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Shannon Skalos, PhD

@shannonskalos.bsky.social
1.7K followers 1.1K following 685 posts

Ornithologist | Mother of Harriers | Hummingbirds, Hawks, & House Wrens | Watercolor Artist | opinions mine | she/her/mom | IG: shannon_skalos

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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I’m convinced I’m the only person on the planet who did not like Breaking Bad.
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W. P. Mueller @wpmueller.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
#ornithology academic.oup.com/condor/advan...
academic.oup.com
Stopover dynamics of boreal-breeding songbirds at a northern stopover site
Abstract. Migratory bird stopover ecology, including stopover duration, refueling rates, and departure decisions, is driven by inherent species traits and
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🌈 Dr Ross Brooks @rossbrooks.co.uk · 30/01/2026
My first book, Darwin and the Queer Origins of Life, will be published by Yale University Press on 11 August (UK) and 8 September (US). Please help spread the word! 🙏 UK: yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300... @yalebooks.bsky.social 🏳️‍🌈📚🐵 US: yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300... @yalepress.bsky.social 🏳️‍⚧️ 🗃️🦋
Jacket design for Darwin and the Queer Origins of Life: A History of Sex and Science by Ross Brooks. It features a historic, drawn image of a gynandromorph gypsy moth, with distinctive female patterning on its left side and male on its right. Against a black background, the image and text (title and author's name) are brightly rendered in a spectrum of colours resonant of the Progress Pride Flag.
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Packing and moving sucks 😮‍💨
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Luna Moth!!! At the office today!!
A bright green freshly emerged Luna moth The fuzzy face of a Luna moth
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Nicole Rust @nicolecrust.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
The replies and quote posts: an intense combination of heartbreak and resilience.
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
@umassamherst.bsky.social has a beautiful campus!
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Lots of great talks today by many amazing and talented people @amornith.bsky.social!
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Oh hi I just shook John Fitzpatrick’s hand. It’s fine. I’m fine. We’re fine. 😍 @amornith.bsky.social
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Just a room full of bird people fangirling over David Allen Sibley @amornith.bsky.social 😍
David Allen Sibley giving the keynote speech at AOS 2026. David Allen Sibley giving the keynote speech at AOS 2026. David Allen Sibley giving the keynote speech at AOS 2026. David Allen Sibley giving the keynote speech at AOS 2026.
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Done! This took a long time, and there are lots of things I will do differently next time, but I learned a lot in the process and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. Hope my dad likes it!
Finished watercolor painting of Golden-winged, Blue-winged, Lawrence’s, and Brewster’s warblers on brown stems surrounded by pink and white apple blossoms and green leaves. Finished watercolor painting of Golden-winged, Blue-winged, Lawrence’s, and Brewster’s warblers on brown stems surrounded by pink and white apple blossoms and green leaves. Finished watercolor painting of Golden-winged, Blue-winged, Lawrence’s, and Brewster’s warblers on brown stems surrounded by pink and white apple blossoms and green leaves. Finished watercolor painting of Golden-winged, Blue-winged, Lawrence’s, and Brewster’s warblers on brown stems surrounded by pink and white apple blossoms and green leaves.
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
I’ll be at the @amornith.bsky.social meeting next week in Amherst, MA! Excited to hear some great talks, meet new and old friends and colleagues, and meet David Sibley 😍 If you’ll be there, come see my talk on the North American Breeding Bird Survey Friday at 11:15 AM!
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
I think I’m done with the Lawrence’s? Only the Brewster’s left to go!
Lawrence’s Warbler in watercolor Blue-winged, Golden-winged, and Lawrence’s Warblers in watercolor. On apple blossom branches.
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Just hit 2,000 observations on @inaturalist.bsky.social! 🎉🥳🎊
2000 observations on iNaturalist!
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
I stepped away from this painting for a bit but today I was in the right headspace to (almost) finish the Golden-winged Warbler 😮‍💨
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
He’s so ugly he’s beautiful 😍
Molting ASY male American RedstartMolting ASY male American Redstart. Molt limits visible.
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Meade Krosby @meadekrosby.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Just a reminder that there is no safe level of wildfire smoke exposure - it's very much worth limiting time outdoors, filtering indoor air, and wearing an N95 outside. This won't be the last or worst smoke event and health impacts from repeated exposure are cumulative and long-term.
reuters.com
Explainer: The serious health risks posed by wildfire smoke
Massive wildfires are raging around the world during unprecedented heatwaves, blanketing millions of people under pungent haze caused by smoke carrying noxious gases and particulate matter that pose s...
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Why are there so many narcissists in public service? It’s counter intuitive to be in a field (conservation/wildlife biology) as a state/federal public servant where you are *supposed* to care deeply about the greater good only to be totally selfish, controlling, and manipulative.
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Purple Coneflowers
Purple Coneflowers
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Jeff Hostetler @jeffhostecology.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Thanks to my coauthors on this release: @shannonskalos.bsky.social, Mikey Lutmerding, and Dave Ziolkowski for a timely release of the BBS data; John Sauer for his work developing the analysis methods and review of the metadata; and Jim Hines for working to get the website live so quickly.
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Jeff Hostetler @jeffhostecology.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
This analysis provides estimates of annual relative abundance at the state/province, bird conservation region (BCR), country, and range-wide scales, and trends over the whole 60-year period, since 1993, and since 2015.
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Jeff Hostetler @jeffhostecology.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
I am happy to announce that the latest USGS analysis of North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data, incorporating data through 2025, has now been released. Metadata and csv files can be downloaded at doi.org/10.5066/P1OS....
doi.org
