Andrew Iwaniuk
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evoneuro.bsky.social
Andrew Iwaniuk
@evoneuro.bsky.social
neurobiologist, ornithologist, scruffy looking nerfherder, social distancing since 1974, currently at U Lethbridge, Treaty 7 lands
🇨🇦 🇦🇺 stuff
open access link for our book: https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-monograph/6000/Bird-Brains-and-BehaviorA-Synthesis
Pinned
In celebration of me avoiding becoming department chair for the next 3 years and receiving a new research chair, please enjoy one of my favourite parrot photos from two years ago.
Crimson rosella (Platycercus elegans)
#birds #birding #academicsky #WildOz #parrots 🪶🦜🇨🇦🇦🇺
A pine grosbeak on a rather dull and overcast day.
#Alberta #wildlife #birding #birds 🪶🇨🇦
November 10, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Yesterday I was on Alberta highways for about 5.5 hours. Thanks to the UCP people were speeding on the QE2 at higher speeds than ever. Average speed was 125 with lots of drivers exceeding 130.
#abpoli
November 10, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
New🐟🧠 paper! To better understand what aspects of group-living are cognitively demanding, we tested whether individual recognition depends on relative brain size in guppies. Spoilers: guppies recognized and preferred familiar fish, regardless of brain size!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Individual recognition in guppies does not require large brains - Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
Abstract It is often assumed that group-living animals require larger brains in order to deal with the various social challenges they encounter. One such key challenge is the need to recognize and dis...
link.springer.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
We're hiring! Post-doctoral fellow in evolutionary ecology w/focus on ecophysiology.
Uncover why global warming and heatwaves reduce reproductive success and cause excess mortality in wild birds. Work with @cyanistesnord.bsky.social 👏

Please apply no later than 25 November.
👉 lnkd.in/dkAh9jnc
November 5, 2025 at 7:30 AM
For all the ornithologists out there…
Pumpkin Spice Threskiornis Aethiopica
November 10, 2025 at 2:04 AM
And cue Maple MAGA declaring that climate change isn’t real 🙄
November 9, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Ice starting to form on the lake and local beavers have been super busy knocking down massive poplar trees to build up their lodge for winter
#Alberta #Canada 🇨🇦
November 8, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
Today's #BirdOfTheDay is #Fighting to whit this pair of Little Corellas (Cacatua sanguinea) wrestling at the University of Queensland, St Lucia #Brisbane #Queensland #Australia #birds #ausbirds #AustralianBirds #wildoz #nature #wildlife #birdpic #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #Photography
November 7, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
I remember reading up on Greg Graffin’s published research describing new species of fossil fish and shouting out their names between songs to see if I could get a reaction. He chuckled and said it was great to know someone had actually read his papers!
"We always had an internal satisfaction that was, I think, very mature, for how immature we were in many areas."
#OnThisDay #HappyBirthday to #GregGraffin (born November 6, 1964) American evolutionary biologist & lead vocalist of #punkrock legends #BadReligion
November 7, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Congratulations tech bros and AI, you have discovered phrenology. I look forward to trepanation coming into vogue next…
November 6, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
The Canadian government has seemingly never read a single one of its own commissioned reports on what Canadian science needs. (It's not more people.)
Globe & Mail reports “the budget is expected to include up to $1-billion to attract high-quality talent and researchers from the United States and elsewhere”
So far hospitals and universities have been going it alone….
www.ctvnews.ca/health/artic...
@ctvnews-mirror.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I normally watch V for Vendetta every Nov 5th, but much of it now feels like a documentary or at the very least imminent foreshadowing.
#abpoli
a man with a mask and a hat says remember remember the 5th of november
ALT: a man with a mask and a hat says remember remember the 5th of november
media.tenor.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
🧵 In 1 week, the #UCP & Premier Danielle Smith (and #Lethbridge East MLA Nathan Neudorf), have invoked the NWC to end the teachers' strike & Charter Rights, fired the Auditor General investigating UCP corruption & cut $$ to Elections Alberta as recall petitions start circulating. 👇 1/5
November 4, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
As a Canadian researcher/academic, it's beyond discouraging that the federal gov't is rolling out the welcome mat for foreign assistant professors, doctoral students and postdocs, while *cutting* domestic research funding and doing nothing to support those of us who are already here, doing the work.
November 5, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
The correct answers are:
-grow existing operating grant programs
-at least quasi-realistic F&A rates
November 4, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
Dr. Andrew Iwaniuk - bird brain expert - joins The Warblers podcast. He shares fascinating insights into the unique senses birds have and how their brains are adapted to use them! @evoneuro.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Interested in #birds and how they see, smell and hear? Check out the latest episode of the @birdscanada.bsky.social podcast to listen to me talk about our new book and the super powers of some birds!
🪶🇨🇦🧪
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/s...
Superhero Senses - of birds!
Podcast Episode · The Warblers by Birds Canada · 2025-11-03 · 53m
podcasts.apple.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
🦇News of the "probiotic" we are using to treat bats against white-nose syndrome makes the National News this week - on CBC's "Your World Tonight" - the story is introduced in the first minute and then highlighted between 22:25-25:43

www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
© CBC/Radio-Canada 2025. All rights reserved.
www.cbc.ca
November 3, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
I'm in Burlington, Ontario, today.

Popped by a neighborhood Shopper's to get my COVID-19 shot.

Administered by an Ontarian. Paid for by the Alberta government.

In Edmonton, the shot would have cost me $100 and I'd have had to wait weeks.

Make this make sense.
November 3, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
Imagine if Canada was investing in research and universities, instead of burning everything down.
A poll from the journal Nature found that 75% of researchers in the U.S. are considering leaving the country. That includes a man who’s been dubbed the "Mozart of Math." (This PBS story on the scientific brain drain is heartbreaking & ominous for medicine, imo.) www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLvO...
Top researchers consider leaving U.S. amid funding cuts: 'The science world is ending'
YouTube video by PBS NewsHour
www.youtube.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
SMU Part-Time Faculty are fighting for not just fair wages, but fair work—including the right to permanency. PT Faculty should not be required to re-apply to the same courses for decades!

Support striking SMU workers here: https://cupe.ca/for-our-future
November 3, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
A bit of excitement today in the birding world here in #Toronto. A Razorbill Auk was spotted first thing this morning.This is a rare species in Canada. We have seen them in Northern Ireland, so what a surprise to see one here in #Canada. #birds #birding #nature #birdphotography
November 2, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Yet another PSA for people on the academic job market.

It is always a good idea to list potential collaborative research with faculty in one or more departments. You don't need to name names, but you should give the search committee the sense that there are opportunities.

#academicsky
November 2, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
Almost time to drop the hammer and crack this nut
#BlueJays #birds#Game7
November 1, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Reposted by Andrew Iwaniuk
📰 NEWS 📰

Government policy & decision making must be based in #science & #data, including #wildlife management.

“[S]cience clearly shows that killing grizzly bears does not reduce human-bear conflict.”

Dr Elmeligi, bear biologist & #MLA, #banffkananaskis in
@rockymtnoutlook.bsky.social
November 1, 2025 at 6:02 PM