iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Sarah was instrumental in helping me understand the foodborne illness science and politics terrains so that I could write this article.

151

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Why are there so many more people carrying umbrellas? And don't tell me "Because it's raining."

0100

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

Just doing some math here and realizing that slapping a 100% tariff on this particular Spanish film would've required it to be ¡SIX AMIGOS! There's no way Chevy Chase would've tolerated additional amigos.

050

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Some more birds in Central Park today. Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Cape May Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Scarlet Tanager #birds #birdcpp

Rose-breasted Grosbeak in a tree, partially obscured by green leaves in foreground

Cape May Warbler perched on a thin branch

Chipping Sparrow perched on a thin branch, leaning forward to eat

0252

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Some birds in Central Park today. Swamp Sparrow, Wood Thrush, Black and White Warbler, Palm Warbler #birds #birdcpp

Swamp Sparrow perched on a log sticking out of the water

Wood Thrush perched on thick, horizontal tree branch

Black and White Warbler running along a tree branch

Palm Warbler perched on a thin tree branch

0181

Reposted by Scott Pilutik

Jeremy Stahl @jeremystahl.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Brilliant reporting from @tikk.bsky.social on how yesterday's judicial order ending the block on the DOGE "buyout" offer opened the door to Musk breaking countless laws to brutalize the federal work force: slate.com/news-and-pol...

slate.com

A Judge Lifted His Order Against DOGE. Musk Immediately Sprang Into Action.

"It's as if they only wanted to scare, hurt, and demoralize us."

55729

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

House Finch Spring 2023, State College, PA House Finches are bird-feeder hogs and probably too easy to photograph, but this one looks angelic with the light falling just so around her eye. #birds #birdaday 85/x

Female House Finch perched on a flowering branch, with a splash of light falling around her eye

1271

Reposted by Scott Pilutik

Howdini! @howdini.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Chilling, accurate summation of where we're at from @tikk.bsky.social In a very short period of time, dozens of federal judges have told the Trump Adminstration to stop breaking the law. To this point they've not only refused to comply, they've indicated that they won't. 1/

163

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Catbird Summer 2023, Central Park Catbirds are as cooperative as Robins for the camera. I like how this one is artificially framed. #birds #birdaday 84/x

1271

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

European Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus) Sorry, I'll get to more birds shortly. My auto-buffer ran out without my realizing.

European Garden Spider at the center of its web, against a soft-focus green background.

060

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

Eastern Bluebird Spring 2023, State College PA Pretty birds but pretty mean and protective if they think you're a threat. #birds #birdaday 83/x

Eastern Bluebird perched on a No-Parking sign

0261

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Great Blue Heron Spring 2023, State College, PA Specifically, taken at Millbrook Marsh. Not the best photo but interesting in that Herons spend most of their time in the water, less so in trees. #birds #birdaday 82/x

Great Blue Heron perched on a tree branch against a clear blue sky

0301

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Common Loon Spring 2023, Central Park One place you'll always find birds is the Reservoir in Central Park, but it's not easy to get good shots there b/c you can't get eye-level with the birds. This one was okay. #birds #birdaday 81

2130

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Chipping Sparrow Spring 2023, State College PA An elegant, uncommon Sparrow with unique eye markings and a call that fits its name. #birds #birdaday 80/x

0200

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

American Goldfinch Spring 2023, Bald Eagle State Park, PA Sometimes the background is messy and competes, but you can't not take the photo. This Goldfinch was dining out on thistle for at least ten minutes while I took too many photos. #birds #birdaday 79/x

Male American Goldfinch with thistle hanging from its beak

1332

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Common Yellowthroat Spring 2023, State College In the better bird photographs the background speaks to the subject in some way. It's so easy to get lost in this soft, green and yellow backdrop, with just a hint of warmth. #birds #birdaday 78/x

1190

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Northern Shoveler Spring 2023, Central Park Northern Shovelers are easy to ID b/c of their long dark bills (males only) and odd positioning in the water, with their back end up a bit higher. Beautiful eyes. This is a non-breeding male, the breeding males are more stunning. #birds #birdaday 77/x

0190

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

Eastern Carpenter Bee Spring 2023, State College PA Most of my bird shots are taken with a 400mm lens, these bee shots were taken with a super-crisp 80mm macro lens (Fuji). Which also means I'm practically on top of that bee, and I'm simultaneously fascinated/terrified by stinging insects.

Bumblebee pollinating Salvia leucantha flower

0120

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

Honeybee Spring 2023, State College PA I'll briefly pause on the daily bird posts to add in a few bees. I've had my bee photos featured twice in the NYTimes Spelling Bee page, which puzzle I do every day.

0180

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Eastern Phoebe Spring 2023, State College, PA A litlte underexposed and noisy as a result, but I still like the shot, one of the few times a mess of sticks in the background doesn't completely detract. #birds #birdaday 76/x

0241

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Spring 2023, State College Might be my first hummingbird shot, as evidenced by the slow shutter speed, probably 1/800. Now I wouldn't shoot Hummingbirds in flight below 1/2000. #birds #birdaday 75/x

0190

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Grackle Spring 2023, Central Park Grackles are common but visually fascinating, iridescent like Starlings, with whom the often congregate in flocks. The purple hue is a giveaway that this is a northeast variety--out west they're more bronze. #birds #birdaday 74/x

Grackle near the shore, partially fanned, fluffy

1301

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Eurasian Eagle-Owl Spring 2023, Central Park This is Flaco, RIP, who I was lucky to see on a handful of occasions during his Central Park escaped-from-the-zoo tenure. He's pretty far away here, but I was lucky to photograph him again later. #birds #birdaday 73/x

Eurasian Eagle-Owl in a tree nook, facing away but head craned around toward the camera

0192

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Canda Geese (not "Canadian" Geese, btw) Spring 2023, Central Park Ducks and Geese on water are relatively easy to shoot, except that the best shots are taken at water level, and to do it right you need to get in the water. I'm not there yet, but you can see here I got close. #birds #birdaday 72

Canada Geese on the water, on water that appears green due to reflection from the trees.

