The Institute for Bird Populations
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instbirdpop.bsky.social
The Institute for Bird Populations
@instbirdpop.bsky.social
5.1K followers 690 following 1.3K posts
Since 1989, The Institute for Bird Populations has enabled science-based conservation of species and habitats by studying the abundance, demography, and ecology of birds and other wildlife.
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instbirdpop.bsky.social
75 years old! 🪶🪶 Wisdom the Laysan Albatross has returned to Midway Atoll.
medium.com/discourse/sh...
She’s Back! Wisdom The Incredible Laysan Albatross Has Returned
The world’s oldest known wild bird, Wisdom, the Laysan albatross, has returned to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge to nest.
medium.com
February 17, 2026 at 9:41 PM
Reposted by The Institute for Bird Populations
jannerbirder.bsky.social
“A Puffin aged 34 has died after being washed up on an Aberdeenshire beach in stormy weather”.

(The longevity record for Puffin is 42 years 21 days, a Skomer bird ringed as an adult and seen alive - colour rings read - in 2019).

#Seabirds

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Puffin aged 34 dies after being washed up in stormy weather
Staff at an Aberdeenshire rescue centre were able to trace its history thanks to a ring on its foot.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 17, 2026 at 9:37 PM
instbirdpop.bsky.social
Did you ask for a bird fact? No, but you're getting one whether you like it or not. 🪶
Photo of a Ruffed Grouse by Eugene Beckes, with a zoomed in inset photo of the birds toes showing protrusions on the edges of its toes. Text on the graphic says: Unsolicited Bird Fact- Ruffed Grouse grow their own snowshoes! In the fall "toothlike pectinations" grow from the scales on the sides of their toes. These help distribute their weight and help keep them from punching through the snow's surface. In the spring, the pectinations fall off. Label for inset photo: Grouse "snowshoes" AKA "pectinations" make their toes look like millipedes
February 16, 2026 at 11:58 PM
instbirdpop.bsky.social
I say Coopers, but I'm just the comms specialist. Paging @tinylongwing.bsky.social 🪶
botherme.bsky.social botherme.bsky.social @botherme.bsky.social · 1d
One of our starling visitors had an untimely end under our feeders. What I’m not sure about is if this is a Cooper’s or a Sharp Shinned. Any help would be appreciated. I have more photos. Lol
February 16, 2026 at 11:55 PM
Reposted by The Institute for Bird Populations
garant-b.bsky.social
No one:
Bioacousticians:
The thumbnail of a youtube video. A hand carries a minuscule microphone in front of a bird of prey, who is staring at it intently. The title of the video reads "I interviewed animals with a tiny mic again".
February 16, 2026 at 2:55 PM
instbirdpop.bsky.social
Congrats to our winner @botherme.bsky.social ! Enjoy your bird nerd bragging rights!
instbirdpop.bsky.social The Institute for Bird Populations @instbirdpop.bsky.social · 1d
🪶 The answer to this week's #BitOBird quiz is....European Starling! Congrats to our winner! Don't worry if you missed it this week, we'll post another quiz next Monday at 11am ET/10am CT/9am MT/8am PT.
Photo of a European Starling with fresh recently motled feathers by Rob Kleine
February 16, 2026 at 6:59 PM
instbirdpop.bsky.social
🪶 The answer to this week's #BitOBird quiz is....European Starling! Congrats to our winner! Don't worry if you missed it this week, we'll post another quiz next Monday at 11am ET/10am CT/9am MT/8am PT.
Photo of a European Starling with fresh recently motled feathers by Rob Kleine
February 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM
instbirdpop.bsky.social
Here's the clue for this week's #BitOBird game! Can you ID this bird from just this little bit? (Note: we stick to North American birds, if not we’ll tell you.) 1st to reply w/ the correct answer gets bird nerd bragging rights. If you're stumped, we'll post the answer in 2 hrs 🪶
The clue for the #BitOBird game: a close-up photo of a portion of a bird.
February 16, 2026 at 4:00 PM
instbirdpop.bsky.social
🪶 Answer: Nuttall's and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers are more closely related to Hairy Woodpeckers than Downy Woodpeckers are.
Graphic with a photo of a Hairy Woodpecker by Tom Murray, and a row of photos along the bottom of a Nuttall's Woodpecker by PE Hart, a Downy Woodpecker by Tom Murray and a Ladder-backed Woodpecker by Mick Thompson. Text on graphic says: "Of the 3 woodpecker species in the bottom row, the TWO most closely related to the Hairy Woodpecker are Nuttall's and Ladder-backed. But why do Downy woodpeckers look so much like mini versions of Hairys? One hypothesis is that they are mimicking Hairys to avoid getting bullied by them. Another hypothesis proposes that Downys mimic the larger Hairy so they can bully other bird species in mixed flocks.
February 13, 2026 at 7:00 PM
instbirdpop.bsky.social
🪶 We'll post the answer in 24 hours.
Graphic with a photo of a Hairy Woodpecker by Tom Murray, and a row of photos along the bottom of a Nuttall's Woodpecker by PE Hart, a Downy Woodpecker by Tom Murray and a Ladder-backed Woodpecker by Mick Thompson. Text on graphic says: "Of the 3 woodpecker species in the bottom row, the TWO most closely related to the Hairy Woodpecker are (blank) and (blank).
February 12, 2026 at 7:01 PM
instbirdpop.bsky.social
🪶 Good advice from an Anna's Hummingbird.
Photo of an Anna's Hummingbird from behind by Frank D. Lospalluto. The bird is stretching its wings above its back and splaying its tail. Text on the photo says: Don't forget to stretch.
February 11, 2026 at 12:17 AM
instbirdpop.bsky.social
🪶
rheisman.bsky.social Rebecca Heisman @rheisman.bsky.social · 7d
Poll! If you are a U.S. resident:

1) Do you know what your state bird is? (Don't look it up if you don't!)

