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booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Curiosititis
@booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
450 followers 420 following 590 posts
Avid reader, lifelong learner, birding, love all things open source, R user, love data analysis and visualization. All photographs posted on this account are taken by me unless explicitly noted otherwise or shared as reposts.
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booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
My contribution to today's #SquirrelSaturday.

January 17 2026. Charlotte NC US.

#squirrels
A squirrel sitting under a open bowl feeder with peanuts in shell and eating a peanut.
January 17, 2026 at 11:29 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Alan (@alan678.bsky.social), the #BirdOfTheDay theme for today is #perfectperch birds perched on a branch.

A white-throated #sparrow accompanied by a downy #woodpecker nearby is my contribution.

January 14 2026. Charlotte NC US.

#birds #backyardbirding #BirdsofNC
A white-throated sparrow rests on a branch while a downy woodpecker clings to the trunk nearby.
January 17, 2026 at 4:26 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Buddhist monks on their Walk for Peace from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, DC passed through Concord, North Carolina yesterday—Day 83 of their journey to promote peace.

I was fortunate to witness this leg of their walk.

#WalkforPeace #W4P
Several buddhist monks, escorted by police cars, walking up a hill. Crowds gather outside the church hall, awaiting the monks' address. A Walk for Peace banner featuring a sketch of a pigeon holding a green leaf in its mouth. The words 'HOPE,' 'COMPASSION,' 'LOVING-KINDNESS,' 'HARMONY,' and 'LOVE' gracefully adorn the pigeon's feathers, while 'WALK FOR PEACE' appears in bold letters across the bottom of the banner.
January 17, 2026 at 7:18 AM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Rob (@robcrank68.bsky.social), today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Short Beaks & the Alt theme is #Pigeons.

Here's a "tree of life" in our backyard with many #doves and two house #finches. Many birds use this particular tree as a launching pad to land at our feeders.

#birds #backyardbirding
On a grey winter day, mourning doves and house finches perch among bare branches above and behind two bird feeders. The overcast sky casts a soft, even light.
January 16, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Curiosititis
daviddarmofal.bsky.social
The America JD Vance wants you to believe doesn’t exist: a huge, diverse crowd here in the Deep South to march with and hear from Buddhist monks marching for peace.
January 10, 2026 at 8:18 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
A short video of a parent house finch feeding a juvenile with a male cardinal in the background. This was at one of our bird feeders, today.

Apologies for the blurry video.

January 14 2026. Charlotte NC US.

#birds #finches #cardinals #backyardbirding
January 14, 2026 at 8:57 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Alan (@alan678.bsky.social), today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #LongBeaks, any bird with a Long Beak.

I've gone with a Snowy #Egret, an American White #Ibis, a #Willet, and what I believe are a pair of #Dunlins wintering in North Carolina.

December 2025. Wilmington NC US.

#birds #BirdsofNC
A snowy egret in profile perches on a stone against a backdrop of coastal vegetation. An American White Ibis balances on one leg on the side of a boat ramp, water lapping on one side and concrete on the other. A willet at the water's edge, standing in the Atlantic surf. Two dunlins forage on a small grassy landmass jutting from the surface of a river.
January 14, 2026 at 11:08 AM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Alan (@alan678.bsky.social), today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Solitude. The alt is #gardenbirds.

This northern mockingbird might qualify for both themes.

January 12 2026. Charlotte NC US.

#birds #BirdsofNC #mockingbirds
A northern mockingbird in profile perches on a branch, gazing to the right through a crisscross of branches and leaves that provide natural cover.
January 13, 2026 at 11:44 AM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Seeing this Norther Mockingbird lifted my spirits up as I was walking from the parking lot to my office this morning!

January 12 2026. Charlotte NC US.

#birds #mockingbirds #BirdsofNC
A northern mockingbird perches in profile on a branch against a brilliant blue sky, with tree branches crisscrossing the frame.
January 12, 2026 at 6:16 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Rob ( @robcrank68.bsky.social), today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #BirdsInFlight, and the Alt theme is #Finches.

