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Dr. Steven Whitfield

@stevenwhitfield.bsky.social
1.7K followers 429 following 130 posts

Conservation | Science | Education. Pro: environment, animals, nature, students, diversity. Anti: extinction, ignorance. He/him/él. 🐸🐢🦎

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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
It’s hot AF right now in New Orleans. But yesterday, I saw several tiny Northern Yellow Warblers. These birds are Neotropical migrants, starting their journey south to the tropics, indicating these summer is soon over. Thanks for the news, little birds. Travel safe.
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
I am excited that New Orleans is about to get real nerdy about amphibians, reptiles, and fish! Welcome everyone to the 2026 Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists!! #JMIH2026
A logo for an ichthyology and herpetology conference in New Orleans in 2026. The logo is purple, yellow, and green, and features various amphibians, reptiles, and fish.
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Current US national politics vibes remind me of this in several ways.
static.klipy.com
Monty Python and the Holy Grail: Bring Out Your Dead
Alt: Monty Python and the Holy Grail: Bring Out Your Dead. A skit where a medieval man walks around during the plague ringing a bell and calling out to the town “bring out your dead.” The man is filthy. His face is covered in mud. He’s about to have an argument with someone about whether they are dead or not.
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
NOLA is gonna be real icthyological and herpetological this July! 🐟🐠🦈🐸🦎🐍🐢🐊
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
This 2-page interim report I’m working on is going to put a serious dent in the global biodiversity crisis.
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Real bummer. I loved Coquette.
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
The Tropical Dry Forest of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Currently acting quite rainy…
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Im thinking about this (and human diseases that are preventable by vaccines) in the context of shifting baselines. My perceived baseline (and the baseline for lots of folks) is a US with no screwworm and no measles. 1/n
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Voting feels extra good when your state government is trying to take away voting power.
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
I’ve seen this toaster. It’s saved as a trophy behind the scenes by the team that led to this discovery.
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Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Quantifying harm posed by invasive species to animal welfare will reveal a moral problem for so-called "compassionate conservation", which demands protection for even invasive animals. Is it compassionate to allow invasive rats, mice, cats to injure & kill wildlife? #bioinvasion #invasivespecies
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
What??? WHAT??? I had to factcheck this because it’s so neat.
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Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
The NSF GRFP is now out! There are 2,599 awardees, which is the most ever—and a big shift from last year which initially halved awardees (1,000 awardees + an additional 500). I've thrown together a plot to break down the changes by field. www.research.gov/grfp/Awardee...
Plot showing GRFP awards by directorate shows a big dip last year and major increases for engineering and biology (though this only brings it back to parity with 2024).
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
There could be cool space lizards under those moon rocks and we just wouldn’t know unless we send a herpetologist to space. 🚀🧑‍🚀🌖🦎
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Herb Jonesing @thefallon.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Anyone change over to a heat pump in New Orleans or Louisiana or anywhere warm and humid? My AC guy says don't do it, but getting off LNG, especially with those Delta bills, is something I'd like to do. #nolasky
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
I was in the field with a couple of UNO undergrads this afternoon for the urban wildlife monitoring program. We heard a ruckus of crows. I explained mobbing behavior and said the crows might have found something cool. We investigated, lucked out, and had some great views of a Great Horned Owl. 🦉
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Swamp milkweed in the yard is getting attention!
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
I spent a lovely morning joining a local bird group out at Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge. I introduced them to the calls of three species of frogs, which had been causing much confusion because they were not birds.
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
As an herpetologist and very professional scientist, I obviously have no idea what an “inch” is or “foot” is, but otherwise this post checks out.
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
