Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦
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secondnaturemb.bsky.social
Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦
@secondnaturemb.bsky.social
23K followers 600 following 8.2K posts
Naturalist, writer, artist, and educator with a Ph.D. in Ecology. I make interpretive signs, illustrations, murals, and books. Sometimes, I chase polar bears and belugas. #scicomm #sciart http://www.discoversecondnature.ca
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secondnaturemb.bsky.social
Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦 @secondnaturemb.bsky.social · Mar 7
Hi Everyone!
I'm Heather. A lot of new people have joined me in the last 24 hours so I thought I'd answer some frequently-asked questions.

1. Where do you live? - I live in Manitoba, Canada in a provincial park on Lake Winnipeg. It is a wild area of the boreal forest, but not remote. 1/
A white woman wearing glasses, a red toque and a scarf with a green parka smiles at the camera. A snowy forest can be seen behind her. A small cottage sits quietly on a moonlit night in the snowy boreal forest. Smoke rises placidly from the chimney while the windows glow with warm light. It's a cold clear night with lots of snow.
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
Polar bears are experts in relaxing. Nothing like a good kelp bed in the sunshine. #Mammals #BearSeason2025 🌿
A polar bear lies on his back in a deep bed of brown kelp next to the blue water of Hudson Bay. He stretches his right arm up over its head. A polar bear lies on his back in a deep bed of reddish kelp and smiles in the sunshine, showing off his canines. A polar bear stretches out on his back in a deep bed of brown kelp in the sunshine.
November 11, 2025 at 2:23 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
Polar bears can reach a top speed of 40 km/h, but rarely run. This poor guy was unfortunately scared off by an emergency helicopter that was landing to help a guest in distress. Thankfully, he didn't have to go far. #Mammals 🌿
A cream-coloured polar bear running along the brown, dry grass/moss of the tundra after being startled by a low-flying helicopter.
November 10, 2025 at 9:23 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
If you see this, post your bird art.

A lot of my art is bird art, but this is one I don't post often. #art
A digital painting of raven flying overhead. It is clasping elderberry branches and multi-coloured yarn with beads on the end in its claws.
November 10, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Reposted by Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦
aplante.com
OHO. BIRD ART, YOU SAY?? i don't even know where to begin #art #🪶
cartoon illustrations of some very round birds. a suspicious red-breasted nuthatch a sweet little snow bunting a shellshocked redpoll a smug blue jay a grumpy cardinal a dark-eyed junco who i imagine is thinking “u WOT m8??”
November 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
When you're looking out over the snowy tundra and suddenly these two pop up out of the willows. Polar bears, especially males, will sometimes kill time while waiting for the ice to freeze with a little friendly sparring. #mammals #BearSeason2025 🌿
Two large polar bears can be seen from a distance standing on their hind legs sparring with each other among the bare willows in the lightly falling snow. Two large polar bears can be seen from a distance sparring with each other among the bare willows in the lightly falling snow. Only the head of the left one is visible as he stretches his neck up over the willows to play bitey face with the one standing above him. Two large polar bears are locked in playful battle on their hind legs, viewed from a distance in the bare willows and snowy tundra.
November 10, 2025 at 4:19 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
How I'm feeling between tours 3 and 4 of bear season :) #mammals 🌿
A polar bear sleeps on the snow-dusted tundra with its head stretched out and legs tucked in as snow drifts around it.
November 10, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Reposted by Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
A beautiful sunset over Hudson Bay last night. This never gets old.
A dramatic sunset over a large bay that is very slowly icing in. Snow and blocks of ice are in the foreground and are interspersed with water, reflecting the slate gray clouds and orange sky above.
November 9, 2025 at 12:23 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
A beautiful sunset over Hudson Bay last night. This never gets old.
A dramatic sunset over a large bay that is very slowly icing in. Snow and blocks of ice are in the foreground and are interspersed with water, reflecting the slate gray clouds and orange sky above.
November 9, 2025 at 12:23 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
The snow squall clouds over Hudson Bay yesterday were amazing.
Huge gray and white snow clothes twisting over Hudson Bay like swirling gray northern lights. Foreground is snow dusted willows with the water of the bay in the distance. Swirling gray and white snow clouds rise up over Hudson Bay has snow dusts the Willows in the foreground
November 8, 2025 at 5:32 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
Furry friend stopping by for a visit. It’s always awe- inspiring to see them this close and such an amazing privilege. #BearSeason2025 #mammals 🌿
November 6, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Reposted by Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦
designsbyonye.bsky.social
My Etsy is live; still updating the inventory
DesignsByOnye.etsy.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:35 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
The snow was coming down sideways today on the tundra. Perfect weather for sparring polar bears. #BearSeason 🌿 #mammals
November 5, 2025 at 11:47 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
I'm particularly found of the light on this big bruiser. He was just waking up from a nap. #BearSeason2025 #mammals 🌿
A large polar bear stands solidly on the dry moss of the tundra. The light casts him in harsh shadow, making him look a bit more beat-up than he actually is. A large polar bear stands on the dry brown moss of the tundra in the harsh light of late morning. He looks ready for a fight, but is just getting up from a nap.
November 3, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Reposted by Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦
afroherper.bsky.social
Can you #FindThatLizard and that scholarship?!