I share this video of ring-billed gulls in a relay race near Fort Fisher, Wilmington, NC US.

December 23 2025.

#birds #BirdsofNC #gulls
January 12, 2026 at 11:38 AM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Three Friday-the-13ths this year: February, March, and November!
Why 2026 Is a Mathematically Special Number
Neither a square nor prime number, 2026 is still intriguing
www.scientificamerican.com
January 11, 2026 at 4:41 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Rob (@robcrank68.bsky.social), today's #BirdOfTheDay theme which is #MoodyFaces any bird looking moody.

A female #cardinal: What's with the camera all the time?
A ring-billed #gull: Whatever. I'm chill.
A boat-tailed #grackle: What the *?&#, school starts tomorrow?

#birds #BirdsofNC
A female North American cardinal in side profile perched on a deck and looking to the right, towards the camera. A ring-billed gull by a river, in side profile and glancing slightly to its left. A boat-tailed grackle in side profile on the gunwale of a ferry against a backdrop of water and dull grey sky.
January 10, 2026 at 12:24 PM
Reposted by Curiosititis
emilymbender.bsky.social
"The media has largely let [tech companies] set the terms of the debate, right down to the terminology used in any discussion of these systems."

From @nannainie.bsky.social & me in @techpolicypress.bsky.social on how to spot and resist anthropomorphizing language about so-called "AI".
We Need to Talk About How We Talk About 'AI' | TechPolicy.Press
We share a responsibility to create and use empowering metaphors rather than misleading language, write Emily M. Bender and Nanna Inie.
www.techpolicy.press
January 9, 2026 at 1:31 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Alan (@alan678.bsky.social), the #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #Feathers&Form.

I've gone with an Eastern #Bluebird, a #GoldFinch, a Red-Winged #BlackBird, and a #Bluejay. All taken in our backyard in 2025.

#birds #BirdsofNC #backyardbirding
An eastern bluebird perched on a deck, glancing to its right. Its blue back shows delicate white-tipped plumage, while the belly transitions from warm brown at the edges to white in the center. A goldfinch perched on a metal perch at a bird-feeder, its back toward the camera. The crown, upper back, and underparts are bright golden-yellow, while the wings and tail display black plumage with crisp white bars at the tips. A red-winged blackbird perched on a metal perch at a birdfeeder, its back towards the camera and looking to the right. The head, back, beak, and eyes are all black with red shoulder patches bordered with yellow. A bluejay in side profile perched on a deck The crest, back, and the tail are are in shades of blue, white, and black. A black collar wraps around the neck. The underparts are greyish-white to white.
January 9, 2026 at 12:21 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Rob (@robcrank68.bsky.social), today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #ShortBeaks, any bird with a short beak.

I think this Northern Mockingbird qualifies.

December 14 2025. Charlotte NC US.

#birds #BirdsofNC #mockingbirds #backyardbirding
A northern mockingbird in side profile perched on the top rail of a deck against a backdrop of a grayish tree trunk.
January 8, 2026 at 3:14 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
#birds
Birds shift to higher mountain elevations in Europe as climate warms
Many bird species have moved toward colder areas in the mountains of Europe as the climate has warmed over the past two decades. Sunny southern slopes attract birds to live at higher elevations than d...
phys.org
January 7, 2026 at 3:23 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Alan, today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #FoodFinds any bird with food in it’s mouth and the alternative is #preening any bird preening.

I've selected a northern #mockingbird and boat-tailed #grackles from my collection for the main theme.

#birds #BirdsofNC
A northern mockingbird in a tray type bird-feeder with a peanut in its mouth. The tray is full of shelled peanuts, peanuts in shell, millet etc. Two boat-tailed grackles (a male and a female) on the ground. The male with black plumage has a nut secured in his beak while the female with bronze plumage scans the area to her left.
January 7, 2026 at 2:25 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
I saw these birds in the Fort Fisher area. Online resources suggest they are dunlins. If true, they must be wintering in the coastal areas of North Carolina.