February 24th. The Coral Honeysuckle that I planted in late summer 2024 shows the first signs of flowering. Hummingbirds of the Irish Channel, prepare to feast!
The first red, tubular, flowers of a Coral Honeysuckle plant are emerging from a tangled vine.
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
As we’re starting fieldwork this week for our endangered Dusky Gopher Frog project, I’m excited to have this website to share some basics about the project.
audubonnatureinstitute.org
Dusky Gopher Frogs
Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans is doing a world of good by conservation efforts that protect endangered species, habitats, and nature.We engage the community through our facilities and public...
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
I never knew that floats are so crowded with throws that there’s barely standing room for the riders to stand. This much space is only after 2 hours of organizing. #tucks
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Everything about Muses tonight was phenomenal
A bath-duck shaped Mardi Gras float approaches in the street, while folks approach looking for throws.A Muses Krewe Mardi Gras float with a caption “The Orange POTUS” drives down the street with a crowd in the foreground.A Muses Mardi Gras float with a caption “Surelock Holmes: the mysterious short term rental rules” with a crowd in the foreground.A Muses Mardi Gras float coasts down st Charles Ave in New Orleans with a caption “The Epstein Files” (a spoof on “The X Files”), with additional text “the truth is out there but you ain’t getting it.” A crowd is in the foreground.
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Letters of Note @lettersofnote.com · 12/02/2026
Happy birthday to one of my favourite haters, Charles Darwin
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Ringed Map Turtles are among the coolest turtles in North America. They only live in the Pearl and Bogue Falaya River systems of Louisiana and Mississippi, and are a threatened species impacted by habitat modifications to the rivers.
newsroom.audubonnatureinstitute.org
Audubon Aquarium Gives Rare Turtles Head Start
Small, colorful turtles only found in just one place in the U.S. are now spending the winter at Audubon Aquarium. The tiny Ringed Map Turtles are only found in the Pearl and Bogue Falaya Rivers runnin...
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Reposted by Dr. Steven Whitfield
Good Trailcams @goodtrailcams.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
It’s time! 💜💛💚
m.youtube.com
Professor Longhair - Go To The Mardi Gras
YouTube video by kcope001
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
I'm very excited to share this new paper on conservation genomics of American Flamingos, led by Jessica Folsom at UCF.
academic.oup.com
Spatial and temporal population genomics of Phoenicopterus ruber (American Flamingo)
Abstract. Understanding patterns of genetic diversity and connectivity over time is essential when planning for the recovery of an extirpated population. H
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Unfortunate to hear that NSF is changing the way grants are reviewed - less emphasis on external reviewers and less detailed summaries from reviews. I’ve been enormously impressed by the way panels are run, and detailed reviews have helped me improve grant applications considerably.
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Good story covering the basics of how folks can help monarchs, and the concerns with planting non-native Tropical Milkweed.
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
Just wrapped up a phenomenal ZooMu workshop at the Oklahoma City Zoo with folks from zoos and natural history collections across the US. I’m very excited about where this project is going!
A sign at the Oklahoma City Zoo announcing a ZooMu WorkshopA group of workshop participants from zoos and natural history collections pose for a photo in the Oklahoma City Zoo hospital.A conference room at the Oklahoma City Zoo that is a renovated elephant barn.A group of biologists on a tour of the Oklahoma City Zoo veterinary hospital.
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
Hell yeah, Halloween Season! 🎃👻🧛🏻🕷️
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 23/08/2025
🚨Important herpetology information ⬇️🐸🐸
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NOLA.com @nolanews.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
Karen Deville usually looks forward to rainy days — but not just because it waters her plants.
bit.ly
Why you shouldn't take box turtles home to become your pets
Karen Deville usually looks forward to rainy days — but not just because it waters her plants.
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
The United States was founded to overthrow a king. What a good point to reflect on today.
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
A whole bunch of young birds in my neighborhood fledged this week. What did you accomplish, and is it better than learning to literally f***ing fly?!?!?!
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
The Blue Jay is a pretty awesome reptile.
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
Any pollinators here on BlueSky? I’ve got some sweet Lemon Bee Balm in the Irish Channel, New Orleans for you. Bring your friends.