2) If so, is it a species you can see in your neighborhood?

This is related to a story I'm working on this week. ☺️
February 10, 2026 at 8:00 PM
instbirdpop.bsky.social
🪶Thanks for having us and putting on a great meeting TWS-West! ( @thewildlifesociety.bsky.social )
Photo of a group of smiling scientists (and one Wilson's Warbler.) Text on the graphic says: IBP scientists had a great time last week presenting at The Wildlife Society Western Section meeting in Monterey, CA
February 10, 2026 at 12:20 AM
Reposted by The Institute for Bird Populations
tinylongwing.bsky.social
Little 1-hr Resplendent Quetzal portrait sketch, off @kulindadromeus.bsky.social 's dinosaur prompt list #DrawDinosDaily (link to list in reply)

Phew yay I will finally have time to do some of these!

🎨🪶 #BirdArt #SciArt
Digital portrait sketch of a male Resplendent Quetzal. He has a bright yellow beak, big black eye, and then a big fluffy spiky green and turquoise crest and beard of feathers in all directions around his head. On the breast, the colors turn toward blue, with a small patch of red near the wrist of the wing.
February 9, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Reposted by The Institute for Bird Populations
foxfeather.bsky.social
If a door gets left open here for any length of time it summons the elusive but impressive garage peacock.
A pied peacock fanning its tail, standing centee inside the dark of an open garage door.
February 9, 2026 at 8:07 PM
instbirdpop.bsky.social
🪶 The answer to this week's #BitOBird quiz is....Tufted Titmouse! Congrats to our winners
Gene Moseby and Dr. Dinnertime who tied! Don't worry if you missed it this week, we'll post another quiz next Monday at 11am ET/10am CT/9am MT/8am PT.
Photo of a Tufted Titmouse at a feeder by Rob Kleine
February 9, 2026 at 6:00 PM
instbirdpop.bsky.social
Here's the clue for this week's #BitOBird game! Can you ID this bird from just this little bit? (Note: we stick to North American birds, if not we’ll tell you.) 1st to reply w/ the correct answer gets bird nerd bragging rights. If you're stumped, we'll post the answer in 2 hrs 🪶
The clue for the #BitOBird game: a close-up photo of a portion of a bird.
February 9, 2026 at 4:00 PM
instbirdpop.bsky.social
🦉🏈 Have fun watching the Superb Owl!
Graphic with a photo of an Osprey by Andy Morffew with a graphic of a football in it's talons added. A smaller Burrowing Owl graphic with a football helmet on, musical notes and "Ba Da Ba, Ba Da Ba. Ba Da Ba, Ba Da Ba! BAA BAA Da DAAAH!" (NFL theme music). Text on the graphic says "Hope you have fun watching the Superb Owl! Sorry to our friends who are fans of the Patriots-but we're always going to root for the birds!"
February 8, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Reposted by The Institute for Bird Populations
oregonzoo.bsky.social
Egg-cellent news! The first California condor eggs of the season have been laid at our wildlife conservation center, and more could be on the way.
February 6, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Reposted by The Institute for Bird Populations
aba.org
If you can, be nice to yourself and go birding this weekend.
February 6, 2026 at 5:38 PM
instbirdpop.bsky.social
🪶 Enjoy your snacks and have a great weekend!
Photo by Sandy/Chuck Harris on Flickr of a female Hooded Oriole with orange pollen on her face.
February 6, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Reposted by The Institute for Bird Populations
langurlover.bsky.social
🪶
Ancient bird routes mapped via plant diversity
It's not what they intended to do or expected to find. They're not even all that interested in birds. When Andre Naranjo and his colleagues began work on a new study published in the Botanical Journal...
phys.org
February 6, 2026 at 3:10 PM
instbirdpop.bsky.social
Did you ask for a bird fact? No, but you're getting one whether you like it or not. 🪶
Photo of a Bohemian Waxwing flying with a berry in its mouth by Sunny on Flickr. Text on the graphic says: Unsolicited Bird Fact- Bohemian Waxwings live up to their name. These fruit-loving birds go Unsolicited Bird Fact wherever the serviceberries, crabapples, mulberries, etc. are abundant. They travel in large flocks and do not defend territories during the breeding season. Bohemian Waxwings have a variety of vocalizations, but since some ornithologists distinguish songs from calls by song's function in territoriality, they argue that Bohemian Waxwings don't have a song. Thankfully Freddie Mercury wrote one for them. (We're kidding but it's fun to think of the waxwings singing it.)
February 6, 2026 at 1:41 AM
instbirdpop.bsky.social
🪶Register for the A Wolfe-Ryder-Pyle (WRP) Workshop: practical applications for your banding data presented by IBP's MAPS Coordinator, Danielle Kaschube, on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada). Important registration info in thread (1/3)
Photo of a bird bander extending a bird's wing to examine feather age.
February 5, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Reposted by The Institute for Bird Populations
rabihalameddine.bsky.social
Charley Harper, "Darwin's Finches", from "The Giant Golden Book of Biology", 1961
January 20, 2026 at 2:57 PM