) on the margins.

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

This is how it is to swim upstream over the clean gravels of the quite briskly flowing River Little Ouse into the embrace of the beautiful long flowing fingers of River Water-Crowfoot (Ranunculus fluitans), a perfect home for the invertebrate & fish inhabitants of this precious #chalkstream. #Rivers

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

A glorious feature of this reach of River Little Ouse are the flowing gilded green skeins of River Water-Crowfoot (Ranunculus fluitans). Unlike further downstream earlier in the summer bsky.app/profile/nume..., their silken tassels are intact. Maybe the weird chicken foot like rootlets are theirs?

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Excited to find the Red #Algae (Rhodophyta) Hildenbrandia (Riverina) rivularis coating rocks in the River Little Ouse. Not noticed in East Anglia before (but in the Test). A good sign? As is Water Starwort (Callitriche). Amazing numbers of exquisite River Nerites including on Perfoliate Pondweed.

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Plenty of characterful Chabot Bullheads (Cottus perifretum), many young, under rocks in this reach of River Little Ouse, confirming feeling it's in good health. Never seen such high density of big River Nerites (Theodoxus fluviatilis), still lots tiny white eggs. NB chalk on this #ChalkStream bed.

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

This was the biggest shoal of Minnows I saw in the Little Ouse, under mat of aquatic vegetation that had accumulated at a fallen tree. They didn't like my torch. All the minnows seemed very shy compared to lower down, earlier in the year. I could see no unnatural sign of stressors in the river.

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Other contender for most abundant fish on this reach of the Little Ouse was the Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) but much more patchily distributed, including clouds of fry. One shoal included single young Chub (Squalius cephalus), Dace (Leuciscus leuciscus) & Common Roach (Rutilus rutilus), only 1 I saw.

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Perhaps most abundant fish on this reach of River Little Ouse between Brandon & Thetford was the Threespine Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). The 1st one I met, immediately on getting in, was this rather diseased one, struggling with the current. Also found a couple of dead ones. Most were OK.

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

It is amazing how on reach after reach, the River Little Ouse is home to giants: the skulking Brown (or Sea?) Trout (Salmo trutta) & Northern Pike (Esox lucius), the lurking European Chub (Squalius cephalus) & the ebulliently frolicking Common Dace (Leuciscus leuciscus). #rivers #fish #chalkstreams

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

As was about to get out, mystified at not seeing more fish besides tiddlers in this idyllic reach of the Little Ouse, was ambushed by this delightful gang; biggest shoal of biggest Common Dace (Leuciscus leuciscus) I've ever seen, one seeming to have a fish tag at base of tail youtu.be/DWzXbtsCa5E.

youtu.be

A glorious shoal of Dace in the River Little Ouse; biggest I've seen in terms of fish numbers & size

YouTube video by Nicola Crockford

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Continuing up the River Little Ouse, under one of the few overhanging trees youtu.be/1IrNkc1RpNo I encountered this elegant monster European Chub. She must be a good 20 years old or so, and unusually for such beasts, she was all alone. Perhaps lonesome? Explaining why she was so friendly to me?

youtu.be

Vast, beautiful, solo European Chub (Squalius cephalus) in the River Little Ouse upstream of Brandon

YouTube video by Nicola Crockford

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Next up in the River Little Ouse was this huge Northern Pike (Esox lucius), getting on for 1 m long & like the giant Trout, hidden amongst the aquatic vegetation, convinced I hadn't spotted her. Unlike the Trout who I left undisturbed & carried on upstream, the Pike left in a huff & puff of silt.

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Nicola Crockford @numenini.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

A #WorldRiversDay 🧵to give a portrait of a 1.5km reach of the River Little Ouse between Thetford & Brandon. This week, despite its #chalkstream loveliness, apart from tiddlers there were only a few fish, all giants, such as this great c90cm log of a Trout, no red on it. Another Sea Trout?? #MySwim

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Graham Appleton @wadertales.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

LPO is calling for permanent shooting ban for #Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit. This would provide protection for thousands of both species that winter in and migrate through France. Background: wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/07/30/b... Map shows tracks of Curlew returning from France to breed in UK.

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