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
Super proud of Audubon Zoo’s Herpetology, Hospital, and Communications teams for this work with Gopher Tortoise Conservation. These tortoises are really special to me, and great to see this work moving forward!
wbrz.com
Audubon Zoo is one step closer to releasing two tortoises back into the wild
The Audubon Zoo recently made significant progress towards releasing two of their tortoises back home into the wild
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
Headed home from a productive field conservation research trip in Costa Rica. One of the things that I love about this place is country is that it is wildlife- (and heavily frog-) themed. Here’s a giant frog sculpture in the airport, and even the airport carpet is printed with dart poison frogs.
Selfie of man in front of a large Red-Eyed Treefrog sculpture in an airportCarpet printed with palm leaves and Strawberry Dart Poison Frogs
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Micah @rincewind.run · 31/05/2025
something that stands out about this is just how cheap it is for us to have world-leading scientific capacity we spent ~6.75 trillion last year, and the combined budgets for NIH, NSF and NASA are barely more than 1% of that what an incredible waste to lose it all for a drop in the bucket
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Peter Gleick @petergleick.bsky.social · 31/05/2025
There are 2 previous historical cases of countries destroying their science and universities, crippling them for decades: Lysenkoism in the USSR and Nazi Germany. The Trump administration will be the 3rd. It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
Graphs showing 25 years of budgets for the National Institute of Health, NASA, and the NSF. In all cases, the proposed budget for next year is far, far below any year of the previous quarter century.
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Bibiana Rojas @biobiiana.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
"The ‘silent’ half: diversity, function and the critical knowledge gap on female frog vocalizations" –Such cool work! Super proud of these three #HERpers latinas🇨🇴🇧🇷! 🎵🐸🎶 doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
If only people could replace their brains…
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
Saw this Tropical Milkweed in a pasture in Costa Rica. It’s so strange for me to see this species (a common ornamental in the US) in its native range. In the US, this species causes major problems for Monarch Butterflies.
inaturalist.org
tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)
tropical milkweed from Calle San Rafael Sur, San Carlos, Alajuela, CR on May 24, 2025 at 09:09 AM by Steven Whitfield
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
No Mow Millenium!!
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Fox 8 Nola @fox8live.com · 24/05/2025
Bored with manicured lawns, some homeowners adopt No Mow May all year long
fox8live.com
Bored with manicured lawns, some homeowners adopt No Mow May all year long
Homeowners are finding more ways to adopt a low mow lifestyle instead of keeping up with short, manicured lawns.
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Dr. Steven Whitfield @stevenwhitfield.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
Seems like I’ve spent a lot my adult life looking for frog eggs and most humans just don’t know what they’re missing out on.
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Dr. Katy Croff Bell @katycroffbell.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
📣🧪 #NSF is deferring implementation of the 15% indirect cap on all new awards and subawards to institutes of higher education through June 13, when a hearing is scheduled to occur in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts in Association of American Universities v. NSF
Subject:  Deferred Implementation of Indirect Cost Policy for Institutes of Higher Education (IHEs) 
  
Issuance Date: May 20, 2025 
  
Effective Date:  May 20, 2025 
  
Applies to: All new awards and associated subawards to IHEs. 
  
This notice is being issued to all NSF proposers and recipient organizations, Principal Investigators, and Authorized Officials for awareness.  The National Science Foundation (NSF) is temporarily pausing implementation of NSF Policy Notice: Implementation of Standard 15% Indirect Cost Rate (NSF 25-034) through June 13, when a hearing is scheduled to occur in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts in Association of American Universities, et al. v. National Science Foundation, et al., No. 25-cv-11231.  This policy applies to all new awards and associated subawards to IHEs. New NSF awards and associated subawards issued during this pause will not implement NSF 25-034 but will include a term applying NSF 25-034 for the entirety of the award if there is a court decision permitting application of the policy.   
  
NSF reserves the right to modify, rescind, or fully implement NSF 25-034 to the entirety of awards and subawards issued to IHEs on or after May 5, 2025 in accordance with applicable legal rulings and administrative procedures.
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