Kate McFarland (and Traveller Heron)
@carfreebirdnoticer.bsky.social
Active-transportation-based non-driver who loves birds and car-free places, and who travels with a plush heron.
Virtual assistant in the market for opportunities to help people help birds.
Virtual assistant in the market for opportunities to help people help birds.
Pinned
On the Aesthetic Preferability of 1/4" Dots over Bird Carcasses
A Plea for Bird-Safe Windows in Holiday Homes (and Everywhere Else)
carfreebirdnoticer.substack.com
Like most modern humans, I spend most of my time indoors and value glass windows for natural light and views of the outdoors. Glass CAN be treated to greatly reduce #bird deaths while still delivering these goods; it just seldom is.
New post from me:
carfreebirdnoticer.substack.com/p/on-the-aes...
New post from me:
carfreebirdnoticer.substack.com/p/on-the-aes...
"It boggles the mind that these guys can fly over the Gulf of Mexico [...] It's just amazing. But then we take them out, with some glass." 🐦 🪶
...but there are solutions! (No, not hawk decals - "The only thing that does is keep the bird from hitting the hawk decal.")
www.npr.org/2025/10/17/n...
...but there are solutions! (No, not hawk decals - "The only thing that does is keep the bird from hitting the hawk decal.")
www.npr.org/2025/10/17/n...
As hundreds of millions of birds head south, the invisible danger is glass
It's the peak of the fall migration season. This is when bird deaths from window collisions tend to spike, even though simple solutions can prevent this.
www.npr.org
November 25, 2025 at 8:17 PM
"It boggles the mind that these guys can fly over the Gulf of Mexico [...] It's just amazing. But then we take them out, with some glass." 🐦 🪶
...but there are solutions! (No, not hawk decals - "The only thing that does is keep the bird from hitting the hawk decal.")
www.npr.org/2025/10/17/n...
...but there are solutions! (No, not hawk decals - "The only thing that does is keep the bird from hitting the hawk decal.")
www.npr.org/2025/10/17/n...
🎶 Car-free highway, let me slip away on you… 🎶
I always misremember those lyrics – must be the way I always feel so free whenever I am out walking or cycling in a #carfree (or nearly so) place, like Schiermonnikoog here 🇳🇱
I always misremember those lyrics – must be the way I always feel so free whenever I am out walking or cycling in a #carfree (or nearly so) place, like Schiermonnikoog here 🇳🇱
November 22, 2025 at 9:11 PM
🎶 Car-free highway, let me slip away on you… 🎶
I always misremember those lyrics – must be the way I always feel so free whenever I am out walking or cycling in a #carfree (or nearly so) place, like Schiermonnikoog here 🇳🇱
I always misremember those lyrics – must be the way I always feel so free whenever I am out walking or cycling in a #carfree (or nearly so) place, like Schiermonnikoog here 🇳🇱
November 22, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Sometimes people assume I'm anti-tech because I'm #carfree, enjoy nature, am sensitive to light/noise pollution, etc. Nope. I love telecommuting, for one... I just think the point of technology should be to make life more pleasant and less stressful, rather than of unleashing "lions" upon us 24-7...
This paper finds the same thing I did in my book research. Today's stressors–traffic, work demands, social media, light pollution & noise etc–trigger biological responses for acute stressors but without any recovery. "Our body reacts as though these stressors were lions.” phys.org/news/2025-11...
Humans are evolved for nature, not cities, say anthropologists
A new paper by evolutionary anthropologists Colin Shaw (University of Zurich) and Daniel Longman (Loughborough University) argues that modern life has outpaced human evolution. The study suggests that...
phys.org
November 20, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Sometimes people assume I'm anti-tech because I'm #carfree, enjoy nature, am sensitive to light/noise pollution, etc. Nope. I love telecommuting, for one... I just think the point of technology should be to make life more pleasant and less stressful, rather than of unleashing "lions" upon us 24-7...
Expert Wasted Entire Life Studying Anteaters
YouTube video by The Onion
youtu.be
November 20, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Infinite wine glasses. Infinite Traveller Heron.
November 13, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Infinite wine glasses. Infinite Traveller Heron.
The hotel staff asked if I was expecting company, because I had booked a room with a second bed...
November 11, 2025 at 2:16 AM
The hotel staff asked if I was expecting company, because I had booked a room with a second bed...