December 23 2025. Fort Fisher NC US.

#birds #dunlins #BirdsofNC
Three birds forage along the river's edge, their long, gracefully downcurved beaks probing the ground. White underparts contrast with tan backs adorned with white and brown-tipped feathers. Five birds forage along the river's edge, their long, gracefully downcurved beaks probing the ground.
January 6, 2026 at 4:18 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Rob (@robcrank68.bsky.social), today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #BlackAndWhite, any bird that is mainly B&W.

I've gone with this crow and a dark-eyed junco. Both photos taken in December 2025.

#birds #juncos #crows #backyardbirding #BirdsofNC
A crow in side profile perched atop a light post, facing right against a backdrop of clear blue sky. A dark-eyed junco perched on a rain-slicked deck rail, its body in profile while its head turned toward the camera.
January 6, 2026 at 2:43 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme per Alan (@alan678.bsky.social) is #speckles&spots birds with speckled or spotted plumage.

A female Asian #koel, a spotted #dove, and a #starling are my contributions. The first two were taken in India and the last in our backyard in Charlotte. All in 2025.

#birds
A top profile of a female Indian koel perched on a moss-filled stone. The back from the head to the tail is black with white spots. The eyes are red. A spotted dove in side profile foraging on the ground and looking towards the camera. The wings are light brown in color with white spots. The back of the neck has a black band with white spots. A starling in side profile perched on the top rail of a deck looks to the left. Its shiny black plumage on the underparts is speckled with white spots. The feather tips on the back are off-white.
January 5, 2026 at 12:32 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
"I paid for this ferry ride to get some grub. Still waiting. What kind of a service is this?"

A boat-tailed grackle on a ferry from Carolina Beach to Southport.

December 26 2025. Southport NC US.

#birds #BirdsofNC #grackles
January 4, 2026 at 5:40 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
For today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme of #snowy or #goldenhour bird captures, I've gone with the latter.

A ring-billed #gull enjoying the sunset and a long shot of large groups of #Cormorants and Brown #Pelicans settling in for the evening on a sandy isle. Near Southport NC US.

#birds #BirdsofNC
A ring-billed gull perched on a pole near a river glowing red in the sunset. A very long shot of Cormorants and Brown Pelicans standing on a sandy beach by a river. Some cormorants and (likely) pelicans are also in the water.
January 4, 2026 at 2:07 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
This Cooper's Hawk was in a tree behind our house. Not a single bird was at our feeders while this fellow was out there.

The photos also fit the alt theme of #BirdsofPrey for today's #BirdoftheDay.

January 3 2026. Charlotte NC US.

#birds #hawks #backyardbirding #BirdsofNC
A Cooper's Hawk in profile gazes to the right from its perch, surrounded by a network of leafless branches crisscrossing through the frame. A Cooper's Hawk in profile gazes straight ahead from its perch, surrounded by a network of leafless branches crisscrossing through the frame.
January 3, 2026 at 8:34 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
This squirrel, a daily visitor at our bird-feeders and a thief of peanuts-in-shell, is proud to be part of today's #SquirrelSaturday theme.

December 30 2025. Charlotte NC US.

#squirrels
A squirrel sitting on the top rail of a deck and eating a peanut from an open bowl bird-feeder full of nuts and seeds.
January 3, 2026 at 3:15 PM
booksbeaksbytes.bsky.social
Per Alan (@alan678.bsky.social), the #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #caughtinmotion and the alternative is #BirdsofPrey.

A black #vulture and a great #egret are my contributions. The vulture was hanging out in the vicinity of a restaurant last evening.

Cellphone Photography.

#birds #BirdsofNC
Black vulture keeping watch from a rooftop perch, head turned sharply to the left. A great egret in flight over the lake, with ibises and egrets perched among the trees in the background.
January 3, 2026 at 12:16 PM