I am incredibly excited to announce that the 2nd annual #FindThatLizard Scholarship is now open! You can find the application at earynmcgee.com/findthatliza...
November 3, 2025 at 12:46 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
Coming through! Important ptarmigan stuff to do!
#birds 🌿
A white willow ptarmigan with reddish-brown mottling on the back and head walks with purpose over the rocky ground, it's long, fluffy legs eating up the distance with each stride.
November 2, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Reposted by Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
One of my favourite polar bear photos I've taken to date. It was a weird, misty evening with just a sliver of sunlight coming through the fog, lighting up this bear on the rocks just outside of town. #mammals 🌿 #BearSeason2025
A lone polar bear picks its way over a ridge of rounded grey rocks in dim, muted sunlight of late afternoon
November 1, 2025 at 10:18 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
One of my favourite polar bear photos I've taken to date. It was a weird, misty evening with just a sliver of sunlight coming through the fog, lighting up this bear on the rocks just outside of town. #mammals 🌿 #BearSeason2025
A lone polar bear picks its way over a ridge of rounded grey rocks in dim, muted sunlight of late afternoon
November 1, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Reposted by Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦
samposnick.com
In the cardinal justice system, the birds are represented by two separate, yet equally important groups...

XI. Justice

#birds
A mockup of a tarot card for Justice featuring an illustrated blindfolded female cardinal on a perch in front of two banners, one with a scale and the other with a sword.
November 1, 2025 at 9:29 PM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
While the polar bears are definitely the star of the show around Churchill these days, I was over the moon with spotting this Brants. Lifer pie (or in my case cake) for me!
These guys nest in the high Arctic and you rarely see them around here. #birds 🌿
Three small black-headed geese (brants) swim in the waves of Hudson Bay near a rocky shore. Two small black-headed geese (brants) swim in the waves of Hudson Bay near a rocky shore. Six small black-headed geese (brants) swim in the waves of Hudson Bay near a rocky shore.
November 1, 2025 at 2:22 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
When you're hungry, but Mom doesn't want to wake up.
#BearSeason #Mammals 🌿🐻‍❄️
A momma polar bear sleeps curled up in a small patch of willows on the rocky tundra. Her cub sits behind her, leaning their head on her side. A momma polar bear sleeps curled up in a small patch of willows on the rocky tundra. Her cub sits behind her, leaning their head on her side and dozing lightly.
October 31, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Reposted by Dr. Heather Hinam 🍁 🇨🇦
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
An incredible moment on the Coastal Road this afternoon. Many people got to witness this bear roaming the rocks. However, it was getting too close to town and it was important we back off and let it be. Polar bear alert would eventually have to encourage it to move on.
A polar bear walks down off a roundish gray piece of granite into a golden mossy area in the pale light of early evening. The polar bear starts to walk right towards the photographer who is inside of a bus. It is surrounded by gray rounded granite and brownish moss. The polar bear stands on brown moss among rounded boulders of granite and looks off to the left of the image. It is very close to the photographer who is safely inside a vehicle. A polar bear walks down a gravel road lined by Brown bare Willows on either side. In the distance, you can see a large ridge of rounded gray granite. In front of the bear is a black pick up truck who has stopped on the road. Even further down the road there’s another pick up truck belonging to the polar bear alert.
October 29, 2025 at 2:47 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
Finally, a little cooler on the tundra today, but not cold enough. We were lucky to see this mom and cub, spending some time inland away from potentially dangerous males along the shore. 🐻‍❄️🌿 #mammals
October 30, 2025 at 2:49 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
An incredible moment on the Coastal Road this afternoon. Many people got to witness this bear roaming the rocks. However, it was getting too close to town and it was important we back off and let it be. Polar bear alert would eventually have to encourage it to move on.
A polar bear walks down off a roundish gray piece of granite into a golden mossy area in the pale light of early evening. The polar bear starts to walk right towards the photographer who is inside of a bus. It is surrounded by gray rounded granite and brownish moss. The polar bear stands on brown moss among rounded boulders of granite and looks off to the left of the image. It is very close to the photographer who is safely inside a vehicle. A polar bear walks down a gravel road lined by Brown bare Willows on either side. In the distance, you can see a large ridge of rounded gray granite. In front of the bear is a black pick up truck who has stopped on the road. Even further down the road there’s another pick up truck belonging to the polar bear alert.
October 29, 2025 at 2:47 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
A beautiful afternoon along Hudson Bay with a bunch of polar bears. It was much too warm for this time of year, so the bears were resting up and saving their energy. #mammals 🌿
October 28, 2025 at 3:17 AM
secondnaturemb.bsky.social
Back on the tundra for a few days. This landscape always makes me really happy, even when it’s freakishly warm for this time of year.
Looking out towards Hudson Bay over the hardscrabble of granite boulders interspersed with dry mosses and tundra plants. Bright orange lichen shines on a rock in the foreground.
October 26, 2025 at 10:30 PM