190

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

House Wren Spring 2023, State College We have a cat toy that sounds like a House Wren, and since this Wren was literally residing in a birdhouse outside our front door, the cats were terribly confused for awhile. We decomissioned the toy, the actual Wren sounds better. #birds #birdaday 71/x

0180

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Eastern Phoebe, Spring 2023, State College PA Small, elegant fly-catchers that photograph beautifully, w/ subtle warm, neutral, smoothly gradated tones. They're not difficult to shoot b/c they return to the same branch, often near water, catch an insect, lather rinse repeat. #birds #birdaday 70/x

1161

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Song Sparrow, Spring 2023, State College PA Song Sparrows are more typically found in reeds, goldenrods, etc., but I found this one on the ground. Ordinarily the ground doesn't make for great backgrounds photographically, but the monotone and unformity kind of work here. #birds #birdaday 69/x

0170

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Eastern Towhee, Spring 2023, State College PA Eastern Towhees aren't typically found near feeders, so this one's appearance was a surprise. Such striking markings, right down to the red eye of this female. #birds #birdaday 68/x

0130

Reposted by Scott Pilutik

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

I agree, but I think Vivek and Elon will be the prelim battle.

011

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

American Goldfinch, Spring 2023, State College PA Male Goldfinches go through distinct plumage phases from the Winter to the Spring, going from pale yellow to deep yellow. This one is nearly there. #birds #birdaday 67/x

Male American Goldfinch perched on a branch. He's nearly all the way to his deep-yellow breeding plumage.

0180

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Eastern Bluebird, Spring 2023, State College PA Bluebirds are common but since we don't have boxes I don't see them unless I venture into the woods. #birds #birdaday 66/x

Eastern Bluebird atop a thick branch, shot from below

1261

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Dark-eyed Junco, Spring 2023, State College PA Juncos slowly disappear from central PA once winter ends, migrating north. But this female (lighter heads than the males) was still around in late March/early April. #birds #birdaday 65/x

0210

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

White-breasted Nuthatch, Winter 2023, State College PA We're finally up to 2023, where I think the quality of my photos improved, due to spending more time watching birds and waiting them out. Perhaps not obvious here--just another Nuthatch, this time in a blizzard. #birds #birdaday 64/x

White-breasted Nuthatch on the side of a tree, snow coming down hard.

1210

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

White-throated Sparrow, Winter 2022, State College PA I typically crop tighter to the bird than this but I love how the falling snow came out here. #birds #birdaday 63/x

White-throated Sparrow perched on a branch, looking left, snow lightly falling

0140

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

Common Snipe, Summer 2022, Iceland Took a trip to Iceland but didn't bring my long lens. Consequently, this is the only decent bird shot I returned with. #birds #birdaday 62/x

Common Snipe amid wild flowers and grassland

0180

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

Magnolia Warbler, Spring 2022, Central Park NY Just stunning. Probably my first time seeing one. #birds #birdaday 61/x

Magnolia Warbler perched in a tree. It has a bright yellow breast with pronounced black streaks.

0180

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

Northern Cardinal, Spring 2022, State College, PA Robins and Catbirds seem aware and unperturbed by humans, but only Cardinals will give you that come-hither look. #birds #birdaday 60/x

Female Cardinal on a branch, partly obscured by leaves, head cocked, directly eyeing the camera.

1140

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

White-throated Sparrow, Winter 2022, State College, PA Hearty winter birds, characteristically on the snow-covered ground. #birds #birdaday 59/x

White-throated Sparrow standing on snow.

0202

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

Dark-eyed Junco, Winter 2022, State College PA These small, fearless birds show up in the winter, migrating south, and dominate backyard feeders. I've got lots of photos of Juncos in trees with falling snow. Sometimes the snow doesn't pop, but it really cooperated here. #birds #birdaday 58/x

Dark-eyed Junco perched in a tree, amid falling snow.

0140

Reposted by Scott Pilutik

j p @jppearson71.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Was PSUWr crushing MSUWr's portal- and backup-depleted squad 55-0 foreshadowing the future of not just "Mid-Major" or less-funded D1 programs, but of bottom-tier *Big Ten Programs*? Recap & takery from myself & NerfState Nat, 📸 by @tikk.bsky.social www.blackshoediaries.com/2025/1/12/24...

blackshoediaries.com

Wrestling Postview: Penn State 55, Michigan State 0

A short-handed slate of Spartans were unable to challenge Penn State’s historic team dominance at any level.

111

Scott Pilutik @tikk.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Catbird, Spring 2022, State College PA Along with Robins, one of the few birds that seem to pose when they sense your eyes on them. Most catbirds appear "grey card" grey--the exact photogentic midpoint between black and white. #birds #birdaday 57/x

Fluffy-looking Catbird, perched on the top of a plant.

1181