Stopping to admire the street art, part 2 ("Invasive Species" by Bernard Palchick)
#Heron #AsSeenInColumbus
#Heron #AsSeenInColumbus
October 23, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Stopping to admire the street art, part 2 ("Invasive Species" by Bernard Palchick)
#Heron #AsSeenInColumbus
#Heron #AsSeenInColumbus
Perfect day for a Heron bike ride!
October 17, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Perfect day for a Heron bike ride!
Well, that's depressing news, but also an important wake-up call for this #WorldMigratoryBirdDay
"This devastating loss underlines the urgent and sustained need for stronger, coordinated conservation efforts for migratory #birds and migratory species in general."
"This devastating loss underlines the urgent and sustained need for stronger, coordinated conservation efforts for migratory #birds and migratory species in general."
Today IUCN has officially declared the Slender-billed Curlew extinct, marking the first known global extinction of a formerly widespread migratory bird species whose range included mainland Europe, North Africa, and West Asia.
Read more here ⬇️
www.unep-aewa.org/fr/node/6632
Read more here ⬇️
www.unep-aewa.org/fr/node/6632
October 11, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Well, that's depressing news, but also an important wake-up call for this #WorldMigratoryBirdDay
"This devastating loss underlines the urgent and sustained need for stronger, coordinated conservation efforts for migratory #birds and migratory species in general."
"This devastating loss underlines the urgent and sustained need for stronger, coordinated conservation efforts for migratory #birds and migratory species in general."
How is the word 'burger' even a "'meat-like' term" when it's derived from the name of a city? There are actually lots of places to get vegan food in Hamburg these days...
www.birdlife.org/news/2025/10...
www.birdlife.org/news/2025/10...
Press release: European Parliament votes: a burger can’t be a burger anymore
Press release: European Parliament votes: a burger can’t be a burger anymore
www.birdlife.org
October 8, 2025 at 6:15 PM
How is the word 'burger' even a "'meat-like' term" when it's derived from the name of a city? There are actually lots of places to get vegan food in Hamburg these days...
www.birdlife.org/news/2025/10...
www.birdlife.org/news/2025/10...
Welp, the egret sold me on the Cajun Sunshine hot pepper sauce, but they're still working on the Rolex...
October 7, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Welp, the egret sold me on the Cajun Sunshine hot pepper sauce, but they're still working on the Rolex...
I've not driven in 4.5 years, but I've been taking notes on my everyday experiences in honor of #WeekWithoutDriving - from Schiermonnikoog to Columbus and everything in between - and a blog post on the topic should be forthcoming...
October 5, 2025 at 8:05 PM
I've not driven in 4.5 years, but I've been taking notes on my everyday experiences in honor of #WeekWithoutDriving - from Schiermonnikoog to Columbus and everything in between - and a blog post on the topic should be forthcoming...
October 4, 2025 at 11:40 PM
A few #waders seen on Monday's excursion to Schiermonnikoog with @waderstudy.bsky.social #IWSG2025 🇳🇱 🪶
October 3, 2025 at 6:45 PM
A few #waders seen on Monday's excursion to Schiermonnikoog with @waderstudy.bsky.social #IWSG2025 🇳🇱 🪶
If it's not enough to deprive millions of Americans of health insurance, cancel childhood vaccinations, gut health research, etc., then also make sure that no one has a safe place to walk and bike for transportation and exercise. #MakeAmericaHealthyAgain
The latest attack on multimodal transportation is more brazen and destructive than ever before — and the Trump administration is no longer hiding its disdain for walking and biking projects.
How Trump's Latest Multimodal Clawbacks Are Different — And How They Could Devastate Communities — Streetsblog USA
The latest attack on multimodal transportation is more brazen and destructive than ever before; the Trump administration is no longer hiding its disdain for walking and biking projects.
buff.ly
September 22, 2025 at 7:27 PM
If it's not enough to deprive millions of Americans of health insurance, cancel childhood vaccinations, gut health research, etc., then also make sure that no one has a safe place to walk and bike for transportation and exercise. #MakeAmericaHealthyAgain
Herons don't just drink wine; sometimes they hydrate too (in this case, following a dinner of delicious seared scallops from the Isle of Coll 🏴)
September 15, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Herons don't just drink wine; sometimes they hydrate too (in this case, following a dinner of delicious seared scallops from the Isle of Coll 🏴)
Saturday is #WorldSoundWalkDay
"Put your phone away, slow down, and open your ears. Notice the sounds of birds, wind, water, insects, or even the subtle space of silence. Allow yourself to be fully present. A sound walk is not about talking, but about listening."
www.quietparks.org/urban-quiet-...
