American Kestrel

I just made a donation to this fund in honor / memory of Little I (Charlie Bates), son of @BatesPhysio. His death is incredibly tragic. Donating to this fund, if you can afford it, is one good thing we can do in his honor. https://twitter.com/BatesPhysio/status/1490771240772116487

See https://twitter.com/BatesPhysio/status/1493338104501002254?s=20&t=hEsWTuN-lxhxBZ_hkrzPdg for some more, but heartbreaking, details

And also see this very moving obituary https://gayandciha.com/tribute/details/4370/Charles-Bates/obituary.html#content-start

Charlie Bates

In honor of Joe Burrow @JoeyB at the #Superbowl I am posting some pics of my favorite #SuperbOwl Burrowing owls, which I think should be renamed ed for today "BurrowOwls" https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/103453079

Here is another #SuperbOwl #BurrowOwl in honor of #Burrow @JoeyB at the #Superbowl  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/69169796

And another #SuperbOwl #BurrowOwl in honor of #Burrow @JoeyB at the #Superbowl https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/25894278

And if you want more #BurrowOwls - see my 109 observations of them on @inaturalist #SuperbOwl https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&taxon_id=19975&user_id=phylogenomics&verifiable=any

More SuperbOwls

Well, I went out on a mission earlier today to try and find a #SuperbOwl. And I found one. 

Great horned owl in rural #DavisCA 
#SuperbOwls https://instagr.am/p/CZ7mIDBPiLZ/ 

And here is another #Superbowl pic from just about the same spot a few days ago - possibly the same owl though there were two around 

And also seen in nearly the same spot -- https://twitter.com/phylogenomics/status/1492338678978412546

And if you are dying to see some more #SuperbOwls - here are my 346 owl observations on @inaturalist  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&taxon_id=19350&user_id=phylogenomics&verifiable=any

And as an added bonus - here is a gif of all my owl observations on @inaturalist #SuperbOwl 

SuperbOwl Owls

This is completely unacceptable @potus: @EricLander46 must either step down or be fired

Biden’s top science adviser bullied and demeaned subordinates, according to White House investigation https://politi.co/34zJyS6 via @politico

As I wrote yesterday - he never should have been selected.  And he was on notice basically to improve his behavior and he completely failed at this.  This is a shameful thing for the scientific community. 

https://twitter.com/phylogenomics/status/1489812240874102784?s=20&t=RnvAO6l5VjN06X5oOmxWzw

Dear @EricLander46 - do the right thing and step down. 

Dear @potus - do the right thing and the thing you promised to do to people who work for you and mistreat others. Fire @EricLander46

@EricLander46 @POTUS Dear @potus - you have a bully who cannot seem to change, with a track record of sexism, racism, and sucking up to sexual predators in charge of science in the US.  This is not acceptable.

See https://www.change.org/p/president-of-the-united-states-eric-lander-must-be-removed-as-president-s-science-advisor-director-of-white-house-ostp

Well, this is way way worse than initial impressions. See https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/eric-lander-allegedly-bullied-disrespected-staff-69682 by @Scatter_Cushion

And see the @politico article by @AlexThomp that the Scientist article is based on https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/07/eric-lander-white-house-investigation-00006077.  .

It is very clear. Eric Lander has to step down or be fired by @potus.  His behavior is completely unacceptable.

Here again is the petition I started - "Eric Lander must be removed as President's Science Advisor &amp; Director of White House OSTP" https://www.change.org/p/president-of-the-united-states-eric-lander-must-be-removed-as-president-s-science-advisor-director-of-white-house-ostp

And see also this article in @statnews by @levfacher https://www.statnews.com/2022/02/06/landers-all-staff-mea-culpa-is-the-latest-in-a-string-of-apologies/

And Eric Lander has resigned https://twitter.com/tylerpager/status/1490865408836247552

Problems with Eric Lander

One of my favorite species on the planet - ferruginous hawk - seen today near Rush Ranch in Fairfield, CA 

Here are a few other shots - just a truly spectacular species - I have only seen them 4 or so times in my life so each time is pretty special 

Ferruginous hawk

Seen today in #DavisCA - an @mbeisen in the wild, wiggling forward and backwards. 

Also seen today in #DavisCA: American Kestrel 

And, though they are common and invasive, they can also sometimes be very pretty - a house sparrow ... 

Michael Eisen 

So I had a 20 minute encounter with some otters today at #YoloBypass. 

Much of the time, they are so adorable #NaturePhotography #otters #YoloCounty 

But then they show you another side sometimes #NaturePhotography #otters #YoloCounty 

Here are some more of the not so adorable side of otters #NaturePhotography #otters #YoloCounty 

And here is a LONG iPhone video of the otters https://twitter.com/phylogenomics/status/1486817346370953216

Direct link to the video here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCFe52KY1GA

And yes, as can be seen in the video, there were literally piles of otters 

This pic though may be my favorite - its like the otter was apologizing for eating the fish ... 