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Inspo ➡️ Art
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Oh hi hello Willow Ptarmigan on Presque Isle 👋🐓
A Willow Ptarmigan on the beach on Presque Isle, Erie, PA.
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
A couple quick paintings today 🖌️🎨
A pink cone flower with a bumblebee and a blue sky background in watercolor and inkA patriotic flower bouquet in red white and blue in a vase in watercolor.
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Started a new painting tonight that I’m very excited about! Can anyone tell what species they are?
Pink and white apple blossoms with an unfinished sketch of the remaining watercolor painting depicting four warblers on branches. Pink and white apple blossoms with an unfinished sketch of the remaining watercolor painting depicting four warblers on branches. Pink and white apple blossoms with an unfinished sketch of the remaining watercolor painting depicting four warblers on branches.
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Waxed and framed!
Wood framed watercolor painting of two red hot rods
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Done! This is the fastest painting I’ve completed so far (2.5 nights!) and it’s the first painting I’ve done completely on my own without a tutorial!
A watercolor painting of a red roadster with a tan soft top on the left and a red woodie with light wood panels on the right. Both cars are facing each other.
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Started this painting tonight for my stepdad as a Father’s Day gift. Not sure what I was thinking with all these shiny curvy surfaces 😅🫠😮‍💨
Pictures of two red cars on a laptop screen and an in-progress watercolor painting of the same two cars below A picture of a red roadster with a tan soft top The same red roadster with a tan soft top in watercolor A zoomed out version of the same red roadster watercolor and the other unfinished red car to the right
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
I was gifted some ink line drawings by my mother in law recently. I decided I would color them in with watercolor.
A gray catbird with a black cap and rusty undertail coverts perches on a branch above a nest full of four half-naked nestlings all begging for food with mouths wide open.
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Lev Parikian @levparikian.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
March: CHIFFCHAFF IT’S A CHIFFCHAFF OH GOD THIS IS AMAZING SPRING IS HERE April: a chiffchaff. Nice. May: got any other tunes? No? OK then. June: stfu you chiffing little bastard I swear to god
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
What a great morning it was for a Breeding Bird Survey!
Dark forest looking down a dark road with the sunrise peaking up. An eastern shore pine stand A hen turkey cranes her neck over tall dead vegetation to look at me. Tall green trees in the background. Saltmarsh against a blue sky
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
I think I have a fun idea for a watercolor series! 💡🎨🖌️
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Wax sealed and framed! It feels good to finish paintings and see them framed.
Watercolor painting of a Rufous Hummingbird female feeding from red flowers in a light brown wood frame.
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
It’s finished!
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Thank you, @maxlambert.bsky.social and colleagues for this letter to federal scientists 🫶 esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Federal scientists, a great American invention: a letter to our federal colleagues
Click on the article title to read more.
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Very excited and honored to have been part of this project and to now be a Science published author! 🥳 We used animal and human mobility data to explore the impacts of human presence and landscape modifications on wildlife across the continental US. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
science.org
Interacting effects of human presence and landscape modification on birds and mammals
Sustainable human–wildlife coexistence requires a mechanistic understanding of the many ways that humans affect animals. However, progress is hampered by the lack of accessible data measuring the dyna...
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
I can’t stop
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Simon Fisher @profsimonfisher.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
“Academic science is not only about productivity but also deep understanding, creative solutions & training critical thinkers as next generation of researchers. Now is the time for our community to evaluate whether AI products help or hinder these.“ @lmesseri.bsky.social & @mjcrockett.bsky.social🧪👇
nature.com
The uncritical adoption of AI in science is alarming — we urgently need guard rails
Artificial intelligence is rapidly accelerating scientific output, but risks narrowing inquiry, weakening judgement and undermining how scientists are trained.
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Made some gifts tonight 🎨🖌️🥰
A watercolor flower meadow scene of orange poppies and purple lavender on a cardThree bookmarks, each with a different color flower. Purple, pink, and blue flowers.
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Can’t sleep. Send zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzs
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
This is WILD!!
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Some of the other species banded during spring migration this season (see alt text for IDs) *all birds capture and banded under proper training and permits
Wilson’s Warbler Black-and-white WarblerSwainson’s ThrushYellow-breasted Chat
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
More spring beauties from the banding station today! Including Alt Text IDs this time. *All birds captured and banded with proper training and permits
Tufted TitmouseScarlet Tanager female Black-throated Blue Warbler female Veery
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Spring things 🌼🌸☀️🕊️🪺
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Spotted a Mississippi Kite at work today!
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Danielle Welch for Congress (NY-03) @votewelch.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
With 'Israel and Palestine' trending at #1 on Mother's Day, let me say James Baldwin had it exactly right: "The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality." 🧵
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Framed up as a Mother’s Day gift for my mom. It feels good to be able to give handmade and personalized gifts! 🌼
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Happy Mother’s Day to all the hardworking mamas out there! Especially mama birds feeding their fledglings all day every day. Fledgling Robin spotted in a small tree in the front yard and being well-tended to by mom and dad.
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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Framed for my mom as a Mother’s Day gift
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