"Put your phone away, slow down, and open your ears. Notice the sounds of birds, wind, water, insects, or even the subtle space of silence. Allow yourself to be fully present. A sound walk is not about talking, but about listening."
www.quietparks.org/urban-quiet-...
Urban Quiet Walk 2025 — Quiet Parks International
www.quietparks.org
September 10, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Saturday is #WorldSoundWalkDay
"Put your phone away, slow down, and open your ears. Notice the sounds of birds, wind, water, insects, or even the subtle space of silence. Allow yourself to be fully present. A sound walk is not about talking, but about listening."
www.quietparks.org/urban-quiet-...
"Put your phone away, slow down, and open your ears. Notice the sounds of birds, wind, water, insects, or even the subtle space of silence. Allow yourself to be fully present. A sound walk is not about talking, but about listening."
www.quietparks.org/urban-quiet-...
Reposted by Kate McFarland (and Traveller Heron)
DYING at these pictures of a heron rescue from an animal rescue fb group
(credit Sven Shale on fb)
(credit Sven Shale on fb)
September 9, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Rural walkability FTW. (Apparently this is possible in America too? Who knew...)
Did you know that many rural areas can be designed for walking? 👟
Making these communities easier to walk in can improve health, safety, and overall quality of life.
Learn more buff.ly/bSSJgfB #ActivePeople
Making these communities easier to walk in can improve health, safety, and overall quality of life.
Learn more buff.ly/bSSJgfB #ActivePeople
September 4, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Rural walkability FTW. (Apparently this is possible in America too? Who knew...)
Reposted by Kate McFarland (and Traveller Heron)
In need of Heron but no Heron nearby? Just touch/click any of these hashtags for collections of posts that will fill the gap.
For how do you live 💙 #HeroneerTipOfTheDay
For natural beauty 🌄 #HeronFinishingTouch
For inspiration ⛑️ #HeronHeroes
For creativity 🎨 #HeronArt
For how do you live 💙 #HeroneerTipOfTheDay
For natural beauty 🌄 #HeronFinishingTouch
For inspiration ⛑️ #HeronHeroes
For creativity 🎨 #HeronArt
September 1, 2025 at 2:47 PM
In need of Heron but no Heron nearby? Just touch/click any of these hashtags for collections of posts that will fill the gap.
For how do you live 💙 #HeroneerTipOfTheDay
For natural beauty 🌄 #HeronFinishingTouch
For inspiration ⛑️ #HeronHeroes
For creativity 🎨 #HeronArt
For how do you live 💙 #HeroneerTipOfTheDay
For natural beauty 🌄 #HeronFinishingTouch
For inspiration ⛑️ #HeronHeroes
For creativity 🎨 #HeronArt
I'd love to see the noise pollution maps and road rage maps in addition to these...
Wow. Check this out.
Politicians actually trying to solve problems can achieve a lot!
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solu...
Politicians actually trying to solve problems can achieve a lot!
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solu...
Paris said au revoir to cars. Air pollution maps reveal a dramatic change.
Air pollution fell substantially as the city restricted car traffic and made way for parks and bike lanes.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 31, 2025 at 1:47 PM
I'd love to see the noise pollution maps and road rage maps in addition to these...
If anyone needs some positive news, the oldest Ankylosaur was very spiky. (Well, okay, maybe it's not really news if it's something that evolved no later than 165 mya.)
www.reuters.com/science/jaw-...
www.reuters.com/science/jaw-...
'Jaw-droppingly weird' dinosaur from Morocco was studded with spikes
Around 165 million years ago on a coastal floodplain in what is now Morocco lived one of the most extreme dinosaurs on record, lavishly adorned with armor and spikes - some about three feet (one meter) long - unlike that of any other known creature.
www.reuters.com
August 28, 2025 at 6:14 AM
If anyone needs some positive news, the oldest Ankylosaur was very spiky. (Well, okay, maybe it's not really news if it's something that evolved no later than 165 mya.)
www.reuters.com/science/jaw-...
www.reuters.com/science/jaw-...